SPORTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 101, 30 March 1925, Page 6

SPORTING

MANAWATU RACING CLUB’S MEETING. Tho popularity of meetings held at Awapuni by the Manawatu Racing Club is again demonstrated by the liberal patronago extended by owners and trainers to the fixture to be held on Wednesday and Thursday. Tho handicap events on the first day have filled particularly well, both in regard to numbers ana quality; class is represented by such animals as Pilliewinkie, Rational, Surveyor, Lady Cavendish, Peneus, Tamatete, King Merv, Count Cavour, Suggestion and Red Wink, while in the hack events some of the best horses in the North Island will be seen in action. Special trains will leave Palmerston North station for the racecourse at 9.40, 10. Ho, 11.5 and 11.15 a.m. The first race starts at 11.45. WORK AT AWAPUNI.

Conditions wore excellent for early work at the Awapuni racecourse this morning, although a haze which hung against the trees at the back of the course made visibility somewhat difficult.

Prom an early hour the track presented a busy scene, many of the big visiting contingent, which had arrived from Wellington by special horse train yesterday afternoon, being in attendance. Work, however was restricted for tho main part to exercise on the pjough, although some few did fairly solid working gallops on the outside of the track proper, the inner circle being closed. One of the first out was Deluge, the winner of the Railway Handicap at the Wellington meeting, covering a couple of rounds on the plough, pulling hard. Agitato did three rounds, tho first round at a fair pace, w bile 1 resham fulfilled a similar task. Ilka and a companion worked on the outside, but the exercise was restricted to half-pace work. Ihapotoa (R. Reed) and Town Bank sprinted four furlongs on the outside, the journey taking 53secs. The former looked well.

Archeen (H. Gray) and Clarinda (M. McDonald) did light work on the plough. The attractive two-year-old, Comedy Prince, exercised on the grass, moving nicely. Carroll’s team, which included Muscari, The Curragh, Curraghmore, Whetunui and King Merv. did light work. The last-named looked particularly well.

Count Cavour, with Hector Gray up, jumped off at the mile peg, being picked up by a companion at the sevenfurlong post. The pair ran strongly, the former covering the full distance in lmin. oOsecs. Starshell did a strong working gallop at the end of two rounds on the plough, moving very freely. Lin which :is notv trained by the Awapuni mentor, J. Kelly, has built up considerably and did two rounds on the outside, sprinting the last two furlongs in good style. Other members of lf*s team in Rangiinoana, Winter Time and Yan Yean all did useful tasks.

Other Awapuni mentors in E. Watson, A. Brotvn and It. E. Hatch also worked their teams.

After breakfast Pinna (J. Kaan) and Red Head (E. Copestake) did a round down on the outside, jumping four flights of hurdles, The pair raced together down the back, but at the hurdle ut the top of tho straight Pinna held a slight advantage and, although they were together at the final fence, Pinna was a half length to the good as they went past the post. Scotch Mixture and Port George worked on the plough, the former looking particularly well. Koodoo appears to have benefited by his recent racing and looked a picture. Snatcher also worked on the plough, but looked somewhat poor. To Monanui (H. Gray) and Stork were associated in a working gallop on the plough, finishing strongly. The youngster is a solidly built animal. _ Inferno and Ivlandanc, two of Tilly’s successful team at Wellington on Saturday, did easy exercises. Hipo, Oration and another youngster did a fast galiop on the plough. The first-named tailed otf over the early portion of the round, but with heads turned for home came with a strong run on the outside and had a length advantage of Oration at the finish. Gaze worked alone on the plough, while the fine-looking colt, Gold Box (R. Reed), was given a round on the plough, moving nicely over the last three furlongs. The locally-trained jumper, Bullford, broke down at Wellington, while Raia is also on the injured list and is an unlikely starter at the meeting. The track proper is surprisingly firm, but has a good sole of grass and the times should be fast on Wednesday. The grounds are at present a picture, the lawns and flower plots being in excellent order.

A big shipment of thoroughbred stock was sent to Sydney by the Maheno on Friday. It included Sir G. M. Currie’s yearlings, Mr Hassall’s Kilboy, and other horses from Hawke’s Bay, all intended for tlie Easter sales.