SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 August 1927, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. August 27—Taranaki Hunt Club. September 2, 3—Marton J.C. September 3^—A.J.C. Warwick Farm. September 8, 10 —Wanganui J.C. September 9 —Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. September 10—Otago Hunt Club. September 14 —Dannevirke R.C. September 15—Dannevirke Hunt Club.. September 24 —Ashburton County R.C. September 24, 26—Napier Park R.C. September 24, 26 —Avondale J.C. September 29, 30—Geraldine R.C. October I—Hawke’s Bay J.C.

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS,

BY CABLE- PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, Aug. 25. Count Cavour Las been scratched for the Metropolitan Handicap. A veterinary surgeon says that Agrion ’s pasterns are very bad, but are on the mend. He Trill possibly resume work on Monday. HANDICAPS FOR NEW ZEALAND CUP. (by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHUR OH, Aug. 25. The weights for the New Zealand Cup, two miles, are: , Rapine, Count Cavour 9.6, Star Stranger 9.1, Te Monanui 8.12, F ootfall 8.9, Piuthair 8.8, Beacon Light 8.6, Grand Knight 8.4, Degage 8.2, Rapier 7.11, Centrepiece, Edenhall 7.9, Nukumai, Battlement 7.6, Overhaul 7.4, Desert Glow, Clarinda 7.3, Overdrawn, Yoma 7.2, Set Sail 7.1, Pink Note, Lady Desmond, Royal Game, Vaward, Haze, Novar, Eujjhonium, Bcnnance, Merry Damon, Black Mint, Pcrle tie Leon, Front Bank, Nippy, Bilbo, Phaola, Assurance, Chickwheat, Royal Mint, Solrosc, Carnot, Gaze, The Polynmian, High Gear, David Garrick, Beau Geste, Equerry. Aberfeldy, Cornstalk, Romantic, Royal Head. Mandarine, Satrap, Star God, Ark Royal, Strettou, Amor, Streamer, Boy, Honey 7.0.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”)

The Taranaki Hunt Club received excellent acceptances for their annual meeting, which, takes place to-morrow, and'a good day’s racing should eventuate.

A better class. than one usually finds in such events, is engaged in the Lepperton Hunters’ Hurdles. Just John failed so badly at Ellenslie last Saturday that he appears to have lost form, but Lady. Acre ran quite a fair race in the same event. Last season Sea View and Grand Lupin went reasonably well in a coupie of hack hurdle races, and if well might get some prize money in this event. None of the acceptors for the Opunake Scurry have any credentials to recommend them, so it should be a case of which competitor is best conditioned

Sea Comet raced so' well at the Pakuranga. Hunt Club’s meeting last Saturday that followers of form are certain to fancy him for the Hunters’ Steeplechase. Maidos went well for a distance at Trentham when opposed to better company; and may be capable of effecting a surprise. • Much will depend on the condition of the horses engaged in the Stratford Handicap. If well, Monaghan and Partaga should both give good exhibitions.

In class, Gilgai and Banjuke are much above the opposition for the Taranaki Hunt Club’s Cup, and the pair, no doubt, will do well. It a light-weight is to extend the pair it may he Sea Comet. As Anoid and Cioselire are well seasoned and .showed good form at the last Wellington meeting, one can expect them to make their presence felt in the Waihi Hack Handicap tomorrow.

The Hunters’ Flat is a problem for bettors Flowing Bowl showed some form last season in hurdles races up north, and may stay on better than the majority of the horses engaged. _ Of the hacks engaged in the Urenui Handicap Nastori and Sovena are well forward, and for that reason will be in demand by backers. Rafa appears as an acceptor for the Hunter’s Flat to be run on Saturday, but as his name was placed on the “schooling list’’ some time ago it as a debatable point if he is eligible. Judging by the good class of _ competitor nominated for the Eclipse Stakes at Wanganui, the shortening of the distance qf the event has appealed to owners. , If one is to judge on the big list of nominations received for the JJebu : tante Stakes to be run at AV ariganui next month, it certainly looks as it big fields will contest two-year-old races this season. After his showing at Ellerslie last June, many selected Just John to take a high place g-s a hurdler, but his showing on the same course last Saturday did not strengthen this view. Pendavis, who won the Pakurauga Hunt Club Cup very easily last Saturday gave Zircon a good race on the same course last June. On these performances Pend avis may prove equal to winning a good steeplechase next season. , , Avon Court,. who showed a lot t?i slpcod lin the two-year-old trial at EUlenslio last Saturday, claims Avon Park as her dam. When owned and trained in, Ha worn, Avon Park was a great winner. When the New Zealander, Merry Mint,, won the three-year-old hamheap at Moorfield recently, he was backed for .a small fortune (well up in five figures was taken from the ring), anil his -success was most unpalatable to the bookmakers. Merry Mint was again supported at Ro-sehill last Saturilav, but he only ran third. Commendation continues to please the track watchers, and has Armed another point on an already short price for the Caulfield Cup. One leading Australian bookmaker remarked recently: “One would think Commendation was the only one engaged in the Caulfield Cup.” * T . That fine galloper, Beacon Light who won so well at Avondale and Trentbam last spring and tlidn went wrong on the eve of his New Zealand Onr> engagement, i.s again doing good work- and is amongst those nominated for tills year’s New Zealand tup. A-urion’s trouble since going to Austmlia is unfortunate, as many consider him likely to develop into- a great throe-year-old. Tha.-ner R. J. Mason holds -a good o-p-mion of the colt, but is I list do übtful whether lie is up to carrying 8.10 over the twelve furlongs of a Derby course.