SPORTING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16165, 20 March 1918, Page 9

SPORTING.

racing and trotting NOTES. (BT "Looker-OM."> * The work at Riccarton yesterday would have been of a very interesting nature but for the rain. \s matters wcp\ though a few trainers stripped their charges and gave tliein steadv pacing, most e them a j dav off. tl,at thc grass tracks have been softened, horses are sure to be stretched out in earnest on Thursday and Saturday. Handicaps for the minor events on thc first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Easter Meeting are due to appear on 1 rida}. H Grav has been riding with great i succe-s during the last week, and now has a g'>oJ lliiS llcares . t "PP on " j eiit in th/e winning jockeys' list. TV Southland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting and the Rangitikei Racing-Club's Annual Meeting will be commenced to-day. In the spring Mr G. I>. Stead sold 7>d Rock to the Melbourne sportsman. Mr E. A. Connolly, who rcccntlv disposed of the Now . Zealand-bred gelding to Mr K. J- Craven, of Queensland. Tac-ob Tincus. who attained great prominence in America as a trainer, died in Vork jn January las., l.is a<rr. being over 80. Fincus was ihe onlv American trainer who e\ -r won the English Derby with an Amen-. ,v,n-biW horse. He accomplished that font with Iroquois, owned by the .'ate j'ierre Lorillard, in 1881. Pincus was a jockey in his youth, his first mount being at Xcw Orleans in 1852. Defence, with 161b more than Lis Australian Cup weight, could never <-ct near the front in the Northcot-j handicap on the last day of the V.K.C. Meeting, and Star Comedian (second in the Cup) finished last in the same race.

16 is unusual to hear of a horse liein"- lost in the birdcage at rienungton ° but it happened on the second dav of the V.R.C. Meeting, (says n Sydney writer). When J. Keily went io-eaddle Lord Lenhuk for the Bourke Handicap, he was rr.issrrui Ins stall, and when later he was discovered Hi the far end of the birdcage tied up in another stall, it was too late to send him - out for the race. It is believed that the horse strolled jut of his stall, where he was.unattended, and that someone raught HjTn, and tied him up where he -was found.

In reply to questions in the Hoiijjc of Commons on January 16th, -Mr Uonar Law stated that the amount ot food involved by the continuation of racin" was absolutely trivial, and ihat the effect of the stoppage of racing wouldxhave been out of proportion to the saving of food. Vt tfic V.R.C. Autumn Meeting last vear James Scobie trained the winners of six races, and won £<±81/ in stakes for his" .patrons. Tins year ho < did not wim even secure a place with Other prominent ?in a race were: W. S. Hickcnbotham, T. PijyJßi, C. Qumn, J. :vlcCann, M. P.' Whitty, H Warns (trainer of Linglc), and M. Hobbs. At Rosehill on Saturday (writes "Pilot" in the Sydney "Referee of Macrh 13th), the 1, 2, 3 totalisator was used for the first time at a ' horse meeting in Sydney, though that system of machine speculation was adopted at the "pony" courses some weeks later... The innovation caught on, the tuniorer for the day being £8048 103. With three dividends the deductions in the way of fractions alone must necessarily run into a very large sum, but it do'ed not appear as if that fact is going to with investors. They have the chance of the third dividend, as well as a larger return than from the place bookmaker if the horse supported actually wins, and that appeals to them.

There was " spirited bidding on the last dav of the rccent blood stock sales in Melbourne. During the afternoon 75 horses were disposed of for 17,232 i guineas, averaging 230 guineas. The 44- horses in which the late Mr J. "Widdis was interested brought 13,367-J guiueas, making the excellent averago of 303J guineas. The Martagon horse Shepherd King evoked keen competition, and after a spirited duel Letween the representatives of Messrs Rouse Bros.,and Mr E. G. Blume, ho ■was knocked down to thc_ latter at 3500 guineas. Shepherd King will go into the Woodlands Stud in New South ' "Wales. According to a Melbourne writer, Mr E. J. Watt's New Zealand-bred •gelding, Red Pennant, by All Black— ; Red Plume, was the actual favourite • for the Australian Cup at barrier rise, though the connexions of the stable were r reported to ,be not particularly sweet oichis chance. His preparation was ihwruptcd after his arrival in Melteurfe, owing to a* slight, mishap,' and > apparently told against Red Pe:i- , Bant in the final stage of the race. r He was out wide at the homo turn, but still looked like a winner at the ; distance- He, however, stopped rather

