SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1920, Page 3

SPORTING

AMBERLEY MEETING. I I CUP WON BY NAUTICAL. Cliristchureli, Sept. 18. The Amberley Racing Club's annual meeting was held in fine weather. The totalisator handled £12,448 10s, as against £13,980 10s last year. Following are the results:— OPEN HURDLES.—Strayshot 1, Bombproof 2, Mannish 3. All started. Won by a neck. Time, 3.13-5. TRIAL PLATE.—Smoke 1, Adopted 2, Volkpvo 3. Scratched: Lockweir, Astray. Won by a length. Time, 1.3 3-5. KOWAI TROT HANDICAP.—Lord Clan 1, Mopey 2, Wandering Willie 3. Scratched: Lasca. Lad, Wahinepai. Won by a length. Time, 3.41. AMBERLEY CUP.—Nautical. 1, Warlike 2, Chaoronia 3. All started. Won by a. length. Time, 2.112-5. HACK HANDlCAP.—Fabrinade 1, Greek Son 2, Malaga 3. Scratched: Gossard. Won by a head. Time, 1.15. OPEN WELTER.—High Heels 1, Warlike 2, Tyne 3. Scratched: Kolyma. Won by a nedt. Time, 1.30 2-5. WATTLE HANDICAP.—WUI Oakland' I.' Clean Sweep 2, Bomb 3. All started. Won by a head. Time, 1.15 1-5. TEVIOTDALE TUOT HANDICAP.—Proud Nell 1, Annie's Dream 2, Day Drift 3. Scratched: Lasca Lad, Walinepal Won by two lengths. Ttoe, 5.7 2-5. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The acceptances received for the opening day (Thursday) of the Wanganui spring meeting are numerous enough to ensure Interesting racing, and a good meeting should result. Arrowsmitl.', Kilrush and several others had already been withdrawn, and the- principal ones to have the pen put through their names on Friday evening were Marqueteur, Nobleman, Bonetter, Croesus, and Sir Solo. Of those paid up for Oratress, Volo, Depredation, Trespass, Chimera, Hymestra, Inah, and Simonldes represent food open company, while the jumpers include tried ones like Mill o' Gowrie, Gladful, Zola, Fisher, Otauru Kid, Endure, NgakanuS, and J'attock. As usual, hacks are numerous and of good quality. Amongst those accepted for are Sea Sprite. Vasilkov, Active, Admyra, Warrawee, Piro Piro, Ngdta, Crucelle, and Isabel—all good winners. On tie whole, the acceptances are good, but they imlght have been considerably augmented but for the Wi.nganui meeting coming so near meetings at Avondale and Otaki. The Dates' Committee should have managed things better. Marqueteyr'r withdrawal from the Spring Handicap was expected, the bigger prize money offering at Avondale being more tempting. Nobleman's defection surprised most people, but he has any amount of time In which to get the benefit of sharpening up in public before the New. Zealand Cup rolls along in November. ' Bonetter was withdrawn In favor of Trespass, wto is probably the fitter of the pair at present. Croesus nas not expected to 'come across; Ruddy has been reserved for the open sprint, and Hyginas was too sore after recent racing to be expected to do his best. As the Spring Handicap field stands at present it is not a strong one, comprising as it does four good 'horses and sir moderates Of the good ones Oratress is looking and going well, and contrary to the accepted belief that mares are not seen at theif best in the spring, races well at this time of the year. Howerer, now that the Uandicappers have fully appraised her ability it is not likely that she will do so well as she did In the first few months of last season.* Her best performances then were: Dead heat for first in the Wellington Cup, carrying 7.lo;'second to Ainythas (7.8 V.) In the Wellington R.C. Handicap, with 8.7; first in Marlon Cup with 8.10; and first In the President's Handicap at Alrapunl, with 7.13. Even with 9.3 she must have an undoubted chance at Wanganui, though want of a race may be her chief obstacle to success. Volo only won one race last year, the Telegraph Handicap nt Morton in the spring, and he too may be all the better for a gallop. Depredation ran well at Marton and at Awapuni, and there should be no more seasoned runner in the race. Trespass looks n«ce and bright, but Hurry Up, on his recent form, does not attract much. Nor does Rose QueoTi, but Simon and Tirana aro "possibles." Rlki would be belter placed in hack company. Arrowsmith, who is slightly amiss, and Weldone, who Is probably being kept for the second day, are the only absentees from the thirteen Mr. Coyle weighted for the Flying Handicap—a very satisfactory response. Chimera heads the list with 9.0, a solid weight to commence the season with, and the sturdy daughter of Finland may not be forward enough to concede Hymestra 41bs, Inah 131b5., or Simonldes lSlbs. Hymestra looks well' for the time of the year, and he should run a really good race. font, won the race last year with 7.11, and not only goes well in the early part of the season, but has a partiality for the Wnngahul course Simonidea may be dangerous If caught In the mood, hut both Hymestra and Inah should beat him at the weights. Swanee River, who recorded five firsts and a brace of seconds last year, has only to arrive looking well to create a solid following, and of tho light-weights, Kinsem reads as well as anything. The daughter of AutiWßnus and Nicotine appears' to have wintered well, and has built up into a handsome four-year-old. Although Isaac M'eShortodds Is supposed to be. effaced one gathers that Depredation and Oratress are names most frequently mentioned in conjunction with Inah, Kinsem, Ch!«mera, and Egmont Park in connection with what (in the bad old days) we were wont to! call tho Wanganui double I Reverting to the jumpers we are at once confronted with a good one, Mill o' Gowrie, wto is burdened with a good horse's weight, 11.4. Last year her best performances over sticks were: Second in Great Northern Hurdles with 9.9j and first In Campbell Hurdles, carrying 10.9. She was given a run on the flat at Marton, and showed good form, but it is doubtful whether she can give away so much weight to fit horses like Otauru Kid and Endure. Gladful has had so much knocking about over country that.he no longer looks a dangerous small stick proposition. Zola should beat Fisher at a difference of 21bs., but Otauru Kid, wto won at Marlon, and score* again most decisively at Awapuni, Is undoubtedly a good one, and likely to prove troublesome. Endure, a one day horse, was never better in his life, and his party make no secret of the fact that they expect him to run a great race. Endure has been sold, but delivery is deferred until after the Wanganui meeting. Khartoum and White Ranger can have only rough chances, and Polthogue even less. Gladful has been taken out of the Hack steeples, and Sir Solo is not .making the trip. This leaves Ngakanui at tho head of affairs with 11.10, as against 11.4 he won with at Marton. Although likely to be well backed, Ngakanui may find it hard to" glvo slbs. to the Rangltikei Steeplechase winner, Mattock. The rest are a poor lot, and only owe their places to the belief that' anything may happen in. a steeplechase. The same class, will: the addition of Foeman, will be seen out in the M.irangal Steeplechase on tho second day. Fifteen hold their places in the Durle Hack Handicap. Sea Sprite began the season brilliantly last year, but after a trio of defeats was retired in November. Vasilkov won three of his six starts-all in the autumn—and his track form at Wanganui suggests that he is very fit right now. ' Crucelle, Volublo tnd Fafce have shown pace this season,-and the first-named is likely to be well supported in whatever races she is slipped. Fifteen also figure in the Putiki Hack Handicap, run over two and a half furlongs longer, and recent form points fiercely to Warrawee, though Piro Piro and Isabel are also likely to have fair following?. The Maiden Race will probably see Tenterfiold, Calalini, and Amber Tips in demand, though several of the thirteen acceptors have other engagements during the day.

