SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19149, 4 November 1927, Page 14

SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP. Nominations for the Taknpuna Meeting close to-day. Acceptances for the "Whangarei Meeting close to-day. The interest of racegoers throughout New Zealand will bo centred in the Canterbury Jockey Club's Metrol>olitan Meeting, which opens at Rkenrtou to-morrow; Reasonably large fields will parade in each event, but the class from a quality point of view is unique in the history of j>ew Zealand. Every centre of the sport in the Dominion has its quota, and patrons are promised the best programme submitted on the Kiccarton racecourse for many years. Suitable transport arrangements by train and tiam have been made, and provided fine weather u experienced, a record .assemblage of the public is confidently anticipated. The first race is to start ac 12.1 p.m., and the concluding event at 5.16 p.m.

Beauty Light has recently been purchased by the Wingatui owner-trainer, F Shaw, and the hurdler will race in his interests at the New Zealand Cup Meeting.

The Paper Money gelding, Credit, end a three-year-old gelding by Songbird from Camicau were shipped to Sydney yesterday, having been disposed of by F. Shaw to an Australian buyer.

The two-year-old Flicker, in S. Waddell s team, was very sore on the track yesterday, and it is doubtful if she V.UJ be a starter at the Meeting

Sir Geo. Clifford js to attend tomorrow's races to see his filly Childs--I'iay race in the Welcome Stakes. His second representative, Full Feather, ■Mil not contest the classic.

Beacon Light has executed very disappointing work in his last two trials at Ricrarton. He was well beaten by Battlement on Tuesday and vesterday finished well behind Piuthair, Battlement, and Martarma at the end of a mile and a quarter gallop. All is not right with the Boniform gelding and hi* nam© was withdrawn from the Cup at 2.5 p.m. yesterday. Booster held the upper hand throughout his gallop over five furJongs with Money Order yesterday, and if the latter's effort is any criterion, his prospects .in the Stewards' Handicap do not look favourable

Bennanee gave tho most promising display of tho Cup light-weights seen out at Riccarton yesterday, and tho manner in which he completed his mile task points to him being tho best of his oivision.

C. Giescler arrived at Riccarton yesterday with Set Sail, Receipt, and Lucy Locket. Set Bait has made good Progress lately and it is hoped to race hc r in the Metropolitan Handicap on Monday. The following riding engagements hav© been made for the Now Zealand Cup:—Count Cavour, F. C; Porter: btar Stranger, R. Reed; Te Monanui, »: &.• . Mor " 3 : Footfall, F. E. Jones; Piuthair, T. Green; Clarinda, w! Brown; Bapier, C. Emerson; Yoma, A. McCormac; Battlement, S. Wilson; Xiady Desmond, J. S. Potter; Benna- %??' *?; Wi »? ins ; David Garrick, T. Tito; Equerry, L. J. Ellis; Vaward, I. Mefcalf. Up to last night, riders for Koyal Game and Pink Note had not teen announced. By his gallops on Thursday and yesterday, Battlement did much to clear up tho bad impression ho gave in previous track efforts. He was always contestuig tho iead with Piuthair in yesterday's task over a mile and a quarter, and it is now feasible that he will not be ono oP the outsiders of the Cup held. In fact ho only has to reproduce hia track form to be a hard ' proposition in the closing stages of a two mile journey with 7-6 on his back. Tarieton gave a much improved display over a round of the hurdles at Riccarton yesterday and finished much better than his three companions. He cannot bo loft out of calculations for tne hurdle race to-morrow. The gallop recorded by Rapier yesterday caused his admirers no little concern, but it has to bo recognised that tho Cup favourite has never "hown to advantage on a plough track. Ho mad© up a lot of ground in the straight,, and although well behind Te Monanui and Star Stranger at the portt ho was not ridden right out over tho last half furlong. Rapier pulled up without showing any signs ?k d 4?* reßß Bnd 'kw Gainer and rider IU Emerson) were quite, satisfied with his performance. Footfall concluded a strenuous Cup preparation by being sent over a mile and three-quarters yesterday, and in beating his stable-mate. Starflight, whom ho picked up nine furlongs from home, ho regained many friends for his Cup ordeal. * Aberfeldy was responsible for a good gallop at Riccarton yesterday, and with his pace and proficiency over the sticks, h 8 will probably be sont out first choice for to-morrow's hurdle race. The. gallop registered by Laughing Prince and Mandane yesterday created much interest, and gave evi donee that the latter, is at the top of his form, with Agrion, Laughing Prince, Paleta, and Great Charter all reeling off solid tasks, the Derby contest should bo one of the keenest in tho history of tho classic.

