SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1927, Page 5

SPORTING.

PROSPECTS FOR WELLINGTON A SPECIAL REVIEW. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington Last Night. The acceptances which have been received for the Wellington Winter meeting are remarkably good, and there is scarcely a race on tie first day s programme which does not look to be so open that few will care to express a definite opinion respecting the chances of the horse engaged. • • e e Proceedings will be commenced with the Vittoria Hurdles, and the remark that the fields bear a very open appearance applies with particular force to this event. The handicapper has expressed his opinion of Per de Leon, who won, a couple of races at Hastings, by placing him at the head of the handicap. and as he is a good performer on the Hat when right, he might carry his weight and give the opposition a difficult task to beat him. « • * • Another who will be in the limelight, if he runs up to his best form, is the Taranaki hurdler, Enare, who goes the journey well, and who showed good form at Riccarton. Gauntlet was a winner at Otaki, but Lord Star is a new hand at the jumping game, and will have to be taken on trust. He comes from a stable that generally has a decent jumper in shelter. Kaikahu is a useful performer in the South, and has a chance, while Mount Marts and Potoanui both have won over hurdles this winter. Potoanui is very partial to mud. Troilus, Peshwa and Vexatious have friends, and not without reason. Probably Potoanui, Mount Marts and Per de Leon will be among the hardest to dispose of. • e • •

If Hokioi could stay a little better he would have a great chance in the First Hack Steelpleehase, in which he has a useful pull in the weights, but it is more than likely that the last half mile will find him out. Woden is sure to run on well, and his toughest opponent looks like being Banjuke. Form at the Hawke’s Bay meeting points to Woden.

For the Trial Plate there will be a big field. This year Stewart Waddell, who has been exceptionally successful with horses in this race, has not entered a representative. Avro, a winner at Otaki, is sure to be one of the favouri-’ tes and ought to run well. After his Ashburton win, Arikiwai will not be neglected, and it will be a little surprising if he does not take a hand in the finish. Arrow de Vai gallops well at Trentham, but might need a race. Oratrix and Tameterangi have raced well of late, and a good word comes from the South for Fairy Tidings. Avro, Arikiwai and Romantic look sure to run good races, but Romantic is also in another race.

There will be such a big field in the Stewards’ Handicap that the draw at the barrier will influence backers, but if they draw good marbles,Delightment, Nadarino and King Lu will be in request.

Nothing seems to be really outstanding in the Wellington Steeplechase, and there is hardly a runner who must not be given some chance. The early favourite was Beau Cavalier, and as good reports of his work continue to come to hand from Ellerslie it is likely he will hold his place to the last. He is a good jumper and will have as his pilot Shenderson, than whom no one is riding with greater success just at present. Another who is expected to run well is Kawini, second to Tuki in the Winter Steeplechase at the Auckland meeting. Crown Coin has a big following because of his win at Napier and Hastings, and there is no doubt that he is an improving sort, and one who looks sure to make good in the course of time, even if he does not do so at Trentham. Comical should be a better horse at the Wellington meeting than he has yet been, but he will have to improve in his jumping to get round the course, let alone win. Weddin March is a good jumper, and won the Great Northern Hurdles without much effort, so there seems to no reason why he should not be among those prominent in the Wellington Steeplechase. Scamp and Cartoon, together with Tuki, will do battle for the South Island, and as they have very reasonable imposts might be hard to beat. Peter Maxwell is out of favour after his running at the Auckland meeting, and the same can be said of Omahu, Dick and Royal Abbey, while Birkenella who failed at Wingatui, San Forte, Bonny Rill, Sir wai and Zircon will all be at long prices. Probably the most difficult to beat will be Beau Cavalier, Kawini and Crown Coin.

