SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

WANGANUI TRAINING NOTES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, May 18. Steady rain fell- throughout the night ana the tracks were heavy. Printemps and Te Kuri ran six furlongs in Imin. 20sec. Ethiopian and Wamba separately jumped the hurdles well. Bonnetter shaped better than Correspondent over a mile, run in Imln. 47sec. Kyoto and Noble jumped the hurdles we:*. Spook and Ruatara were tried over the hurdles, and the former was in front at the end. Weldone ran four furlongs in 54sec. Demos ran five furlongs in Imin. 4sec. Ladogeur appeared to have the best of matters in a gallop over a mile and three furlongs with Vagabond and Gladfui. Coalition was sent 1 round over the big fences by himself, jumping fainy wen. Mangamahoe had a shade the better in a seven furlong spin with Poanui in Imin. 31sec. Ngata and Noble jumped the hurdles together well. Kohu, General Raven and Lady Lyddite went over the big fences together. General Raven falling at the hencoop in tte second round. Hyttus covered seven furlongs in Itmin. 32sec. Sir Solo finished better than War Loan and Khartoum over seven furlongs on the flat, run in Imin. 36sec. Scion run four furlongs in 53sec. Marble Crag ran five furlongs in Imin. 4%sec. OMAHU SCRATCHED. Wanganui, May 16. Omahu was scratched for the Century Hurdles at 1.15 p.m. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") At first glance the scratching pen appears to have been much in use when acceptances came to be recorded on Monday evening for the opening day's racing (Thursday) at Wanganui, but the fields, as they now stand, are evenly balanced, and should produce interesting racing. Amongst the notable absentees are Loehella, Oakleigh, Explorer, Foeman and Calma in the Wanganui Steeples ; Volo in the Century Hurdles; and Irapuka, Chimera and Tenterfield in the minor events. The position is rendered rather difficult for punters owing to a number of horses having been accepted for in more than one race on Thursday, such as Simonides, Spook, Guianform, General Raven and War Loan. Punters might reasonably expect that owners are capable of making up their minds three days before a meeting.

Ten hold their ground in the Wanganui ’Steeples, including Coalition, Omahu, First Line, Khartoum, and Sir Solo, who are all well forward in condition. As Omahu is reserved for this he should be sent out a hot favorite, and on Hawera form Sir Solo should have ft good following. Khartoum, who is set to meet Sir Solo on 3lbs. worse terms than when he beat the veteran in the Egmont Steeples, unust also be dangerous. Coalition is a great horse, but may require a race to sharpen him up properly. Eleven have been paid up for in the Century Hurdles. Explorer should beat Gladful at level weights, as Mr. Kemball’s gelding is still backward in condition. Gamecock is a horse of moods, and will! 11.4 has his full deserts. Ocnahu was scratched- for this event yesterday. Of those lower down Whanoko (10.4), Paonui (10.1). Simonides (8.12), and Spook (9.0) all have, friends, thonigh Whanoko appears to be easily the most promising of the lightweight division—if nut of the whole field. Thirteen of the twenty-six horses weighted for the Borough Handicap remain in, and the sprint appears to be very open. Rational does not attract the eye with 10.4, chough possibly there are some Taranaki sports who would back him with 12st. Kinsem Is quite capable of running a good, race under Ost., and Red B3b 7.3, Kilreid 7.8, and B’rkie 7.G are nicely placed. Possibly Kinsem will be favorite with the Wanganui public, but the

upset calculations on the day. A good field of a dozen is cardjdi for the Cormolly Handicap, and Tame Fox, who will be all the better for his pipe-opener at Hawera, should run well with 8.9. The ele:t of the Kembail stable, Bonetter, may do better than she did last week, and the same remark applies to Mangamahoe. Scion is well treated, and looks like being in the Money. The fourteen engaged in the Kaitoke Hack Hurdles include several first-class horses, and Wamba, Ladoguer, Spook and Whizz Bang will command solid support if started. Ladoguer and Wamba have only to reproduce their Hawera forcn to run into places. Kato will be a good favorite in the Hack Steeples, run over a favorable distance for him—two miles. Te Malre should not be condemned yet awhile, and with. Master Boris, may offer strong opposition. As expected, the Purua Hack Handicap has filled to overflowing, twenty-two being paid up for. Of those weighted above Bst. Crossfire and Left may be most dangerous, while lower down are forward horses like Pantier, Skylight and Yankee Dan. The winner may come from amongst the latter bunch, though Crossfire is a filly of some class, and stays better than most of those engaged in me A good number of horses have been tried out at W’anganui this week. Sir Solo, Master Boris, and Hyttus have been responsible for attractive displayers over the big fences, and Whanoko, Gladful, Poanui and Vagabond have done some jumping, the former showing most speed over the obstacles. Miss Gold has improved since Hawera, and may run well at the meeting, and the same may be said of Bonetter and Tenterfield. Mangam&hoe looks well, as do Omahu and Ngata. With several richly endowed steeplechases and hurdle races looming ahead it is only natural that the reliability of recent form in minor events should be challenged. If one were to believe a fraction cf the rumors going round at present it would be enough to make any sensible person “swear oft” jumping races for keeps. However, most of these rumors originated with, disgruntled punters, and if they really saw these extraordinary happenings recently, they will be in a position to speedily profit by their observations during the next month or two. Last year Faeman (10.7) won the Wanganui Steeples comfortably from Coalition (12.7). This year the Foxton trainer, Alf. Wright, will rely upon First Line (10.3) to do the trick. First Line won the race in 1920, carrying 9.9, and he is reported to be very well at present. i An Auckland paper states that Sir Cun-liffe-Owen's colt Eaglehawk is doing a good preparation in England in view of contesting the £20,000 event in Spain shortly. H. Gray will have the mount, and it would be a great feather in his cap if he could pull oft the world’s richest stake.