SPORTING NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 69, 6 March 1914, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

By Vladimir,

The Blenheim marc Sinapis set the seal to her fame as a stayer by her success in the Wanganui Cap last week, when she defeated a really first-class field, there being 13 runners. Among the number were such well-known performers as Bon Ton, Bronze, Tiresome Los Angeles, Sir Knox and Sir Solo, the last named being sent out a strong favourite. One well-known trainer who was present was heard to express the opinion that it was the finest field seen

out this season in a cup .contest, and ventured to say that Moutoa Girl was perhaps the fittest of all the candidates and would be the hardest of the lot to beat. How near he was to the actual result may be gleaned when Moutoa Girl, looking all over a winner, was just defeated by a well-timed ryn by Sinapis, cleverly ridden by 'Berry, who gained the verdict by three-quarters of a length.

Marshal Macdonald was strongly fancied by quite a number, but he finished out of a place. He, however, proved successful in the Wanganui Stakes, one and a-half miles, run on the second day of the meeting, so that there was evidently something to warrant the support awarded in the Cup, as he put down a fairly strong field in his race on Saturday.

Bon Ton again was unplaced, and Bronze and Tiresome both fell in the Stakes. Although it may not have made any difference to the result, it somewhat spoilt the race.

Sauci was a strong fancy fov the Flying Handicap, but failed'to gain a place, the winner turning U p hi Pavlova, who likewise, scored again in the Farewell Handicap oil Saturday, for which Sauci was once more made a very warm favourite, but getting awav badly she suffered defeat by a length.' Kmperador has struck winning form all right, as he put up a fine performance in the .lackson Stakes, miming the six furlongs in lmin 14 4-osec and defeating a select Held of very smart sprinters, his stable companion, Recontre (two-year-old) finishing second, Gladiole third. Bandiera, Ermengarde, Gipsy Belle and Reputation also started. By the Willochra on Sunday were shipped for Melbourne the hurdle horses, Pure Gold and Jack Ashore, also Sister Radius. The two former are engaged at a couple of meetings held in the vicinity of Melbourne, and are likely to be racing in a fortnight, as they have been nominated at a fixture at Caulfield, dated March 14. Sister Radius is also engaged in the Doneaster Handicap at Sydney, and will in all probability be seen racing a t the Easter meeting'held at Randwick. Her owner, Mr L. C. Hazlett, has gone across with the mare, and Olsen accompanies him to do the riding. Their doings on the other side will be watched with interest by our local followers of the sport, as Sister Radius has created a very good impression with all those who have seen her galloping, j She has improved out of all knowledge on her last season's form, having grown and filled out into a very handsome mare.

.Nominations for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps'are published. In the former 46 horses are entered, included the number being Sister Radius, Obsono, Gapon and Soldiers' Chorus.

The Riverton Racing Club also hold their Kaster meeting on the Monday and Tuesday of Easter week, and the majority of southern owners will most likely patronise this .-fixture in preference to Christehurch, as the opposition likely to be encountered at Riverton will not be as formidable as that at Ricearton.

The Tuapeka County Racing Club and the Beaumont Racing Club also hold their fixtures on Kaster Saturday and Monday respectively, so that Wingatui stables have ample opportunities of picking up a race or two before the winter meeting of the D..1.C.

The Newmarket Handicap, which is the richest endowed short distance event in Australia (the stake being SOOOsovs for the six furlongs), was run at IBemington last Saturday, and was won by a complete outsider in lownit, who registered lmin l.'Usce—a very smart performance, especially so when it is noted that 35 horses took part in this year's race.

The South Canterbury Jockev Club's autumn programme lias been published. There is a lot of hot air blown about occasionally about racing improving the breeding and stamina of horses for remount and other purposes. Such a programme, with 10 of the 14 flat races carded, of six furlongs and under, looks more like going for fresh totalisator records than bothering about the stamina of horses.

It is reported that Mr H. P. Nicol, of Ashburton, one of the. most prominent trotting owners in the Dominion, has decided to retire from the sport. Mr A. Pringle, who has .acted a*; his private trainer for a number of years, will start business as a public trainer. Soldiers' Chorus is reported to be doing good work at Riverton. He appears among the nominations for the Creat Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps to be decided at Ricearton next month.

At the Wanganui trotting meeting on Friday a race was won by Rothschild Lad and a, son of the same horse won another race on the same day, a somewhat unusual coincidence.

Rumor has it that what is known as the Oxenhope case i 6 not yet done with, and that there will be further developmeets before long. If anyone can give the average Celestial points in cunninp in connection with racing (writes "WJialebone"), it is the Maori, and some of the schemes they carry out in a childlike manner are really amusing. With a rush at the totalisators just before a race, it is easy for one of the clerks to make a mistake in taking silver over the counter. This the observant Maori has evidently noticed, for at a recent meeting time after time old tatooed veterans would walk up with 8s 6d in one hand and Is 6d in the other, and ask for a ticket, putting down the 8s 6d. If it passed the clerk, there was Is 6d' earned; but if one was caught a smile came on his face, the tattoo making it look like a Venetian blind, and he would exclaim: I'By golly, T forgot 1" and, opening the other hand, would drop tb« la W.