Master Doon is sure to be one of the favourites for the Whyte Memorial, and there is good reason why he should be as he won over the mile distance at the Auckland fixture. Chickwheat comes from the South with a good reputation, and New Plymouth thinks well of the chances of Royal Mint, whose owner has been unlucky in not winning a stake earlier this winter with the Catmint gelding. Those mentioned and Black Mint might be in the firing line at the finish. • • • •

There will not be such a big field for the Trentham Hurdles as for some of the other races, and possibly Brigadier Bill (who won the race a year ago), Koauau )who goes well in soft ground) and Royal Form will be among the best backed when the machine closes. * * * * An impossible-looking field has paid up for the Te Aro Handicap, a field so large, in fact, that many will be afraid to speculate on the race at all. However, the list of acceptors includes Romantic, Wild Work and Pangolin, all of whom run good races when ready. ‘■DEATH” OF A PERMIT. WAVERLEY RACING CLUB. MINISTER ASKED TO CONDOLE. At a committee meeting of the Waverlcv Racing Club, Mr. J. E. Palmer moved that the Hon. R. F. Bollard be asked to forward a letter of condolence to the Waverley Racing Club on the death of the extra day’s permit promised by him, and that all correspondence in connection with the application for the extra day’s racing be published in the Press. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. J. J. Bourke moved that “This

meeting is strongly of the opinion that the issuing of permits should be placed outside political influence and control, and that the Racing Conference have complete control in the granting and distribution of all permits.” This motion also was carried. Mr. J. E. Henrys, the well-known handicapper, has been granted six months’ leave by the Canterbury Jockey Club, and he left this week by the Aorangi for a trip to Canada and Great Britain. Mr. Henrys has been handicapper to the C.J.C. for 38 years, and during that time has never been absent from any of the club’s meetings. In Ills absence his place as handicapper at Riccarton will be taken by Mr. W. P. Russell, who will fix the weights for the Grand National and sprin ; meetings. Mr. Russell is well known as a handicapper and a judge. Mr. Henrys is accompanied on his trip by Mrs. Henrys, to whom he was married on Monday. RACING FIXTURES. July 12, 14, 16—Wellington Racing Club winter meeting. July 21.—Waimate Hunt annual meeting. July23.—South Canterbury Hunt annual meeting. July 28, 30.—Gisborne Racing Club winter meeting. July 30.—Christchurch Hunt Steeplechase. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. (By “Moturoa.”) Trentham will be the scene of opertions on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of next week, and the Wellington Winter meeting is always of particular interest in view of the Grand National meeting folio-wing in August. « • # * Trentham is a place generally associated with mud —and mud of a particularly sticky type —but pipe-draining has worked wonders, and the time recorded in training gallops this week prove that the going is not bad considering the amount of rain which has fallen recently. Nevertheless, Trentham is not a course to “punt on” during the winter, and surprises may be expected there next week. The best horses are engaged, and fields are likely to be numerous in most events. The task of picking winners will therefore be very hard. • • • • The unlucky Kawini is nominal favourite for the Wellington Steeplechase, but Beau Cavalier, Crown Coin and Tuki all have armies of admirers. Crown Coin has done everything asked of him since his return from his victorious mission on the East Coast, and it may be Wallace Young’s luck to lead in a winner at Trentham when opposed to the best. • • • • Chickwheat’s decisive win at Ashburton suggests that he may prove the best of the South Island horses likely to sport silk in the Whyte Memorial Handicap. Master Doon should represent Auckland nobly. In minor events on Tuesday good support may be accorded Troilus (Vittoria Hurdles), Woden (Hack Steeples), King Lu (Stewards’ Handicap), Wedding March (Trentham Hurdles), Mister Gamp (Te Aro Handicap), and Romantic (Trial Plate). Wedding March is also engaged in the big steeples, and if started on that race, Royal Form should prove a good substitute for northern hopes. (The above remarks are based on “form,” and actual results frequently prove the uncertainty of racing!) TURF TOPICS. Crown Coin jumped the big fences at Wanganui on Thursday morning in good style, and was railed through to Trentham yesterday. It has been definitely decided to ship Commendation to Sydney for July 29. The Limond gelding is reported to be in fine condition to measure strides with Limerick and the best of the Aussie horses this spring. • • « #

