Sporting Notes

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2006, 23 December 1921, Page 6

Sporting Notes

\ BY "WALLALO" d

FIXTURKS. Dec. 26, 27—Dunedin J.C Dec. 26, 27 —Westland R.C. Dec. 20, 27 —Taranaki J.C Dec. 26, 27, 23 —Manawatu R.C. Dec. 26, 28, Jan 2, 3—Auckland R.C Dec. 30, Jan. 2, 4 —Greymouth R.C. Jan. 2—Wyndham K.C. Jan. 2, 3 —Huwke's Bay J.C. Jan. 2, 3—Marton J.C. Jan. 2, 3 —Wairarapa R.C. Jan. 11—Kotorua H C. Jan. 17, 19 —Wairoa County R.C. Jan. 21,-23, 25 —Wellington R.C. Jan. 21, 23 —Foxton K.C. Jan. 3, 4 —Southland K.C.

miles), and the Randwick Plate (2 miles.), both of which events were contested under weight-for-age conditions.

At its last meeting the V.R.C. Committee decided to increase the prize money for next year's Melbourne Cup to £lo,ooo. In addition a trophy valued at £2OO will be presented to ihe owner of the winner. The second horse will receive £2OOO, and the third horse £IOOO. In this year's cup, Sister Olive's owner received £BOSO and the trophy, while £I6OO went to the second, and £BOO to the thifd. The prize money in the cup has undergone many changes since the event was lirst run. When Carbine won in IS9O the added money was £IO,OOO, and the cups won by Malvolio (1891), Glenloth (1892) and Tarcoola (1893) also were "ten thousand pounders." in subsequent years the amount went down as low at £SOOO. It is expected that the cup stake this year, inclusive of the sweepstakes, will total £13,000, of which the winner will receive about £IO,OOO. The cup will thus again be the richest handicap race in the world. More valuable events are decided in England and France, but they are races at special weights. The publication of the handicaps for the Auckland Trotting Cup has started the interest in the big event, and the chances of the various candidates have been keenly discussed. Nine are on the limit, and of these several are giving away time to get into the class, and on previous performances Blue Mountain King, Huon Grattan and Childe Pointer read the most likely of the end division. Mr J. Bryce has three engaged, Wild Briar limit, First Carbine 12yds behind and Man-o'-War 96yds behind, so that he holds a particularly strong hand. The back-i marker is on a 4.28 mark, which is only a fraction of a second outside his best time, so that he is called on for his best. The Australian-owned horse Grand Voyage has some good performances over short courses to his credit, and in placing him on a 4.34 mark, Mr Edwards has given him a great chance. Nita Bell is such a consistent mare that although she will have to improve on anything she has yet shown, must.be held to also winning prospects, while Dean Dillon is also very well treated. J. O'Shea has been engaged to ride Anomaly in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap. In the South Foo Chow has come into favour for the Auckland Cup, in which he will be ridden by C. Reed. Killard, which was a bit sore after his fall in the hurdle race on the concluding day of the Takapuna meeting, is at present having an easy time of it.

It will come as a disappointment to many people who intend witnessing the racing at Awapuni to learn that there will not be a 10/ machine in operation. It is unfortunate that the man of small means, especially in these times, when the cry is "nothing doing," cannot be accommodated. Hut it is no fault of the club that the small man (and woman) are not to be catered for at the Cup meeting. Punka was awarded 8.3 in the Manawatu Cup, which weight is sufficient for all purposes. Punka is an animal that "was going to win," ever so long ago, quite a number of rich prizes; in fact, did win a race one time, but visions of easily-accumulated fortunes have never materialised; but, for all that, Punka's chance of one day annexing a lOOOsov. handicap—which chance looks exceedingly obscure —has never been tabooed by the handicappers. And there are some game and honest owners amongst us.

Asterina (8.11), on recent form, is badly treated in the Stewards' Handicap at Hastings. Granted there does not appear to be anything below the mare claiming more than passing attention, there is just the usual possibility that something has been overlooked. I should say that with a 7st minimum in the Hastings Handicap, Asterina would have a much better chance of being with the leaders at the end of the 6 J furlongs. Heathersprig has been doing good work at Napier Park. An exchange says that he may be heard of at the A.K.C. meeting. Kather high game, isnt' it?*

It is rumoured that amongst the lightly-weighted division in the Manawatu Cup there is a representative of a well-known stable which will take no end of beating. In the hurdle race at Hawke's Bay J.C. meeting (Hastings), Multive has been apportioned the steadier of 12.5 and Athens 11. gets 10.13. The latter has surely "got it" hard from the handicapper on a paper reputation. Somebody got the "tip" a day or two preceding Dannevirke meeting that Crown Gem was a good thing, and as a consequence a fair amount of Feilding money was "left." According to reports, the "fast pace set in the early part of the race" at Dannevirke assisted Aureate to win. Well, if that is all Aureate needs to demonstrate to onlookers that she is "something like" Desert Gold, this much-boomed Ally will, get all the solid pace she will want in her racing at Ellerslie. The outstanding feature about Aureate is that she is streets behind the bonnie sister that travelled so much and raced and won so often against the best horses of her day, under any sun, and under all weights and conditions.

