WORLD OF SPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 18, 27 October 1942, Page 8

WORLD OF SPORT

ROYAL LANCER The Southland champion, . Royal Lancer, is reported to be getting through a strong preparation for the New Zealand Cup. A PROMISING JUVENILE Mr Alan Kay's two year old Royal Gtfory by Mr Standfast—Bravado, has joined the team at Te Awamutu presided over by trainer A. Cook. THE DUWEDIN CUP The Dunedin Cup, worth £1000, ifc to be run on Boxing DayU The change in date has been widely welcomed in Otago as it will enable some extra thousands to witness the popular event. A BIG COUP At the Otaki meeting a big coup was affected over the victory of Banco, an Indian-owned three j r ear old trained by W. Bryce. As it. was Banco's first start the dividend was quite a remunerative one. GOOD PRIZE MONEY For the Avondale meeting listed for November 7 the sum of £2650 has been allotted in stakes. The principal event, the King George Handicap, will be worth £550. SURVEYOR GENERAL The Taranaki owned SurveyorGeneral, by Surveyor—Kenilworth Maid, is now trained by Hector Graj r at Takanini. In the last two seasons She lias won his share of races in good company and should again be a payable proposition this year. HAPPY ENDING SORE The statement that the New Zealand and Wellington Cup winner Happy Ending, is in Australia in view of competing in the Melbourne Cup. proves to be incorrect, lit appears that when competing at the Canterbury National meeting in August he sustained a severe wrench and is still somewhat stilt' as-a result.

AN ENGAGEMENT DECLINED Mr W. S. Goosman's "Grey Salute, b\ r Theo—Queen's Salute, trained by J. L. Muir at Te Rapa, was taken to Ellerslie for the Welcome Stakes, but owing to the heavy track was withdrawn. In his track work he is showing galloping ability, and may be seen- out. at the Waikato meting on November 20. A COME BACK Enrich, winner of the Masterton Handicap at Otaki, may be said to have staged "a come back." After winning two principal races at tli Canterbury Club's Cup meeting in 19-10, he lost form, and has since performed but moderately. It. has been stated that if there had been another round in the race he won he would have lapped the field. If lie 'keeps on the right way, lie will be a good proposition this season.

THE AUCKLAND CUP For the Auckland Cup of £3300, the biggest prize of the racing season, 67 nominations have been received. It Avould appear that there arc still quite a number of owners of an optimistic nature, for at least fourteen candidates have no pretensions whatever to Cup form. But the best stayers in the Dominion are also listed and a contest worthy of the long established two miles event should, be expected. Among the good performers are Kindergarten, 13cau Leon, Battledrcss, Regal Fox, Lou Rosa, Piastre, Sally Lunn, Sea Law, Yogi, Erndale, Gay Rosette, Landvcyor, Lovaals and The Monarch. When the Aveights appear it may be found that about 10.0 will *be allotted Kindergarten, more esj)ec.ially if he prevails in the New Zealand Cup in November. Well up in the handicaps will be Beau Leon, Battledress, Lou Rosa, Rakanui and Regal Fox, and abouit. half the field will be in at about the minimum. The size of the field on the eventful day will probably depend upon whether Kindergarten stands his ground. If lie does it be use-* less for any of the moderates to try conclusions with him.

THE RAILWAY HANDICAP No less than 50 entries were ceived for the Railway Handicap, a»d the principal sprinters of the Dominion are noted in the list. Brililant sprinters entered include Beau Vaals, Route March, Transmitter, Nizam, Brazen Bold, Bonny Pay. Blac'k Majesty, Cambria, Gold Money Song, Kentish, Neenali, and Ivol Ragi. On a good track the race will he run at a clipping pace and fast records may be eclipsed on Boxing Day.

A FINE SPRINTER So far this season Scottish Dale ranks as Canterbury's best sprinter. In the Flying Handicap at Timaru she won in brilliant style. Early in the running she was not favourably placed, and then had to take a wide course at the home turn to avoid Leighnor, which fell and brought down Stabilise and Sally Lunn. Once straightened up she quickly hit the front and scored handsomely. TO RESUME RIDING The successful apprentice, Vic Dye, of Matamata 1$ to resume rid-i ing in public in a few days, aflter a period of twelve months. There is sure to be a strong call on his services, and although three months of the racing season has expired he is likely to be well up in the \ist of successful jockeys at the end of July next. CLASS JUVENILES The two year olds Gold Rock and Look Again have just been added to H. Eva's team at Ellerslie. The firSt named is by Tiderace from Coronella, therefore a full brother to Coronace, while the latter is by Mr Standfast from the English bred mare Gala Night. Other two year olds, in the team are Transcend and Fronsfix by Broiefort—Lady Cavendish. In Transmitter Eva has one of the most brilliaitt sprinters at Ellerslie, but unfortunately he is not suited to heavy tracks. When they become firmer Transmitter will be fight there.