suddenly just past that point, and ran further out, finishing ia fourth place close to the judge's box. If all goes well, lied Pennant raav be worth keeping in mind for the Sydney Cup. The hern of the two-year-old division at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting was Dunwil, who won three races, and is now regarded by many Melbourne racegoers as the best two-year-old of the season. Regarding his performances "Goodwood" writes in the "Australasian'' o'i March 16th:—It must 1.0 years sincc a two-vear-old won two races on the one (lay a 9 Dunwil f.;d on the second day of the V.R.C. Meeting. The rules of racing prohibit Ifce running off of a dead heat where a two-year-old is concerned, but Dun»vil is not likely to row to any harm as a result of his double effort. There i was an interval of over three "hours between the two races. • In the Hopeful Stakes lie had the services of F. Denipsev, and was on the slow side of the straight—that on the inner rails--but lie had the opposition beaten all the way. and, just to show that the track was all light, cut out tho five furlongs in Imin 2]see. The Malster fillv Cragrose, in the Lingle stable, was backed as if the race were a certainty lor her, but she was beaten by Cirralong as well as Dunwil. The last race of the day, the .Junior Handicap, in which Dunwil had but 7st- 01b to carry, also proved a soft thing for him. He was on the outer part of the course this time, and F. Bullock wa:? up. He won in most decisive style, and is undoubtedly a good colt. He is by Cooltrim from Lady Melon, Iby Metal front Melba. by Gozo, and is owned and trained by D'unlop's .successful Melbourne Cup pilot of years ago. T. Sanders, who has always held the highest opinion of the colt. Apart from the "Wallace IsinglassDesert Gold battle, the feature of tne racing on the concluding day at Flemington was the fine form of Dunwil, who is now' regarded by many as the crack two-year-old of the season. It was lucky in a way that Dunwil was able to run at all. He and Liquid Fire broke through the barrier before the start, and dislodged their riders. Liquid Fire crashed into a fence ->ncl sustained injuries that necessitated his being destroyed, but Dunwil was caught after a little trouble. He and Fitness were nearly always in the lead, and in the end Dunwil won in most decisive style bv three lengths from Fitness, who was meeting him on 2410 better terms compared with the Junior Handicap weights, ho being down 21'o and Dunwil up 221b. After the lace Dunwil was sold to Mr John "Wren for £2000. Had he held any classic engagements he would probably have brought twice that sum. He met <vith a slight accident on nomination day last June, and Sanders, therefore, did not enter him for anything. All going well, this fine colt will be ireelv spoki u of as the next Melbourne Cup approaches. *

Tho Wallacetown Junction Hotel and property adjoining, situated about five miles from Jnrercargill, has changed hands, the trustees iu the e3tate if the late Jacob Ott having disposed of it to Mr W. T. Hnzlott at a price approximating _ £12,000 (says tiie •'Otago Daily Times"). Tho land included in the transaction consists of 111 acres, and has a frontage of l.a'f a mile to the North road and a quarter of a mile to Wallacetown road. It is Mr Hazlett's intention to farm the property, and he will probably also devote some attention to the breeding of lacing stock 31 is also understood that Mr Hazlctt purposes forming a racing track ou the property, -which is admirably adapted- for the purposo, with a view to training his racing stock.

Balboa broke down at Invercargill on Monday morning after doing a, good mile. Special Order was killed on Saturday morning. She ran into the end of* a fence on the Hirer-ton course. (Br 1 'Searchlight.' ') Acceptances for the "Waimate Plaini Trotting Club's Annual Meeting close on Friday. The connexions of Lecwood do not think that the Wild wood Junr. colt is forward enough to contest the Taranaki Stakes, and he is unlikely to make j the trip to Hawora. Mr I. Rhodes, of Reefton, has disposed of his two pacers, Buck's Head and Red Prince. The former is now tho property of Mr R. Lochore, and tho latter of Mr E. O. Williams, both of Reefton.

The Southland-owned and trained trotter Solaco is showing improved form on the track at Invercargill, and is expected to race well at some of the forthcoming southern meetings. Mr W. Black has been appointed starter for the trotting events at the Methven Racing Club's Annual Meeting next month. DESERT GOLD IN AUSTRALIA* RACING AT FLEMIXGTOX.

