SPORTING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 651, 25 August 1891, Page 3

SPORTING.

[By Looker-os.] As the genial spring advances, and the golden flowered wattle has its striking beauty set eft by the delica'e early leaves of the weeping willow, so we have indication that the time is approaching when onr local steeds must be braced up for action, with ho end of brush, wisp, and towel; and these patterns of Carbine will be asked, Will you pay for winter oats ’ I fancy that several animals now under preparation for this season will not only pay for their winter oats, but will leave a surplus for rainy days to come. What vast changes have been rung in in our little racing circle during the past season ! Pani has been taken in hand by one of our most respected sportsmen, Mr James Clark, whose wins are always popular, even among those to whom such wins would mean a loss of expected divvies. Mr Clark has also that mysterious little mare Pouawa, from whom great things have often been expected, but which have yet to be reckoned on in the sweet by and bye, As a change often makes a great difference in regard to horses, Pouawa may turn up trumps one of these fine days and annex a good stake. Nora, the erstwhile winner of that plum the Turanga Stakes, hts also taken a change. This game liitie mare was never thoroughly well but once in her racing career, and then it was she answered a hard question by winning the above stake. She has been purchased by Mr A. B. Newman, who intends to use her for breeding purposes, along with several other well selected mares that he has got. Bit o’ Blue has left ns for good, having been purchased in Auckland He was always a consistent little fellow, not much to look at, but true us steel, and nearly always paid his way. The Witch also has left our ranks, but I think she never will be missed—the de’il tak’ the witch has often been said of her ladyship. Zaccho has been sold to a gentleman in Napier. This horse might improve with age, but at present he is as stale as champagne without the phizz. Among the arrivals in the district is Lady Constance, purchased by Mr J. Clark. She has performed in good company, and paid her way —I learn that she is a grand jumper. Hexham has been purchased by Mr Wethered, the owner of Avis. There is no doubt Hexham is a fast horse, and he is one that has carried a lot of money in his time. A change might work wonders in him, and he will certainly be worth watching. I hear that Zanzibar has furnished into a likely short of a chaser, not a bad horse by any means. That handsome, but lazy customer, Criminal, has been turned out for a rest. He is like specimens of the nobler animal we sometimes meet with in this world : he likes a spell—prefers it to earning his own living. A sorrowful looking New Zealand Scotchman is Fitzjsmes at present—be reminds one of Bill Nye’s dog, which was said to be too poor to bark. A horse that looks well is Wakatipu, who appears as if intended for stud purposes, being as fat as a bullock. The stately Pani is making condition fast since he changed and he tyill take a lot of beating in anything he starts for—l do not suppose anyone is more pleased at the change than Pani himself. I bad almost forgotten the new importation by Mr Peka Kerekere, in Brigand. Thia is a real nice little fellow, a gentleman all over, and there is no doubt but that he is fast. Mr Kerekere deserves to be successful with his new purchase, for which he gave a fair price, and he also set a good example to some of our local sportsmen who are endeavoring to win with animals that might more fittingly be S resented to Andrew Parkes to help him raw his fish cart.

There are several promising young fines by Daniel O'Rorke in training. They are mostly three year olds, and I expect to ■eaaonge of them in the Maidan Plate in October next. My opinion is that what beats the up-cenntry filly Pekapu will win the Spring Maiden of JBfll. I intend next week to write up some of my impressions on things concerning trot-

ting. The Melbourne Sportsman again offers this year a prize of £250 for the successful tipster of the following five events:— Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Cup, Marihyrnong Blate, VR.C. Derby, and Melbourne Cup. The following are the acceptances for the Metropolitan Stakes, to be run at Randwick on the loth September:—Str William, Highborn, Scots Grey, Muriel, Sir Anthony, Wilga, Little Bernie, Dick, Carrington, Jack, Centaur, Elymas, E.K., Valney, Mantilla, Vespasia, Albemarle, Lancer, Sunshine, Sydney, Dilisk, Empire, Grenadier, Warrego, Gipsy Girl, Silver Knight, Bel Giorno, Wandsworth, Towle, The Markee, Sulphide, Kilttiore, Emin Pasha, and Transparent. As Mr Gollan's hurd'ers did not show up very well at the Grand National meeting, it is improbab'e that he will take them over to Australia with his Oaks, Derby, and Cup Candidates, Kimberley may be taken across, as his third behind such daisyclippers as Couran'o and Kulniue in the Grand National Hurdles, in fast time, was a very good performance. Darnley’s inability to win a race—not even the maiden, stamps him as not being the horse people thought he was. His breeding is not much—by Bothwell out of an old mare that used to run in a coach in the Poverty Bay district. Mr Gollan had great faith in him, however, but his hopes have now been rudely shattered.— Buff and Black. The largest sum ever paid by private contract for a yearling was parted with by Singer, an English sportsman, to Mr Miller recently—£sooo. The name of this exnensive juveni'e is Glenwood, and he can boast of being the only yearling in existence tt by Orfficnde.