SPORTING NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 8 October 1913, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES.

FIXTURES : October 8 and 11.—Dunedin J.C. Spring. October 16.—Masterton R.C. Spring. October 25, 27—Wellington R.C. Spring. November 8, 10, 12, 15 C.J.C. Spring. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. November s—Great Northern Guineas. November B—New Zealand Oup. December 26 —Auckland- Cup. December 27 —Auckland Trotting Chip. January I—Groat1 —Groat Northern Derby. AUSTRALIA, pctober 18—Gaulfield Oup. Nov&ttiW I—V.R.C. Derby. November 1 4—Melbourne Cup.

(By "Also Started.")

The Masterton Racing UJuo's spring meeting takes place at Opaki next Thursday week. Acceptances for all events and entries for the Trial Stakes clo*se with the club's secretary, Mr A. Hathaway, oai Friday evening. Quito a number of trainers have already engaged boxes, indicating that the fields are likely to fill well. That good mare Sinapis will make her debut as a five-yen r-old at " the local meeting. The St. Ambrose filly is not badly treated in being asked to carry 8.5, and as she is reported to be working well on the tracks, she should give a good account of herself in the Spring Handicap. Leonta at present is the ruling favourite. The class opposed to Master Lupin in the Ladies' Bracelet at Masterton i$ not of much account, but 12.7 is a big load for a comparatively green horse to carry. .Sir Knox was defeated in this event by a fair performer in Nedra, when giving away a lot of poundage. Black Lupin is reported to be galloping exceptionally well just now, and with 7.12 in the Flying Handicap, is not over-burdened with weight, The Lupin horse has a partiality for the Opaki course, having won on each occasion he has raced there. Suratura will race in open company at Opaki. This useful mare has never looked bettor than at present, and with 7.2 may prove a tough proposition in the Flying Handicap. Quito a number of recent winners are engaged at the Masterton meeting.

The Birkenhead colt Birkful is proving a payable proposition this season, and should Incapable of winning a good stake during the next month or two.

The connections of Astral wore very confident of the mare's ability to beat Sir Moseley at Napier Park, but the latter simply ran away from his field. ■Redloli is improving fast, and should accoaint for a good handicap soon.

For the first time for a. number of years the Karanm stable did not provide a winner at Napier Pa rk. A second with Hyettus was the best the stable could do.

The successful lightweight, W. Bell, steered two winners at the Napier meeting. This diminutive horseman is riding particularly well just now, and hi? services being mupli in demand, he should go near topping the winning list of hoirsemen for the season.

Diavolo has been a very consistent performer during the past few montlia but he seems unable to just catch tile judge's! eve. A spell should do'Mr Neagle's gelding a lot of good.

Eocene, who has not won a race for ii considerable time, was first past the post in the concluding event at Napier, returning the ninety investors a handsome dividend. My«teriarch is said to be a bit of a rogue, and only gallops when in the humour.

Stoneyfalls raced well over hurdles at Napier, and should soon get on the winning list. He was bred by the local sports-nan, Mr H. Nee, owner of Sir Knox and Co., and is by Merrie England from a St. Leger mare. Haskayne, by his win at Hastings, does not incur a penalty for the .New Zealand Oup. Undecided has been well supported for the New Zealand Cup, consequent 011 liis good .showing at Otaki. Sea Pink injured his shoulder when he fell at Hastings last week, and will require a spell.

Mr T. H. Lowry's gelding St. Francis received a nasty kick the other day, but evidently the injury is not serious, for the son of San Francisco has been nominated for the principal events at tho Wellington, Canterbury and Auckland fixtures.

It i« interesting to note that, although tho Stewards' Handicap at Christchiirch is worth 500 sovs. more than the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, the. latter event lias attracted a nomination of 78 as against 62 in the southern event.

It would appear that Soltano'.s mission after he-returns to New Zealand for the spring racing has nofeyet been decided on, for, although the son of Soidt still remains in the Great Northern Guineas, he has been nominated for several of the big events at the C.J.O. spring meeting. FJectrakdff, with Oliver in the saddle, ran second in the concluding event at Randwick 011 Monday, and would appear to be getting back to his best form, as lie carried 9.7, tho mile and a-quarter being run in 2min Sfsec. '