ELLERSLIE TRAINING NOTES. | (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 22. Rain fell throughout the training operations at Ellerslie this morning, and the course got heavier as the morning advanced. All work was done on the outside of the course proper. Winning Hit went six furlongs in 1.20, and Miss Mimic and Whipping Boy the same distance in 1.21. Fulsome finished belter than Epitaph at the end of live furlongs run in 1.5 4-5. Sasanof, with the assistance of Radiant Light, over the last seven furlongs, covered a round in 2.4 4-5. Thespian went four furlongs in 54 3-ssec. Starland, Insurrection, Malaga and Royal Star were in that order at the end of a mile and a-half done in 2.49, the last-named taking 2.54 1-5. Listowel went four furlongs in 51 l-ssecs. Farceur was 1 better than Pluto over five furlongs in 1.8. Hipo was in front of Truthful over seven furlongs run in 1.34. Big Chief did six furlongs in 1.21 3-5, Ruruwai four in 52sec, Absurd urn five near the post in 1.4, Rational five in 1.5, Explorer six in 1.19 4-5. Gloaminggave Vespucci a start and beat him at the end of six furlongs run in 1.20 3-5. Egotism went the same distance in 1.20. Mustard Pot and Humboldt were together at the end of the same distance run in 1.20. Lovematch, with the assistance of Zircon over the last seven furlongs, beat Sunray over a mile and a-quarter in 2.17 1-5. Archie, Illumination, and Marble Slab were in that order at the end of seven furlongs run In 1.32. The Hawk, with the assistance of Cypher over the last four furlongs, covered six furlongs in 1.17, the fastest gallop of the morning. Hula Girl beat Moorland and Sundance over four furlongs in 52sec. Crosswords went a mile from the new post In 1.49 1-5. Pavo, Cool Stimulant and Anomaly were in that order at the end of six furlongs run in 1.18 2-5. Mountain Lion and Refinement were together, with Shebang and Lady Lois following in five 'furlongs from the new post run in 1.5. Golden Bubble went the same distance in 1.6 Landslide and Sylvan did six furlongs in 1.19. and Silver Link five in 1.5 4-5. After breakfast the rain cleared. Perfect Day and Royal Blood went six furlongs in 1.19 4-5. Mangamahoe was too good for Persian King over a mile and a-half in~2.4 9 1-5. A big lot of others also worked.

Gazique will need to be at his best to carry his 9.3 over U miles and get near the front in the President's Handicap at Hastings. Considering that Bagdad has more than one good winning performance to his oredit, it is remarkable how he keeps amongst the 7.8 brigade. Many horses which have won less richly endowed and fewer races than Bagdad have gone up like rockets, but, unlike Bagdad, they'll never come down again, no matter how often they are raced out.

The ex-New Zealander, H. Cairns, who has won marked distinction in the saddle in Australia, is on a visit to Auckland, and has several engagements to steer horses at the forthcoming summer meeting at Ellerslie. Cairns will have the mounts on Mr G, M. Currie's horses, Lostowel and Thespian.! Rational has reached Ellerslie to fulfil his engagements at the A.R.C. summer meeting. The son of Absurd appears to have stood his racing well, and he can be included among the equines ready for the fray on Boxing Day. Up to date Rational has contested eighteen races, and he has the record of never once having been outside the placed division. The son of Absurd's record reads as follows: —Nine wins, seven seconds, two thirds, while his earnings in stake-money run out to £4505. Rational was certainly a bargain at 150gns. Penitent, the highly-bred three-year-old son ot Martian and Pineta, i 3 still a disappointment. At Dannevirke he figured among the contestants for the Cup, but he failed to gain a situation under 7.8.

The Wellington Racing Club have raised the stake for the Douro Hack Cup to 750 sovs, making it the same valu6 as the A.It.C. Shortland Plate, the special weight hack race of the Auckland Racing Club. David, who is a four-year-old horse by Baverstock from the Linacre mart Linotype, was purchased when a yearling for 40gns by Mr R. Baillie, for whom he won a number of good races, which included the A.J.C. Plate (3

You will look your best during: the Christmas meetings if attired in a stylish suit and nobby hat purchased from Alf. Mahon, sports mercer, the Square. Call in and select your Christmas gifts from complete stocks of ties, hats, handkerchiefs, shirts, etc. Quality the best—prices right.*