SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 30, 1 March 1909, Page 3

SPORTING.

V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. SOULTLINE \VIXS THE NEWMARKET. [By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright.] Received 27. f1.30 p.m. Flemiiigton, February 27. Ihe threatening weather disappeared >y the time the first race was run aim bright sunshine prevailed. The trick was heavy owing to the rain through the week. IV Newmarket Handicap supplied a most exciting finish. The Now Zealandd' SoulOine, on weighin" in looked fit to continue the struggle Pines Hurdle Race—Aringa 1° Kia Ora fi, Alert Dream 3. Won easily. Time 6111111 4i'/ 2 sec.

St. Legcr Stakes-Even Time 1, Golden Gate 2, Monobel 3. Three others started. Trafalgar was leading at the abattoirs. Golden Gate made „ fast run past the field and led into the straight, when Even Time came out and won by a long meek, a head between second and third. Time, 3min S'/.scc. NEWMARKET HANDICAP, a sweeostake of 25 sovs. each, with 1000 sov's. added; second 200 sovs. and third 100

sovs. out of the stake; six furlongs. S. P. Mackay's b g Soultline, syrs, 10.3 (including 101b pen.), Soul't— Castorline) .. 1

W. Gerard's b g Dunolly, syrs, 0.13 ■>. J. Johnston's br g Irishman. 7.13 (including 101b pen.) 3 All started. Soultline took the lead at the half-distance, Dunolly challenging on the outside, and Irishman taking part in the struggle, holding his own, amidst intense excitement. Soultline, straining every nerve, beat Dunolly by half a neck. Irishman was a neck away third, the next coming being Parscc. Sires' Produce Stakes—.Mala 1, Barm 2, Apple Pic 3. Other starters: Manaua, IPhyladid and Kuringai. Mala won all the way by six lengths. Time, Imin 16sec.

ESSENDON STAKES, a sweepstake ol 10 sovs. each, with 750 sovs. added; one mile and a-half; weight-for-age. H. Power's b c Pendil, 3yrs (Bobadil —Penitence) 1

G. R Moore's br h Signor, 4yrs .. 2 T. A. Harris' c'h m Neith, 4yrs ~ 3 Won by two -lengths; a length between second and third. Brunswick Stakes—Scddon 1, Yabba Gabba 2, Jack Smith 3. Won by three lengths, with a length between second and third. Time, 2min 39sec. SOOTH AUCKLAND RACES. FIRST DAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hamilton, February 2G. Fine weather prevailed for tlie first day's racing of the South Auckland Racing Club, a good number of people being in attendance. Results:— -Hurdle Handicap—Mozart 1, Okaihau 2. The only two to finish. Mark Timo fell at the second Hurdle and had to bo destroyed. The rider, Deerey, was conveyed to the hospital. Trial Handicap—Zinnia 1, Field Marshall 2, Frau'licn 3.

■South Auckland Cup—Carmania 1, Aristocrat 2, Rimloek 3. Seven started. Won by half a length. Time, 2min 9sec. First Steeplechase—(Post Haste 1, Laddie 2. The only two to finish. Mawhiti fell.

Claudelands Handicap—Dogger Bank 1, Misstimc 2, Uranium 3.

District Hack Race—Tattoo 1, Leo Grand 2, Totika 3. I Flying Handicop—Dogger Bank 1, Griidle 2, Hikuaia 3. SECOND DAY. Hamilton, Last Night. Fine weather was experienced for the second day of the South Auckland R.C. meeting, and the attendance was large. Results:—

County Handicap—Tattoo l, Leo Grand 2, WaiotaM 3. Won by two lengths. Shorts Handicap—Hohugatailii 1, Hikuai 2, Grizelle 3. Won by a length and a half. Waikato Handicap—Wauchope 1, St. Tuit 2, Explosive 3. Won by a neck. Time, lmin 42 l-ssec. Publicans' Purse—iKcepstep 1, Frontiuo 2, Misatime 3. Won by a clear length. Second Steeplechase—Mozart 1, Post Haste 2, Laddie 3. Hamilton Handicap—Hikuai I, Rosewood 2, Tarina 3. Won by hali a length. Farewell Handicap—Dogger Bank 1, Explosive 2, Positive 3. Won by a nose.

