SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 June 1926, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Maecenas.”) Black Cat, who failed to run 'up to expectation this season, has again been put into work at Trentham. Dubious was schooled at Trentham ori. Saturday last, and gave a good display of jumping. Is this fellow as good as some imagine? Master peter, with it. E. Thompson in the saddle, jumped the big country at Trentham on Saturday. He is particularly well and should soon make amends for recent failures. •Although Tuki failed to gain place money in the Great Northern Steeplechase" he ran a good fourth, and from now on he may do even better, as the Trentham and Riccarton fences are moi-e to his liking. Reticles (All Black-Perseis) which won the Australian Steeplechase on Saturday last, was up till recently owned by Mr.-E. J. Watt, who formerly raced on a. largo scale in the Dominion. The ox-New Zealand jockey Ashley Heed is doing a good deal of travelling and meeting with success in Australia. East week at the Adelaide meeting, Reed made a dead heat of the Port Adelaide Cup onValbee, and on the same afternoon won the Norwood Handicap on Adrift, while previously he won the Adelaide Cup on Spearer. Trainer G. Price, still continues to train winners in Australia. At the Mooreneld meeting held a few days age, Bonne Chose, Cloud and Mychout, all winners, were trained by Price. The Dominion should be strong numerically in two-year-old races next season, if the Trentham Stables give a fair indication of the numbers being put through, their facings. No less than 25 youngsters are distributed amongst trainers on that course. The racecourse has seen nhe last of the good but unlucky Royal Divorce. The English-bred horse left Trentham for Palmerston North last week. Royal Divorce will be at the service of bleeders next season. Although, Nukumai has not raced since winning the Egmont Steeplechase last month, he is quite a ! l right, and, even if he does not race at the Hawke’s Bay meetings, uhis promising horse can he marked down as a certain runner for the coming Wellington Steeplechase. Farceur (Absurd —Our Lady), formerly trained by R. J. Mason, and raced with distinction in the Dominion, was submitted to auction in Sydney last week, but the best offer was 100 guinea's, and he was passed in. When racing in these parts, Farceur was a good sprinter. In the Flying Handicap at the Australian Jockey Club’s meeting last Saturday. Kiosk raced against horses of all ages, and finished a close second. In running second in each :of his starts in Australia, Kiosk is showing consistent form that will keep his sire (Tea Tray) before the Australian owners. Evidently Kiosk impressed the critics in Australia, for, although he could only run second in his first .attempt there, a good future is predicted for Tea Tray’s son. As a. rule, Trainer R. J. Mason is very guarded when referring to any of his horses, but prior to leaving for Australia, he gave the opinion to a Wellington friend that Ms coming two-year-olds have impressed Mm, and Mason expects the pair to race well in the Australian spring engagements. The Absurd-Etulogy filly will race as Eulalie ancl fihe ' Limdnd-Waterwings colt as Agrion. A couple of seasons ago Highway was tried as a steeplechaser, but did not win the success one would have expected from such a capable hurdler. As Highway is engaged in chases at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, it appears that Trainer C. Morse is still hopeful of his gelding making good over the big jumps. The disappointing Tarleton has again been turned out for a spell, after another unsuccessful season. Seeing that Eerie. Brushwood Bay and Sottano (all of which claim Nassau as their sire) have recently won over jumps, it would appear good business to try Tarleton at the same department. Having plenty of size, pace and staying power, this son of Nassau should, be capable of winning in any company over jumps. During the discussion in England on recent legislation, which included' a proposal to introduce the totalisator to derive revenue from betting, several persons in giving evidence made Statements and produced figures about the working of the mechanical: bettor in .New Zealand, hut their utterances were generally those of persons little interested and with a limited knowledge of their subject. Prior to Sir Francis Bell leaving these shores, he gathered some valuable statistics in relation to the working, management, and taxation of the totalizator in the Dominion. The figures were both complete and authentic and, as Sir Francis i« verv thorough in anything lie handle's. he could enlighten the British Government much more accurately and thoroughly on betting in New Zealand than all previous witnesses combined. Up to the present, no mention has been, made of Sir Francis Bell being annronched, or expressing his views, on this matter, which is still exercising the minds of those responsible to thp English taxpayer.