SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. vßy "Moturoa.”) Promptly to time, Mr. H. Coyle's weights for the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club’s meeting have been produced, and considering the mixed lot of horses he has had to handicap, the result offers little cause for complaint. The Baronet 10.7 and Cordon 9.7 read well in the Maiden Steeples, the former in particular having done well in the hunting field this winter. Maniania 9.12 is sure to be in the boom for the Maiden Hack Handicap, and with Miss Beauforte 9.8 and Elvaette 9.0 should provide an interesting race. Raffle, who won a double at the Hawke's Bay Hunt meeting In June, has earned all of her 11.13 in the Hunters’ Hurdles. Skylight 10.0, Savory W.O and Complex 9.9 should go well in the Waverley Hack Handicap, Roman 9.9 and Big Push 9.3 have nothing fo complain of in the Open Handicap. Senior 13.5 and Raffle 12.0 are a cut above their opponents In the Ladles’ Bracelet. The Moumahaki Hack Handicap may see Danger Zone 11.3 and Creme de Menthe 9.13 in the limelight. Acceptances are due on Friday, August 18.

Jockster Alan McDonald is riding in great form at present. On Tuesday he was successful on Passenger and Ngata; on Thursday he won on Rowan, and was third on Ngata; while he did the hat trick on Saturday on Rowan, Passenger and Oraahu.

Christchurch papers give Gladful’s time tn the Grand National Hurdles as 4 min. 41 1-5 sec., which Is a record for the race since the distance was increased to two miles and a half in 1916. The previous best was Sir Solo’s 4.47 3-5 in 1919, which was a good deal slower than the time registered on Thursday last. Ngata was responsible for the pace on the latter occasion, and most people who saw the race state that but for striking the second fence from home Ngata would have won. Spook has turned sour on the jumping game, and takes the first opportunity of running off. E. Copestake had a most uncomfortable ride on him in the National Hurdles, and his mount finished up by jumping the inside rails at the mile post, landing inside the course.

During an interval between the races at Riccarton on Thursday a number of the new season’s two-year-olds were sprinted down the straight. , Goose Step (Nassau —Warstep) had a slight advantage over Tiff (Martian —Lady Disdain), Spotlight (Nassau —Stardancer), and Scorn (Clarenceux—Disdainful), in one flutter over a furlong and a-half, and in another Parody (Absurd —Mimique) and The Moa

(Boniform —Lady Stewart) finished together, followed by the-fillies by Kilbroney—Soiuniform and Gay Lad—Gargaron. Of the above Goose Step is a half-brother to Wartone and Warhue (both by Solferino) ; Tiff is a full-bro-ther to Bee, Snub, Rebuff, and Bluff; Spotlight is a full-sister to Starland; and Parody is a full-sister to Mockery.

Gladful, the winner of the Grand National Hurdle Handicap, was bred by the late Hon. J. D. Ormond in 1910, so that he has reached his twelfth year, in spite of which he retains his form exceptionally well. He is by Birkenhead, a great sire of jumpers, from Gladisla, by Seaton Delaval from Miss Gladys, by Cuirassier from Sybil, by Leolinus from the imported mare Atlantis, the dam of St. Leger. Gladisla is a sister to Gladsome and a halfsister to Apologue (Melbourne Cup winner) and Sea! Rock (Great Autumn Handicap). Kirkby, a brother to Gladful, was a good performer over country, while Formby, another brother, was a good class two-year-old, who has sired some useful performers, two of them, Passenger and Passionless, being winners at Riccarton last week. More than five years ago Gladful won the Great Northern Hurdle Handicap in the colors of nis breeder, and on the death of the Hawke’s Bay sportsman he was secured by Mr. W. R. Kembail for 510 guineas, Mr. G. Fulton purchasing Hylans, another winner pf the Grand National Hurdles, on the same day for 300 guineas. Gladful was tried 9s a steeplechaser, but he did not take kindly to, brush fences, and Mr. Kembail 'ms latterly kept Ijim exclusively for hurdle rac I1R( a t which he is a great performer, especially over a journey, whqp his stamina *> 01 assistance. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Cluo records a 4aaa.„o< fiiaiii. ML kM) yeui’a ” vvr sklloaa» 1