SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 13, 3 June 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. By "Moturon." Races at Ellerslie, Otaki and Winga , tui to-day. The Great! Northern Hurdie lUce will be decided this afternoon. Jo-ch-ey 11. Cc-pebtake will pilot xi,. liajui in his Dunedin engagements. Krnienganle and Gerberga ,■:.; 1, bracketed in the Rahui Handicap a< Otaki. On Wanganui form Riro Atu -.h0u1.l be a warm order in the Maiden S-e-p.e eiiase at Ellcrslie. llaniilau was finishing very ]':is u in the Gmiio.lv Handicap whcji Red ilook btat her by a 'head. She may have b.-i----tor luck in tiie llaukawa Cup to-aav. Lady Elgiva and Ruse de Guerre hay. shown good town recently, and hiv, many admirers for the Jervois' Hand.'can up North. ' If First Wairiki was ever g.vai a chance to win a race it is in th' Maiden Hurdles ait Elierslic. Willi the exception of Ruatangata and Waldemui the others look poor cattle. Silver Monarch meets Exotic on even terms at Otaki. The latter was in receipt of 3.bs when he led Silver Men arch home in the Grandstand Steeple at Wanganui, but if Silver Monarch is, better handled lie may reverse position-, with the Taranaki horse to-day. Sir Donald ran a fine race in' the lialgownie Handicap (a mile and a distance) at Wanganui, and will be up against a weaker crowd in the Otaki Hack Handicap. The Advance gelding i w galloping splendidly at present. Royal Anns does not appear to lie very well treated in the Cornwall Handicap and at the weight|* tLa fiejna and Goldsize may both hold the New Ply. mouth horse safe. Goldsize shaped well each start at Wanganui, and may bi the most seasoned horse in the bunch Ingenkender will 'be a runner in Huntera events at EllersJie, and should «>. a good account of himself. A pair it ■ e are .well spoken of are Zak and I'ro'vi dence—but hunters' races are very op. iA big field is carded fo r the MemberHandicap at Ellerslie, and include:, Crown Pearl, Grattan, Tyson and Avon iaric. A tot depends on a good sta, m these five furlong races, but if Grattan and Tyson get out smartly they may take a lot of catering. Square Deal has been doing a lot oi racing lately and always seems to be in first or second berth. Though loaded with 10.11 in the Welter at Otaki he will have many friends. If caught in a galloping mood Ruapara might extend the Wanganui horse The Great Northern Hurdle Race, is still the main topic in sporthig circle.". The field is a poor one, .iisd therefore the race looks all the move open Sandy Paul is well fancied, but even hi.-, most ardent admirers would vvklli thai the New Plymouth horse had had a race or two to season him. It is a long journey, two nnd a half miles, and with several horses more noted for speed than for jumping .ability engaged, a host of possibilities present .themselves Bcrcola must run well, and Mcrrinrax (on track form) is another dangerous One. Black Northern fa such; «"rogue that pun tew will probably,pass him over, Cloudy Dawn is reported to be showing signs of lameness. Idealism has done nothing startling so far but the layers are taking no chances wiith: him. Of the light-weights Ruffy appears to be the most reliable. Probably Bcrcola, Rufly und Merrinrax will be the uleet 0 f baek»rs to-day. . Since .the Great Northern Hurdle Race has been decided over a two miles- and a half course only one of the seven winners carried more than KM to victory, writes "Phaeton." Thw was Wim-me-ra, in 1910; who won under lOst 91b. The ruling favorite for to-day's event Merrimax, lias lOst 71b against bis name. He ejuims the same sire as Wimmera—Merriwcc—and is in great heart just at present. There is no doubt that he will see the journey out to the end, but he is far from a .perfect fencer, It is the pace he ibo.Vits of that stands to him and wins races.

Liberator (123.1 ftlb, 1895), St, S-'mon (12st 121b, 1897), Cocw de Lion (11:4 81b, 1901), and Royal Conqueror (Hist 41b I 1902) are the only horses that have sue : eeeded in carrying more than list to victory in the Great Northern Hurdles and all the victories, mentioned were recorded when the race was decided over two miles. Since the distance was extended to two miles- and a quarter, in 1904, and again to two miles and a half, in 1907, seven of the winners have figured in the Ost odd division, and three in the lOst odil Section. Yet these records arc not (likely to prevent a large measure of suppont coming for Sandy Paul (list 51b) to-day. In fact, there is already a strong tendency to support the chestnut for the doubie. The. public may have the opportunity of witnessing Johnson's charge over leg country at Ellcrslie to-day.