A.J.C. derby winner Main Topic, winner of the A.J.C. Derby this month, is leased to T. M. McGrath, a leading" Sydney trainer, who lias an option of purchase at £500. Main Topic is by Talking—Germain, and in breeding has a combination of some of the finest blood lines of England, America, Australia and. New Zealand. This Dominion's influence comes through Society, the dam of his sire, which Avas by Absurd (Imp.) whose stock in Australia and New Zealand won nearly £300,000. RACING CAREER ENDED The Canterbury owned mare, Doria, has had her racing career brought to a close. The Iliad representative is again lame in her off hi;ml leg. She has been subject to lameness, off and. on, ever since she was knocked about through being cast on the l'erry returning from the 1 Wellington autumn meeting last year. She was a good winner in the south, and as a three year old was the outstanding lilly of the year.

SCORCHED EARTH

NOTHING FOR GERMANS

KUBAN COSSACKS' ACTION

From a Russian correspondent of London Times last week came this typically-Russian account of scorched earth tactics in the Cossack country. It is a sultry, stilling day. A burning haze hovers over the dusty street of the (Cossack village) of Starominskaya. Usually deserted at this hour, Starominskaya is filled with unaccustomed activity. Windows, doors and gates of all the cottages are flung wide open, and in each courtyard stands a waggon (to which a pair of sturdy horses is harnessed. Villagers ta'ke only the most essential belongings; the rest will be buried,*under cover of darkness, where the invaders will never discover it. The cattle were driven away several days ago. All that is left is the poultry, which the children are chasing in the courtj r ards, while their mother, tears streaming down her cheeks, cuts the throats of cock and hens, bitterly cursing the cause of it all. As the column leaves, the glare of' burning villages and gunfire flashes illuminate the night, sky. With 'the baggage go the old men and women, mothers and small children, the sick and crippled. The able-bodied will remain behind and fight side by side with the Red Army troops. An old Cossack took up his axe and called his 13 year old grandson from a neighbouring house: "Come here, grandson, and let us cut down the , orchard and smash the beehives." Apple, pear and apricot trees, laden Avith still unripe fruit, fell one after another.

"'Pile it up in the street," the olcl man said. "Let anybody who wants take it, and what is left the arm,-/ oured tractors will crush to pulp when they come by." To-night Red troops poured through en route to the front. The old man and all other Cossack cottagers retired, planning how nothing must be left for the enemy except a scorched waste. Such is the decision of the Kuban Cossacks, the glorious descendants of the Cossacks of Zaporozhye Secli, who also had burned and destroyed everything. Scimitar Later in the quiet village the sound of plane engines presaged parachutists. The Cossacks dashed out from their huts, hastily arming hemselves with shotguns, sabres, axes and even fire-tongs, .and ran towards an assembly point.

Scattering among the yards and orchards, concealing themselves behind fences and in ditches, they spied out the position of the enemy forice and fell on it., A report Avals sent to the commander of the nearest Red uniit. "Kill -whenever you can and anywhere you can/' he ordered through quiclc-footed youngs tcrs. The Cossacks began operations. A German coming to a well for a drink was shot. Another got a bridle on his skull Avhen he went, into an orchard without a helmet. "Mommo, Mommo, there are two Germans in our pig sty; they are breaking down the Avail looking on to the street," cried a 13 year old boy to. his mother. The Cossack woman's husband had been 'killed at RostoA'. She cautiously drew from the floor an old scimitar Avrapped in rags; drcAV it from its scabbard, tried its. edges, and resolutely made for the door. Squeaked Like a Mouste Creeping toAvard 'the pig -sty, she stood crouching by the door aAvaiting a signal from her son. The boy squeaked softly like a mouse. The Cossack Avoman dashed into the pig sty. The curved scimitar swung twice in the air and the Germans dropped without a sound into the still, liquid manure. She had scarcely Aviped 'the blood from the scimitar when the figure of a German sergeant rose before her. There Avas a short burst from an automatic rille and the young woman fell silently, like a floAvering apple tree cut to the roots. With a cry of intolerable hatred, the boy hurled a stone with all his might at the German's ruddy face.

It struck the German in the eye, depriving him of. sight, and it was some time before lie dispatched the boy as he lay weeping over the body of his mother. When the Red Army regular troops reached the stanitsa, only about a score of German parachute men still survived. Villagers had" annihilated the rest."