SPORTING NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 9352, 10 March 1881, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

■ <: ♦ rr— By " Soxtkak." The eventful day has at length arrived, and I venture to predict that the present meeting will be one of the most successful that Wanganui has ever witnessed. The number of horses engaged exceed by nearly 20 that of any preceding year, and the quality is decidedly superior. Every race has good entries, and there will be very few scratchings, and of all racing clubs in New Zealand I make bold to assert that Wanganui holds pride of place for large fields, the reason obviously being that local owners, to almost a man, start their horses when once entered, as they do not take the trouble to find out the merits of their animals to that nicety for which the Southerners are noted. Therefore, they run on the off-chance. The more clever contingent can tell almost to a few pounds if their horse has a show or otherwise, so that consequently nuinerousscratchingsaretheresult. " Soukar " and " Spectator," in their notes, often hint to owners that they all abroad, but still they persevere, and I admire their pluck. It is such owners that keep our club in the position it is, and all I wish is, may they long be spared to afford such substantial support to the W.J.C. The talent is more strongly represented than hitherto, and complain that there is not the business to be done as formerly, but the money ' will be forthcoming. The totalizator having become a favourite with the sporting public here, the bulk of the investment will be done through it. The only wagers I have seen laid are doubles. The course is in first-class order, and fast time will be the order of to-day. Before giving my tips I would just remind my readers that several horses have corae from country districts, and I question if even their owners are aware of what chances they have ; therefore, if in the Derby or Sapling an outsider turns up, I shall not be surprised. For the Weight-for-age Hurdler we have 8 horses entered. King Don is not in form ; Otangaki I do not like ; Artful Joe's condition is very backward ; Ada is too slow. This leaves Grey Momus, Chandler, Lady Mary, and Hangnhix-a, and I oliall plutnp £ov GEEY MOMUS . . 1 Lady Mary . . . . 2 Chandler .. ..3 Next comes the most open race of the meeting — The Derby — and as Bull'sEyo, Venture, Annuity, Camelia, Woodpecker, and Frivolity have all been trained at private training-grounds, I confess to being guided principally by report. I begin with Bull's-Eye :He arrived yesterday, and his trainer, Frank Gay, stripped him for me, and he certainly seems very fit, and looks every inch a colt that could carry Sst 101 b over Derby distance in good time. Buzzard will not start; Corisande and Little Dorrit have very little show ; Camelia, from her late running, seems to have gone back; Frivolity I never did fancy ; and Woodpecker lam afraid cannot stay. Blue Gown is a stayer, but he lacks pace; Venture has improved in appearance since I saw him last, he being then very low in condition. If this colt had been taken up in time, he ought to have had a good show. Annuity is a flighty one, and although she got second in the Turalrina Maiden, the company was very poor, and the course about 40 yards short, .making the winner's time for the mile and a-half about 2min oosecs, and that cannot win the Derby. She has besides 61b more to carry to-day. Scotch Mist I regard as extremely dangerous, as she is undoubtedly fast, and if Mclvor has not been intimidated by her bad leg, and has given her plenty of work, she must be one of the first three. Last is Ngata; this colt has shown us that he can race and stay, and looks very fit. He will go very different in company to what he did on Tuesday morning. To him, Bull's-Eye, and Scotch Mist, I look for the winner, with Annuity and Venture as next best. I shall finally place them — BULL'S-EYE . . 1 Scotch Mist .. „2 Ugata 3 For the Sapling Stakes we have 11 entries. I see nothing better than Dauphin, Slander filly, and Eccleston. Bonny Doon I have not seen ; Gladstone has not had much preparation; -Springs I do not like ; Discretion is a non-starter; Taipo and Koramiko I have not heard good accounts of ; Esmeralda ought to beat more than will beat her. I place them — DAUPHIN .. ..1 Eccleston . . . . 2 Slander filly .. ..3 Next comes The Wangajtui Stakes Handicap. This race^should have been on tho second day, th 6 Cup on the first, and the handicaps made after tho Cup was run. This I look on as a moral for Natator with Bst 61bs, as on the Wellington Cup running ho must hold Libeller safe, and what beats Mr Walters' horse should win. Next to these two I fanoy Randwick and King Quail. Dan may probably be reserved for the Flying Handicap. Therefore I place them — NATATOR .. ..1 Libeller .. ..2 Randwick . . . . 3 It is possible that the last two named may not start, failing which I place King Quail and Opawa to fill their places. For the Town Plate, it is very uncertain what horses will start, but either Billingsgate or Foul Play can win if they start, as Billingsgate has the advantage of the weights. I place them — BILLINGSGATE . . 1 Foul Play .. ..2 Others nowliure Now for the Flyikg Stakes. This is the last race of the first day, and will bringtogetheralargefield. Billingsgate and Natator have heaps of weight, and [ like tho chances of the light-weight iivisiQa better. Oil Dit, Dan, Soukar,

md Eandwick, are all flyers with light weights. Sir George and Eedeemer ilso are good performers. The others have very little chance. My final selections are — RANDWICK . . . . 1 Dan • . • • • ■ 2 Billingsgate . . ■ • 3 This concludes the first day's racing, and I do not intend to give my second day's selections until to-morrow morning. I have to inform nay readers that Libeller carrys his 7st 4lb only, and the winner of the Wanganui Stakes does not incur a penalty., as according to our rules the winners own stake (i. c., bis entrance money) is deducted ; therefore, even if Natator wins the Stakes his weight will still be Sst 121 b. I will only say that Hook no further than Libeller for the winner, with Natator, Dan, and On Dit to fill first place in the Cup if Mr Walters' horse fails. '■■