SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 January 1928, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

Jan. 6, 7 —Reafton J.C. Jan. 12, M —Dargaville R.C. Jan. 19—AVaipapakauri R.C. Jan. 21—Bay of Islands E.C. Jan. 21, 23, 25—Wellington E.C. Jau. 21—Ngaruawaliia E.C. Jan. 28, 30 —Takapuna J.C. Feb. 2, I—Egmontl—Egmont E.C. Feb. 11, 13—rEotorua E.C. Feb. 10, 18 —Wanganui J.C. Feb. 25, 27 —Te Aroka J.C. March. 10, 12—Franklin E.C. March 17, 19 —Ohineniuri J.C. March 17—Opunake E.C. March 21, 22—Eangitikei E.C. March 24—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 31—Paengaroa-Te Puke E.C

DARGAVILLE HANDICAPS.

(BY TELEGRAPH— press association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. Weights for the Dargaville Racing Club’s meeting are: — (Maiden Handicap, six furlongs.—-Ex-alted 9-0, Segment 8.12, Scot Free 8.11, Wee Marble 8.10, Corinax 8.8, Joke Form 8.7, Master Noel 8.5, Bayly Damon, Tetarai, Kaihoremai, Landslip, Ballanager, Kyngzone, Blago, Politicos. Tukatnma, Gay Cockade, King Leslie. Sunny Morn, Despard, Furore 8.3 Wetikia, G''enetta 8.0. Settlers’ Handicap, live furlongs. Marble Mount 9.0. Exalted, Winning Lass 8.5. Michael 8.2, Master Arch 8.1, Gav Cockade, Honhora, Sunny Morn, Landslip. Ga/.erin, Tiny Mint, Furore 7 7 Ladv Lu, Wetelnia 7.4. Awakiiio Hack Handicap, about seven furlong®. —lllingar 9.5, Marble Mount S.fi, Arch Queen, Fiery Lad, Creation 8.0,' Segment 7.8, Wee. (Marble 7.6, Conuax 7.4, Joke Form, Fane 7.3, Roman Abbev. Bayly Damon, Colville Queen. Ponticus, Taumua, Tetarei 7.0. Toka Tolra Handicap, six. furlongs.— Macroom 9.7. Autoinne. Winsome Bo' 812 Bright Dawn. Whaka King, Gold AVedding 8.6, Marble Mount 7.12, Dimmer, Fiery Lad, Creation, Arch Queen 7.6,'Fane, Roman Abbey, Royal Bonus. Wee Marble 7.0. Avoea Handicap, ,sax furlongs.—Dave 9 7 Sleepv Sol 9-3. Macroom 8.5, lb"' Immigrant 8.3, Rarakau 7.12, Automim Winsome Boy 7.10, Just Quietly, Takarunga, Bright Dawn. AVhnka King /.4. King Emerald, Tukakama, Exalted. Dimmer Creation, Kyngzone, AVmmng Lass AVee Marble, Marble Mount 7.0. Hobson Handicap, one mile.—The Au - thor 9.0 Pita 8.7. lllingar, Gold Wending Just Quietly * 7.12. Tresilltan Marble Mount, Comet King 7.4, Arc i Queen 7.2. Dargaville Cup, 11 mile®.—Sleep' Sol 9 0. The Author 8.7. Alonso a 8.->. Right and Left 8.2. Sir Roseberry, Pita B.o' lllingar. Piet 7.3. Tresillian / .0. Knibu Hurdles Handicap, one mil ' and five furlongs.—Comet King 10. c Soot Free 9.7, Mania her a. Master Arch 9.2. Alaungatarira, (Marble, Blago AYhite Light 9.0.

( NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”)

Melissa is a particularly nice filly and she put up a big fight at Stratford last Tuesday, but 9.11 on the long straight proved too much. Lianore got off badly each day at Stratford, but over the concluding stages of her race was running on better than most of her opponents.

The Egmont trained Calapat made his debut to the racing public at Stratford and finished a good fourth. For a maiden effort his performance was promising. After a good showing on the opening day of the Stratford meeting. Bright Day was backed as if a certainty on the second day, but at no stage did he

flatter his admirers. Airtight made his debut as a hurdler at Stratford last Tuesday, and lii s showing can be described as promising for a novice.

Calamine (Calaghan-Decima) a threc-year-old filly from W. Pine’s stable showed a lot of speed in her first and only start at Stratford and she shouh pay her way later. Seastar looked and raced very solidly over the holidays and she should win in open company (in which she will have to compete) when the class is not too strong. With 8.5 in the saddle, Town Bird made a big attempt to win at Stratford last Tuesday, and on most courses the black gelding may have succeeded, but the long uphill straight at Stratford helped to bring about Town Bird’s defeat. •

Trainer E. Johnston had The Swell at his best for the Stratford meeting and the gelding showed real courage on both days, when he won only after punishing finishes. Considering the quality of the light weight Bright Glow, Piuthair was kept too far away from the leaders in the Stratford Cup. She finished on remarkably well in fourth place, but her run

was much too late. In his early career Quillfire gave indications of being a useful stake earner, but his subsequent form wa s not good. Of late the black gelding has struck something like his best form, but lie may be hard to place in “open" races.

Yoma ran two good races at the

recent Stratford meeting, but was not able to return a dividend. As he is on

the improve, he should again strip at nis best about the time of the Egmont meeting. Tlie long straight at Stratford, with sm up-grado, is a severe test to a competitor witn much weight in the saddle. Even good and proved stayers like Pinthair and Yoma were tiring in their races.

The meetings held in Taranaki during the recent holiday period revealed a number of good “hacks." Bright Glow, Gold Acre, Scastar and Gold I lawn and Ihis quartet te should secure further successes.

Favoured with a particularly good run next to the rails in the Malone Memorial on the second day of the Stratford meeting, Piuthnir ran on well enough to hold off Ilipo and Yoma, both of which may possibly have beaten the winner, had they boon lucky enough to secure as good a passage. While Town Bird was beaten in the Scurry’s at the recent, Taranaki meeting lie scored in. “open" class at, Stratford a few days later. 'llls trainer claims that Town Bird’s poor showing at ISTew Plymouth was due to the gelding getting his tongue over the bit. Marble King showed some brilliancy to win a “double" at, the recent meeting held by the Stratford Pacing Club. He may next race at the Wellington meeting a, couple of weeks hence, where lie will encounter much better class, so Marble King will need to improve to succeed there. The Stratford Pacing Club is lucky to possess two holidays for their annual meeting, and also has the big advan-

tage of being centrally situated. Hence the club is going ahead, as the revenue derived from their successful meetings enables fair prize money to be offered. But in this respect the club should consider the increasing of the stake inoncv in all but the two chief races.

Feeing that Ft agin in ter beat Childsplnv in the. Foal Stakes at Ellerslie, and a few days Inter at the same meeting Prince Humphrey boat Staghuntor in the Royal Stakes, while previously Chi display had proved superior to Prince Humphrey, the selection of our premier two-year-old looks somewhat difficult. When all are in form. Child'splay can bo regarded as best. Tt is very evident she did not produce her true form at the recent Auckland _meeting, but as Childsplay is more brilliant than solid, a long course may trouble her.