SPORTING

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 396, 25 April 1908, Page 7

SPORTING

NOTES BY "AUGUR." THE TRENTHAM MEETING. ECHOES OP FEILDING. The Thompson Handicap will be run on Wednesday next at Trentham. Mr Morse's adjustments for the first day's Wauganui events and Century Hurdles are due on May 15. Sonltline, who made the pace so hot for six furlongs in the Easter mile at Auckland, was sent out second favourite for that event. Ben Deeley has asked the Auckland Racing Club to be allowed to give his version of the Whangarei affair which resulted in his being disqualified for two years. The rqeuest seems a reasonable one. Several visitors from over this way to the recent meeting atTauherenikau have not very much to say in its favour. They state that .the starting was the worst they have over seen, while in their view the man in the box gava some erratic placings and on one oocasion, it is said, was requested by the stewards to reconsider his decision. A Wellington .writer reviewing the weights for the hurdles at Trentham thinks they should be called the Mahoe Hurdles, presumably on account of Mr Bull's horse being in his opinion, and his only, "let in" with 10.7. Peisonally I shall be very surprised if Mahoe is led in a winner for some considerable time to come. The Mahoe at Feilding this week was a very different article to the Mahoe that was out in front of a big field all the way in the Wanganui Century Hurdles nearly 12 months ago. A Wellington writer sorts out Taugimoana (8.4) as very kindly treated by Handicapper Pollock in the Thompson Handicap. I think Waitapu very muoh more so at 8.6. Waitapu is much more brilliant over eight fnrlongs than Mr Buick's mare to whom 10 furlongs is much more congenial. Irish Rifle 7.8, and Aboriginal 6.7 are another pair that read particularly well. As the latter won a race at Tauherenikau on Tuesday, and has a Winter Oup to his credit letting him in at the minimum looks like taking liberties with him. Marguerite with 9.0 will have a good many friends for this event. Despite all this I would not care to recommend Waitapu, as when seen out last at Feilding he had a rather suspicious looking fore leg and had, I hear, to be eased in his work in consequence. J. McGregor, the hurdle rider who received such serious injuries when riding Lull at the Feilding Spring Meeting, was hobbling about on crutches at the recent fixture of that club. H« informed me the doctors, both at Palmerston and Feilding, told him he would be a cripple for life, bjeing paralysed from the hip down on the left side. It is to be hoped that McGregor's application for a grant of £400 from the Distressed Jockeys Fund will be acceded to, as his case is a genuinely deserving one. It is his intention to embark in a small business venture such as a tobacconist shop, with billiard room attachad. CapuletKwho A. Attwood took to Australia last year and had the, bad luck not to be able to get him' to the post owing to a break-down) made his re-appearance at Feilding on Monday. He was palpably not ready, and on returning to the birdcage looked as if he had just been through water. If ever a win was long overdue it was that which came at Feilding to the old-time owner trailer J. Maher, whose perseverance with that good but Very unlucky horse Prospector, deserved a better reward than has so far attended it. Defeat, who won 1 a stakejfor Maher, has taken to "the lepping game" like a duck to water. Very rarely does a horse prove so proficient at the obstacles the first time with the colours up as did Defeat on Monday when he made so good a finish with Commander. That it was not a flukey performance was j amply demonstrated the next day when Defeat shook off Compass and won in good style. Maher should I win a stake with the half- j brother to the defunct Trumpery during the ensuing winter jumping season, especially at the earlier j meetings, as his horse is thoroughly ready, having been racing on the flat for several months past. Among horses who made their debut over the email sticks at Feilding was Tommy Wilson's well-known performer The Stake. No fault could be found with his jumping. His connections are said to have fancied his chance the second day and backed him accordingly. He was done with, however, two furlongs from home. X have seen The Stake looking better than he was at Feilding when he appeared to have lightened up a bit. I shall expect to see him win a decent race over the pmsll battens during the ensuing season, Mr J. Bull junior's weakhess for "leppers" is well-known and I would not be surprised to see Shrapnell's half-brother, Irish Rifle, seeking honours at what is sometimes termed the "illegitimate game" ere long.