THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 131, 20 February 1918, Page 8

THE TURF

DESERT GOLD

By 'Helwaph-Prebs Aesociatinn-.Cnprrieht . Utcc.' February 19, 8.25 p.m./ [tlolUourno, February 13. Desort Gold perlorined a takinc gallop this morning, covering the hall-mile in 50sec. Kill 'Jsm did il Eood six lurlongi in liuin. Kisuc.

TBAfNIHC AY WANCANUI

By ■l'eiegrai)li—i' l '« !Sß Association. Wanganui, February IS. The weather was nne tor training opeiat did flvo furlonEß i" In""- 5 ; Da her Boy and &la ran hve lurlongs in lnnn.to 1 ., and Bipiauc mx furlongs in Bon JVOr did four furlongs in slbcc All Ovur and Tit. Willow Msec, MiJourt'aml Lovesick 49 4-5.ee., Palm 0,1 a,^S?1 S t Snd,fro l n a ,tan<Un S VSf. Tneta«,Bni.b l Almo, Form Up Croesus, and Sir Solo dm S oo<l "Kn W erc compamon. over Hu> hurdles. The former shaped nartlcu■lftHymestra, looltins sound and very fit, covered six furlongs, a good gallop. Sanna, also well, did tne same 'SU went a couple of rounds ol the schooling hurdles.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

■ ' TBY GIENCOI.I The Marlborough Trotting Meeting-WIU O Acccptiiuces y 'i"or the Dannevirke Meeting cluis to-night. ' , The jockey T. iMcfrlfc, who has been In Cl Camp at Fetttliereton, was yeattrd.iy discharged as unfit. The failure of Zola at the Egmoiit Meethi" was a surprise to the TOrganui tracK: watchers, as the Sweet .Simon gelding had. galloped very well prior to the mcating. It nrny be that he wanted a race, and will do a lot better at this week's meeting. 'J'lib Wanganui Cup, to he decided to-nior-tow, has drawn an acceptance of ten, and the, Flying Handicap has a field of nineteen. In the six furlongs event all the best sprinters in the Dominion are eu~ paged, 'Including Croesus, who defeated i)esert Goitl at Trentham, Form Up, winner of the Stewards' Handicap at Kicoafton, and.the frequent winners, Aauna and Impediment. . The- Vangauui Cup field includes tha Melbourne Cup winner, Sasanof, the New Zealand Cup winner, Jf.cnelaits, the Taranaki Cup winner, Wishful, and last yeai'B winner, Client. This makes it out to be a high-class field, and the race between the four top weights should be a splendid one. Sasanof is better treated than was pxjiected, but so is Mene» laus. and though Client may start favourite form points to Meneluus finishing in front of him. Sasanof does not carry weight well, and is too small to shine over two miles with 9st. in the saddle. Wishful won on both days at New Plymouth like a champion, but at Hawera he was oft the course at the turns, aud may do the same to-morrow. Ahno is having his first race for his now owner, and it wilE be interesting to sec how he shapes. Of the light weights Dingle und Muster Moutoa both possess outside chances.

The performance of Killard in winning the Dnncdin Jockey Club Handicap ou Saturday was ea-ily the best for which he has been responsible. In his previous successes he has met moderate fields, but in his latest race he beat some very useful performers, and he may be capable of Boiuething oven- better before the close of.' the season. "~

The. successful North Island apprentice, R. S. Busby, piloted two winners in' Torfreda and Love Token at Dunediu on Saturday. This brines Bagby's total of winMing rides up to fifteen, which will debar him in future from claiming the apprentice's allowance. The Kilbroney filly Kilraeedy was purchased by a 'patron of A. M'lyor'a stable during the Buncdiii Cup Meeting. It is reported from Yfanganui tTiat Henry Clay has been sold to K. Johnson for £130. Early in the week reports from Hawera stated that C. Jackson's charge had been put up at auction, but was called in at 120gns. Revocation, a gelding by Cheshire, hae been purchased by Mr. J. O'Jfeara. Desert Gold has been nominated for the following events, to be decided at the V.R.O. Mooting on March 2. 5. 7, and 9:— Ksscndon Stakes (one mile niid a quarter), 0. JI. Lloyd Stakes (one mile). Governor's IMate (one miln and a half), and the King's Plate (two miles). The mare is apparciuly going to start in Ion.; as well ae short w.f.?,. races, as a reporter who cmestioned Trainer ¥■ Davis about the champion's staying power received the following re-ply:-"She'll stay io further r,-ders. if trained for it." Blue Vapour (Postillion-Vapour) won the first division of a maiden race at Victoria Pork early this month. A protest wai lodged against the winner, but it was dismissed. The Auckland-owned Sinister filly Agnestes won a 14.2 handicap at the Victoria Park Meeting on February 9. A Press Association cablegram from Melbourne States that, the Victorian H?.rinp Club and the Victorian Amateur Turf Chib have each voted £5000 towards the War Council's appeal for the wounded' soldiers. During the war the Victorian Racing Club has distributed £44.000 and the Victorian Amateur Turf Olnb £36,000 towards the various war timds. The Kilbroncy filly Kilflinn, who won at Caulfirid on Saturday finished »cconH in the big handicap at Sandon Park a week nrcviously, being only beaten by a neck. The connuwor of Kescvt Gold has evidently struck form at last. The Tlcnry the First horsn Cynic has b?eti allowed to drop out of the Australian Cup. This wan to be expected aftnr hie poor showing at Takapuna and Gisborne. Comedy King is at, the head of the Australian winning sires' list for the half-year, with winners of 26 races, worth £15,521. Next, comes Linanre, with 41 races, worth £13.226; followed by The Welkin; whose stock captured 27 races valued at £10,936.