SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 13

SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP.

Acceptances lor xhe Levin Meeting close to-dav.

Very satisfactory acceptances hare been received for the concluding day's programme of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Metropolitan Meeting, to be deI cided at Riccarton to-morrow. Hie G ' G. Stead Gold Cup has attracted four starters, three having aspirations to contest honours with Limerick. Included in the quartette is the three-year-old Martarma, and with his advantage in weight for age scale should reward Ins enterprising owner with some of the stake money. It was generally hoped that Agri'on would have crossed swords with Limerick, but unfortunately the Derby winner's name is missing from the field. At the instigation of some of the leading trainers, the Canterbury Jockey Club instituted last year a raca for three-vear-olds onlv on the concluding day of their Metropolitan Meeting, but on the experience gained this year, it is likelv that a change may be made in the future framing of their programme. No less than 41 horses were handicapped for the race in question, the Stony hurst Handicap, on to-morrow's card, but only four owners hare paid acceptance. In the absence of a hurdle race at Riccarton to-morrow, three of the jumpers previously engaged at the Meeting, Red Fuchsia Projector, and Dubious, are engaged in the Suburban Handicap to-morrow. Contestants m this race are to be ridden by hurdle or steeplechase jockeys. Wild Pigeon was accepted for in both the Stonyhurst Handicap and the Fendalton Handicap to to-morrow's programme at Riccarton, but was later withdrawn from the latter event.

Rotor figures in both the Seymour and Stonyhurst Handicaps at .Riccarton to-morrow, but in view of good money presenting itself in tho three-year-old race, it is more than probable that he will be reserved for that event. Solferite, who has not had a race at the Meeting, owing to leg trouble, will be produced to-morrow in either the C'ressy or the Members' Handicap. He has done very little work of late owing to his ailment, and the Winter Cup winner cannot be expected to be at his best.

Ark Royal disappointed bis connexions in the Otaio Plate at Riccarton on Wednesday, and the Kilbfoney colt was sent back to Wbgatui yesterday.

Kapuna was very sore as a result of his efforts in the hurdle race at Riccarton on Monday, and this has accounted for his non-production at the Meeting since. Royal Game was shipped back to Wellington last night. s Taboo will be making his first appearance at the Metropolitan Meeting in the Cressy Handicap to-morrow. Another fresh horse in the same race is Beaumont, who was brought down to the Meeting by the Foxton trainer, F. J. Carmont.

F.' Davis returned north -with his team by last night's ferry steamer. Should Limerick capture the stake attached to.the G. G. Stead Gold Cup to-morrow, his stake earnings will top the £25,000 mark.

Grand Knight, who is to be saddled up for the Stead Cup to-morrow, rah third in the same event last year, two and a half lengths away from the winner, Rapine. As a result of the finding of the Canterbury Jockey Club's District Committee on Tuesday, Rowley and High Disdain will figure on the programme at Riccarton to-morrow. Both these horses have been taken over in the meantime by the Masterton trainer, B. Burgess. High Disdain is an attractive Australian-bred two-year-old colt, and ran a promising race in the Wellesley Stakes in Wellington.