Australian papers to hand by a recent piail bring details of the racing on tbe sccond third, and fourth days of the Victoria Racing Club's Autumn Meeting at F'emington. Writing in the "Australasian ' of March. 10th, "Goodwood" says:— After all, racegoers \vcro not afforded an opportunity of eeeing Desert Gold and Cetign© pitted against cach other in the C. M. Lloyd Stakes on Saturday. That was looked forward to as the event of the afternoon, and probably many people went to Flemmgton oolely to see the battle. They were, however, all disappointed. While Mr Stirton, owner of Otigne, was anxious for another trial of strength between his horse and tlio New Zealand mare over a distance suitable to both, Mr Lowry decided to pas 3 the richer stake ill favour of the longer race, tlio Governor's Plate, which looked dccidedly the easier proposition. Cotigne could, of course, have been allowed to take hia chance against the mare in that event, but he had been trained for a shorter distance, and could hardly, in the circumstances, havo be-in expected to see out a fast railc and a half. »Mr Lowry, I understand, wished to run. Desert Gold ill the longer race with the view of testing her in anticipation of her engagement in the two mile racc on the last day of the Meeting. She had, however, previously won over a mil© and a half in New [ Zealand. He was quit© within his rights in (picking the mile and a half race for his mare, more particularly as he is giving her winnings to a patriotic fund in New Zoa- | land. Hnd she run in th© shorter laco and been beaten by Cetigne the patriotio funds would hare lost nothing, as Mr Stirton in that caw intended to devote tbe stake to the eame purpose, though instead of going to New Zealand it would have been handed over to an Australian iund. His action m th:j direction was, of course, contixjrcnt on liis I colt defeating Desert Gold. Bowever, m j has generously decided to hand over half th® staka won by Cetign-s in the C.M. Lloyd i Stakes to a local Red Crosa fund. That I Desert Gold has established herself as a favourite with Australian racegoers was jproved by her fine reception after winning the Governor's Plate, but that was nothing to the demonstration of approval there would have been had she started and won the harder race. Carbine's owner would have been delighted at the opportunity of trying for such a double, but Mr Lowry evidently does not care to allow lis favourite to take on toa much. True lovers of a horse can Oliite pippreciat? hi« feelings in this regard. That she would have won both races had she BUrted I feel .ccrtain, though tbe first "leg" might have troubled her a little. _ Even money seemed a wonderfully good price to get "about Cetigne for the C. M. Lloyd Stakes. There was eolid backing for both Wedge and Whiteficld. Wedse had Sib tlio better of the weights compared with the Newmarket, but Cetigne gave the Futurity 'Stakes winr.er more tiian an Sib beating in the race up the straight. Nothing streaked out in the early part of the rsce, the field being well together for a furlong. _ At the end of another furlong Prince Viridis drew out, and the pace was very solid to the finish.

Cetigno waited to the distance, rod then came away, "iightly interfering Wl V > . " rlllc ® Tiridis in doing so. Wedge vainly endeavoured to go with Celiac. and in the end Whitefield. who finished wel,. beat h:ai for places. Cctignc had a. '*ngtn t° as tho post was passed. The nmc-lmm 41sec—waa not fast, but, a 4 indicated, tae p.jce \ras only on over the last ,T.P Jiiplane cut out his mile in the Linntngow Stakes in the spring in lmin 3<jsec. XViinefipld \va3 also second on that occasion. Gold na« a record in Xev>" Zealana 01 lmin 37 3-sth «c. Thero were only three opponents 'or Defccrt Gold in the Governors Plate, and odds v.'crc readily laid on her. They were never in doubt. S:ie *''ent" to the front at the start and '""23 not headed. 'Wallace Isinglass pot close- to her a* tne Jiorue turn, but she entered the straight full of running, and was not troubled in the TUn home. Wallace Isinglass P"t 11 P a much better race than he did in the Australian Cue. lie carried bar plates in the Australian Cup. but n n .Saturday hia trainer decided to have him ihod merely "i'-' 1 '"'P*The change we 3 decidedly beneficial. He ran quite generously, and Mr Baron vas not in luck's way when it wac decided to start Ooscr-t Goid here in preference to the C. M | Xiloyd .Stakes. Lnmus had lightened oft considerably a(ur his race on the first day, and looked almost mean behind tho paddle He retains his pace, bu; knocked up chasing Desert Gold, and was last home. He is evidently a delicate customer, a fact indicated by the sparing way he was raced in England. Tho sensation of tho final day of tho V E.C Moeting wae the defeat of Desert Gold in the Kin.?"" Plato. Tlio" present wore prepared to give her an ova'iTon, ana were so flabbergasted at her defeat that they forgot for a while to cheer Wallace Isinglass. And yet his performance was one of the beet seon at l r lemingtan for many a <01;? day. Jle had practically to be ridden hard for a mile and a, halT o: tho two miles. The task of chasing '<■ brilliant mare like Desert Gold was really a heart-breaking enc, but Wallace Isinglass, with all the determination of his grand-sire Carbine, stuck to it. and in the end would not b«j denied. Many of Wallace Isinglass's admirers thought that if he got alongside Desert Gold he might wear her down, but, a mile and a quarter from home his chancc of even extending her looked hopeless. Desert Gold was, of course, at a disadvantage in having to make her ov.-n running, hut Wallace Isinglass was in a worse fix, because a mile and a quarter from home h«. had » gap of eight or ten lengths to bridge before he reached her. and so in no sense OPtild the mare be said to have, paced him. She is a free-going marc, and would probably have fared no better had her rider milled her about in an effort to steady her. Desert Gold ran in the most generous style, but could nob withstand \Valiaco Isinglass at the end of two miles. That 13 all there is to it.

