OUR WANGANUI LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 88, 31 March 1892, Page 6

OUR WANGANUI LETTER.

[by

WIRE. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wanganui, March 20. Owners of stallions are reminded that entries of stallions for the Egmont Sires Hack Produce Stakes of 1895 close on the 2nd April. The fee being 3 sovs, the nominator of the winning sire to receive 4osovs and a cup value ssovs. Mr. Thos. Morrin of Auckland is so impressed with the idea that he has nominated all his stallions i.e., Hotchkiss, St. Leger, Lord Raven, Tasman, and Castor. Several owners of foals by Volunteer would like to nominate in thie race, but as Volunteer is dead it is reEorted that Mr. Mcßae demurs to nominate the old orse. As Mr. Mcßae comes from a good old sporting family, the rumour must be incorrect, as from personal knowledge of Mr. Mcßae I think he would nominate the old horse if only to keep his memory green, besides he stands to win -£4O and Cup. Mr. Ross has telegraphed to Waikato, asking those who have any yearling foals if they would wish to enter for this event he should be very glad to nominate his sire Natator. From all reports that I hear, I am sure that the Egmont Racing Club wall have a good list of sires when they open the entries on Saturday next.

Wanganui, March 25. The Manawatu Racing. Club held their Autumn Hack meeting last Wednesday. The weather was showery, but notwithstanding some very interesting racing was the order of the day. The starting was not up to the usual standard that is generally witnessed on this coast owing to the Club’s usual starter, Mr. S. Powell being at the Napier Park meeting, where he was wielding the flag, but otherwise everything passed off without a hitch. The attendance was not large, but those that were present backed their fancies very freely, Messrs. Stock & Cohen putting through tlie,:ku m of £2, 500 fur seven events. In the Flying Handicap Sisfer was voted a good thing by the knowing ones and was made a warm favourite, but she had to succumb to Homai, a nice-looking bay mare

by Natator, trained by J. Retter. The race needs little description, as on the fall of the flag Homai at once went to the front and won all the way by two lengths, 1 e Hurdle Race was annexed by Nat, who went to the nont and made every post a winning one. Pride: of the Hills and Mataiwhetu finished second and third. ror t e principal event of the meeting—the Palmerston Nort Handicap—nine horses came to the post. From a fairly good start Osman and Sweet Dream were the first.to show in front, and they remained in the van till halt the ioumey had been traversed, when Entry improved his position. A quarter of a mile from home the field were in a bunch, but on entering the straight the Ascot gelding, Entry, was in the van, closely pursued by Deception and Osman, but the big son of Ascot being kept going by McKeague, who rode a pretty race, stalled off thenefforts, and eventually won with a bit to spare by half a length. The mile and a half was cut out in 2min. 49 4-Sth sec., which, considering the ground was very heavy and the winner’s weight Bst 41b, I consider to be a fast go. The Electric Handicap, half-mile, was contested by six horses, Phormium Tenax being installed a warm favourite, but after he had led until the straight was reached O’Rourke challenged him, and getting on even terms, the son of Daniel O’Rourke never afterwards gave his opponents a chance, winning as he liked. Ine Mounted Infantry Race was contested by ten horses, the winner turning up in Pango, with Unity a good second. For the Stewards’ Handicap seven faced the starter, Entry, Bst 11 lb, again being made favourite, and he justified the confidence placed in him by the public by winning easily at the finish from Strike, who ran a game horse, the time for the mile and a quarter being 2mm. ic i-qth sec. The Welter Handicap was annexed by Natatorial from Nat and Omahu, the only other starters. Full particulars will be published in our Turf Record column next week. . r E. Ryder, the light weight jockey who was disqualifiea at the late Turakina Meeting, has had the disqualification removed by that Club. Glenelg, the winner of the two hurdle races at the Marton Meeting, is a fine stamp of a cross country horse and will be sure to make a name for himself later on His owner, I hear, has already had two or three good substantial offers for him, but he declines to sell. Several good judges here reckon him to be the best hurdle horse in New Zealand. . Entry, by A scot-Mountain Hare, is another fine big upstanding horse, and without doubt he is a good one, but he is troubled with a leg at present. This horse has only started four times, and has succeeded in being returned the winner on every occasion. He is in Teddy Barnes’ hands, who I am glad to congratulate on Ins turn of luck at the late Manawatu Meeting, having won three races, two with Entry and one with Natatorial, the last win being due mainly to Baines own riding. Darwin, by Mufti, out of Chandler’s half-sister Miss Elswick, by Elswick, runner-up in the half-mile at the late Waverely Meeting, is a fine upstanding chestnnt, sixteen hands high. He should make a first - class steeplechaser as he is a beautiful jumper and is also posseesed of a good turn of pace, the half-mile at Waverley being run in 53|sec on very heavy going, and he was only beaten by half-a-head Mr. Morse informs me that, as he has too many in hand, he wants to sell him, the price wanted being and I am certain he would be a cheap horse at that figure. The well-known steeplechaser Poro-o-tawa has been put into work again with a view of the forthcoming steeplechase meetings. Should this horse stand a pieparation he will be hard to beat, but I am afraid tnat he will not stand the test. The hack mare Niobe, by Natator — Sunshine was rather badly hurt while being taken to the Sandon races, and is not expected to recover from her injuries. The hack Strephon who broke down while running in the Hack Race at Wanganui meeting has now recovered, but is to be treated to a spell for a while, after which most probably he will journey to Australia. Fred Tilly is busy schooling Commotion over big country in view of the forthcoming Auckland Steeplechase.