SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 July 1924, Page 6

SPORTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Maecenas.) The backers of Rafa received a very short run for their money on Wdnesday last, for soon after the barrier rose the Aucklander collided with the rails and got badly cut. Merry Singer gave a fine exhibition when he won at Trentham on Wednesday, and at no stage of the race did he look like being beaten. . Even on this showing Merry Singer can he selected to win a good class hurdle race, when seasoned. As C. Emerson will have the big advantage of riding at the South Canterbury and Waimate Hunt Club gatherings, it certainly points to- his beating M. McCarten for the premiership. Alteration was giving the leaders a big start a mile from home hr the Winter Hurdles on Wednesday, and although lie put in a fine sustained run, Alteration lound the start an impossible one.

Tenterfield finished remarkably well in the Yittoria Hurdles at Trentham, and the chestnut gelding may Tun weil in the Grand National Hurdles at Ricearton.

t Many papers hailed Boomerday as a* coming champion over hurdles after he had won at Ellerslie, but this high opinion was not agreed with in these columns, and at the time the writer pointed out that there was little or no merit in Boomerday’s defeat of King Abbey. Boomerday’s running at Trentham shows he is moderate. M. McCarten and. C. Emerson, who are rivals for the jockey premiership of this Dominion, fought out a great battle on Gardenia and Sun Up respectively’ at Trentham on Wednesday’. In a groat set to, McCarten brought his score even with Emerson by excellent horsemanship. Like on many former occasions when lie ) h isher in important hurdle races, \\ . Bowden gave a splendid exhibition of riding on Nukumai in the \. inter Hurdles at Trentham on Wednesday. Bowden’s reinstatment as a rider is a big asset to owners of jump- ’ mg horses. ■

Cold htcc-1 jumped out badlv in the i arhamentary Handicap at Trentham on Wednesday, and with a mile to go was giving Income and other Avedl-plac-od competitors a big start. Over the hut mile Cold Steel put in fine but of course fniloc] to r*f?t into the “placed” division.

Despite his poor showing at Ellerslie when backed by the right people, Rafa was again in the “market” at Trentham on Wednesday, and, incidentally j again a number of “heads” burnt, their j lingers through his defeat. Had Rafa j not started on Wednesday at least one 1 well-backed horse may have run better , tor about two miles, in the Winter Hurdles on Wednesday. First Born ran a fine race, and was a “possibility ’’ hut over-reaching, he strained his heart, hut struggled on for aboul one hundred yards, only to drop io the ground and die. Although he failed to fulfil early 'promise, First Born was a first-class hurdler, and his loss is a great one for Mr. Gaisford. • The trainer of Income (which worked, veil at I rent ham on Tuesday mornine) was very confident this gelding would run well in the Parliamentary" Hanrlicap. Gray soon had the son of Guianforte in a nice position, and riding one of his best races brought income through on the “inner’’ over the lasi furlong and a half to win easily. In contrast to the support accorded him in the Auckland races, the im-

ported Musketoou carried a lot of money in the Parliamentary Handicap on Wednesday last. His form, too mas vastly different to that exhibited hy him at Ellerslie, for although Musketoou did not begin quietly on Wednesday he soon rushed up to the leaders and turning for home looked good, . but later failed.