SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1927, Page 5

SPORTING.

DAMNSVIRKE MEETINGS. (By “Moturoa.”) The Danuevirke R.C. spring meeting lakes place to-day. and the Hunt Club meetin gon Thursday', making a two day-'s gathering, which promises to attract good fields and produce interesting racing. With “form” well exposed at Marton and at Wanganui, the task of finding winners should be easier for the public than it. has been at the two former centres. Mr. W. P. Russell is handicapper to the Danuevirke R.C. and Dannevirke Hunt Club, while Mr. 11. H. Aidworth (judge) and Mr. R. H. Skipwith (starter) are also connected with both clubs. The first race starts at 11.15 a.m. each day.

To-day's racing opens with the Glengarry- Hack Hurdles, one mile and a half, and the field of eight includes •good hacks like Arataura (11.7) and Revel (10.10), which promise to monopolise the betting on the machine. Of the others, Red Fuchsia, a stable-mate of Peneus, started on the second day at Marton, but finished a long way back. Ramblin’ Kid was well beaten each day at. Marton, and on the first day at Wanganui. On Friday he fell. Nothing is known of the 9st. division, and form points to the consistent (and. improving) Arataura as a very dangerous customer considering the class and the distance.

Rosebush is not eligible to start in the Tiratu Maiden Stakes, five furlongs, and the public has little public form to go on in sizing up the strength of the field. Abisogne ran a second and a third at the Gisborne winter meeting. Volliynia finished second, to Our Jack at Dannevirke last spring, but failed to gain a place after; Heather Blend did. a lot of racing last season, and registered two seconds and four thirds; Excess was second in his last start —to Rory Mor at Napier; and Grey Mist and Golden Shadow each scored a third. Summed up, tlie best performed appear to be Excess and Abisogne. Porselineis said to be very fast, and may upset the favourite division.

Royal Damon has a good weight (9.9) in the President’s Handicap, six furlongs, but he is a good horse, and is used to big imposts. He won his last raca, the Okaw-a Handicap at ihe Hawke’s Bay- autumn meeting, Decoy Bird (8.5) being only third. Beaumont (8.6) has had a fair amount of racing

tills season, and may strip as fit as anything. Epistle is an unlucky mare, and failed to win last year. Of the lightweights, Cosmetic and Coot go fairly well. Decoy Bird may be favourite today, but the elect of H. Hickey’s stable should race prominentlv also. #«' # * The Umutaoroa Handicap, six furlongs, has attracted a fine field of hacks, and those who saw Atereria (Rossendale —Cheri Cheri) finishing in second place to Nastori at Wanganui on Friday will keep Mr. W. H. Gaisford’s gelding in mind to-day. The top weight, Arch Arrow, is a good sort, and won three races last season, and Reckless, Chips and. Eloquent also ran good races. Vigilance is a promising sort. An open race may see Atereria, Eloquent and Reckless iu most demand. *'* # * Two recent winners, Tresham and Tame Fox, are engaged in the Neagle Memorial Handicap, one mile and a quarter, and of tho pair Tresham is the better stayer. Both shaped well at Marton and at Wanganui. Royal Game has his full share of weight, and the distance may also trouble him. Imperial Spark ran batlly' at Marton, but went better at Wanganui, and may be on the up grade again. The “st. division have nothing to recommend them, and it will be surprising if the public do not support Tresham, Tame Fox and Imperial Spark in that order, « # # » The Tal'oraite Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, includes in its acceptors a number of horses that have figured on the winning list at recent meetings. Tanagra won at Marton from Kalos and Town Bird. Lady' Faye and Butterscotch have also raced prominently of late. However, Tanagra looks well enough to account for Butterscotch, with Essential also as a likely’ sort. * & # * A big field features in the Ruahine Handicap, seven furlongs, but Horomea would only' have to reproduce Wellington form to be very hard to head off. Royal Land created a mild surprise by beating a first-class field at Wanganui. Starboard Light finished strongly at Marton to dead-heat, with Huikai, an 1 on that form must be respected. Epistle generally runs on well at the end of “six” also. Summed up. a difficult race may see Starboard Light, Horomea and Epistle (if started) in th picture. # * * * To-day’s racing will conclude with the Harris Cup (hack), one mile, and another good field includes Cerf and Tanagra, which have raced well at recent meetings. Lady Cynthia may go well on top of the ground, and Waicullus is a really good one. With a good run Cerf should be prominent, and Ten agar a is another that is more than useful over the distance.