SPORTING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 9

SPORTING.

.Nominations for the Manawatu Racing Club's Summer Meeting close at 9 p.m. to-day, and at the same time first forfeits must be declared for the Eighteenth Palmerston North Stakes. The Dunedin Jockey Club, Hawke's Bav Jockey Club, Westland Racing Club, and "Waikouaiti Racing Club will require the attention of owner 3 and trainers on Friday, nominations for their holiday meetings closing on that day. The imported mare Darvc'ng DoIJ won her first race in the Dominion at Takapuna on Saturday. Last season she showed some promise on the tracks, but never ran up to expectations with the colours up. Her seventeen races last season were only productive of one second. She has appeared seven times in public this season for one win and a third. Alfort was another imported horse who opened his winning account at Takapuna. In his thirteen efforts last season he ran some very lair races, being second four times and third once. Hs ran second to It-oyal Blood when conceding him 71b in the Electric Handicap at the Auckland llacing Club's Summer Meeting last season, and another good performance was at the same meeting, when on the fourth day he carried Bst 31b into second place behind Broadwood, 6st 71b, with Epitaph. 7st 71b, third, in the County Handicap, run over six furlongs. The programme submitted to owners by the Woodville Jockey Club for its Summer Meeting has met with a fairlyliberal response, and the fields for the oldening day, to-morrow, contain the names of a good number of well-per-formed horses.

The Mnnga-Atua Hurdles opens the programme, and its seven acceptors make the smallest field of the day. Toa Taua, with lOst 121b, is top weight, and may make a better showing than lie did at Ashliurst, where faulty jumping stopped him when lidding a handy position. Captain Sarto and Diamond Nap have both won earlier this season, and may improve on their form of the past few weeks. The English three-year-old colt Royal Divorce may be a runner in the Trial Plate,' in which Hallmark, Penelophon, and Clandhu are among others engaged. The first-named has a good private reputation, and may be fortunate enough in the company he has to meet to erase his name from the maiden list.

The Oete Handicap, the principal sprint race, should provide an interesting contest. Soli form, who will have a "run here before going on to Auckland. is not over-weighted with Bst 51b, but is meeting some good ones in Civilform 9st olb, Sunart Bst 131b, Gazeworthy Bst 81b, and Mangawhero 6st 71b. Birkie ran third last week in his only start this season, and will add some interest if he faces the barrier.

The Nursery Handicap has filled very well, and several of the probable runners have already had good racing experience. Among those yet to make their debut is Royal Diadem, by Polydamon from Royal Mary, and his recent track work has induced his owner to make the payment for him for the classic races at Ellerslie. His lack of experience will not be to his advantage as he has four or Ave immediately above him who have all been in the limelight recently. Scion may find even the mile and a-quarter in the Woodville Handicap a trifle too short for him, but a return to last season's form would make him a strong order in the company he is meeting. Admiral Codringbon has not raced well lately, but Vagabond, Mountain Crag, and Ivahikatea. have been doing things right, and must be given a chance with the top weight, all three' being in the 7st division. Little River, Zircon, and Cold Steel are also in at under Bst, but with the exception of Cold Steel have shown nothing near their best in their recent outings.

The Flying Hack Handicap is a big field, in which fair beginners such as Fleeting, Ihapotoa, and Atapo would be well suited, and each has a reasonable impost. In fact, with the handicap starting at 9st, the weight at which Hytinus heads the'list, nothing in the race could bo written out, though the recent good form of the three mentioned is likely to furnish them with solid support. First Salute has done nothing since winning the Alison Cup at Takapuna two years ago, but with 9st 21b in the Borough Welter is nicely weighted. His only start this season procured third money behind Counter Attack and March On at Ashhurst last week, m lm 28s. He was not a length away from the winner, and is now meeting Counter Attack on 91b and March On on 71b better terms. But there are more than three runners, and Quest, Cleasanta, Passionless, Lady Kotiripo, and Dissertation are a quintet of useful welter horses that cannot be overlooked.

The Welter Hack weights have only a range of 181b, with Good Mark at the head and Parearau at the bottom of the list. They are not a good lot engaged, but the race may be a guide to something better in the future, as whatever gets ta the end of the mile and 170 yds to be covered with welter weights well may go a bit farther under a lighter scale at the holiday meetings. Royal Present was scratched for the Auckland Cup at 12.25 p.m. yesterday.

