SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Nov. 27, Dec. I.—-Tskapuna JC spring. Nov. 30, Dec. 1. —Feilding J.G. spring. Dec 4.—Taumarunui R.C. annual. Dec. 8, 9—Woodville J.C. summer, TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) Takapuna races to-day. «< * # » Feilding on Tuesday next. # ft * * Auckland Cup weights are due on Thursday. » ft ft ft Desert Glow is du? to shine at Takapuna. * ft ft * Diogenes and Kilfaire are. nicely weighted in the Feilding Cup. ■S * <i <t High Finance appears to be in a class by himself in'two-year-old events at Takapuna. ... sfckalgsi ♦ ft * # Royal Damon and Merry Jest were just beaten by Shirley at Trentham. There will be no Shirley to beat at Feilding.

Tinokoa is a rattling good horse, and, with Ruffles, may carry the bulk of the money in the Takapuna Plate to-day.

Lysander is very well at present, and Wanganui sports consider that he will make hacks of Tamatete, Grand Knight, The Hawk, and other cracks in the Feilding Stakes;

A smart crowd of sprinters figure in the Cheltenham Handicap at Takapuna, and punters may find it hard to sort them out. Le Choucas is fancied in the North, but the consistent Nancy Lee does not appear to be over-burdened with 8.3. e • ft ft

A Highweight Handicap takes the place of the usual hurdle race at Takapuna today, and northerners may experience the difficulty which others have had in sorting up the capabilities on the flat of horses and horsemen which have mostly been associated with jumping events. The moody Black Cruiser, and Wedding March, have the best, credentials on the flat.

A Reefton sporting writer states that the last has not been heard of the Maunu case, which will be re-opened by the Greymouth District Committee at an early date. This was the affair in which four out of "five riders in the Hurdles at Reefton on January 8 were disqualified. ft * * # ■

Mr. W. McA. Duncan, the well-known Wanganui sportsman, has been particularly generous in donating cups to racing clubs, and the cup to be presented to the owner of the winner of the Feilding Cup next Tuesday is a very handsome one. It is common talk that at least one Taranaki horseowner hopes to see the trophy decorating his sideboard next week. « ft * ft

The Quin Abbey gelding, Stormy, continues to win races in Australia, and with four on end must have made the trip worth while for his fortunate owner. Stakes are small at minor gatherings on the other side, but unlimited betting counts, and one only has to “head ’em” a few times to get a lot of money. ® ft * ft

The Ashhurst Racing Club was fortunate in getting off the annual races in fine weather ou Wednesday. Next day rain fell in torrents, and yesterday it was still pouring, at Feilding, where the tracks are likely to be heavy next week—unless the Clerk of the Weather turns off the tap! Last year the Feilding Jockey Club was more fortunate, the tracks being fast for the spring meeting, as shown by the times recorded, Tamatete running five furlongs in 1.1; The Lamb six furlongs in 1.14 3-5, and Lady Bentinct a similar distance in 1.14 2-5 on the second day; while Lady Gay won the Cheltenham Hurdle Race, lj miles, iu 2.45 2-5. ft ft ft «

Mr. Mason Durie, of Aorangi, lost a valuable brood mare, Hupana (Advance — Tahua), under strange circumstances recently. An aged mare named Tiraumea (dam of Takaroa) was in failing health, and Mr. Doric commissioned a person to shoot her. Tiraumea was running in the same paddock as Hupana, and the man with the gun destroyed the wrong mare! That was even worse thau the mistake made with a pair of youngsters owned by Mr. Sammy Gibbons. One was sold to go to Australia, and the wrong one—the New Zealand Windbag—was shipped to Sydney, and had to be sent back again! « # ft ft

B. H. Morris heads the winning riders for the present season with 19 firsts. R. J. Mackie 164, F. E. Jones 14, L. A. Pine 14, F. Voight 12, J. Barry 12, and H. Wiggins 11J are next. The hurdle horsemen, Alan McDonald, has done well, scoring 111 wins, and J. T. Humphries, who "mixes it,” is handy with 10. Roy Reed, who has done most- of his riding in Australia this season, registered his fifth win in New Zealand when he steered Bonhomme home in the last race at Ashhurst on Wednesday. ft ft ft ft

i Despite rumours to the contrary, Sydney i scribes state that Maurice McCarten has I declined retainers on the other side, and j will ride as a free lance. The New Zeai lander will get plenty of riding in Aus- ■ trails, and most of it of the best class. ■ He expects to stay at least twelve months | on the other side of the pond. HAWERA TRACK NOTES. Benxora and Letliel ran four furlongs • in 50sec., Benzora going the better. I feky Point was too good for Bonogne ' over five furlongs in Imin. 4sec. ■ ■ " S !Ul,t T ree ran three furlongs l m 37sec., both carrying over Bst. ! Sea Star (L. Pine) went half a mile ; in 50 3-ssee. i l.oraan and Alaric went seven fur- : longs easily in Imin. 35sec. 1 The Lamb carried about 6.7 and. ran ■ seven furlongs in Imin. 30Jsec., being : assisted by Blue Peter for the first. bal£ mile and an Acre gelding over the last i hree. Kil'oeh and Serena ran half a mile in ■>olsee. Enare and Euphonium went seven furlongs in Imin. 31sec. Both these horses are very well. Glengariff, by himself, went twice round at half pace and ran along the last three furlongs in 38see. Lady Cavendish gave Lady Bentinck two lengths start over half a mile and beat, her by a length. It was the best mllop on the track this sprins. Tliev ook 41) I see. " Acred was too good for Eanyan&i ,rer live furlongs in imin. 44see. Shut-Eye went o er eight fences by omself, jumping a good deal better. Lady Anstruther and Paitoinii trotted ■nlv.