WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1402, 8 March 1917, Page 14

WANGANUI.

Masterton R.C.’s Autumn Meeting— Prospects of Intending Competitors —Rangitikei R.C.’s Excellent Nominations —Client Being Treated to Short Respite. WANGANUI, Monday. F. Tilley intends taking five horses to the Masterton meeting, viz., Ararat, Moutoa Queen, Pohehe, Gang Awa, and Endure. The three former showed good form at the recent Wanganui meeting, but the other two have not raced for some time. Gang Awa went slightly amiss just prior to the meeting here, and so was not raced. He is said to be all right again. Endure is also reported to be very well again. The full-brother to Expect (Advance —Endeavour) is engaged in the Dafli Handicap at the minimum.

Moutoa Queen has raced herself out of hack company, and figures in the open six-furlong event at Masterton, in which she has been given 8.3, or 1.61 b. less than she carried to victory

in the Matarawa Hack here, when she cut out the distance in Imin. 14 2-ssee. She has some good ones to meet, but she might prove quite equal to the occasion. Ararat does not look to be badly treated in the Masterton Cup, in which she has 8.0. The daughter of Advance was going stronger than anything else at the finish of the Autumn Handicap here, when she was only just beaten over the mile and 110 yards in lmin. 48 3-ssec. On that form she should run out a good mile and a-quarter. The locally-owned mare Spain was well supported by Wanganui backers on the first day at Dannevirke, and most of them doubled their bets on the second day, but she failed to materialise either time. She will probably do better soon. She is engaged in the mile race at Napier Park at 8.0. With the approach of the jumping season special interest attaches to the hurdle races that are now being run. The form shown recently by Record has been good enough to point to him as one of the most promising of what may be termed the young brigade to win distinction in the big events later on. Kurapai failed rather badly here on the second day, but it is probable that he did not do himself justice in that race, owing to the fact that he was trained for and ran in the Cup. He is one that ought to be very hard to beat in some of the . more important jumping events in the winter. Harbour Light is also likely to be heard of again, as he shaped fairly well here.

The veteran Marton looked very fit here, but could not score. It may be that he is not now brilliant enough to win over the small sticks, but such a great jumper should pick up a cross-country event or two if he keeps

sound. W. Rayner also has Vladian to depend upon in the hurdling line, not to speak of Leonta, who may show that he has still a good race or two left in him. Combustion and Moulu are both in A. Hall’s stable, and are doing steady work. Of this pair, Moulu is the more likely to place a big hurdle race to his credit, as he is a fine jumper and has a lot of pace and can stay. In addition to Record, C. Gordon has Grey Guard to rely upon. The Advance —Grey Gown gelding is a fairly good sort, but whether he is going to be a topnotcher remains to be seen.

It transpires that Record broke a blood vessel on the first day of the Wanganui meeting, and this may be the reason he failed so badly. The Rangitikei Racing Club has received remarkably large nominations for their annual meeting, to be held on the 21st and 22nd of this month. All of the events have filled well, there being no fewer than 45 in the Scurry, 38 in the Trial, and bigcrowds in the other races, so that vhe meeting gives every promise of being a record success. Amongst those entered for the Cup are Spain and Lady Middleton, and it will be interesting to see how they will shape in the big event. Spain is a fine galloper when really well, and the best has not yet been seen of her. It is quite on the Cards, therefore, that she will make a bold bid for the big event. Client is being treated to a short respite, and the Wanganui Cup winner is not likely to be seen out again until the Feilding Easter meeting comes round. M. Gardner, the Waverley trainer, has a strong team engaged at the Opunake meeting, but no Wanganui horses will be seen out at the gathering, which, however, promises to be a very successful one.