DUNEDIN AUTUMN MEETING. CONCLUDING DAY. Dunedin, Saturday Night. The Dunedin J.C. autumn meeting was concluded to-day in perfect weather. There was a large attendance and the course was in splendid order. Fourteen bookmakers were licensed, and 15741 put through the machine, an increase of £713 10s on the third day of the last autumn meeting. Results:— Owliero Hurdles, of 115 sovs., one mile and a-half—Snip 12.9, 1; Truthful 9.0, 2; Grosvenor 9.0, 3. Also started: Storm. Won by a good length. Time, 2mi-.i 54 2-.>ser.

Flying Handicap, of 125 sovs., five furlongs—Advantage 7.7, I j San Sev.n'o 8.12, 2; Imaginary 7.3, 3. Also started: All Guns, Lady Orizoin, Lupulite, Loftus, Octave, Gold Dredge, and Bencform. W<iii by a head. Time, lmin fl 2-ssee.

Warrington Hack Handicap, of 100 sovs., five furlongs—Effort 10.11, 1; Spinning Flight 8.13, 2; Count Gorton 8.3, 3. Also started: Vologda, Jessie Lewars, Optional, Sacha, StrathftUan, Knnius, Wayfarer, Nipul, and Grand View. Won by six lengths. Time, lmin Itoec.

Anniversary Handicap, of 200 sovs., one mile—Czar Kolohol 9.4, 1; Apolodoris 7.5, 2; Rose Noble 8.5, 3. Also started: Valdimar, Tranui, White Cockade, Jack Ashore. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 53sec. Hopeful Handicap, of .100 sovs., five furlongs—Scotch Plaid 8.10, 1, Cyml'iform 0.10, 2; Caspian 8.13, 3. Also started: Pedometer. Won by a long neck. Time, lmin 4sec. Abbotsfoni Welter, of 110 sovs., six furlongs—Zetland 7.12, I; Ard ReighO.B, 2; Capon 7.13, 3. Also started: Petrovna, l-oftus, Erskine, Eous, Chief Loehiel, Lone Star, Gold Dredge, Count Gorton and Radium. Won by threequarters of a length. Time, lmin 12 1-5 sec. Waihola Hack Handicap, of 100 sovs., five furlongs—Liza 7.13. 1; Miss Gal 8.0, 2; Inchbonny 7.5, 3. Also started: Kostroma, Sly Lawyer, Lady Ronald, Little 'Medallist, Jewel Case, Landlord, Soberside, Peak, Seaside and Nightlight. Won by two lengths. Time, •lmin 2 4-oscc.

Wingatui Handicap, of 120 sovs., seven furlongs—Dabchick 7.11, 1; Heirloom 7.0, 2; Cuirosettia 7.11. 3. Also started: Lady Disdain, Truganini and Eous. Won by a length. Time, lmin 29sec.