Dug. Webster will also leave at the end of the month, taking with him First Acre, Greenfield, Montoa Wonder and Asleep. On New Zealand form they are a poor lot, and will bo lucky if they pay expenses. • • • • Dunedin will be represented at Trentham next week by Tuki, Honey, Cartoon, Delle, Bonena, Pamplona, Arpent and Royal Head. Cartoon was an acceptor for the Wellington Steeplechase, though his name did not appear on the telegraphed list. * * * • Mr. I. Henry, the well-known Melbourne sportsman, is gathering together a few New Zealand horses. Recent purchases include Soldier’s Hope (Soldiers’ Chorus—Chrysalis), Mountain Lion (Mountain Knight—Fairy Gold), and Serotina (Autumnus —Glenowlet). * * * * A horse that may be heard of at the Wellington meeting is the southern ’chaser, Scamp, a six-year-old gelding by Kilrain —Helianthes. Scamp has won his last three races over the big fences, and the manner in which he covered two rounds of Riccarton country on Monday last suggests that he is a great jumper. Whether he will have the pace necessary to go with the elect at Trentham is another matter. « * * # Horses trained at Te Awamutu by C. E. Loomb have won nearly £4OOO in stakes this season, bringing his aggregate for six years up to about £30,000. In this period his charges have annexed over 60 races. * * * * Perusal of the lists of entries for the big spring handicaps in Australia show that no less than 28 New Zealand-bred horses have been nominated for the Melbourne Cup, while the Caulfield Cup has attracted 24, the Metropolitan Handicap 21, the Epsom Handicap 18, and the Cantala Stakes 13. • • « e Stormy and Breezy were offered for sale in Sydney after winning races at Newcastle, and while Breezy found a new owner, nobody could bo induced to purchase Stormy. Mr. H. W. Burch had good reason to be pleased at retaining Stormy, for the Quin Abbey —Gipsy Martian gelding, ridden by M. McCarten, won the Moorefield Handicap immediately afterwards, and started at a double figure price! TROTTING NOTES. (By “Equitable.”) Owner J. R. McKenzie stated last week that his fine pacer, Great Bingen, will have a smack at lowering the one and a half mile record held by Onyx (3min. 13sec). this coming season. • * • • You will find one at every meeting — that is the know-all grandstand horseman. He will tell you what the starter should do; also the drivers and trainers, and to sum him up (the grandstand jockey), if given the chance he could not train a creeper up a wall.

A parcel went west over Berma Pointer last week at Ashburton. She was leading far over a mile and then sent out the SOS. The heavy going stopped her. * * * * Nominations will close on Thursday next, July 14, for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting, to be held on Saturday, Wednesday and Friday, August 6, 10 and 12 (National week). Great Kevin has been transfered from George Richards to Sid Jones, so is back in his old box. Richards won a couple of heats with the son of St. Kevin last season. • * * # Kolmar lightened up a lot on the Auckland trip and was not himself. This speedy trotter is a bad feeder away from home. * * * * Master Cute was up to his old games at Auckland, having a think at the post, but didn’t he put them in when he got going! # * « # Drum Withers and Dil Edwards are running a dead heat for leading horsemen with 281 wins each. It looks as if there will have to be two gold-mounted whips. # * * « Drum Withers carriers a bit more with him in a race than most horsemen, and that is six toes on one foot. * * # * The Aussie-bred roan pacer Glandore, owned by Hill Brothers, of Auckland, has joined Dave Bennett’s stable. Dave will soon have the straight jacket on him. * # * • August Brothers, of Lower Hutt, have sent their speedy pacer Hori-Dillon to M. B. Edwards to prepare for future events. Like all the Dillons he has plenty of speed. * * * * Billy Tompkinson dropped Holly J3oy after the Auckland meeting. The Boy is a guest of Sid August’s and is on the sick list. * * * * A couple of well-known Auckland owners, in Tommy Rickards and Billy Evans, are giving the game a spell, and both are taking on the hotel business. • * * • Jimmy Lynch, owner-trainer of Uncle Bert, is keeping the son of Gold Bell in full work and intends making the trip to Christchurch for the August meeting. Uncle Bert is at the top of his form at present. • # * • The Trotting Association is making a , lot of enquiries lately, and rumours have been current that there is going to be a spring cleaning