SPORTING.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 April 1918, Page 4

SPORTING.

DESERT GOLD IN AUSTRALIA. 'ln the decision of the Autumn Stakes at Randwick on Saturday last Desert Gold once again demonstrated her great brilliancy over a mile and ahalf. The cabled account of the race shows that Desert Gold had eleven opponents in the Autumn Stakes, and that she ruled a strong favourite. How well the New Zealand mare justified the confidence reposed in her ability to win is to be found in the fact that she was always in the van, and clearing right away from her opponents when it came to a race home from the distance, she won by four lengths in the fast time of 2m 335. To-day Desert Gold claims a brace of weight-for-age engagements in the All-Aged Stakes (one mile), and Cumberland Stakes (two miles). It would seem pretty safe to conclude that the AllAged Stakes will be the race selected for Desert Gold to contest to-day, and her meeting with Cetigne in the mile race will arouse very keen interest, for the New South Wales horse is on all hands accorded a place with the most noteworthy performers over that particular distance. In the event of Desert Gold being in a position to reproduce her best form yesterday afternoon —and everything seems to point that way—"the bonny mare from New Zealand" can be depended upon to set Cetigne a task that will be quite up to the standard of any of tho celebrated contests that have eventuated at Randwick. DESERT GOLD RETURNING. Received 11. 5. SYDNEY, this day. Desert Geld returns to New Zealand immediately. The Sydney Sun's sporting critic says Desert Gold has proved herself one of the best racehorses ever raced in Australasia. The total of her winnings is £21,272, which is £l4B ahead of Cetinge's. Her time in the All-Aged Stakes was l£secs outside of the record. ' '