SPORTING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 February 1929, Page 3

SPORTING

j MARLBOROUGH RACING CLUB, I ACCEPTANCES ANNOUNCED. ) (By Te«=grapa—Fress Assocjatioc.* ! BLENEEEIM, Feb. 22. The Marlborough Facing Club’s at | ceptauce-s are announced as follows: Novices Mack Handicap. Five fur longs.—-Masher, Makeup, Giengas-sy 1-mat-ea Gild, Dantbonia, Shot Silk Tourist, Saanibur, Eknifonn. Ravine 8.7 White Dove, Painting, Acredity, Lad" Rene 8.0. Marlborough Cup. One mile and a quarter.-—Royal Game 9.0, Discounsi 8.5, Twink 8.4, lm a rosebud 7.11, Corn rigs, Grown Star, Fallow 7.0. Pekwous Hack Handicap. Six fur longs.—Rabbi 8.8, Arrow Roy 8.45, Bis sac 7.13, Reckless 7.13, Tourist 7.11 The Dove 7.10, Tlie Tank 7.0, Tapestrj 7.3, Giengassy 7.0, Degree 7.0. Summer Handicap. Six furlongs.— Miss- Pat 9.3, Quantum 8.3, Interne 8.2, Raineses 8.0, Arrowtmir 7.9„ Cornrigs, The Bolter, Reckless 7.0. Brookby Trade Handicap. Six fur-longs.—-Freeze Out 10.9, First Rulei 9.12, Master John 9.11. The Tank 9.9 : Shot Silk 9.5, Masher 9.0, Saudiur 9.0. Blenheim Handicap. One mile.— Treshatm- 10.2, R-oyail Game- 9.9, Inferno 9.2, Discourse 9.1, Twink 8.13, Ima- .. rosebud 8.6, Arrowmi.r 8.3, Raineses \ 8.3, Rabbi 5.3, Connrigs 7.11, Bissae 7.11, Ripdaile 7.11. Starborough. Handicap Trot (harness) lor unhoppiled trotters; class 3.51. One mile and a-half.—Bingen Spiers, Billy Bingen, Baliayah, scratch; Alton Brook 24yds bhd; Tidewater, 36yds bhd; Westwood, 48yds- blid; Miss Wilkes, 60 yds bhd; Peter Byre, 84yd§ bhd; Fille de BalMn, 96yds- bhd. Awatere Handicap Trot (harness); class 3.45. One mile and _ a r kalf. — Ko-leraine, Loga-nway, Bonnie Light, Bonniewalh, Hardiness, Nigger Minstrel, Insurance, Lady Author, scr. ; Bell o’ Mine. 12yds bhd; Palm Leaf, Rladiola, 12yds ibhd; Waipuki, 24yds blid; Driftwave, 36yds 1 bhd; Country Life, 36yds bhd; Star of Hope, Castle Chimes, 48yds bhd. ■ NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By “Maecenas.”) Taranaki stables are well represented at tlie liangitikei meeting, and with average iucic they will secure seme prize money. The departure of Vertigern for Sydney after a strenuous racing campaign came as a surprise. Vertigern is seen at his best over a ten furlongs course, but the two miles Sydney (Jup, seems to be his mission. Like fiidgemount, Blimp ran one oi his worst races when produced on the second day of the W anganui meeting. i

Possibly the race track may have been unfavourable for this pair. Gold Dawn's recent win at Wanganui was easily her best ettort, and tne manner in which she finished suggests her running out a good mile. For some unexpiainaDle reason Cool Mint was made a oetter favourite than Freehold after the latter had won at Wanganui. Cool Mint jumped out of the tapes smartly, and was going well entering the straight, but, when challenged, went under without a struggle. The autumn meeting of the Dannevirke Pacing Club takes place on Wednesday and Thursday next. A few horses from this province will race at the fixture. The three-year-old filly Prodice is a very useful stake earner, but does not reach weiglit-for-age standard, Nevertheless she has already won £3IOO during the current season. This fact makes it very plain that at present the racehorses m this Dominion are below the standard of many former years. Although beaten, through losing eight lengths at the barrier rise, My Own, the sister to Raasay, greatly impressed at Woodville, and should be worth noting for Faster racing. After a lapse of eighteen months from racing, Merry Mint appeared at Woodville. As a two-year-oid Merry Mint showed promising form in this Dominion, and when taken to Australia at the start' of his three-year-old career he certainly showed age ini- 1 provement and raced well enough in minor races confined to horses of his age that many gave him a chance 01 the A.J.C. Derby. Merry Mint subsequently contracted a serious indisposition. The irony of fate is shown in the fact that jockey T. Metcalf was engaged to ride Vigilance in the Harrison Handicap at Wanganui, but asked to be relieved of the mount in order to ride Hipo, olf which gelding lie fell ahd broke a wrist. The mishap will cost Metcalf a lot of money, as he was well engaged for future events. , Freehold, the three-year-old brother to Tamatete and Tukia, won well each day of the recent meeting at Wanganui, and on the second appearance showed some stamina and courage to succeed under 9.11. lint even allowing for this, it must bo admitted that Freehold is nob of the same class as his older relatives. However, well placed, he will pay his way over short courses. _ • in past years many horses trained in this province were well placed amongst the leading prize-winners of the Dolinin ion,. but during the current season lour horses are experiencing a lean J time. Bisox, Silvermine, Yoma, Lady jQucx, and To Atiawa have all won 'good-sized prize money, but even theii * combined totals does not bring the , average to that of many former years. ! After another forced retirement or . four months, Commendation made an- , other public appearance this week when ' be competed at Woodville. Naturally, ( after such a spell, the son of Limond , (who is a gross was not at his • best, but he ran two creditable races. ( The form was not up to his best stand- ’ ard, but if nothing occurs to hamper ‘ the training of this fine galloper, lie { will prove a very formidable opponent j at Riecarton during Easter. racing. Tn Elicit and Locarno, Mrs. A. McDonald (nee Miss Maher) has two vary 'promising hurdlers under her care, and providing they make reasonable improvement during the next few ; months they must prove very dangerous in important hurdle races that come up for decision during the winter. Of the pair Locarno is £av- ( cured by the majority, but Elicit regis- ‘ terecl excellent performances to win at Wanganui last week. ( | In some quarters rider T. Green is blamed for losing the Wanganui Cup ( ■on Yoma. Certainly R. Reed was seen * c !to better advantage on Rapine, and 1 j when he drew level with Green a couple lof hundred yards from the _ post he 1 j showed more vigour and ability. But I

such was not surprising, for at his best Reed is comparable with many of the “giants” of the past. Reed might have won the Gup on Yoma, but all this does not prove that Green rode a. had race. At Wanganui last Saturday Ridgemount was sent out a short-priced “odds on” favourite for the Farewell Handicap. He had the services of R. Reed in the saddle, and that rider did his best in getting. Ridgemount a way smartly from the barrier; hut this proved of no avail, as the son of Leighton started to lose his position after going a couple of furlongs. Gold Dawn came across Ridgemount rather quickly, but the gelding was beaten at the time. Ridgemount’s poor showing disgusted many and they let him go at Woodville, much to their disappointment when he proved the winner among a much better lot. Evidently the gelding does not like being hustled, as was the case at Wanganui, where The Raider set a fast pace.