SPORTING NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5488, 5 December 1884, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

(BY FLANEUR.)

The publication of the Palmerston handicaps has caused considerable surprise, as it is quite evident they were made without reference to the most recent perf xmances of several of the animals engaged at Wellington . lately. However, I will take them as published, and note my comments as I go. Scrutineer heads the Hurdles with list 101 b, not an out of the way impoßt, but Parnell, lOat 101 b, and The Druid at the same weights are decidedly wrongly treated, as the latter is all a 71b ; better'horse than Parnell, and not a stone inferior to Scrutineer. Old -kylark, 9at 71b, is well in it, and may repeat his last year's victory if Palmer can get htm to the post anything like fit. a very difficult matter considering the " dicky 1 ' state of Skylark's forelegs. Of all the rest below, Jim, 9st, reads best, bat I think with a good horseman on The Druid we ought not to look much further for the winner, if he stands up. The Manawatu R.C. Handicap comes next on the list, and here I frankly confess I cannot understand on what plan the handicap has been framed, as Bayard, 9at, is called upon to <?ive weight to horses that' beat him lately in Wellington, Refrigerator, Bst 101b f cannot beat Speculation at level weights on their late performances, as the mare has shown a marked improvement since she changed hands, as shewn by the hollow manner in which she disposed of Conßul, Armourer, Mata, Patangitangi in the Island Bay Handicap, in which she is credited with doing the mile in lmin 45secs, which, if correct, iB very near the best on record in this country. Armourer Bst 51b receives 101 b from Bayard, notwithstanding his defeat of Mr Paul's horse at a difference of only 81b at the Hutt, thus fulfilling my prophecy after their Wanganui running on the 10th November, that the black horse would turn the tables on his conqueror before the season was over. Eingleader 7st 71b is badly treated, as he has never shewn 'any form worthy of note, and certainly none that entitles him to concede Wilberforce and Lady Artist 71b a piece, as he is now asked to do. Last Chance 6at 121 bis well in, and ought to get pear the I front, as she is a very speedy mare, but not ! very reliable. On paper the race seems to ! be between Armourer, Lady Artist, andjLast Chance. In tho Flying, Mr Higgie baa again made the grave error of asking Ringleader to concede a performer like Parvenu 51b?, a task I don't think there iB any grounds for imposing on him. For the Palmerston Plate Handicap, Bayard is again the " ohop* | ping block " at 9at, Speculation also being adjudged the same impost, Laurel Bst 1016 is better goods, if fit, whilst Armourer Bsfc 71b ought to hold them both Bafe. Kingleader ?st 71b is not my fancy. Last Chance and Trickster 6»« 101 b are bqth well my* especially the latter, a son. of Trump J Card's, dam Revoke by Leolinus, and winner of the Maiden Plate atGeraldinelast year, beating Trinket and several other good ones, If he is sound and fit he ought to be hard to beat at the weight. Of those below him, I think Martha 6st 71b has the best chance of landing the money, but- she has been bad for some time with strangles, and may not be fit in time for Palmerston on Boxing Bay. I hear there was a great boil over the < ! second day at the Hutt, Speculation 7st 61b being warmly supported by her people for the St Andrew's Handicap, won -by Administrator Bat 101 b. The good thing did not come off, and Mr Tailored, who had treated Mr Evett to Borne very ohoice flowers of speech for giving Administrator Bat 101 b after his Island Bay running, had to eat the leek and apologise. Mr Evett had his eyes open, and results proved he had not overrated Mr Tanoreds horse's powers. A peTson of Mr Tancred's standing Bhould have set • better example than he did, as it is very bad form to turn round and slang a handicapper. even when the latter makes a mistake, for to err is human, and handioappers are very human if not humane 1 Pasha proved himself the good horse I said he was, by running a dead heat with Speculation for the Free Handioap in 2min B&seoa. Mr Horsford bought nearly all Mr George Bates' string at Christchurch lately and we are nob likely to see "Honest George " leading in a winner again, as I believe he has given racing best and. left the turf with his name as unblemished as he entered it. A rare thing in these degenerate days. Mr F. Hills new purohases Speculation and Sir Bedevere arrived safely by the Hui» on Monday and were at once taken up to Flemihgton Lodge where they will be fired up by Sam Powell, who has now a strong . team in work. If the son of Albany and Trea-Duce has anything in him Sam will fetch it out, as he is one o£ the few really good trainers iv the colony, and always does equal justice to every member of his team irrespective of owners.