Ii is rather notable thai on the only two occasions during her career that Desert Gold 11.13 mil over two miles she has been boaten. In the Treniham' Cup at the Wellington Meeting in New Zealand both Kilboy and The Toff accounted for her, but the soing on that occasion wn3 very heavy, and that, it is well known, does not suit her. That she is not a true fit aye i' of the Trafalgar or The Parisian type, say, is Quite evident, but I would not like to assert that she will not win over two or even three miles. It is a!', r, question of the strength of the opposition and the way a race is run. Beside®, she had no special preparation for the two miles of the King's Plate. Wallace Isinglass's Tace ou Monday was, of coursc, the one of hi 3 life. Tlioro has always been a doubt as to whether lie could quito get two railee, deapito his third in the, Melbourne Cup. Hia King's Plate victory was a, complete answer. He was supposed hitherto to have, only a short run, but lie was, in the King's Plate, practically at hia top for a mile and n half. It i 3 a, pity that he was run in bar plates in the Australian Cup. Shod wi:h tips only, ho subsequently ran a different ho re©. The time for the two miles of tho King's Plate—3min 26Jsec —sufficiently indicated how solid was I the pace, and vet Desert Gold did not look to be travelling at any great pace over the first half-mile. T.ins;]o was loft a lons' way i in tho rear by Wallace ISinglass and Desert Gold. He is not the Liivgle 110 was in the spring, but may do better at the A.J.C. Meeting. DESERT GOLD. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) j (Received March 13th. 10 p.m.) I SYDXKY, March 19. A feature of to-day's gallops at Randwick was the performance of Desert Gold. Using | Ihe course proper, she eoualie.* the six iurI long track record ct lmin 17sec.

ALLEGED KINGING-IN, A WEST AUSTRALIAN CASE. (FROM OCR OWX CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY. March in. A more than usually interesting case of Tinging-in is reported from West Australia. In this race-loving lund, where eveTv village has its racecourse, and everv annrentio his interest in a sweep, some remarkable frauds are perpetrated, and the number of cases of ring-mg-in discovered are not in proportion to the number nover exposed. So far as frauds on the racing public are concerned, one ha-s only to mention the weighing machine scandals of two or three yoars ago—when a cunning arrangement of wirea worked tho machines on certain l-acccourees in favour of certain 1 jockoy6—to show what tricks arc successfully operated. In the present ease four men—Bennett (agent). Bell (horSe dealer). Thompson (trainer), and Robinson—are charged with conspiring to defraud the 1 Boulder Racing Club. The claim of the urosecution is n-s follows: Thompson and Bell ran a horse named Golden Orel, a very inferior animal, at Bunbury races, under the name of Loch Var—a larao that is unknown to the racing records. Golden Orol was badly beaten, in very inferior company. Then the accused ent«Ted as Loch ar, a good racehorse named Aversion, for a race at. the Boulder Club's Meeting, and had him handicapped on the alleged performance of Loch Var at Bunbury. On the race day, the gang got into the ring, and backed the horse very heavily at long odds. Aversion, as was intended, won the race oa«ily, and the gang collected the stake and the bets. The stipendiary steward nt thi? Meeting was no fool, however, and there was something about the Loch Var performance that made him suspicious. Ho made some enquiries, and then a surprise visit wan made to the farm of Robinson, the owner of Aversion. That animal was promptly recognised as the Loch Var that won at Boulder. 'It had been dyed from a, chestnut to a bronze bar. \ Soon after, the police went to the farm with a warrant to seize Aversion, but Aversion had disappeared. Detectives went on the trail, but it- wae dome time later before the body of the racehorse wajs found in a lonely gully of the ranges, a long distance off, near a place called Bull's Brook. Subsequently a horp> dealer named Charles Smith confessed that Bell and Robinson gave him £5 to dispose of Aversion. He kept the animal in his paddocks for some time, but a little later iio was paid to kill the horse. He took it away into the mountains and killed it with an axe.