SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 22, 18 September 1912, Page 2

SPORTING.

(NOTES BY "CICERO.") TJiere will not bo any racing in the Dominion this week, but no less thaai four clubs hold meetings the following week, viz., Otakj, Wanganui, Geraldine and Avondale. Our King (Multifid —Indian Queen), who earned distinction by defeating Prince Soult in the Champagne Stakes, at Ellerslie, last autumn, claims an engagement in the Wanganui Guineas. He is greatly fancied by his party for that event. Old Nero is to be given a run at New Plymouth to-morrow. Although not by any means fit, he should be more than a match for the class opposing him. Crown Pearl is getting through great work at New Plymouth, and despite his weight will keep his opponents galloping at Avondale next week. Ermengarde and Shuja were backed in Wellington for a lot of money in their Australian engagement last Saturday. The Egmont Racing Club are about to build a tea kiosk, and also improve the racing track. Altogether, the Club intend spending ahout £SOO in improvements.

Duke Foote, who accounted for Malt King Bronze and Co., in the Chelmsford Stakes, run last Saturday, has been backed for a lot of money to win the Melbourne Cup, in which event lie is weighted at 7.7. The New Zealarider,' Vice'Admiral, is'; .doing 'splendid! work at Randwick just now. This horse is still in the New Zealand Cup, and will probably return for that event.

Jargon, who it will be remembered, won the last Stratford Cup, is causing his trainer anxiety, owing to leg trouble, and will probably be given a twelve months' spell. This enforced retirement is unfortunate for Trainer Cox, as the Cordon Rouge horse gave promise of being very useful in big handicaps this season. Moonbria, who 1 ran second in the Trial at Dannevirke, is a half brother to those great performers, Nightfall, Noctuiform and Midnight Sun. His next appearance will be in the Maiden at Wanganui next week. It w.ll take a remarkably good one to beat Mr Watt's colt.

Mulga Bill is going remarkably i. ell at Hawera just now. He is we.l handicapped at Otaki, and is a sure start-

There is a rumour current :n Australia that Frank Wootton will ride the crack Trafalgar in' this year's Melbourne Cup. Bobrikoff is showing some of his brilliancy on the Hastings track. Recently he gave one of Davis's juvenile's a big start, and a. bad beating in a four furlong nutter. The si.n of Finland will make his appearance in the Champion Plate at Trentham ncx b month.

Patriotic, who is engaged in the Flying at Otaki on Monday, is in great heart at present. He will be very hard to beat at the meeting mentioned. Paicano was weighted at 12.5 for the Hurdles decided at Rand wick !a*t Saturday. Black Northern received 11.10 in the same event. Jack Fryer is taking St. Serf and Cornelian to Otaki. The former get. on the winning list at Marten, and is a useful sort. The latter has hot started since his unsuccessful run in the Wanganui Century Hurdles last May. He is well forward in condition, and will be given a run in the Hack Welter.

Ermengarde was handicapped at 7.12 for the Tramway Handicap, in which event she was badly beaten by Gigandra, who was asked to carry 9.6. Bronze, who finished fifth, in the Chelmsford Stakes, carried 8.9, exactly the same weight as she will carry in the Metropolitan. C. Emerson is still riding well in Australia. Last week he rode Single to victory in the principal handicap at the Canterbury Park Meeting. Royal Marine was very unlucky to suffer defeat at Dannevirke. He lost several lengths at the start, and did really well to run second.

Duke Footc gave Bronze 9 pounds, and a heating, on Saturday. So the latter has a poor chance of giving the "Duke" 13 pounds in the Metropolitan, for which event Highden's filly has been heavily backed. There are hitter complaints made by trainers against the Committee, who allot the dates, in asking Otaki and Wanganui to race in the same week. Tn previous years trainers on this coast attended both meetings, as they had a full week to freshen their charges up.

Under the present arrangement of one day only between the meetings, they find it impossible. Mendip, who has not raced since the Egmont May Meeting, is moving nicely in his work. He will be seen out in the Spring Handicap at Wangariui. The Piriwai party greatly fancy that horse for the Wanganui Flying. Fred Jones, who rode Crown Pearl at Marton, says his mount had no chance with Piriwai at the weights in the Marton event. The Karamu stable usually play a prominent part at the Wanganui Spring Meeting, and this year should be no exception, as the Hon. J. D. Ormond is again strongly represented. Fashion Plate, who is trained by Attwood at Feilding, is well handicapped in the Hurdles at Otaki. Attwood has, turned out some first-class jumpers in days past, and he says the Handsome Jack gelding is no exception. A Sydney cablegram states-that Flavinius was lame after running in the Chelmsford Stakes, and has been scratched for the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps. The Telegraph states- that he has probably finished his racing career.