I made an error in my former notes re« speoting Equation's foal whioh changed hands lately, instead of Problem as I stated, the latter havingdied some time. since 1 According to JSgles in the Australasian Commotion would have won the Cap bat for the mistake his rider made of easing off to let his stable mate Plausible win, not

being aware of Malua'a. proximity, which he only discovered when too late. There may bo something iv it as Commotion beat Malua handsomely at w.f .a. before the meeting oloßed. Wattie and Sutherland both had the offer of the Derby mount on Black Rose, bat were engaged to ride for other owners and could not acoept. Bob Ray is Baid to be about visiting Australia, and is going to lake Welcome Jack with him after the Auokland Cup. The present wet weather has put a stop to all active training here, and is greatly retarding the preparation of the different hor&es in training around Wanganui jußt now. Dusk has gone into Diok vV heeler's stable to be fixed up for coming jumping events. Mr Thos. Greig has leased Flora McDonald, and put her to Dilke again, as he thinks another Titokowaru may result from the union. I hope so, as The Laird ot Kaitoke deserves a bit of luck. Ravenswood, the winner of the Hurdle Race at Dunedin, v, as one of a draught of horses shipped from here by Mr Kirkwood in the Wallabi to Lyttelton some time ago. He is by Day Dawn, I behve, and is keeping the credit of the Wanganui district up. Germaine won the Hack liace. on the second day at the Hutt, but the dividend was very email, as the public were " in the kaow " this time I A fine upstanding son of the defunct Painter changed hands here lately at a good price. He is intended lor the illegitimate game, and will be heard of betore the season closes.| Clarence's weight in the Auckland Steeplechase is 12st 101 b, and not 12st as telegraphed. fennelly bad his pocket picked at Flemington at the Cup meeting, and lost the valuable gold watch his Auckland admirers sent him for his success with Martini-Henry last year. He got it back by the "underground railway," a line well known to the detectives ! Pocket-picking was carried to an excess never previously known at Flemington, as a gaDg of expert London thieves had come out to work the meeting ! Martini-Henry's sister, Woodnymph, is in the Auckland Cup at fat 121 b. What a holy show her old mother, Sylvia, would have made of such a field at that weight in her day ? Prodigal, full brother to Tasman, has been purchased by Mr J. Mundy, in whose name Sir Mod red has been running this season. Joe Thompson, the leviathan Victorian bookmaker, was taken down for £20013 by the owner, of Commotion, who backed the old horse at 2 to 1 against Malua in the Canterbury Plate; weigh t-for-a^e; two miles. Time, 3min 34sec, and won easily. At the "settling" over the late V.R.C. meeting in Melbourne, it is estimated that no less a sum than £150,000 in notes and geld was taken into the room to be paid j away and received. Black Rose is much fancied for the Auckland Cup, in which he is down at 7st 61b. Mr W. T. Owen's Darby winner Fame has dropped a fine filly foal to Somnus, and goes to Natator. The nominations received by our local racing club for the Autumn Handicap's are very good, and of an improving quality, such nice goods as July, Sou' Wester, Leonara, Black Rose, &0., figuring on the list. Local owners will have to look to their laurels and not allow the last chance of the season to slip by unimproved 1 I notice three staliions that have been serving this season are nominated. Will they be equal to the double duty as successlully as old Opawa, who frequently won some slashing races in the Autumn, after being at the Btud all the spring, and left the post for the paddock as Bound as a bell, after eight or nine years hard training. Such equine wonders are not foaled every day.