SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19147, 2 November 1927, Page 12

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Novembor 2—Birchwood Hunt. November 5, 7, 9, 12—C.J.C. MelropolitSl November 10, 12—Whangarei B.C. November 10, 17 —Winton J.C. November 19 —Levin K.C. November 23—Asbhurst-Pohangina It.C. December 17th—Oamaru J.C. (at Wingatui) TROTTING FIXTURES. November 8, 10, 11—Metropolitan T.C Spring. November ID, 23 —OtaJiuliu T.C. Spring. Novembsr 25, 2G—Forbury Park T.C. Spring December 17 —Oamaru .T.C. (two events). December 2(sth—fiore T.C. Annual. TURF GOSSIP. Nominations for the Takapuiu Spring Meeting close on Friday. Acceptances for the Whangare Meeting close on Friday. Solferite has been giving troubh with one of his front legs of late, anc this was the cause of his withdrawal from the (Stewards' Handicap. It is doubtful it he will face the starter at the Meeting. Although Piuthair galloped well yesterday morning, she showed.an inclination to bore out on the bends, and hei trainer considers that all is not well with the Great Autumn Handicap winner, but another gallop to-morrow will decido whether she will go to the post for the New Zealand Cup. Clarinda was accepted for on Monday in case anything happened to Piuthair, and if the former ultimately represents the stable, she will bo ridden by T. Green. Footfall dropped m the public estimation as a result of his poor showing in the Akaroa Handicap on Saturday last, but his gallop at Riccarton yesterday morning would be the means of his regaining any friends he may have lost on that occasion. Notwithstanding that the track was slightly damp on top, lie never put a foot wrong, and in getting to the end of a mile and a half in 2.38 for an average of a little [ over 13 to the furlong, he at least showed that his form at Motukarara was far from right. He was nominated for the Riccarton Handicap on the first day of the Meeting, in case it was decided not to produco him in the Cup, but_ as he has been accepted for in the_ big race and withdrawn from the minor event, his supporters can rest assured that his Cup engagement will bo fulfilled, and on yesterday morning's work he threatens to play an important part in the final issue if the going remains as at present. By the same token, Starflight was responsible for a good effort in keeping him busy over the concluding half of the twelve furlongs' journey, and this fact points to the Archery gelding winning before the Meeting closes, provided in his case also that the conditions underfoot are favourable. Laughing Prince unwound a solid gallop at Riccarton yesterday over seven furlongs, and was going strongly at the finish. Everything points to the Australian-hred gelding being elected the public choice for the Derby, in which he will ho ridden by L. G. Morris.

I task executed by Great Charter u % c . carton yesterday tended to bring the King John gelding into prominence i Derby contest fle has exhibited every sign of mastering a distance, and it is safe to predict that even if he does not prevail in the classic, he will not return empty handed to Hawke's Bay. Pure Gold showed a glimpse of the family speed in her essay over half a mile at Eiccarton yesterday, but al- < though she finished in front of Tea Miss, who was giving her a substantial weight, the prospects of the latter may be considered more favourable in the Welcome Stakes,' as her third placing in the Wellesley Stakes, after receiving rP, passage in the early stages, was full of merit. The Connolly Handicap winner, Bennanee, was seen to advantage in his gallop over ten furlongs with Doree and loma yesterday.' He is in at the minimum in the New Zealand Cup, and will be ridden by J. Barry, By Catmint from Fair Rosamund, he is ira half-brotlier to the consistent JiioK *jk, who was a proved stayer, one of his victories being in the New Zealand bt; Leger Stakes in 1922. Rapier pleased track watchers in his gallop over a mile and a quarter yesterday. He out dash into his work from rSj,T P 'f V an A d ? lt,lou gh was in receipt of about six pounds from l r e 35.T h 6 hdd him at the post £f p ,, w ;!' s a valuable semi-final trial for both Cup candidates, and they will probably contest favouritism on

Year in and year out, evidence is forthcoming that horses are hard to follow, even by holding the handle of a plough. Tho stocks of Count Cavour and Footfall suffered a JS- £? r \?^ S i p after Satu rday's races nL+L a , nd . their Cup inspects were judged m anything but a favourable l.ght. But yestercly both ft™ 6 b y Roping as well as ever on the track. Footfall's effort over a mile and a half wai undeniably good, while m the case of Cbunt Cavour he appeared to relish his task over the same journey. < In answer to a correspondent Yomas weight in the New Zealand tfup was raised from 7-2 to 7-8 by virtue of his victory in the Wellington Handicap at Trentnam ten days ago. Rina Maunga, who has had a few weeks' spell in tho paddock, has rejoined J. Beale's stable at Riocarton. Precious bas failed to stand up to training and has been mated with Arrowemith. Mr It. A. McKenzie, owner of Clarlncta, and Piuthair, was an interested spectator at Riccnrton yesterday. C. Eastwood was engaged to ride Equerry in the New Zealand CJup, but it transpires that L. J. Ellis was also bespoken for the mount. If the latter receives the ride on the» present outsider of tho field, Eastwood will bo left without a mount, an unfortunate position in view of the fact that he had to refuse the rido on Clarinda, if both Mr McKcnzie's mares faced the starter.

I R. McDonald _ arrived from Dunedin on Monday with Royal Saxon and ingatui, and T. Wilson also put ill an appearance with Overhaul and Black Duke. All _ four horses were given useful exercise yesterday morning. Pink Note was restricted to pace vvork at Riccarton yesterday.. The Cup candidate looks in the best of fettle and will carry the confidence of southern enthusiasts. Eulalie has forfeited her engagement in the Now Zealand Derby, but remains in the Stewards' Handicap a {Ji Zealai } d oaks - Sho is probably the favourite selectiou at present for the" six-furlong race, and there seems every reason to believe that she will form one of the field. She has done some smart work of late on the tracks, and is sure to race prominently at the Meeting. Agrion appeared to be in great heart at Riccarton yesterday morning, and the appearance of his name in the final payments for the New Zealand Derbv will invest the classic with no small amount of interest.

Battlement was apparently in the mood for galloping at Riccarton yesterday, when he inflicted! a substantial defeat on Beacon Light over a mile and a half. The latter had a good weight, and ran wide out, but at the same time Battlement's form was th© best he has shown on the track since returning from Sydney. There is no doubt but that the Martian gelding has the ability to gallop and stay, and if caught in the right humour on Cup day he may create a surprise under his light impost.

The colt foal by Limond which survived his dam, Medley, is to have Comely as a foster-mother. The latter mare lost her foal a few days prior to Medley's death. "The Yeoman's" contribution to the "Weekly Press," published to-day, deals briefly with the Canterbury Jockey Club's history and in some detail with the breeding of horses that are engaged in the principal events at the Metropolitan Meeting. Photographic studies of the heads of four prominent New Zealand Cup candidates aro reproduced, and on other pages there are pictures from the North Canterbury, Wellington, and Gore Meetings, and snapshots of North Island horses landing at Lyttelton.