WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1245, 26 February 1914, Page 16

WANGANUI.

Notes on This Week’s Meeting—Jos. Prosser’s Team at Wanganui. (.From Our Wanganui Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. Mr. W. R. Tuck informs me that he intends to have Antarctic brought in again after the Wanganui Cup meeting is over. The gelding has been hacked about a lot lately, and has done a deal of hill-climbing, which he has stood well enough to lead to hopes that his “dicky” leg will prove equal to the strain of another preparation. It is not likely, even if he goes on all right, that he will be seen out until the Wellington steeplechase meeting. It is probable that R. J. Mason will remain in Wanganui with his team —Emperador, Canute, Rencontre

and Historiette —for two or three weeks after the Wanganui meeting, as the tracks here are in such good order that there is not much risk of horses breaking down, whereas most other tracks are at the present very hard and trying to the horses. Every effort is being made to get Bandiera to the post for the Jackson Stakes next Saturday, but his trainer has his work cut out, as the brilliant son of Royal Artillery is very “groggy,” and he has had to be kept at very easy work and swimming exercise since his arrival here. The probable starters in the Jackson Stakes include Bandiera, Gladiole, Reputation, Ermengarde, Rencontre, Emperador, Gipsy Belle, and perhaps one or two others. It is not likely that Postillion will start, as he has done little or nothing since returning from Auckland, owing to a “dicky” leg. Sir Solo is a plain-looking customer, but he is apparently very fit, and the way he moved in a mile gallop this morning caused many to regard his Cup prospects in a very favourable light. He ran the mile in 1.44%, finishing up his task very pleasingly, and he is sure to be handy at the finish of Thursday’s race. It was reported that Bronze had gone lame, but this has since been denied, and the daughter of Field Battery is said to be not only sound but very fit. If this is so she will run a big race in the Cup, and it would be no surprise to see her land it again, as she did in 1912. Last year she was only beaten by Tiresome, and some good judges were of opinion that she was unlucky to lose. Be that as it may, the two mares are both likely to be well backed on Thursday, and it will be in-

teresting to see which one does best. Canute has been galloping so well since he has been here that many look upon him as sure to win a race, at the meeting.

Jos. Prosser’s many friends were, pleased to see him arrive here again on Saturday looking fairly well after his severe illness. The Porirua. trainer brought a team of six with him, including Gipsy Belle, Los Angelos, Beiasco, Aratiatia, Stepney, and Pavlova. Gipsy Belle is engaged in the Flying and the Jackson Stakes,, and she ought to run well in both ev&nts, particularly the Flying, for which she is one of the most fancied candidates.

With fifteen left in the Cup there, is ample material for a splendid race on Thursday. It is hard to say which of the crowd will eventually start lavourite, a position which Tiresome may be said to have occupied so far,, but there are signs that she is not so mucn fancied now as she was a week or so ago. Sea Pink is coming into favour, while now that Bon Ton is known to be coming his chance is highly thought of. Sinapis is also much fancied, and Sir Solo shaped sowell yesterday that he is reckoned, to have a big chance of adding another Cup to his credit. It is safe to say that if Bronze shows good form on the tracks here she will have plenty of admirers, while Byron has performed so well lately that hischance cannot be overlooked, despitethe fact that the distance looks too far for him. Lord Renown is another dtia*. cannot be left out ot calculationsand the same may be said of one or two of the other candidates, so that the race appears to be remarkably open.

Differences of opinion exist as toTiresome. Some tnere are who fancy she is looking better than twelve months ago, but others say she is too tine to stay out the one and threequarter miles. But much the same was said of her prior to last Cup, and yet she won in goou styie, ana her corr.-ciions ap ± .ear to nite her chance ixiure tnis time.

Ten have been paid up for in the Stewards’ Handicap, eight and a-half furlongs, in which Emperador (9.6) heads the list.. He is in tip-top fettle and should make a good showing.. Patronale (8.1), on his Taranaki running, reads well, while Red Book. (7.10) must have a chance. The Juvenile Handicap should be an interesting race. If reports tohand are correct, Shandon Bells (7.5) rs a good one, and will trouble the best of the others, of whom Rencontre (8.9) may be tne fancy. Protocal. is said to be able to gallop, and is. expected to run well. Taking recent form as a guide, Bon. 'Ton, Sinapis and Tiresome look the. three most likely to supply the winner of the Wanganui Cup of 1914, but Sea Pink and mr Soio are a pair of dangerous candidates, while any one of .the others engaged might prove equal to winning, so that backers have a difficult problem to solve m trying, to pick the winner. Sauci is due to arrive here to-day. After winning at Riccarton he was. voted a cert.'for the Flying here until, he ran unsuccessfully at Dunedin. It. appears, however, that he was badly interfered with in the Publicans’ Handicap, while on the second day he carried 8.5 into second place over seven furlongs, run in 1.28. He is. said to have been beaten by two lengths, and therefore is evidently not a champion. Still, he will have 191 b. off his back here, and must be very hard to beat. He will meet a. warm lot, however, and it would be no surprise to see Bon Reve, Gipsy Belle, Heather and Sunbird finish in front of the Middle Park Plate winner.

Fourteen are left in the Petre Hack,, in which Sweet Zinnia (7.13) would be very dangerous if back to her old. form. She looks very well, but it is. hard to say how she will race. Princess Moutoa (7.7) will be one of thebest backed and should run well, as should also Avaunce (8.9) and Firing. Line (7.8). Canute has been galloping very freely since he arrived here, but he will have his work cut out to concede a stone and a beating to Square Deal (8.0). Lubriline (7.13) is in winning form, and Record (7.6) also has a. chance.

.In the big hurdles Bercola (11.2) reads as well as anything, and will, probably carry most money. Timothy (9.12) is said to be very fit, and of the others Merry Lad (10.9) should shape well. In the Hack Hurdles there is every prospect of a fine race. Waipahu (11.6) is in winning form and must.