SPORTING.

» Fixtures. August 11, 13, and 15.— C.J.C. Grand National Meeting. August 27 — Egmont- Wanganui Hunt Club September 23.— South Canterbury J.C. September 19, 23, 20. — Avondale J.C. September 23, 24. — Rangitikei R.C. September 24, 25. — Geraldine B.C. October 1, 2. — Wanganui J.C. ' October 7, B.— Hawko's Bay J.C. October 13, 14.— Napier Park R.C. October 14, 17.— Otaki Maori R.C. October 14, 15. — Dunedin J.C. October 21, 24.— Wellington R.C. October 27, 28. — Dannevirke J.C. October 29, 30.— Masterton R.C. November 7.— C.J.C. Metropolitan (New Zealand Cup). Notes by " Achilles." .Siege Gun is 'finding some' support lor the Melbourne Cup. Taura, who has been resting for the past three months, is again in work. I Nominations for the Avondale J.O Spring Meeting arc due on August 14. I hear that Merry Boy is au unlikely starter in the Grand National' Hurdles. The first acceptance for the New Zealand Cup is due on Friday next, 7th inst. There is no change to report in the betting on the N.Z. Cup. Wairiki is still favourite. Prom March 23 to May 29, W. Lane, the leading horseman in the. Old Country, rode 192 times, and won 40 times. Final payments for the New Zealand Grand National Steeples, Grand National Hurdle.3, and Winter Cup are due oh Friday, 7th inst. Next Avcek the C.J.C. NGrand National Meeting is to bo held. The, Steeplechase will be decided on Tuesday and the Hurdles on Thursday. Mr F. Tilley, of Fordoll, baa purchaser! the three-year-old filly by Mahaki out of Waiau. that Mr Percy Martin gave- 110 guineas for ns a yearling. "Battloa-xo is Raid to be in better fettle than he" was at Auckland, and is still a strong favourite for the big Hurdles at Christchurch. Rock Sand has won eight out of nine races, his stakes winnings totalling £18,124. At lqfc'st "Rock Sand was 11 to 10 on for the Si. Legcr. Ard Patrick, Sceptre, and Rock Sand are all engaged in' the Jockey Club Stakes of. ]0,0q0,. rovs,. to, be , deci^wl at . Newmaikct iii' October next. ' : . Tod Sloan in aueing,, the French Jockey Chib, . who recently ' warned him' 1 off all courses under their jurisdiction, for 125.000 francs'' damages. . ' The tvo-vear-pld 'son of Bant ,Btiou that'J. Mahcr purchased l lasi. April in Sydney for the Wanganui sportsman, Mr T. F: 'Moore, has been broken in. .It is 'pleasing to .note that, the lucky drawers of Lowland Chief in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdl'c Race sweep were six poor men. They', received .£2OOO. Charlie Jenkins -has loft Bulls for, Porirua en route for" 'Olmstchuroh. where he is going to ride'Rawiri in the Winter Cup. Rawiri's knee is.'^till causing some 1 anxiety, I understand I . ' " ' Awahuri'ia said to have done splendid work prior to leaving Palmerston North For Ricearton, and many yrc confident of his ability to win the' Grand National | Steeplechase. ' ; Achilles is being, nibbled at for the New Zealand Cun. but 100's to 5 are still on I offer about the top" weight. It would,"rob- ' ibly bp wise for intending backers to hold off the sort of Medallion 1 for a while. Mr J. H." Pollock Has been appointed handicappcr- to lite" Otaki Maori Racing Club. Mr Pollock Should give satisfaction to the club and owners, "as he ■ has had •nany years' connection with racing in the colony." Marmoht, who won the Caulfield Grand National Hurdles on Saturday, has -it up i wonderful record, having gone through the last few months without sustaining a defeat. Had Westerly not met' with that accident in -the. V.R.C. Grand National race- probably there would have been at least, one win less to Marmont's credit, but as it is the latter has scored six successive victories. Nominations clo^e oii Friday, 14th : of August, at 9 p.m. for the various events set" down for decision' at tire Egmont- • Wanganui Hunt Club's Meeting, which takes place on Thursday, 27th inst., with Mr F. Moffatt, lion, secretary and treasurer. ' , Mr George Chamberlain ' returned from ,a trip to Christchurch. on Saturday evening, )Uid brought back with him the Trenton lv>r«c Phaeton, , whos services will no •ioult be largely -availed of by breeders .luring the season. . » When Sceptre was recently sold to Captain W. A. Haniar Bass, tlie. consideration that, Mr R. S. Sicvier received for the filly was .£20,000, with .€4OOO if she won the Ascot Cup, and .£2OOO more if ahe won either of' tlic'threQ ''ten thousand pounders." Unless Sceptre manages to laud the Jockey Club Staked, Mr Sievier will have to he content witbftlie .£20,000. Although there is no straight-out market on the two Cups, aiid vrirv little general business is doing, the following wagers have been laid- in Melbourne: — j Cnulfipld Cup: 2(pJ to GO each Nothoe, Kingiike. St. Ambrose. Florin, and Lieutenant Bill. 2000 to 80 Bright Beauty. I £1000 to -E-JO Sojourner, and .£lOOO to .£4O ! Rapid Pilarim. . Melbourne Cup: .£lOOO to £80 Emir, .fioOOO to .£l5O Osian. .£lOOO ] to <£30 Wakeful. •£ 1000 1o The Victovy. iJIOOO to <S3O Stratn Floruln.

Kohupapa has been giving ,his trainer some trouble, since his .arrival :it Riecarton, and was- off the track for several tlav.s. He is in work a^gaiu now, and ifi said to be sound. } , . v Cruciform aiul Orlofl: were shipped to Sydiioy by the Monowai, which left Lyttollon on Saturday. Mason went in ohanre of tho pair, aud was accompanied by F. Jones. - , It is understood that. Cruciform will be reserved for tho weight-for-agc races j>^ the A.J.C. Spring Meeting, while Orloft will compote in the handicaps. The mcofing of the former with Ihc Australian cracks will be looked forward to with great interest, but it h considered liy Außtralian writers that neither Wakeful or Abundance will be at their bust in Sydney.