WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 924, 21 November 1907, Page 8

WANGANUI.

Waverley-Waitotara Meeting—A GooA Jumper—-A Half-sister to Banyan— Helen Portland—A Promising Colt The Pending Meeting—Sale of St. Joe—Death of the Stallion Casket. WANGANUI, November 20. The 'Warigrinui Jockey Club rire iiivitapplications for the position of caretaker" and custddiah of their racecourse. A start ha i s mridfi thts conthe work of demolishing the ’old stewards offices prior to commencing the building df the riew stewards’ stand., 'Though the figures have not yet been made known, it is understood, that the recetit ipeetihg. bf the Wavbriey-Wdito-tara Club resulted in a substantial profit; . This, will be very gratifying news to ajl sportsmen, on this, coast, as,,the gather’P& . i. s . a popular onej arid tHe ’ officials have worked hard in the fade of many for some years to put the club qri a sound footing arid keep abreast of the times. r -_ ,J- Cbbmbe, the well-known starter qnd owner of the famous show ring jumper Duchess, rode Pickpocket in the chief jumping event at the Wanganui Show, and the way the son of Uncas flew h’s jumps was a treat to witness. He showed a ■ lot bf pace, arid is a very bold jumper. Those who saw him clear the hencoop in h:s second go last Thursday, are riot likely to forget it. The horse took off so far away that it looked as though he would land right on top of the obstacle,' but he cleared it easily. It was ohe 'Of the finest Jumps seen here. Pickpocket would beat many of those who are now raced over hurdles were he put to that game. Mr. F. Preston, owner of the N,ew-Zea-Cup winner Frisco, and who also owns Apa, purchased a yearling halfsister to Buriyari 'by St. Ambrose for 410 guineas ivhilst in Christchurch recently. . Young .Prendergast, who has been in Wanganui for some time past, is leriving this district for Hastings: where he will ride for Mr. W. Stone. Irish Rifle continues to train on as

well as his best friends could wish, and the son of Musketry—Element promises to be in tip-lop form for-»the Feilding Meeting on the 29th and 30th inst. Helen Portland is to be mated with Sweet Simon this season. Mr. G. F. Moore’s yearling colt Montcalm, by Multiform —Guiding Star, took first prize in his class at the show here T ast week. He is one of the finest yearlings I have ever seen; in fact, I doubt whether one better furnished has ever been seen anywhere in the t>omin’on. Many excellent judges were very enthusiastic in pra’se of the youngster, who should make a name for himself on the racing track later on judging by his looks. The weights for the Feilding Jockey - Club’s spring which made their appearance last week, appear to have been framed by Mr. J. E. Henrys in h.s usual sty’e. which means that little or no fauit can be found with them, and at this stage it is very hard to attempt to pick out any probable winner.;. There are no fewer than 35 in the St. Andrew’s Handicap, 38 in the Fitz.roy, and the other events have filled proportionately well, so that there is every prospect of some very big fields being seen outIn the big money Maniapoto 8.11, ’Frisco 8.11, Armistice 8.5, St. Joe Irish Rifle 8.1, and Koran 69 are amongst those entered from here. St. Joe having been sold and not brought back to Wanganui, is scarcely likely to run. He is to be taken to Tasmania, I understand, and will probably be given a chance to distinguish himself in the Hobart Cup. The price received for the son of Handsome Jack by Mr. Fred Tilley is understood to have been Man’apoto should be a better horse now than he was at Riccarton, and may run well, which ’Frisco is pretty sure to do. However, if Irish Rifle is well on the day I sha’l look to him to win from ’Frisco and Scotty. Uhlando 6-8, the winner of the Waverley Cup, must be g ven a good outside chance. In the Spring Hurdles, Asteroid, Lull, and Sen Sim are the three I have most fancy for at this stage, whilst Goldbeater, Helen Portland and Dawn should be a dangerous trio in the Flving. Uhlando and Gauze 8.9, Climax 84, Daisy Paul 8.0, have good prospects in the Aorangi Handicap, and.of those engaged in the Waituna Hurdles Royal Blue 11.3, Wirral 10.fi, Earmark 9.9, and Cassiopea 9.4 appear to be .nicely weighted. The Kiwitea Welter might fall to Gazeley 9.12, Mataari 9.10, The Stake 9.9, or Chatterer 9.3, and the Hack Flying may go to the best of Mr. G. F Moore’s pair (Dusky Morn 9.7 arid Catapult 8.3), with Sir ’Frisco 8.5 and Loiret 7.9 as the most likely of the others. There will be an opportunity late on after the acceptances are known of making final selections. The meeting promises to be a great success. Word comes from Fei’ding of the death of the five-year-old mare Pixie by St. Clements—Merry Saul. Pix’-e was being trained by A. Attwood. She was valued at by her owner, but had only placed a couple of small handicaps to her credit. The death is also announced of the stallion Casket (by Castor —Bangle), who was doing stud duty this season at

Fordell. It appears that the horse broke his leg somehow, and had to .be shot, which was hard luck for his owners, the Messrs. Ruthven Bros., who purchased him in the South Island a few months ago.