Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 878, 4 May 1917, Page 21

Turf Topics

By Torpedo.

The Manawatn Races. ri"T was with feelings akin to j(>y that " sports received the news that the Manawatu Racing Club had resolved to hold the meeting interfered with by the coal strike. . It is to he hoped- that Kailway Commissioner Hiley will meet the requirements of the Club in a real sporting spirit, and that the Patriotic Funds to which, the profits :go will swell visibly.' The meeting has definitely been fixed for "Wednesday and Thursday, May 16th and 17th. The first race each day is timed for 11.30 a.m.

Hawke's Bay Meeting. Handicapper "Bert" Coyle has punters thinking hard over the adjustments he has made for the Hawke's Bav Cup meeting." ..... In the : .Longlands Hack Hurdles he had a mixed team to consider, and started with Hylaus as top-weight with li:7. . _ • In 'the Karamu Hurdles, of two miles, some class is represented. Plymouth is top-weight with 11.3, but as the Stead gee-gee has not been nominated for the' Auckland National Meeting you can't tell what the owner, who races simply for the* love of the game, is going to do. Gladful is nicely treated with 10.10, and whatever heads Ormond's prad should run well. - There is > a-nice lot in the Nursery Handicap, which is run over five fur--longs. 'Vermillion has: 6.10, and Noir, who disappointed at Trentham, has 7.0. Great things were expected of Vagabond, who was just beaten ahead out of the money at Trentham. Maybe. he may yet be knocking at the door. A big field in the Porangahau Handicap must have seen "Bert" with a wet ( towel round his head-piece:. The Trentham doings of Shrill rightly-placed her at the top of the handicap -with 9.7, - and 3 if the nominee of the man who only races for sport goes to the barrier, ' what's to stop her ? The Highden candidate had bad luck at Trentham,

and B.ll.shouldn't stop him with an un- • interrupted Chakwana can igaUop fast up-to a mile, and as the distance of the race under notice is six 'furlongs and a-half, the Redskin might be putting in some strong ones at the finish. \ . The soup and the fish having gone from the menu, we come to the solid tack in the Hawke's Bay Cup—a race surrounded by old-time memories. It .- is worth 700 sovs, and is run over one mile and a-half. Teka should run well . with 7.7. Teka' was a picture; at Trentham. but lacked luck. Now, if : punters only know of the intentions of the owner who races solely for the love of the game, many would hop in and buy shares in The Toff market. . I'm writing, before the acceptances, and one ■ is, of course, taken at a disadvantage, but Teka, Multicipal, and Beltane are ■three likely starters, and are all; proved gallopers. In the Poukawa Handicap there is another big field.' Hexton appears nicely placed with 8.6, and so is Caril•ton with 8.2. The Autumn Handicap is once round and so will punters get ditto if they try to pick it in one. Zeus has the . handy weight of 7.11, and Multane might be .in the joke with 7.9. Hyllus, with 7.3, might also be a rod in pickle. "The Egmont Meeting, timed to take place shortly, is also well patronised, and again "Bert" Coyle ' has adjusted. Surely 36 entries for the Tongahoe i Handicap ■ Hurdles constitute a- record for a. hurdle race at any. .country meeting. I guess I'd sooner stop on the ground chewing' peanuts; than venture ' out in such a field. There is sure, however, to be a thinning out. Ascalon (who may be favourite) has 9.11, whilst Captain. Miro is similarly weighted.

The Tawhiti Handicap, of - six ,furlongs, has the making of a good face. Coropett has 7.0, and Yeto 7.9. ..The Railway Handicap, of six furJongs, affords food -for reflection. Rewa' Kewa is to carry 7.12, and Cora Ora 8.12. " ' ■» «. . ffi Mr. ''Whitney" has evidently come to the conclusion that little fish are the sweetest, and. I'm pleased to relate that the popular sport (who races for the lore of the game) showed a profit after his Wes;fc .Coast crusade. . An idle rumour gained currency" last week which I hasten to deny. It was; freely stated - .that at the conclusion : of the West Coast races Mount Victoria was turned adrift and told to go home, as the steamer service was* disorganised. It was also asserted that Mr. ""Whiit-

ney". received a telegram from a friend at Picton: "Horse arrived safely. .Last seen swimming for home." Some v traveller Mount Victoria. Pacific Slope lias gone wrong. What looked like a good proposition has been nipped in the bud. . Fiery Cross was in a-rather bad-way after the ■ Wellington meeting, kidney trouble being the cause.