ALL SORTS OF SPORT.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 24 December 1926, Page 3

ALL SORTS OF SPORT.

Homeiight, Midnight Bell, Peie Pointer, Perky Locanda, Request scr, Chiming King, Queen Betty 12, Lady Zita, Robert Bell 24, Dick Swithin 36, Revolt, Nelson McElwyn 48, Desert Star 60. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of 200 sovs; 1 mile.— La France,, Marinca, Nelson Fay, Nihilist Junior, Zenith scr, Hushabye, Pied Admiral, Snowcap 12, Wild Pigeon, Socialist, Free Lance, Great Count, Hylas, Silbon 24, J azolock 36, Mountain Chimes 48. RACING NOTES. By ‘’Observer.” At tiie time of writing Rapine and his stable-mate Star Stranger are the actual favourites for the Auckland Cup. Twelve months ago Rapine, carrying 9.8„ beat Count Cavour, 8.13, by a short head; now their weights are 9.9 and 9.5. Star Stranger 9.2, Te Monanui 9.1, and Te Kara 9.0 complete the nine stone division. Mask and Tanadees have 8.0 each, Mandane 7.8, Star Ranger and Footfall each 7.7, Desert Glow and Diogenes 7.3, Battlement 7.2, Town Bank and Piuthair 7.1, Nippy Clarinda, Kamehameha and Lord Star each 7.0. It is open to question if Count Cavour is capable of

giving -Star S ganger 3lbs, or even Jibs to Te Monanui, while furtherdown tiie list we have Mask, who comes from a strong stable. Mandane with 8.3 ran third to Star Rang er for the Mitehelson Cup, 1J miles, at Ellerslie, last month, and now meets the winner on 111 b better terms. Desert Glow looks a better proposition than Footfall, as we know that he can stay. Diogenes, with his light impost will run well, as will the elect of Piuthair and Clarinda. Lord Star has been doing good work for some time, and may create a surprise on the day. Star Stranger, Te Monanui, Mask, Battle merit, and Desert Glow may be the hardest. The second leg, the Railway Handicap, contains a large field with that good horse Grand Knight with 9.13 at the head, and even with all his weight he is sure to keep some of the others doing their best before the chair is reached. Lady Cavendish, Mimetic and Shirley can also skip. Deluge, if he would only produce his track form would win, hut there is that “if.” Lucinius is . also . brilliant, while we all know how smart Ruffles is, especially over the distance. Limited ran well at Feilding, and with his niee impost of 7-11 should give a good account of himself. Grand Knight, Limited, Deluge and Ruffles are likely ones in a very open race. For the other events True Blue, Chamour le Chouc,as and Phaola may run well in the Christinas Handicap. For the Foal Stakes, Cimabue, after his Riecarton win, will be first choice with backers, after which the Riccarton pair, Eulalie and Agrion, with Gas cony and Laughing Prince, will have ample followers, while High Finance may upset the pot. Ti Tree, who is very fast, with Papanelli and Cosmetic, may be the best supported for the Nursery, and bnte >o'f the trio may win. Peter Maxwell, Gaunt let, with Wedding March, should run well in the Grafton Hurdles.

With all his weight, Adjutor will run well in the Summer Hurdles at Wingatui, and with Coastguard and Gunease, should keep the others busy over a mile and threequarters. Spearmaid, Jolly Glad, Gold Mint, and Bilbo look the best of those engaged in the Salisbury Handicap. ’Fer the Dunedin Handicap, Money Peer, Jericho, Scrambler and Money Mine should run well, in one of the most open races there has been Tor some time, as not one of the acceptors has yet saluted the judge as a winner.

Now we come to the chief event of the afternoon, the Otago Handicap, for which Centrepiece has been accorded support as if the race were all over bar shouting the winner’s name. However, there is one in the race who will have to bee reckoned with, and that one is Overdrawn, while S'et Sail is sure to run well. Pink Terrace dropped her party at Timaru, but on her own course the Tractor filly will be more at heme, while if he is at his best Vaward is certain to be handy at ' the finish. However, to sum up, Centrepiece. Overdrawn, and Pink Terrace may

have the most to say as the line is crossed. Of those in the Tria Stakes, Princess Mafalda will mos

likely be first choice with backers, while French Belle, Battle Colours, and Speak Bridge are certain to have many supporters. After her form at the South Canterbury meeting, it looks as if Receipt will be made favourite for the sprint six furlongs, while Corn Money, Arpent, and Sweet Melody can also be relied upon to run well. Blaek Duke, Lady Dilatory, and Credit may be the best of those in the Burnside handicap. Front Rank, Gold Brick, and Bugle Note appear the best of those in the Welter, and one of the trio may win.