SPORTING NOTES.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 November 1917, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

RACING AT FLEMING-TON. BIPLANE'S DERBY. Australian papers to hand by a re cent mail brings details of the racing on the first two days of the V.R.C. Meeting. Some news regarding the Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup will no doubt be appreciated by New Zealand followers of the sport. Writing in the Sydney "Referee," "Pilot" says: — The Derby field was the smallest since F.J.A. beat four other runners in

1903, and this time tlie race was considered little more than a match between Biplane and Bronzetti. Sydney form scarcely gave the latter a good chance of beating the New Zealand representative, but his Caulfield Cup victory, in conjunction with the reports concerning his wonderful improvement, led many to believe he would turn the tables on liis A.J.C. conqueror. I had a good look at him, ancl he appeared much bigger and brighter than when racing at Randwick. In his stall he was as unconcerned as an old stager. It was not so with Biplane, who was sweating and inclined to be excited. The latter's trainer walked down to Bronzetti's stall to inspect him, and could not help commenting on the difference in temperament of the two colts. The lad in charge of Bronzetti remarked: "I suppose it's all over, Mr Mason?" meaning, of course, that Biplane would win. This drew from the latter's trainer the reply: "No, I don't think that," and then he added: "Ive been too long at it to think anything certain in racing." Biplane at first evinced disinclination to go up the lane leading to the weighing enclosure, but afterwards paraded quietly enough.

The favourite did a very easy preliminary, while Bronzetti, though shaken up, moved rather short. The others all went down nicely, and many of the spectators delivered themselves to the effect that Broken Glass was as good-looking as anything in the field. There was no delay at the post, and the race calls for little description from the time Biplane took charge leaving the straight. He did not pull as much as I anticipated, and Deeley contented himself with keeping his mount about a length and a half in front of Pah King and Bronzetti for the last six furlongs, but a furlong further on he let him slide along in earnest, with the result that, from going comfortably in his wake, Pah King and Bronzetti were quickly being hard ridden to keep resonably close to him. However, Biplane increased his lead to three lengths, which Bronzetti reduced when he passed Pah King rounding the turn. Momentarily there seemed a possibility of Bronzetti making a race of it, but when fairly on the road home it was apparent ho did not possess the slightest chance of troubling Biplane, who was fairly bounding along. Bronzetti had run himself out at the furlong post, and was then passed by Prince Viridis, who, though he finished well, could not make any impression on Biplane, and the latter was easing up when ho passed the post a four-lengths winner in time that equalled the previous record for the race-—Beragoon's 2min 35Jsec.

Bronzetti tired very much at the end, and though Dempsey rode him light out, lie was worried out of third place by Broken Glass a few strides from the winning-post. Pah King also died away, and in really good company a mile and a quarter is, as yet, probably the length of his tether. Prince Viridis confirmed the opinion held by most of us earlier in the season that he was the best of the Sydney threo-vear-olds, and, though not nearly up to the standard of Biplane, he is a good, game colt.

Thc win was received in a manner that must have been flattering to Mr (>. D. Greenwood and It .Mason. Prior to Saturday, November 3rd, the latter had not raced a horse at Flemington siiiL-. he won there with Medallion and Scots Grey as far back as 1890. In .187-1 he rode Lurline in the Melbourne Cup. There are few important races in Now Zealand of which ho has not trained the winner several times over, and prior to Biplane lie pulled off the A.J.C. Derby with Noctuiform. There is no doubt Biplane presented a much more seasoned appearance than in Sydney, where at the commencement of the A.J.C. Meeting his trainer told me he had been forced to hurry his preparation more than he liked. Any doubts he had concerning Biplane's staying ability should now be dispelled, and one cannot help thinking what a good thing the Caulfield Cup would have been for the colt with the 7st 71b at which he was weighted.

A proposal to present 1000 aeroplanes to the Imperial Government was discussed at a meeting of the executive of the Cliristchurch Overseas Club. Mr Ranger, the chairman, said he had cabled to America to ascertain if the aeroplanes could be manufactured there, but he had not yet received a reply. The opinion was expressed that New Zealand could do more to win the war by presenting 1000 aeroplanes than by sending Second Division reservists to the front. The secretary was instructed to call a special meeting of the executive after receiving replies from America. Representatives of the meat trade in Otago and Southland frankly say that the Napier message is a puzzle to them, and convoys no definite information cither about the alleged operations of the American Meat Trust or about ex-

act prices in Hawke's Bay for stock. Several statements in the message from the North are considered to be somewhat ridiculous (says the Dunedin "Star"). This refers particularly to the suggestions that the Trust's representatives are purchasing week-old calves at £7 per head before they are weaned, and are being compelled to buy mutton, although they really do not want it, in order to negotiate sales of cattle. It is thought that the ordinary business transactions in the North at this time of the year have been mistaken for sinister operations on the part of the Meat Trast. It is pointed out that in the North Island in the spring time there is such ia rush of grass that pastoralists have to buy cattle from the rough country to eat the grass down until it is fit for sheep feeding. If this is not done the grass becomes rank, and the sheep develop many troubles, especially scouring and lungworm. To avoid this cattle are frequently bought at very high prices, and are put to «rass. Later these cattle are sold, as opportunity offers, at suitable prices. So it is thought in the South that ordinary speculators in Hawke's Bay have merely been following the usual practice at this time of the year.