WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 942, 26 March 1908, Page 8

WANGANUI.

WANGANUI, March 25. It is probable that Armistice will not race again. The daughter of Mahaki-Melinite sustained a slight strain just prior to the late Cup meeting here, and this would necessitate her being spelled for some months. As she is now getting on in years the chances are that she will not be trained again, but retired to the stud, at which she ought to be a success.

Mr. G. F. Moore is expected back from Australia within a day or two with Dusky Morn, Catapult, and the two yearlings which he purchased in Melbourne. Harry Jackson has just taken up Guiding Step again. The son of Stepniak, who looks well after his spell, will not be raced until the next spring. Jackson tells me that Fontenoy never looked better than he does now. The son of Haut Brion appears to have benefited by his long spell, and has apparently got over his leg trouble. He ought to train on all right now that the tracks are soft. Helen Portland has been on the sick list ever since the Wanganui meeting, and is not likely to be raced again for some time. Jackson intended taking only two to the New Plymouth meeting—Signor and Carissima. THE WARRENGATE MEETING. The officials of the Warrengate Jockey Club had laid themselves out to make a big success of their annual meeting on the 19th inst., but unfortunately experienced cruel luck, as the weather was simply atrocious. Notwithstanding that a cold southerly gale with heavy rain was experienced throughout the day, the gathering attracted some 500 spectators, and some fairly good sport was witnessed. The officials are deserving of great credit for the manner in which they worked to get the programme through, Messrs W. Tucker (President), W. R. Tuck (vice-President), and Selby Morton (Secretary), being very conspicuous in their efforts to make the meeting as pleasurable as possible for theii* patrons. It was a notable gathering, but as there were fourteen bookmakers licensed, including two or three prominent ringmen, those who wanted to speculate had no trouble in getting on all the money they desired. Racing started with the Handicap Hurdles, for which Speciosa, Cloudy Morn, Snip, Waterworks, and Caloola went to the post, the former being made favourite, jumping in fine style the St. Hippo gelding won oiS’ly. T. Lloyd, of Crofton, trains the winner. Only three went to the post for the Flying Handicap, Sedgemoor, Contour, and Mereshot, and the former got home easily. Contour seamed quite unable to act in the heavy going, though she led for the best part of the journey. The daughter of Phoebus Apollo is evidently only a Sunday horse. Nightmare, a full sister to The Lark, annexed the Maiden Plate after an interesting finish with Akuronga. Noifa was fairly well backed for this event, but reared up and fell on her rider, W. H. McKay, just prior to the start, and as the jockey got hurt, she was unable to start. Taupo was served up hot for the Fordell Handicap, and the Chasseur gelding, who is trained by E. Oakenfield at Waverley, had the race in hand from the rise of the barrier, Snip, who was second in the Hurdles, again acting as runner-up. Belario, Aryx, and Anemone were each well fancied for the big race — the Warrengate Cup—which fell to the first-named, who carried top weight. Oryx made the running until well in the straight, where the top weight came along, and the ease with which he drew away from the Apremont gelding surprised everyone, especially as Oryx had been going so strongly up to this point. To say the least it was a peculiar ending to the race, though probably the heavy going had something to do with the disappointing finish. A very handsome silver cup went to the winner, and was presented by the Mayoress of Wanganui (Mrs. Mackay) to Mr. J. Bull, Belario’s owner, after the race. Mr. Bull had the honour of winning the cup last year, and had a good win over the success of Belario, so ’tis said. Rawhetu, a four-year-old gelding by Daystar-Della Agnes, owned by Mrs. Charlie Jenkins, was made favourite in the Bracelet, and was in front all the way, being much too good for the opposition.

Sedgemoor carried 10.7 to victory in the St. Patrick’s Handicap, four furlongs, the son of Sedgebrook revelling in the soft going. . Taupo was the popular pick, but lost a lot of ground at the start, and could never get up, though he showed a fine dash of pace. W. Raynor and W. Rice, with two wins each, were the most successful riders. It is pleasing to learn that despite the unfavourable climatic conditions, the club anticipate coming out all right over the meeting. Had the weather been favourable the gathering would have been a big success. The well-known local cross-country rider, Joe Stanley, had the bad luck to have his collarbone broken, as the result of a fall from Waterworks, the other morning. Mr. Jas. Coombe got some capital starts at the Warrengate meeting, and he was congratulated on his good work at the barrier. He has been appointed to do the starting for the Patea Club, and may be depended to give every satisfaction. Alick Hall has shifted his quarters from Feilding to Wanganui, and now has Wirrall, Kremlin, and Lull in work on the local tracks in view of the coming jumping season. It was reported that Lull had been sold, but the negotiations fell through. Nominations for the Feilding J.C. Easter meeting close on Monday, the 30th inst. At the recent Warrengate meeting there were fourteen licensed bookmakers operating, and they met their obligations all right. One individual, however, laid a number of wagers, and then disappeared in the crowd whilst the race was in progress, throwing away his bag so as to prevent recognition. He must have made a few pounds. It serves people right who bet with such spielers as this, to get taken down, when there are always “bookies” of good standing willing to do business. Amongst other trainers who contemplate coming to Wanganui with their teams in order to take advantage of the excellent tracks here may be mentioned Percy Coffey, who has Lyrist, Compass, Pearlie, and Black Squall in his care, besides a three-year-old colt by Daystar from Prisoner’s dam andi Regulation. The latter is likely to be given another chance to distinguish herself on the turf.