Te Monanni and Star Stranger gained many admirers by their good gallop with Rapier over a mile on the plough Bt Biccarton yesterday. The pace was on from the start, the first quarter taking 26 2-5, five furlongs 1.5 3-5, and tho f oil Jdistauee 1.45. Their performance must provide pleasant reading for those who have favoured the chances of the two Cup candidates.

Piuthair gave every saftisfaction in her winding up gallop at Eiccarton yesterday, and nnlcss anything unforeseen happens in the intorim, she will go to the post in to-morrow's Cup. Clarinda w an unlikely starter.

Agrion was responsible for a reassuring gallop over a mile journey at Rice*iton yesterday. Although the task was executed on the plough, which provided excellent going, the time was very creditable, and compared more than favourably with tho figures registered on tho courso proper.

Satrap brought himself more into the limelight by recording a fast gallop over a mile on the courso proper at Kiecarton yesterday. Although he may he up against too solid opposition in tho Derby,, he should earn some stake money at the Meeting. He is to lie produced in the Spring Plate to-mov-row.

No horse has succeeded in winning the New Zealand Cup twice, and it will be left to Count Cavour to establish the record this year. Twelve months •go, Count Cavour cheated a new record by winning under 8.13, the highest weight ever carried to victory. He and Clarinda are tho only two candidates in to-morrow's field, who have previously contested the event.

With the scratching of Beacon Light, and the probable withdrawal of Clarinda from the New Zealand Cup, it is practically certain that fourteen starters trill parade for to-morrow's coitest. The largest previous field was 21 in J9OB, when Downfall won, and the smallest was eight, in 1889, 1891, and 1904.

Advices from Trenfhani state that A. Goodman has turned ont Black Mint and Cerf. The latter suffered a wrenched joint in a gallop last week. There are no three-year-olds in the New Zealand Cup this year. In earlier year 3 they ran prominently in the race, but, in more recent times three-year-olds have been conspicuous by their absence. The last to win outright was Xoctuiform, in 1905, but Indigo was a three-year-old in his dead-heat year. The last three-year-olds to run were Penitent and Pluto in 1921. Matters are different in regard to the Melbourne Cup, as five of the age have prevailed in the past twelve years, including this year's winner, Trivalve.

When F. Davis arrived 'at Biecarton with his team, he was under the impression that his Derby caudidate, Great Charter, was included in the field for the Spring Plate, and lie made no secret of the fact that the King John gelding possessed u royal chance. He found ,to his surprise, however, that Great Charter's entry was omitted when the nominations were sent to the club on the closing dr.to Besides his Derby engagement, Great Charter figures in the nominations f<r the Suburban Handicap on the concluding day, a 9st minimum race, confined to hurdle and steeplechase riders, so it is apparent some mixup occurred in compiling the list before being dispatched from Hawke's Bay.

Mr Harry Moroe, a well-known rider in New Zealand some years back, was amongEt the large crowd of trackwatchers at Kiccarton yesterday. He has been in business in Australia for a number of years, and is at present on a visit to the Dominion.

The following horses arrived at Biecarton yesterday: Royal Duke, Oratrix, Lausanne, Koauau, High Disdain, Vesperus, Santiago, Kindle, Bowley, Concentrate, Bronstell, and Joybird. Bon Bord, owned by Mr C. W. Brannigan. Ashburton, has foaled a chestnut colt, a full brother to Count Cavour.

f TROTTING NOTES. Nominations for the Otahuhu Trotting Club's Spring Meeting, to be held on November 10th and 23rd, close today. The programme is one that should make a direct appeal to owners, for the stakes are excellent and include the Jellicoe Handicap and Fergusson Handicap, each of 1000 govs and providing for a 4.33 limit. Mr C. E. Gooseman is the handicapper. It. B. Berry, the Now Brighton trainer, has purchased a farm at Templeton previously owned by Mr J. Anderson. There is a good track on the property and Berry will have erected up-to-date stables which should convert it into an "ideal place for the training of light harness horses.

