SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 August 1928, Page 6

SPORTING.

SEASON'S {FIXTURES. August 14, 16, 18 —Canterbury Jockey August. 25 —(Hawke’s Bay Hunt Cluto August 29 —Dannevirke Racing Club. August 30 —Dannevirke Hunt Club. September I—Otagol—Otago Hunt Club. September I—Taranaki Hunt Club. September s—Marion Jockey Club. September 13, 15—Wanganui Jockey Club. „ _ September 19 —Manawatu Hunt Club. September 22—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 22 —Napier Park Racing

Club. September 22, 24 —Avondale Jockey Club. „ . September 27, 28—Geraldine Racing

Club. tt t _ . September 29 —Pakuranga Hunt Club. .September 29—Hawke’s Bay Jockey

Club. October 6 —Hu-row Jockey Club. October 6, B—Auckland Racing Club. October 11, 13 —Dunedin Jockey Club. October 13 —Carterton Racing Club. October 20, 22—Wellington Racing

Club. October 20, 22—Gore Racing Club. October 20, 24 —Waikato Racing Club. October 22 —Waverley Racing 'Club. October 22—Waikato Hunt Club. October 22—Waipawa County Racing

Club. _ . October 22—North 'Canterbury Racing

Club. ml! October 25, 27—Poverty Bay Turf

Club. . . October 27 —•Masterton Racing Club. October 27 —{Banks Peninsula Racing

Club. October 31 —Birchwood Hunt Club. November 1, 3 —Dargaville Racing

Club. „ . November 3,5, 7,1 C— Canterbury

Jockey Club. . . November 8, 10—Whangarei Racing Olu-b.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”)

At one stage the Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles races had tne appearance of being very weak numerically, but at this stage the races named, while not productive of strong betas, will provide very interesting races. The gorse fence known as Cutts s is the nightmare of most performers at Riccarton, and during training last Thursday it lully tested Radiate and Wiltshire. . , , , ■Wiltshire may be termed a bold jumper, and lor that reason hema-j perform attractively over the difficult Rdcearton ‘‘country.” Mammi and Beau Cavalier each jump in a bold manner, yet on the Canterbury Jockey Club’s course they have given thenbest exhibitions. . The handicapper’s mistake over Mithra at Rosehill (it must have been an error; was fully availed of by hackers and the New Zealand owned buy was solidly supported and cost the “ring” a lot of money. Seeino- that Beau Cavalier was schooled over the steeplechase- jumps last Thursday, when he was ridden bj W Bowden, it can be taken that the son of Chesterfield is a. certain runner in Tuesday s Grand National Steeplecll!lS6, Although Beau Cavalier won last year’s Grand National Steeplechase it was a somewhat lucky -win, as at two br three of the fences he had luck on his side to stand up, and one jump m particular (Cutts*s) brought the champion right down on his knees, but the jumper's cleverness, aided by Henderson’s help, kept him in the race to win. A. E. Ellis is possibly the best ail round rider the Dominion possesses at present. Next week he has been engaged to ride Tuki in the Grand National Steeplechase, Brigadier BUI in the Grand National Hurdles, and I irst Sight in the Winter Cup. During the running of the chie: races at the ° different meetings held at Ellerslie, many persons (running into thousands) congregate in what is called the Ladies’ Mile. Now the Auckland Racing Club have decided to cut oft the view of the free show patrons, and will erect a very high fence at the the winter meeting of the Hawke's Bav Jockey Club, Haiti raced most consistent lv to win three races on end. He has not sported silk since these successes, but is reported to be at lils best for Tuesday’s racing at Riccarton, when Haiti will contest the Winter Cup, and as he now appears to be more solid, and will have the big advantage of It. expert riding, ha should at least prove one of the dangerous brigade. rn , . Advice from Iliccarton says chat luki is now looking better than lias been the case with him for a long time, and lus admirers will not hear of his defeat in the big steeplechase on Tuesday, luki is a seasoned and experienced jumper, and knows the Iliccarton course wel , and it is quite possible he will do all his southern admirers expect. A number ot New Zealand owned horses are engaged at the Warwick Harm meeting, which is set down tor September i. In the Campbelltown Handicap Ciinabue has been handicapped at 9.5, Satrap 9.0, and White Janir at 8.6. This event is six furlongs, and on New Zealand form Cimabue is easily the most favourably treated. In the Warwick 1* arm Spring Handicap, decided o\er one mile three furlongs, The Banker has 9.5, Satrap 9 2, ReonuTß.7, White hang 8.2, Arikiwai 8.0, Oratrix 7.11, and Rawhetu ~/. Even allowing that Scion is well on In years (he has just turned t® l *) rt cannot be said that lie is too old tor jumping races, jet he is not the success over hurdles that on© would expect an Auckland Cup and New Zealand Cup winner to he, seeing that he has mastered the art of getting over the jumps smartly. Scion was a runner at the Christchurch Hunt Club meeting last Saturday, and while lie was running on reasonably well and impressed some oi those present, lie will need to show much improvement before one could class him as a dangerous candidate m Thursday’s Grand National Hurdles. Pouri lias arrived at Riccarton, and, according to southern reports lie looks remarkably well. Trainer Tutehen says that Pouri will not be schooled before tackling the Grand National Steeplechase on Tuesday next. While admitting that Pouri has shown ability as a jumper, and his trainer lias had a lan amount of experience with jumpers, it may be found that the gelding .will be troubled with the formidable country, and it will not come as a surprise it Pouri gets into trouble at the more difficult fences on. the Riccarton course.