SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 August 1926, Page 3

SPORTING.

FIXTURES. Aug-. 21 —Pakuranga Hunt Club. Aug, 25 —Egmont-AVia.ngamn Hunt Club Aug. 28—North. Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept. 1,2 —Marton J.C. Sept, 4 —Otago Hunt Club. Sept. 4 —Manawntu Hunt- Club. Sept. 9, II —Wanganui J.C. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Maecenas.) The only race meeting to be held in the Dominion this week is that of the Pakuranga- Hunt Club, which takes place on Saturday next. If there was no contingency attached to the Lincoln Steeplechase engagement (which ho won), Tuki at 300 guineas was indeed a bargain, as the race Tuki non on Saturday was worth £490 to the winner. Many close observers marked Tuki off, after seeing him at Trentham, as one likely to win this year’s Grand National Steeplechase; but evidently the gelding was not quite wound up for the opening day, as on each of the succeeding days Tuki showed great improvement.

Australian papers report that R. J. Mason has his two-year-olds Agrion and Eulalie well forward for early racing. In fact, it is said that Agrion (which is the better so far) is- ready to race now.

When in Australia- recently the Auckland owner-trainer J. Williamson, journeyed to Brisbane, and Australian reports say that he was so favourably impressed with that part of Australia that he may race horses there. The trainer of Nippy still thinks the Australian-bred gelding the unlucky runner in both the Brabazon Welter and Winter Cup, and claims he met with bad interference. Seeiiitr that the stable-mate (Le Choucas) won the Winter Cup, there can be no bias about the opinion. Most of the South Island steeplechase courses are fairly .stiff, so such an excellent jumper as Tuki will take some stopping, if he can he produced at his best

Considering this is liis first- season as a juniper. Black Cruiser lias performed really well, but has been unlucky. With one of our experienced riders in the saddle. Black Cruiser must- have won the Winter Hurdles at Trentham, and would certainly have finished closer to Comical in the Grand National Hurdles.

Amongst a numerous list of acceptors for the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting appears the name of the exTaranaki hack Eden Hall, but as his present trainer has been absent in the South Island for a considerable time it would appear unlikely that Eden Hall will show his best form on Saturday. Considering the little experience that Rangatahi has had at jumping, and the fact that he was running out on a big estate for two years without getting any -hard feed, his efforts against our best hurdlers at R-iecarton was remarkably good, aiul if the gelding continues to progress and get more .solid, as one would expect, then lie must he a formidable opponent in next year’s big hurdle events. Of course, the fact that Rangatahi is an eight-year-old now is somewhat- against liis future career. Trainer J. T. Jamieson passed through Wellington with Le Choucas and Nippy on his way home last Friday, and therefore did not wait for the third day of the Canterbury meeting. Although Le Choucas won the AA'inter Cup for the- stable, the trip could not be described as a very profitable one, for, on at least a couple of occasions when he failed to pay a dividend, Nippy was .solidly supported by followers of the stable. Both Nippy and Le Choucas appear among the- horses accepted for at the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting on Saturday next. The pair named are now at tlieir best, and. the racing they had at Riccarton should stand to them at El'lerslie on Saturday. Each is nicely handicapped, and will be favoured with the expert services of R. S. Baghv in the saddle. With such advantages it will he strange if the pair do not prove very troublesome at the finish of races.

It- has been freely stated that the fences at Riccarton this year were less formidable than of yore Such statements induced inquiries to lie made about the matter from the Canterbury Jockey omlds caretaker (Mr./McNab), who stated that the impression that the jumps this year were smaller was an erroneous one. On the contrary, they were higher and more solid than has been the case for years. Under such conditions we can pride ourselves that this year’s steeplechasers are quite up to the standard of most seasons.

When Ngata carried 12.9 to victory in the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap at Riccarton in August, 1922, it was considered a great feat, but the performance of Maniapoto’s son in carrying 12.13 to victory in the same event last Tuesday was a greater performance, and it is doubtful if a better one has ever been registered in Australasia. On the strength of this splendid effort, Ngata was installed a very bi.r favourite for the Grand National 'Hurdles two days later, but on this occasion the track (which was greasy) was all against the gelding, and he was practically beaten at twelve furlongs. J.’ossib'iy the great effort under 12.13 was also- a- factor that brought about Ngata’s easy defeat. At the Mborfiehl (Australia) meeting, held a few days ago. the New Zealand rider M. 'McCartcn finished third on a gelding named Coolgong, Imt on returning McCarten was found to lie 51b short weight. At a subsequent inquiry by the stewards it was revealed that the trainer omitted to put. the lead bag on the gelding. This was poor consolation for C'oolgong’s backers, as they had no chance of getting their dividend even had he won. Such important things happen to the most careful and exacting trainers, although it is difficult to understand why such want of thought should be exhibited. Some years ago R ,J. Mason won a hack race in Wanganui with the wellhacked Thames, but on returning to scale Deeley, her rider, wn.s 21b short in weight. So even the men of reputation make mistakes.

It is rarely that one finds a. highclass hurdler neglected in the betting ns Comical was in the recent Grand National Hurdle race won by him, more especially as the gelding ran such a. creditable, race in the Jumpers’ Flat, in which event he was just beaten out of a place. The facts that Ngata gave Comical 14’lb and a. beating under a high scale of weights in the Jumpers’ FLt, and that there was only 61b between them in the Grand National Hurdles, certainly made it appear that

Ngata must again beat Comical in the big hurdle race, as the extra distance and jumps looked to be in Ngata’s favour. Looked on in this light Comical’s dividend is not surprising.