D. Withers worked his team on his Islington track yesterday, but weather permitting Great Bingen and Co. will do their final work-out at Addingtou to-morrow morning. Withers states that Great Bingen was never better in his life than he is at present and hopes to make a bold bid for the Cup on Tuesday nest.

Much to the disappointment of his trainer, W J. Tomkinson, Vestas was not nominated for the New Zealand Derby to be decided at Addingtou on Thursday next The Matchlight colt is settling down nicely and Tomkinson considers that he would probably have dono well in a race of'this description on a track he is accustomed to. The Derby Lodge stable is represented in the race by Wooden Bridge, a brown gelding by Wildwood Jim —Lejiitia, the property of Mr G. J. Barton. . Bonilene (dam of Bonny Logan).has foaled a colt to Drusus, and visits him again; Doraldina (dam of Daphno de Oro) has foaled a colt to Drusus and visits Rey de Oro, and the Americanbred mare, Bonista, has foaled a |colt to Drusus and visits him again. Some interesting work was witnessed at New Brighton yesterday when Sea Pearl, Escapade, and Loganwood were seen in action over tho Cup distance of two miles.

Sea Pearl (R. B. Berry), Loganwood (L. Frost), and Talent (H. Frost) hopped off at the two mile post, and after six furlongs had been 'covered they were joined by Avenger. Loganwood faded a bit over the last furlong, and Pearl and Avenger finished together just ahead of Talent. It was a-satis-factory work-out. Escapade and William the Great from a standing start covered two miles in 4.32. /Escapade hopped away smartly and always holding her companion" safe came away over the last furlong and won by several lengths. Escapade gave a great display of trotting, and as a result of her effort made many friends for her Cup engagement on Tuesday next.

The following foalings to Sonoma Harvester are reported :—Mystic Bells a colt, Florrie Audubon a colt, Gwenchild a filly, Dalwhinnie a colt, Any Money a colt, Wahinepai a filly, a mare by Nelson Bingen—Henrietta a filly, and a King Cole mare a colt. Author Dillon at the stud at Y aidburst is being well patronised by breeders, and amongst the marcs booked to visit him are the following:— Erleen (dam of Great Earl), Logan's Drive, Dilemma, Crimson Rose, Rita Rye, Edith Locanda, Awanioa. Ellawood, Yura Dillon, Logan Lily, Placid, Trilby Child, Country Queen, an Advance mare (the dam of Locanda Mac), and a Prince Imperial mare (the dam of Denver Huon). _ Terence Dillon has been on the easy list, having sustained an injury to a fetlock. The mishap is not a serious ope, but it interfered with his preparation for the Meeting at Addington next week.

At Oamaru J. Henderson is working several very promising youngsters, including a three-year-old filly by Nelson Bingen from the dam of Terence Dillon, a two-j'ear-old colt T>y Nelson Binsen —Nellie Scott, a gelding by Nelson Bingen from a Petereta mare, and a gelding by Nelson Bingen from Glad©.

Tho Wellington Trotting Club has lost no time in proceeding with its scheme of improvements. The new totalisator house, which will cater for investers of one pound or over, is already well under way, and will be completed in good time for the Meeting on December 10th. Tho old totalisator house will in future be confined to the sale of ten shilling tickets, and will he available for both outside and inside investors of that amount..

Mr J. R. McKenzie has intimated that he will present to the Manawatu Trotting Club a cup to b© added Jo the stake attached to the nest Manawatu Trotting Cup. A week or so ago the committee responsible for discipline at the Addington track decreed that only horses engaged at next week's Meeting should be allowed the use of the big track between certain hours, and this ruling met with the hearty support of the majority of the trainers. Ono wellknown trainer, who was one of the keenest supporters of the ruling, sent his team of horses out to work yesterday morniug, but in a moment of forgetfulness included one—and a good one too—not engaged at the Meeting. He quite appreciated the joke when the caretaker ordered him and his horse off the track.