SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 26 October 1912, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK.

(Special to "Chronicle.'")

Ail acceptance of seventeen for the New Zealand Cup must be considered satisfactory, and a glance at tho list shows that most of tho best .stayers in the Dominion .still claim an engagement iv the big two miles handicap at Kiccarton, which comes up for_ decision on Saturday next. In connecuon with the race many changes have taken place during the week, the most important being the shortening in price of Undecided, who now shares favour with Allegory. This was the result of L'udecided's easy victory in the Mas■terton Cup with 9.5, in which he beat Byron, Si naps is" and Mira, all of whom are engaged in the Kiccarton race. Vice-Admiral still holds his place at tho head of tho handicap and while the market indicates Allegory, there are tho.se who contend that Vice-Admiral will be the elect of Mr G. D. Greenwood. The son of Multiform certainly failed to make a showing in Australia, but it must not bo forgotten that he aLso failed last year and then returned to piove himself the best handicap hur.it.' in New Zealand. However, last war \ let-Admiral finished fourth in

t:n> Ak-tionolitan Handicap, but this month lie was one of the last t.vo to pa- , thu ju.d<>.o. Bronzo accompanied Vice-Admiral homo in tho Metropolitan, and making all due allowance;* for it proves thai it is hardly iikelv that she

will Uc, returned the winner. Lady Lw.ry is a genuine >tayor. but her form I'm- a ];>!jg time lias been wry bad and si"j will have to improve wonderfully to have a chance. Domino can be labelled ■riMi^eroiis as nut only can lie muster ii)> a heap of pace, but he lias also proved his ability to stay out two miles, as witin-s_ his go:nl second to Santa Hc-a in the Auc-idand Cup. Midnight Sum lias run several good races, but he. gen -rally fails when expected to win and perhaps lie may lind the distance a fcrifk 1 too far. Masterpiece, who with 7.13 is ono of pick of the handicap, is reported to ho galloping j u fine style and though sonic good judges will declare against a Clanranald over two miles, it may not be safe to count Masterpiece out on this score, as he has the C.J.C. Derby to his credit. Gold-

'' finder, if he could strike hie form of \ two seasons ago, would count a host of

admirers, as his form at the Auckland Cup meeting of 1910-11 was brilliant. On Masterton running Byron, Sinapsis and Alira can have very iittle chance, and Soldier's Chorus has also accepted for the Stewards' Handicap, but the chances are that his owner will run him in the Cup. Allegory was reported, tio be giving his trainer some, trouble, but his acceptance would suggest that there 13 nothing seriously wrong with him. At the same time it is interesting to note that Allegory, while being accepted for in the Cup, was 'also nominated for one of the minor events decided the same (day. Haskiayne and Obligant have shown fair form recently and with their light imposts may run well, but Bellah and Odessa have little to recommend them far a race of this description. The Wellington meeting, which takes place to-day «nd Monday may throw some light on the issue, but this is hardly likely, a> owmrs who fancy their horses' chances at Riccarton will not be looking to incur penalties. One of the• best 'gallops ever recorded at Ellerslie was registered by Tact on Tuesday, when the daughter of Obligado rau half .a mile on the course proper, outside the trestles, in 49 1-5. Tact is engaged in several races at Ellerelie, but her mission will be the Shorts Handicap on the opening day. The Auckland trotting horse, Mandarine, was sent South on Tuesday to contest the New Zealand Trotting Cup, in which event he has the limit, 9secs. Prior to being sent away the son of Norval stepped over a mile in 2.13 and those who saw the treat are sanguine that the prize will come North. Two years ago Mandarine contested the event, but in a mix-up at the start he got rid of his driver, M. Edwards, but he went on hie own and leading over the major portion of the journey, eventually finished third. v Merry Roe was not sent to Wellington to contest the Wellesly Stakes, as the daughter of Soult is being set for the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie. She is galloping in great style and has made a big improvement since running second to" Tatterley in the Hastings Stakes

The news from Australia that Trafalgar has terminated his turf career will be regretted by all lovers of a good horse. In these days when, sprinters are liberally catered for good stayers are becoming quite a rarity—particulary in New Zealand. To say that Trafalgar was a great horse is to put it' mildly, and the character of>*the many winning performances down to tho chestnut son of Wallace and Grand Canary, entitles him to be placed with the best horses ever seen in Australasia. During his career he won stake money to the value of £22,105, and it was fitting that a victory in'the Kandwick Plate—the fourth in succession— should see him bid farewell to the public. In all, Trafalgar contested 59 races, winning 24, second 12^ time*, third G times.-.and1-17 times unplaced. What a pity the Melbourne Cup did not fall to him. The Wellington Racing Club's Spring Meeting, which opens at Trentham today, will be watched with interest by sportsmen, as several of those engegad claim important engagements at the Now Zealand Cup meeting. In tho Wellington Handicap Bobrikoff heads the list witn 5).4 raid he should be in a position to kepn 'c:i:» vest ot the opposition busy. He may be reserved for tho Champion Plate on the second day of tho meeting, in which event his most dangerous opponent should bo Equitas In the Wellington Handicap, Byron, Odessa, Haskayne' and Obligant, four N.-Z. Cup candidates, may be starter*, while in the Shorts Handicap qu lea host of Stewards' Handicap candi 'atvs are engaged.