OPtXAKE NOMINATIONS. The following 'entries have been received for the Opunakc annual meeting, which takes place on Starch 17th:— Handicap Hurdles—Golden Glow, Flying West. Toddy, and Black Cat. Flying Handicap—Whana, Tom, Glen, Inaha, Lady Heroine, Hydraulic, Noifa, Lady Finclla and Burton. Handicap Trot—Rothschild Lad, Nancv Tell, Slisfortune, Golden Rose, Lord Lincoln, Rutland, Craigoruskcy, Nettlewood, Oil King, Messenger Girl, Irene, Pearlie Maid, Jack W., Slyirc, Paritulu, Anstev, Lillian, Anniversary, il'lain Bill, Harold Abdallah, Major, Election, Cavalier, Mongapo, Pukuiti, Taranot, The Insect. Opunakc Handicap—Shining Star, Kilmarnock. Bismarck, Recreation, Maidi, Paul, Royal Youngster and Billow. Welter Handicap-Golden Glow, Forward, Tom, Glen, Bismarck, Recreation, Wuihapa, Toddy, Paul, Burton, .Magic and Southron. St. Patrick's Handicap—Shining Star, Bismarck and Billow.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") That there is something in the saying that weight doesn't stop a good horse when he's well and the money's on was amply proved by Suullline's gilt-edged victim- in this year's Newmarket Handicap.' Willi 9s't 111b against his name it was generally considered thai the bav sou of the tilenora Park sire Soult was well steadied, and when the flying Miiorihiiulcr earned the full penalty of lOlbs his chance oi' success appeared even more remote. For lOst 81b was considered a safe anchor for a Newmarket Handicap candidate. Never in the history o'f the race had such a crushing impost been carried into first, second or third only on tlireo occasions had a higher weight than Bst 121bs been landed first past the post. These were: Bungebah 9.3, in 1891; Fortunatus 9.2. in 1893; and' Pendant 9.7, in 1900. Looking through the records of thirty-six Newmarket Handicaps one finds that Boz's l.Ost lib was the heaviest load carried into a place, which was away back in 1800. Carbine failed with '8.12, Advance with 9.11, and a host of other New Zealand champ-' >ns struck disaster in the big ■ Flemhigcon sprint event, and one can realise what a speedy customer Soultline really is io 'have finished in front of ml. a big

held 01 Australia's best. The course was heavy, the cable tells us, but the .New Zealandor could- have gone on, 30 in was he. Soultline stands out as ono oi the strongest arguments against early racing, lie was not started as a two- J year-old, and only faced the barrier on two occasions- at 3 years.

Ihe first race that fell to the son of Soult was the llobson Handicap at the Auckland spring meeting in 1907, the six furlongs being left behind in 1.15. Soultliiic carried Bst 7-lb and won by three lengths. A few days later he won the Norinaiiby Handicap, seven furlongs with »,7 up, by four lengths in 1.29. Prior to the Auckland April meeting last year Soultline electrified the ('Hits by -reeling ol!' six furlongs in "IS'/a," it is stated, and in the Easter Handicap he made the pace terrific to the straight, but failed ill the run home, Cold Crest doing the 1.40 for the mile No win. After finishing third in - the Huia Handicap at the same meeting, he wtis taken across to Australia. His victories-ucross the Tasnian Sea arc too well known to need recounting, but his three brilliant performances this February, in the St. -George's Stakes (nine furlongs), Caullicld Futurity Stakes (seven furlongs), and Newmarket Handicap place him in a class of his own as the champion '.Strailasian Sprinter. Soultline is engaged in the All-aged Stakes (one mile) to-day. The forward running of Signor in the Esscndou Stakes should cause the Pilgrim's Progress horse to harden for the Australian Cup, to be run on Wednesay. Signor ran sulliciently well en Saturday to show tlmt he is in splendid form, and as staying is the Maoriland er's forte, the longer journey should suit him better. Signor figures amongst the entries for the Loch Plate (two miles) run this afternoon. Another Auckland-bred horse, and » half-brother to Soultline, in Grenadier, scored in the Brunswick Stakes. The cable does not mention Golden Slipper's showing in the Newmarket, and as she was galloping well in tho earlier part of last week she evidently •raced and finished in the inglorious ruck.

Recreation has been showing good track form during the week and there appears to be every prospect of the old fellow being- fit to do himself justice at Wauganui on Thursday. Paritutu is galloping well and is a certain starter in the Wanganui Cup. Waihuka and Golden Eagle have been breaking tho watches on tie local course lately, the former showing to most advantage and he will catch a good race shortly. The Handicap Trot at Opunake has drawn a splendid entry, but nominations for the gallops are. very poor. Wauganui acceptances are hardly creditable to the handicapper. The Cup field will haTdly number more than a dozen, which is a poor response for such a good stake. (Paritutu and Uhlando remained in, but can hardly be reckoned a dangerous pair. Master Delaval is l back to his best form and is galloping like a machine., 'Another brace of double hurdle-winners may be recorded—Snip at Dunedin and Mozart and Hamilton.

Golden Loop and Het Volk arc unlike, ly starters at Danncvirke, and will probably make their first appearance at the Taranaki autumn meeting.