SPORTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10205, 5 April 1911, Page 3

SPORTING.

TURF NOTES.

(By "Zetland.")

Equitas, the top weight in the Auckland Easter Handicap, is expected to be among the starters in the Telegraph Handicap at Awapimi. If the Advance mare wins she will he penalised 31bs for the first-named event.

The Nursery Handicap at Tauherenikau should be a decidedly interesting race. Among the contestants are Odessa, Miss Murphy, Sinapis, Tigerine, and Longstep, all winners, while Wee Rose, Blue Lake, and Lady Kilcheran may be counted high-class thoroughbreds. A nice even field is engaged in the Easter Handicap at the Wairarapa meeting. Best form this season is represented by Rauparaha, Rill, Passive, San Lass, Ariom, Julian and Mauupai. Aimwell and Sunbonnet will be tried over a longer distance than they have previously been successful over.

In the sprint events at Tauherenikau there are several very speedy performers, and it is quite probable that previous time records may be broken during the meeting. With such brilliant ones as Lord Soult, §ea Queen, Mon Ami, Tigerine, Full Rate, Sunbonnet, Killaloo, Zealand, and Lady Moutoa the contests should be well worth witnessing, and it may be taken for granted that backers will be set very difficult tasks to find the winners.

Bridge is being prepared for the Sydney Cup, and is going along satisfactorily in his preparation. The steeplechaser, Te Arai, is to be taken over to Australia for a winter campaign. If treated at all well by the handicappers the Monaco gelding will show the Australians how he can negotiate big . country with the pace on. Mr G. D. Greenwood is sending Orton and Directoire to Auckland to represent him in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes and Great Northern Oaks respectively. The lastnamed has not yet shown to advantage, but is probably better than many sportsmen think. Although nominated for events at the, Wairarapn meeting, Full Rate has bean accepted for in the Great Easter Handicap. Although the distance of this race is seven furlongs, he will have plenty of supporters.

The Hawke's Bay bred horse. The Cockatoo, won a race in Calcutta recently for the Hon. A. A. Apear. Good average acceptances have been received for the. Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps. The most notable defections from the list are Danube, Kopu, Birkdale, Equitas, Effort, Gipsy Belle, Dearest and Formby. Early backers have lost money by reason of Danube's withdrawal.

Weights for the Wairarapa meeting will appear on April 7th. Prior to allotting them the handicapper will ho enabled to witness th? racing at the Manawatu meeting. The Challenge Stakes at the Canterbury meeting will bring out a number of high-class performers, including Danube, Vice-Admiral, Sunbonnet, Madam Madcap, King Soult, Peirene, Culprit, Masterpiece, and Counterfeit. Most of the leading New Zealand stables will be represented in the race.

A. Whittaker, of Auckland, is now at the head of the Dominion's winning horsemen this season.