TURE TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1922, Page 3

TURE TOPICS.

(Ry

"Moturoa.”)

No races this week. Bonetter won't be long. Watch Tame Fox at Otaki. Master Boris will win a hurdle race soon. The veteran Waimai is now trained by H. . Eva. Like most old horses, Sir Solo races best when fresh. | Voluble is a promising hurdler, and will do better when he gains experience. Kareao nearly pulled off the Empire Handicap op Saturday, only giving way to Scion over the last bit. Spriilgtide was produced and backed on the second day at Wanganui, but is not in the same class with the other Fellding jumper. Whizz Bang. What a / good horse Ngata is! His opponents made him carry his P2st. all the way in the May Hurdles, but he finislied strongest and won in fine style. Ladoguer tried to clear out from the field in the Rata Hack Hurdles, and along the back and entering the straight his backers were jubilant. Whizz Bang finished gamely under punishment and wore him down in the run to the post. Kinsem was an even money favorite in the Winter Oats, despite the fact that she was giving 3 stone to both Miss Gold and Weldone. Orchid led to the bend, where Miss * Gold took the lead, and easily stalling off Kinsems challenge, won by a good length. Kinsem was lucky to get second money, most people believing that Weldone had pipped her on the post. The sportsman, Mr. C. C. ("Son”) Smith, who raced Demades without success, had a streak of luck when he purchased Lady Nassau on Friday night for £17.0. The change of ownership broke a long spell of misfortunes, and Lady Nassau won at the first t'ene of asking and paid a nice twofiguro dividend. In addition to the stake, Mr. Smith collected over a centiiry off the tote, so the filly owes him nothing now. The feature of the Wanganui meeting—in .fact of the new winter jumping season—was the fine form shown by Khartoum. Three firsts and a second in four starts is a record to be proud Of, and as-the King Rufus gelding is improving with every race there is no saying that he will not win the GreatNorthern at Ellerslie next \veek. Alucn credit is due to his owner-trainer, Mr. Ben Bennett, and to the capable riding of E. Copestake, who appears to understand the horse thoroughly. Oak Rose, an aged gelding by Afaharanui, proved a surprise packet at the Wanganui meeting, winning the Hack Steeples, and beating all but Khartoum in the Grandstand Steeples on the second day, and incidentally paying two decent dividends TJiougn not brilliant, . Oak Rose frill pay his way if well

If one believed Afarton touts, Air. Jas. Bull’s jumpers had little (if anything) on Te Maire over big fences, and it is only a shaime how much money the Yankee Jack gelding has cost many (so-called) knowing opes. A smart fencer over hurdles, Te .Maire has proved most erratic over big obstacles in public, and he will have to show a distinct improvement before he will again carry our First Line should be an improved horse for his two runs at Wanganui, Saturday’s effort being better than that of Thursday. As steeplechasers go, First Line is not an old horse, and you can guarantee that Alf. Wright will set hini for a good jumping event before long. Te Kuri isn't a flattering name to give a horse, and when sent out second favorite on the first day at Wanganui he certainly ran up (or down) to the full significance ofr his appelation. On Saturday his party were "in” to the last shilling, it is said, and though he ran a surprisingly better race, they had the discomfiture of seeing the Absurd mare Yolande beat their cracker-jack by a length. If a battler owned Danger Zone he would keep him out of the ftrmg line for a few starts, and possibly (with a reduced kit bag up) he would capture something. At present Mr. Jolt's gelding is attempting the impossible—taking everything that the handicappers care to fire at him, and trying to win -every* time. One wonders if the weight-ad-justers rattle their imposts out per machine gun ! Another unlucky gelding is Gold Star, who got a bad run each day at Wanganui, and with any luck at all must have won one—if not two —events. Gold Star will develop into a middle distance handicap horse next season. He is as honest as the day, and a great finisher. J. Fryer will do the rest.

The principal winning owners at the WJanganui meeting "were: B. T. Bennett £B5O, T. J. Cole £4OO, Jas. Bull £390, W. Casey £375, T. Duncan £330, W. R. Kemball £330, A. Goodman £2OO, E. Riddiford £2OO, A. S. Adams £270, C. C. Smith £2OO, J. Hale £2OO, and G. Currie £2OO. Winning riders were: L. G. Butler 3, E. Copestake 2, W. D. Young 2, and M. McCarteu, P. McGuire, M. D. O’Shea, H. Goldfinch, J. Barry, A. AlcDonald, and L. Mitchell one each. Mr. Frank Faulkner, who was injured while riding War Tax in a race at Oamaru on Saturday, died on Sunday a. result of his injuries. Deceased, who lived for many years in Stratford, was a son-in-law of Mr. C. Ruscoe, Stratford, and leaves a widow and three children.