WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1516, 15 May 1919, Page 11

WANGANUI.

Egmont Steeplechase Candidates—F. Tilley’s Quartette for Ctaki Meeting—Kauri King’s Century Hurdles Prospects—Zola Making Satisfactory Progress—Wanganui Steeplechase and Century Hurdle Weights Discussed —Phil Green’s Pair Engaged at Otahuhu Trots—Wanganui Trotting Club’s New Trotting Track -—Egmont R.C.’s Winter Meeting. WANGANUI, Monday. Merry Jack and Yellow and Black passed through here on Friday on their way to Hawera, where they are both engaged in the big steeplechase event on Wednesday, Yellow and Black having 11.0 and Merry Jack 10.0. Of the pair, the latter is probably the more. forward, and is said to have been doing excellent schooling work over the big fences at Hastings. Yellow and Black has also been jumping well, but- it is thought he will be seen to more advantage here as the race at Hawera will do him good. F. Tilley has Rude, Arrowfield, Tame Fox and Oratress engaged at the Otaki winter meeting. ;i Rude lightened up a lot as a result of his racing at Trentham, but is going along all right, and should be at his best

again for the Wanganui meeting. 'Bold Boy will be running at Blenheim this week, and the son of Booringa is expected to shape well, as he was showing good form before leaving here. Sleight of Hand receives 91b. from Kauri King in the Great Northern Hurdles, whereas in the Century Hurdles Sleight of Hand has to concede 41b. to Kauri King. No doubt Sleight of Hand’s performance in winning on the first day at Awapuni influenced Mr. H. Coyle in making his adjustments, but a difference of 131 b. in Kauri King’s favour at Wanganui makes his prospects look very rosy, that is if Mr. McManemin’s estimate of his ability is anywhere near correct.

W. Rayner will probably only have Zola to run for him at the Wanganui meeting, as Zela’s foot has been giving trouble again lately, and she has done little or no work. She appears to be all right just now, but she will hardly be fit to race next week. Zola is going as well as ever he did, apparently, and is looking nice and bright. It will depend upon what weight he gets as to whether he will be a starter in the Connolly Handicap or be kept for the May Hurdles the second day. He hopped over three hurdles in fine style on Saturday.

Mr. H. Coyle has issued the weights for the two big jumping events on the first day of the Wanganui meeting, which is to be held on the 22nd and 24th inst., and it goes without saying that they are being eagerly discussed. It is generally conceded that Mr. Coyle has done his work well, and the acceptances should be good. That Master Strowan would be given pride of place in the steeplechase was fully expected, and with 12.9 he is not overburdened, as he is a topnotcher when at his best. Sir

Fisher (11.7) has caught it pretty hot, as he has yet to prove himself over big fences, though he will probably be found capable of negotiating the obstacles here afll right. Still, he might have been let in a few pounds lighter. By comparison, the Maniapoto gelding Coalition appears well treated at 11.1. Arlington (TO.10) might find the d stance too far, but Yellow and Black (10.8) is nicely placed and is one of the dangerous division. Foeman (10.2) is one that must be given a great chance if in the same form as he was when he won at Trentham, when he jumped splendidly and showed plenty of pace. Of the others, Bore (9.13), Merry Jack (9.7) and Polthogue (9.7) read the best. There is every prospect of the race being one of the finest of the many splendid contests seen in the big cross-country event here. Sleight of Hand has the post of honour.in the Century Hurdles with 11.10 opposite his name. He gave evidence at Awapuni last week of being in good form, and no doubt

will, all going well, strip even better here. He will need to be at his best to concede 41b. and a beating to Kauri King, which gelding looks to be well treated. However, Sir Fisher (11.4) appears to have been given a great chance to once more place this race to his credit, though it is generally believed that his mission will be the steeplechase. This remains to be seen, especially as he has been so well treated in the hurdles. Paraoa has some good performances over the small sticks to his credit, and won the Feilding Cup recently, so that he is in good fettle. He looks to be too close to the • three topweights. In the Great Northern Kauri King has to give him 151 b., whereas there is only 51b. between the pair here. Europis (10.9) should run well, and Whiro (10.1) is a bold jumper which will be hard to beat if he can see the distance out. Of those lower down, the most likely seem to be Yankee Jack (9.6) and Royal Park (9.0). Yankee Jack will be meeting a much better class here than he has yet bumped up against, but he won in, fine style both days at Trentham, and he is sure to be one of the most fancied candidates here. Royal Park shaped well enough at Feilding to suggest that he will do well oyer the small sticks, and it would come as no surprise to see him make a bold bid for victory. Munster (9.0) is another that may have to be reckoned with. He is very fit, and might have beaten Master Lupin at Awapuni on Thursday but for hitting the last hurdle. Phil Green has paid up with Rio Grande and Lady Sefton for their engagements on the 'first day of the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s meeting. Both horses have been responsible for some good work on the track recently, and should do well. It is understood that the Wanganui Trotting Club have accepted a tender for the formation of their new track on their property at Liverpool Park. The track will be a five-furlong one, and when completed will, it is expected, be one of the best in the Dominion. It is anticipated that the track will be ready to race on in ample time for February next, and if it is the next meeting of the club should be easily the most successful ever held here. Practically all the leading owners of trotters in the Domin’on have promised to race their best here when the new track is ready, hence there is every reason to look forward to a boom in trotting. The acceptances received for the first day of the Egmont winter meeting are very satisfactory, and some fine racing should be witnessed. Chief interest will be taken in the steeplechase events, which should throw some light on the Wanganui meeting the following week. Of those left in the steeplechase on Wednesday Merry Jack (10.0) reads as well as anything, though the distance — miles —will be in Bore’s favour. There are a number of Century Hurdles candidates engaged in the Tongahoe Hurdles. Munster (10.1) is very fit, and Royal Park (9.12) is spoken of as a likely winner at Wanganui if he can be kept on his hurdles, so that he should run well at Hawera if he is as good as supposed. Polthogue and Speedwell Mac are both credited with doing good work over the big fences, and they have been left in the Hack Steeples, in which they have 10.5 and 10.3 respectively. There is a good field in the Tawhiti Handicap, in which Hyginas and Carmel Arch appear to be nicely treated. The two topw’eights, Vance and Post Haste, will probably find most support in the Telegraph Handicap, and Turanga and Perfect Day in the Railway. There are seven left in the Mcßae Handicap, for which Marqueteur is sure to find solid support, but Arrowfield is galloping very well and is sure to make a bold bid for victory.