WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 914, 12 September 1907, Page 7

WANGANUI.

Armistice Doing Well—Maniapoto Better—Starina Reported Sore —N.Z. Cup Horses at Marton—St. Joe’s Good Form—F Whitehouse Seriously Injured.

WANGANUI, September 11. Armistice is going along splendidly in her preparation for the New Zealand Cup, and promises to take an immensity of beating. Maniapoto is now shaping better, and seems to have thrown off the effects of his recent ailment (strangles or abscess) in a manner which suggests that the son of Soult may be sufficiently forward by November to have a chance after all. All ad-

mirers of a good horse will hope so, anyway. The Daystar horse Starina was scratched for all events at the Marton meeting, owing, I believe, to his having gone sore. Starina is engaged in the New Zealand Cup, and has been whispered about as one likely to score. He is a good horse when really well, but, notwithstanding his light impost, is not one I should advise backers to put their money on at this stage. Six New Zealand Cup horses were seen out at the Marton Jockey Club’s meeting, viz., ’Frisco, St. Joe, Saga, Rendrock, Koran, and Waione. Of these the two former scored, the most attractive performance being that registered by St. Joe in the Marton Handicap, the second day, when the son of Handsome Jack carried 9.0 and won comfortably, beating Saga, Lyrist, and three others handsomely. The time recorded was 2.13 for the mile and a-quarter, and considering the exceptionally heavy going this was a rattling good performance. The Fordell trained horse stripped well, and with the improvement which Tilley will be able to make in him between now and November next, St. Joe stands a good chance of annexing the big event at Riccarton. He has incurred a 51bs penalty by his win, but this will only bring his weight up to 7.8. He certainly has the best prospects of any of the horses which were stripped at Marton. ’Frisco ran well'in the Flying, but I doubt his ability to win a race like the N.Z. Cup, whilst Saga can have no chance on her Marton running, though it must be remembered that the mud would be against her there, and she is probably capable of more improvement than St. Joe or ’Frisco. Waione again showed no form, and does not look to have a thousand to one chance. Koran looked rather lusty, but ran well for three furlongs in the Shorts. The son of Pilgrim’s Progress should win a race or two later on, but if the Cup is to come to Wanganui it will be by the aid of either Armistice or St. Joe. That popular rider, F. Whitehouse, met with a serious accident when Bull worth fell with him in the Hack Steeples on the second day of the Marton Meeting. Bullworth was running prominently half-a-mile from home, but came a terrible cropper at the hencoop, which obstacle was smashed by the horse, who rolled over his unfortunate rider. The latter received rather serious internal injuries, and, after being attended to by Drs. Bennett and Skerman, was brought into the Wanganui Hospital. It is not long since Whitehouse got rather ba.dly hurt at Gisborne. The jumping in the Steeplechase events at Marton was very poor. Of course, the state of the going could not well have been worse, and this no doubt had a good deal to do with so many horses falling. Karaka, the dam of Mahoe, has been sent by his owner (Mr J. Bull) on a visit to Conqueror.