WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 812, 28 September 1905, Page 8

WANGANUI.

Wanganui, September 26

The weather during the past ten days has been very bad, heavy rain and severe gales prevailing, which has had the effect of making the training tracks unsafe for last work, and trainers have necessarily had to be content with restricting their charges to slow work. It is to be sincerely hoped that the weather will take up immediately and give the tracks a chance to get workable in view of the meeting which commences on Thursday next.

Armistice, St. Lyra, Ben More, Asteroid, Midia, Valima, Catspaw and Daredevil have been nominated for the Hawke’s Bay Spring Meeting. Sir George Clifford's string, comprising Cannie Chiel, Glendwlet, Gay Spark and Clanchattan arrived early last week under the care of their well-known mentor, Cutts. The team looks really well, and the Chokebore representatives have already made quite a host of friends, especially Glenowlet, who is galloping nicely. Snip and Chasemab, who are owned by the popular proprietor of the Albion Hotel. Mr P. Hartshorn, are both acquitting themselves very well on the track. The latter is by the brilliant sprinter Chasseur out of Queen Mab, and claims an engagement in the next Ashurst Guineas.

Our country friends in the Rangitikei district were very unfortunate in getting wet weather for their gathering last week, but notwithstanding this drawback the meeting was a very successful one, and every praise is due to the Club’s secretary, Mr H. Goodall, and his hardworking staff of officials for the splendid manner in which they conducted the meeting, £8983 being put through the totalisator for the two days, an increase of £1371 on the spring fixture 1 ast year. Several nice dividends were returned, but in the majority of cases punters were able to pick the winners. John Peel, Hutana and Jollv Friar each won a double in fine style. Jenkins was successful on four occasions.

The Fordell stable will in all probability be represented by St. Joe, Tup on a, Asteroid, Purity, Apa, Midia, Bounce, Solution, and Delamere at the forthcoming meeting, and with this formidable team a share of the prize-money should find its way to patrons of the Fordell trainer, F. Tilley. The Merrie England—Prologue filly Prelude did not start at Rangitikei, and was brought on here to fulfil her engagements. She is in splendid buckle, and may be depended upon to give a good account of herself. Prelude has started on four occasions, winning three times and being second once. The pencillers had anything but a rosy time over the Bulls meeting last week, John Peel, Compass, Jolly Friar and Fancy Work being heavily supported on the opening day, while the victories of John Peel, Jolly Friar, Ngatarua, First Lesson, and Sir Launcelot on the second day proved unfavourable to their books.

Kuroki was taken to Bulls, but did not start on the opening day. The son of Fiske did not appear among the list of acceptors sent through for the second

day, and it came as a surprise to his numerous admirers to hear he ran second in the Hack Welter and paid £3, a price he would have probably returned for winning had local sports known he was engaged.

T. Quinlivan arrived on Friday with King Billy and Boomerang, the Guineas candidates, and both are looking extremely well, and should prove hard to beat in the classic event on Thursday.

T. Leeson scored a well-deserved win at Bulls with First Lesson, but the winner was evidently anticipated by the public, as the son of Haere—Docility only paid the small dividend of £1 18s. Waitati was a strong order here on Saturday for the four-furlong flutter at Avondale, and the “ bookies” wore a pleasant countenance when the result came through and showed that the gelding had failed to get a place. Given fine weather, the spring meeting of the local jockey club, which commences on Thursday next, should be a great success. The nominations were very good, and Mr. Morse appears to have given every satisfaction with the adjustments, and a good acceptance is looked forward to. The acceptances are not to hand at time of writing, but a large number of horses have already put in an appearance, which augurs well for the quantity and quality of the fields. Several of the contestants have recent winning form to recommend them, and others have excellent track performances to their credit, so that backers will need to keep their wits about them in trying to strive the problems set them. The following, if started, may return dividends: —Spring Handicap: Paritutu or Assayer. Maiden: Gay Spark or Apa. Guineas: Watt’s selected. Okehu Hurdles : St. Lyra or Hutana. Gouville Hack Hurdles: Catspaw or Wild Cat. Putiki Hack: Silverlene or Captain Shannon. Flying Handicap : Prelude or Jolly Friar. Valkyrie has been nominated for the hurdle events at Marlborough, and should the son of Forester—Dolly continue to answer the tasks set him favourably, he will in all probability be sent across the straits.