RACING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 December 1925, Page 5

RACING.

FIXTURES. Dec. 9, 10—Woodville District J.C. Dec. 12 —Waipa R.C. Dee. 17, 19—Bargaville R.C. Dec. 19 —Banks Peninsula R.C. Dee. 26—Waipukurau J.C. Dee. 26, 28 —Westland R.C. Dec. 26, 28 —Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 28, 29 —Manawatu R.C. Dec. 26, 29, Jan. 1, 2—Auckland R.C. Dec. 31, Jan. 1, 4—Greymouth J.C. AUCKLAND SCRATCHING. AUCKLAND, Monday. Tuscan was scratched at 2, p.m. today for the Railway Handicap at the Auckland summer meeting. WELLINGTON SUMMER MEETING. CUP WORTH £1750. The stewards o-f the Wellington Racing Club yesterday finally approved the programme for the Wellington summer meeting, which is to be held on January 20th, 22nd and 23rd. There lnus been an increase in stake money, the principal increase being in the value of the. cup from £I6OO to £1750 (including a cup worth £100). / TURF TOPICS. The following arc the entries for the Great Northern Derby, of 3000 so vs pit miles: —Automne, Star Area, Centrepiece, The Thorn,' Mask, Aropcta, Diogenes, Lornint, Philanderer, Merry Damon, Aberfeldv, Beacon Light, Mint Leaf, King Lu, Queen Arch, Nippy, Princess Mafalda, Penman, Mosaic, Mimetic, Star Stranger. -Peneus lias been galloping well on his home track, and he will be on© of tlio hard ones to beat at the Woodville meeting. When thoroughly well lie is one of the best sprinters in the country, and though he is in his- right place at the top of the handicap, he has not been overburdened. v fpjTK ; : : - iHTk :■ ■ ; It will'be interesting; to notice how Mogalo shapes in "open company at Woodville. The Awapuni mare surprised everyone, except, perhaps, her immediate connections, by the race she ran behind Lady Cavendish at Riccai'ton, and at Levin she registered a fine performance when she won, although those she beat were oulv hacks. It is quite possible that she will run a good race, but in any case the outing should provide a better line on her ability as a sprinter than her two last races have done.

So far it cannot be'said that there is any decided favourite for the Auckland Cup. Several combinations are fancied but they are mostly stable combinations. For instance, up Taranaki way they like the chances of The- Banker and Lady Cavendish, and certainly it appears that O. Cox shelters on his premises as likely a pair as can be discovered in the lists. The Banker’s finishing run in the New Zealand Cup marks him as one of the great stayers of the turf to-day, and as lie can carry weight and is fast enough to get a good position early in the piece there is every reason to expect him to give another excellent account if himself. Ilis stable-mate, Lady Cavendish, is beyond doubt one of the best sprinters in commission, and she was unlucky to be beaten 'by Tamatete at Feilding over a distance at which the big Foretell gelding is very hard to defeat. Two other siablemates who have come into public favour since their recent successes are Spoony and Gold Acre. Jamieson is having sv successful run just now. Spoony has a handy weight, but has to prove himself capable of going two miles at Hie clip ho will be required to in the Ellerslio field. Gold Acre will find the field on Boxing Day richer than the one he defeated recently, but he was a smart sprinter as a youngster, and as he appears to have gone on the right way he has an excellent chance at the weights. Count Cavour and Money Orijer is another combination which is being-, much talked about- in racing circles.