Finmark's victory over rershore, Kennaouhair and a good field in the Bosehill Handicap on Saturday shows that the ex-New Zealander la in good fettle for his engagements at the Australian J.C. Spring meeting. He lias 1.10

in the Metropolitan Handicap, one tnila Ave furlongs, anfl #3 also engaged In tte Spring Stakes (w.f.a.), 1% miles; Waverley Handicap , 1%, miles; and Randwick Plate (ff.f.a.) 2 miles. TTis Rosehill success should bring him into fa,-or for the Metropolitan, and if he has really regained his old form he should make his presence felt In tho welght-for-age distance events also. Wirraway, Syce Knight, and Strathredole, who filled the places iii the Rosehill Guineas, are all engaged in tho A.J.C. Derby. Tte cable is silent as regards Vespucci. Possibly R. Mason did not elect to run the colt at .ilosehill. From a southern source one gathers that Royal Star is first favorite for the New Zealand Cup. Kiirusli, Oratress, and Glen Canny are equal, next, with Vagabond, Gas Bag, Moutoa Ivanova, Xubleman, Bonnie Maid, Tenterfleld, and Prlntemps following. According to the chart Marc Anthony Is a forlorn home, and Catalini, Bondage, and Chaeronla afe regarded as horses to be treated with considerable scorn. A feature of the acceptors for the Wanganui Jneetlng is the large number of torses that raced there pith some mo—ine of success last year. luah, who w nn ,- h o Plying Handicap, is again engaged. Khartum won both steeplechases, and Is again engage.! In the open event. Sea Smile won a doible there, while Ruddy rccordul a first and a second (hcaj defeat), Hurry Up won tlie Higgle Handicap, and Oratress, Simon, Admyra, All Cerise, Ngakanul, Simon, and Mattock all earned place money, The course was very fast last year as the following winning times show: J'our furlongs, Sauna, 49sec.; (1 furlongs, Inal:, 1.13 1-5, and Solfanello, 1.13 3-5; one mile, Affectation, 1.42 2-5; 'B% furlongs, Client, 1.47 2-5; iy 2 miles, Hurry Up, 2.9 4-5; and 1% miles (Hurdles), Yankee Jack, 3.16 2-5. Rlsingham, Marauder, Volo, and Catalini figure amongst K Masterton Cup entries. In the minor events, Tirana, Income, and Tiranga appear. "Charlie" Price tells this tale against himself. At a Maori meeting some years ago he was engaged to ride a Maori's neddy in the first and last races of the day. In the opening event the prad ran very green and was all over the course. ■ When they went to tho post for the last race the Maori appeared on the scene witb a pound of butter, purloined from the luncheon room. He proceeded to smear the reins plentifully with the grease, and when he had finished, he said, "Now, you purr (pull) 'im up this time, 'Tcharlie Price—if you can I" The horse won.