WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 12

WANGANUI.

Prospects of Candidates Racing at Awapuni — The Wainganui Jockey Club’s Steeplechase Meeting—Sweet Van on Easy List—Dorando Standing up to his Work Well—Client’s Consistent Form. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. W. Rayner is leaving for Awapuni to-morrow with Aruake, the gelding being engaged in the Hurdles at 11.2. He should run weM, as he appears to have come on a lot since the Feilding meeting, but on the form shown there Sir Donald (11.13) looks to be very well in. In any case, the racing this week should do Aruake good, and by the time the Wanganui meeting comes round he ought to be at his best again, if he goes on all right. Rinaldo carried a lot of Wanganui money in the Autumn Handicap at Trentham on' Saturday, but the best he could do was to run third. He was thought to be back to his best form again, but evidently he has not yet got back all his old brilliancy. Sunbird (7.11) will be the hope of the Fordell stable in the big money at Awapuni on Wednesday, and on her Feilding Cup running she should be handy at the finish, though Rewi Poto (9.1) and Sir Alba (8.5) are likely to be hard to beat.

Considering the • company he is meeting Leonta. has been given plenty of weight in the Hawke’s Bay Cup, in which he has 9.2. He certainly won comfortably at Feilding in the Cup, but he had nothing to beat. However, the son of Conqueror is in splendid fettle, and if he starts might trouble the best of them. One thing certain, if he is well placed when the straight is reached he will not be found wanting for brilliancy at the finish.

To-day week nominations for the Wanganui winter meeting are due. It is fully expected that the flat events will all fill well, and the hack hurdles also. The Century Hurdles is likely to attract a good entry list, including some of the best performers over the little sticks in the Dominion, also a number of others which promise to do well at the game. It is expected that Leonta will be nominated, though it is understood his owner is not anxious to race him over the hurdles. He will also probably figure in the Connolly Handi-

cap, and it will greatly depend on the weights allotted him as to which event he will start in. Of the younger division, Moutoa Girl, Monologue and Queen’s Post are three that give promise of making good hurdlers. One that is sure to be well supported in this event is Rew, though there are many who doubt his ability to stay out the distance —two miles and a-quarter.

So far as the Steeplechase is concerned, it should fill fairly well, and amongst the starters will no doubt be two or three which will be seen out in the Great Northern, a couple of weeks later. Being the first steeplechase of the season of any importance, the big event here is invested with added interest, as it serves as a guide to the capabilities of such of the younger brigade which is seen out. It is said that there are several very promising jumpers being got ready for the Wanganui meeting, and these, with the old brigade, should make up a field well up to the usual high standard. W. Rayner has turned the disappointing Sweet Van out. The Sweet Simon mare won the Stratford Cup, but since then has done no good, and is apparently not of much account. She may be taken up again later on. Another of Rayner’s charges, Mahlstick, is also to be turned out. He went sore after the Wanganui meeting, and will not be raced again until next season, even if then. Prior to the Waverley meeting this gelding was galloping very well, and put up a very fast trial one morning, but has never raced up to it. A. Jackson has nothing in work at present. After the Feilding meeting he sent Canella home, the form shown by the Alawa —Crucinella filly not

having been up to expectations. She may do better as a three-year-old. The Field Battery gelding which W. Higgins had in work and which gave promise of making a decent jumper, has had to be turned out, having gone sore. J. Peachey has only St. Gate in work, having sent Rurapai home. The former is looking very well, and if he keeps going all right should be at his best next month, when he will be raced at the Egmont and Wanganui meetings. Dorando continues to make improve ment, and is standing up to the solid work all right. He will be a starter in the Wanganui Steeplechase all going well, but whether the San Fran gelding will be quite back to his best form by that time is doubtful. However, he has only to keep sound to pick up a race or two for his owner, Mr. C. Gordon, during the winter.

Client looks like proving one of the best horses in Tilley’s stable. He ran third in his first race at Masterton, won the Waiata Hack at Feilding, ran second on Wednesday at Trentham to Captain Glossop, and scored on Saturday in the Belmont Hack, when he carried 7.9 and ran the six furlongs in lmin 13 4-ssec. Thus in four starts he has registered two wins, a second and a third. Client is a three-year-old gelding by Elevation —Bonheur, and is owned by the gentleman who races as Mr. Wire Tokena.

Draft is in steady work, and is gradually improving under Rayner’s care. He will not be raced again until the Wanganui meeting comes round, by which time the son of Maniapoto should be very fit. The nominations received by the Egmont Racing Club for its winter meeting are fairly good, though it is disappointing to find only seven

entered for the big money. Amongst those in the Mcßae Handicap is Sunbird, while she also figures in the Manaia Handicap on the second day, in which her stable mate Princess Moutoa is also engaged. Foeman is another which Tilley has engaged at the meeting.