DUAL BETWEEN AMATEURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 61, 3 June 1927, Page 10

DUAL BETWEEN AMATEURS

RIDERS OF TOWN GUARD AND BRANSON IN CARBINE PLATE There is one event on the cards for amateur riders to-morrow, and already it is arousing the keenest interest. This is the Carbine Plate, the field for which will not be announced until the acceptances are due at 9 o’clock to-night. Quite a good lot of hacks figure in the entries, notably Alonsoa, Branson, Killute, Kyngzone, Llandudno, Modest Boy, Red Comet, Sir Kay, Tinokoa and Town Guard, and with most of these said to be certain starters, it is on the cards that the race will develop into a strenuous contest as between both horses and riders. BETWEEN TWO Rightly or wrongly, it is already being looked forward to as a match

between two horses, Town Guard and Branson. The former promises to be a very hot favourite, fc*ut many of these allegedly good things have come undone in gentlemen riders’ events, and not always has it been the fault of the horsemen themselves. To-morrow Brandson will attempt to concede four pounds to Town Guard, and the majority of the sporting fraternity present will march up to the totalisator with their' pounds and say that he can’t do it. Perhaps they will be right, perhaps wrong. We shall see. In the meantime it is interesting to speculate on the chances of these two good horses. AMATEUR PILOTS Mr. S. Howard has been engaged to ride Town Guard, and there is no doubting his ability at handling horses. He has not done a great deal of it lately, and that is where at least one of his opponents will have it on him. The chief of these is Mr. J. Morris, and he will be on Branson, so it can be seen at once that the issue will probably be fought out between his mount and the favourite, Town Guard. The crowd like to have a fling at the amateurs when they do their preliminary for the event, but with the two horsemen mentioned there should be little cause for these demonstrations, for it will be acknowledged that they ride almost as good as the majority of professionals, taking into consideration their weight, which effectually precludes them from being so light in the saddle as their professional conferes. GOOD RECORDS Both Messrs. Morris and Howard have splendid records in the Carbine Plate, and the prospect of another duel such as took place between them three years ago in this event, when Polonett (Mr. Howard) and Spoony (Mr. Morris) fought out a great dead heat, will be duly appreciated. Mr. Howard has the following record in the Carbine Plate: 1923, won on Kahikatea; 1924, dead heat on Polonett with Spoony, as stated above; 1925, second on Cureaform. Last year the Carbine Plate ’ was open to hurdle riders only. Even better is Mr. Morris’s record in the race. This is as follows:—1921, won on Festivity; 1922, third bn Birkenella; 1923, unplaced on The Curragh; 1924, dead heat with Polonett; 1925, won on Serene. So it will be seen that Mr. Morris has a much better record than his confrere. Who will win to-morrow?

OWNER OF CALL ROY WINS FORTUNE

SHARED CALCUTTA SWEEP By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Wednesday. TT is estimated that 500,000 witnessed the Derby and that £3,000,000 changed hands. The “Daily Telegraph” states that, in addition to the stake of £12,000, the owner of Call Boy, Mr. F. Curzon, possessed half a share in the Calcutta sweep and half a share in the Stock Exchange sweep, amounting to £BO,OOO and £75,000, respectively. The paper says it is not an exaggeration to say his winnings amounted to £200,000. The homeward traffic from Epsom on Derby Day was most spectacular. Vehicles followed each other in procession for miles and took five hours to cover the journey to London. There were several accidents. One woman was driving a car, the windscreen of which was shattered. A piece of glass cut an artery in her thigh, and she died as a result. —A. and N.Z.