TROTTING NOTES. Handicaps for the New Brighton T.C.'a Spring Meeting will be declared to-morrow. .Liberal support has been accorded the New Brighton Trotting Club ior its 1926 ISew Zealand Trotting Derby. Amongst the owners with nominations are: Messrs It. M. Morton, 11. F. lNicoil, 12. E, Lelievre, H. W. Kitchingham, It. McDonnell, J. B. Westerman, A. C. Watson, T. 11. Ivcy, J J. Kcnnerlcy, W. H. Norton, and Mrs M. Duncan. The acceptances for the Auckland T.C.'s Great Northern Derby are most disappointing, as the list includes only six three-year-olds. This is no doubt due to the excellent showing of Taurekareka in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, and in the Trial Handicap at Addington last August. The pacing gelding Coil has been purchased by Messrs Clarkson and Graham, and in future will be trained by N. C. Price. Adair, who fell in the Forbury Park Cup, did not return to Lauriston with the other members of O. E. Hooper's team, but Ins been placed on the e»sv list, and will not race again for some time. Harris has been penalised 84yds in the Drayton Trot, ;.nd 96vds in the Farmers' Trot at the Methven Kacing Club's Annual Meeting on Saturday. The Auckland Trotting Cup has drawn a high-class field of twenty-one horses, including Great Hope, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, Sheik, winner of the 1923 Otahuhu Trotting Cup, Acron, who finished, second to Grent Hope in the. Cup and Taraire, Lightnin', Don Wild, Tatay Dillon, Linden, Willie Logan, and Blue Mountain iting f who have 6howii winning form this season. Mr G. Anderson has sold his three-year- [ old filly Megala. by Harold Dillon from a. i Petereta. to the Addington trainer, A. Fleming. Queen Wilkes and Fox Trot figured on the card in the SuDurban Handicap on the concluding day of Forbury Park, as trained By D. 0. Jones. As Jones failed to put in an appearance in time to send hia horses to the post, {lie club scratched Queen Wilkes, and Fox Trot was withdrawn by his owner, Mr N. McColl. 'Subsequently the stewards met and suspended Jones' license for the meeting, and decided to recommtnd the New Zealand Trotting Association to cancel it. At the conclusion of the Victoria: Handicap, T. Kett, driver of Clonmel, was called .(CeiitiKGSiLalJaet oljuoajadnaa,)

before the stewards for alleged interference with Gay Wilkes. He stated that Uonmel bored badly going out of the straight the last time, and he did his best to keep the horse straight and any interference was unintentional. His explanation, waa accepted and no action was taken. Alter the first payment in the 1924 New Zealand Derby Stakes, eighteen well-bred three-year-olds are engaged, including the placed horses in the .New Zealand Sapling Stakes, Taurekareka, Double Event, and Hackthome, also Wlietu, Rex Minto, Megala, Pxiscilla Dean, Vercy Light, and Nelson Fame. The attractive programme of the Auckland T.C.'s Spring Meeting ht.s favourably appealed to local owners and trainers, as the list of nominations includes F. Holmes (Willie Logan, Lady Esma, and "Wild Pointer), E. J- Smith (Vilo, Fancy Boy, and Fairton), T. G, Fox (Queen Ida), O. E. Hooper (Linden, Prospect, and Harris), J. Bryce (Whetu, Great Hope f Alto Chimes, Taurekareka, Taraire, Ahuriri, "William tho First, and Pakoti), J. J. Kennerley (Acron, Peter Swift, and Great Bingen), A. Fleming (Don Wild) J. Dench (Tatey Dillon) J. W. Lewis (Peter Mac), E. J. Berry (Sunny Jim), C. I Jon aid (Mangoutu), G-. Keed (Coldwater, and Delville Wood), T. Kett (Clonmel), W. J. Tomkiiuson (Worthy Bingen), I B. Jardan (Huanui), A. G. Wilson (La Fayette and Priscilia Dean). The Ashburton sportsman Mr H. F. Nicoll, who has been on a business and holiday trip to Europe and America, is expected back in New ZealanS to-day. While in America Mr Nicoll purchased a &-yecir-old stallion by Peter the Great, with a record of 2m 2s. | It is quite on the cards that the champion pacer Happy Voy*ge, 2m 4 l-ss, will ! | bo seen in commission at tha West Coast 1 holiday fixtures, as negotiations are pending with tie Greymouth Trotting Club .and the Westlani Trottiqg *