WEST COAST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1154, 23 May 1912, Page 11

WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

WANGANUI, May 2 0

Antarctic, who arrived on Wednesday, had his -first turn over the big fences on Saturday, when he had Taiaha as a companion. The going was very heavy and slippery, but the pair fenced nicely. It is predicted that Taiaha will run a good'race over the big fences very soon, and he is expected to run well here.. Antarctic looks hardly ready, but he is such an undeniable good one that it is not safe to write him out of Thursday’s race. If he keeps sound he must be very dangerous in the Great Northern events; as he will improve with racing.

Walter Raynor has Erata, by The Officer: —Muse in work, again, and he will probably be a starter on the second day here. Though Labour Day figures amongst the acceptors for the Connolly Handicap, the Soult filly is scarcely likely to be seen at her best here, as she has lately been suffering from a cold in the kidneys.

Gaelic, who is in the Century and also The Great Northern Hurdles, gave a very good display over the small sticks the other morning. He should benefit by the racing here, and may be hard to beat at Ellerslie. Captain, whose namte was missing from the list of acceptors for the Century Hurdles, was one of the strongest favourites for that event, and had been coupled with almost everything in the Steeples. , His detection was therefore a disappointment to many.

The racing at Hawera has had the effect of livening Koran up, and the -Pilgrim's Progress gelding has been doing excellent work at Waverley during the last week. He will probably strip very fit on Thursday, and is sure to. be. very solidly supported by waverleyites. That he is a real top notcher when at his best over hurdles he has already proved, and his pace and jumping ability should stand him in good stead here. Jack Stewart is back from Australia once more on a short trip. He states that he is anxious to purchase a pi mising young jumper to take over to Australia, and with this object wi

attend the Wanganui and Great Northern Meetings. It is probable he v have a mount or two here.. The fact that the Great. Northern meeting follows so closely on the Wanganui Steeplechase gathering adds a great deal to the interest in the racing here, as the fields in the two big jumping events are usually much the same. So far as the Great Northern

Hurdles is concerned it is ’understood that the connections of Koran are nopeful of winning the double—-the Century and the Great Northern. The Pilgrim’s Progress gelding is very fast on the flat and is' a remarkably fine jumper, flying the obstacles in great style. ■ If the double is to be won by any one horse, Koran certainly looks; to have the best chance, though SandyPaul may dp the trick. The steeplechase course here is much easier than at ’ Ellerslie, ai hence, there is not the same test of stamina and jumping ability in the Wanganui' Steeplechase as in the Great Northern. This is a point wl backers of doubles should keep in mind when sizing up the prospects on Wanganui form.

hovel 1 has run some good races in steeplechases at Wanganui, but although he has been paid up for, it is said that he is not likely to be seen at his best here. Still, if he starts he will not want for backers as he is such a fine jumper. Coromandel is engaged at Otakl and at Ellerslie, but it will depend upon the form shown here as to whether he will be taken North or South. - Dearest was one of the early picks for the Connolly Handicap, but she has dropped out, and will be competing at Oamaru in th© Cup. Continuance and Paisano arrived on Saturday. They are both looking

the very pink of condition, but Kaipetlpeti, who also reached here on Saturday, is on the big side, and it is scarcely likely he will win here, though the racing will improve him greatly. st. Gate is very well just now, and Alex Hall ought to win a race at the meeting with him.