SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 242, 6 October 1908, Page 3

SPORTING.

A.J.C. SPRING MEETING. MOOLTAX WINS THE METROPOLITAN. Received 5, 5.50 p.m. Sydney, Monday. I.here was beautiful weather to-day for the meeting, which was largely attended. Results:— Shorts.—Soultline 1, lolaire 2, Malt-lu-se 3. Sixteen starters. Soultline led >«to the straight, and below the distance had everything beaten easily. >i on by two lengths. Time, lmin 12'/+ see (an Australian record for the distance).

, w Stakes.—Lord Nolan 1, Vavasoi 2, lerkco 3. There were seven starters "°n easily. Time, lmin u4%scc. Metropolitan. Mooltnn i, Peru 2, Maranui 3. The non-starters were Lord Nolan, Montrose, and Kvalin. A Rood start was effected. Passing the stand Monobcl, Proportion, aud Lady Wilde headed the lield, and leaving the straight .uonobul and Proportion were clear of Lady Wilde and Fitzroy. Reaching the mile Eric went to the front from Monubel and Proportion and maintained a lead of a couple of lengths. Kyead«et!e and Plimder fell between the six "and seven furlong posts. At live furloiys I roportion joined Erie, and at the ha'fmile Erie, Proportion, ami Moiioijel I

were in podHession. Tlii s order was maintained round the bend. Eric and I roportion were first into the straight flow Mooitan and Maranui, with Peru coming fast. Below- the distance Mooitan shot- out in grand style, winning by two lengths, Peru tha-e! lengths ii'om Maranui. Cros s Battery was never prominent. Steeplechase. Pilot 1, Confederate 2, 7™ 3 - Thirteen starters. Pilot .ed all the way a ud won by three lengths. Tune, simn 4see. Breeders' Plate.-Zulika led to the straight and then ran right awav winning by half-a-dozen lengths. ' Time lmin Isec. Squatters' Handicap. War Star ] Heiro 2, Claydon 3. Ten starters. Won by a length. Time, 2min B%sec. RACING IN AUSTRALIA. Melbourne, October o. Piiik 'Un won the October Stake at Flemmgton, easily disposing of Tulkeroo and Lord Desmond.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Tlie Hawke's Bay spring meeting opens to-morrow (Wednesday). Aborigine lias been withdrawn from the King Edward Handicap.

Grenadier is rapidly regaining his Australian form, and should be about ready when the Stewards' Handicap comes up for decision in November. The well-known Auckland gelding Putty was injured s 0 badly at llorshom (Vie.) recently that he liad to be destroyed. Putty scored in the Auckland Cup with 7.8, but only won once out of sixteen starts in the Commonwealth. Ex-New Zealand horseman L. Hewitt has steered thirteen winners out of IS!) mounts this season in the Old Dart. That is very different to when the brilliant little Xew iealander wag riding for the late G. G. .Stead a few seasons ago.

TlTe juniper Cachuea, who lias dont no good since going to New South Wales, has been thrown out of work again owing to going wrong. Australian files record the fact tli it Mr. Dan O'Brien's inare Heriot has foaled a full sister to Multifid. ''What will win the New Zealand Cup?" -was a question hurled at Nadia", the While Mahatma, at the TheaMe Royal one night last week. The lady in question guaranteed to answer any questions, including those relating to racing, and it was certain that some sport would test her ability on the big race. Her very guarded reply wa.s: "1! would advise the questioner to back the top-weight," and the tip was duly noled down by the large concourse of punters present. And what a ridiculous tiling it was! Surely no one in their senses could imagine for one moment that Nadine could "spot" winners! .Why, if she had that desirable power she would not be wasting her time on the stage. She would be following the meetings and playing it "all up on the next," etc. Which reminds me oi the Howard Bros., who caused such a great sensation wh\n they first appeared in Auckland a few years ago. They were truly remarkably and nothing seemed to be beyond tlieir ]>owers to "pick," but they very carefully barred all matters relating to horse-racing, One individual, I remember, questioned them as to whether lie would win or lose over the forthcoming Auckland Cup, and they told him ne would lose. So lie stayed home on the day of the races and chopped wood or painted the backyard fence or something, being quite determined that 're would not lose. And when he opened the paper next morning lie saw that he had "picked" every winner, and as it turned out he had lost money by stopping away from the meeting." The •Howard Bros, turned up at Ellerslie one j race day and a large crowd of eager punters followed them all over the course to "see what they were backing," but the Howards had nary a bet—they knew too. much. And after all, Nadine'* i "lip"' was the same stereotyped "topweight" gag. Had she been questioned as to the name of the top-weight she might have had to do some mo;e "guessing"!