Coming Events.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 133, 9 February 1893, Page 6

Coming Events.

[By

Sir Launcelot.]

EGMONT RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

This, the most important race meeting held on the West Coast of the North Island during the racing year, is set down for decision on Wednesday and Thursday next, the 15th and 16th instants. The liberal amouut of /"i,200 is to be distributed during the two days, with the Egmont Handicap of joosovs, two miles, and Atkinson Memorial Stakes of 200 sovs, one mile and a-half, as the principal items. There are sure to be a large number of visitors from Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, and Wanganui, in addition to the local contingent,so the Club should have a really good meeting in the event

of weather. If they don’t, it will be through no want of liberality or want of effort and vigour on their part. To deal with the first day’s events, I come first of all to the Waimate Handicap of 6osovs, seven furlongs, for which 11 have accepted out of 25 weighted by Mr Henry. I presume that the fact of Torpedo, 9.7, having been sold to go to Australia is the cause of his dropping out, for on paper form he was well handicapped, but the absence of Recluse, Prestige, and Cretonne is accounted for by their all being on the sick list. With the quartette I have named, and Rangipuhi taken out, Ua, 7.9, is at the head of affairs, and with her Gisborne victories before us, she must have a big chance. At 7.7 on each, I would sooner back Tulloch than Ngatioma, for the son of Sword Dance can get a handy seven furlongs. The three next on the list I pass over in favour of Monte Carlo, 6.10, but to vote for one I think Ua will win, with Tulloch and Monte Carlo in the other places. The First Handicap Hurdle Race of ioosovs, two miles and a distance, has produced the excellent acceptance of eight, headed by Whalebone at 11.9, which is none too much for such a good performer. Paradox won the First Hurdles at Wellington the other day, but failed badly on the second day through jumping badly, and as the company she was then opposed to was but mediocre, I shall pass her by now. I’m not partial to Tiritea at the same weight, 10.12, but I like Gondolier at 10.9. Fishmonger looks on paper to be the pick of the handicap at 10.7, but it may be that the company he will now meet is better than that he has hitherto been used to. He now has to give Marechai Neil sib, whereas in the Takapuna Hurdle Race —where Marechai Neil was second and Fishmonger third-—-Fishmonger was giving Marechai Neil 81b. But Mr Henry’s handicaps were made prior to the running at North Shore. As it is I think Fishmonger is pretty certain to beat Marechai Neil, and I shall place Fishmonger 1, Gondolier 2, Marechai Neil 3. I have not seen the weights for the First Handicap Hack Hurdles at the time of writing, so I will pass on to the Egmont Handicap of 300S0VS, two miles, for which I am sorry to see such a small acceptance as seven. Boulanger has paid up, but unless he was not himself at Wellington, he can hardly win. Morion, 8.3, showed himself in form at Takapuna, and it is the sib penalty he has incurred for that victory that brings him up to his present impost. I think that extra 51b will just stop him, and I have much more liking for Rosefeldt at 7.13. Prestige was scratched for the. New Zealand Cup when he had 7.7, on the reported grounds that he had gone wrong, but he has been accepted with now with 61b more up. However, I will have none of him, even if be landed fit at the post. St. Katherine, 7.6, has been running well this season, and is nicely handicapped. Those below her in the list are Musket, 7.0, and Durus, 6.7, and Musket has an outside chance I fancy, but I shall look for the places to be filled by St. Katherine, Rosefeldt, and Morion in that order.

It is poor encouragement for the Egmont Racing Club to find that they have only a couple of entrants for the Sapling Stakes of 6osovs. six furlongs. These are Eve and Mohaki. Where are all the Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay two-year-olds ? Surely the stake was good enough for an owner to go for? Eve should easily beat the half-brother to Stepniak, albeit she has to put up a penalty. At least I take it she is penalized, but the conditions are badly worded, thusly— “ winner of any race or races of the value of sosovs and up to ioosovs, 71b extra; of over ioosovs, lolb extra.” There is no time specified for winning, though the intention undoubtedly was since August Ist, 1892, and it does not much matter as it happens, because Eve has won and Mohaki is a maiden, but it might have been rather awkward if other winners in addition to Eve had been entered. After the First Handicap Hack Flat Race (the weights for which are not to hand as I write) the Hawera Welter Handicap of sosovs, one mile, claims attention. Eight have accepted with Fraternite, 10.11, at the head of the list. As Jenny, the old hurdler and steeplechase mare, has dropped out of T the Hurdle Race it will be interesting to see how she shapes in this event, with 9.3, but of the three top weights my pick is Fleta at 9.0, and I think whatever beats her will win. The only one I can see likely to do so is Durus, and he will,- in

all probability, have had a race out of him in the Egmont Handicap. With the second day’s events it is impossible for me to deal, as the weights are not due till the evening of the first day’s racing. I wish the Club every favour from the clerk of the weather, and then I am sure they will have a very successful gathering.