SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 177, 5 November 1910, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Nov. 5, 7, 9 and 12—Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan. Nov. 5, 9 and 12—Auckland R.C. Spring. Nov. 9 —Waverley-Waitotara R. C. Annual. If ov> g—Jaratahi-Carterton R.C. Annual. COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. Nov. s—New Zealand Cup. NEW ZEALAND CUP. NOTES BY"I(>TIROA." The flags will be flying at Riccarton to-day. By train, coach, benzine-wag-gon. on horseback and "per foot," thousands of sports of both sexes will be hastening to the old convincing ground. The reason is plain; it stands out like Egmont on a Taranaki landscape—it is Cup Day! The twenty-eighth- race for this valuable mug (filled with 2000 of the best) is due to eventuate this afternoon. There are fourteen acceptors. The tote bell still tinkles blithely. The raucous-voiced odds-merchant is still •without the prison-walls. We have our fancy—our "moral," maybe. Well let us back it while we can—the kill-sports are not on top yet; no fear! The defection of Oiyoi and Husbandman leaves Diabolo at the head of the handicap. The speedy black has come through a solid preparation, and with Bst 31b (in the person of Charlie Jenkins) he must be accounted well treated. Each morning he has galloped brilliantly, and in his winding-up gallop led Sandstream by a length at the end of a twelve furlongs' run in 2.42. Sandstream has had plenty of racing lately, and showed winning form at Greenmeadows last month. E. Lowe was to have ridden him, but, unfortunately, that horseman broke his collarbone When Awha fell at Masterton last week. It is rumored that W. Young will ride the San Fran gelding, and in consequence a big run has set in for him. The money came so fast that on Wednesday many bookmakers had dragged the odds down greatly, and Sandstream was, with them, a better favorite than Diabolo. The latter Shapes better on the tracks, and it is hard to understand this last move in the betting. Taskmaster has been paid up for, and his stable-mate Husbandman allowed to drop out. The latter has been bleeding at the nose the last few mornings, and Taskmaster has always shaped the better of the pair. A. Olliver will ride Clifford's horse, and if the bearer of tht> "blue and gold chequers" remains sound until the winning post is passed he may run well forward. Bridge, on whom H. Gray will manipulate the whalebone, has receded in the betting as the result of one or two sleepy gallops, but he is sure to run a good race with the colors up. Whether he can get to the end of a solidly-run two miles has yet to be shown. Ingoda has been standing up to her work in fine style, and should be one of the fittest in the race. In the New Zealand St Leger Stakes, run over a mile and three-quarters at Trentham in the . autumn, she easily beat Milan in fast time (3min. 2sec.), and her performance at once stamped her as not only a brilliant mare, but a genuine stayer. She should run a good race to-day. Los Angeles (W. Homes) has been boomed for some time past, but I cannot imagine the speedy chestnut going very fast over the last half mile, and the distance will most likely find him out. ~ , . One again Lowiy has paid up for two horses, Merriwa and Cullinan, and probably both will, go to the post. If track form counts for anything, Merriwa is very solid up to a mile and a half, but the hard ground may remind him of his "dicky" foreleg, and his backers are taking a good-sized risk. Anyway, he will have to show improved form to have a chance to-day. Cullinan failed miserably at Trentham, and has few admirers. C. iEmmerson, who piloted Outlander when he scored in the Great Autumn Handicap (iy 2 miles), will have tho mount on the big chestnut the Cup, and they are a good combination. Outlander finished close up in the Wanganui Cup, and was unlucky to get beaten in the Wanganui Stakes, and on these displays must be reckoned amongst the few horses that are sure to run the two miles Tight out. On paper, Martist looks to have a chance, but Sir Antrim, Kopu, Cronstadt and Lawn Rose do not read like probable winners. Kopu (has run a few fair races amongst inferior horses, and will be j ridden by T. O'Brien, but the company looks to* be above him to-day. ( Lawn Rose, I would not back if 1i dreamt her a winner ten nights running. j TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa") ! Canterbury and Auckland meetings to- j day. They say that Diabolo is fit to race for a kingdom. The most talked-of horse this week has been Sandstream. j Maori Kinsr will be ridden by Sid ■Reid in the Stewards' Handicap. Races at Ellerslie look hard to pick. Big fields generally mean big dividends. With Bst 31b top-weight in to-day's Cup, a fast-run race is more than possible. Aborigine and Maori King won the last two Great Northern Guineas for Mr. E. J. Watt. Cheddar will carry the blue jacket to-day. After winning at Gisborne, Continuance was. shipped to Auckland, and will be given a run in hurdle races at Ellerslie. Waverley acceptances are fairly numerous, but there should be some very small dividends if everything is run "on the square" on Wednesday next. Southern punters nearly ruined their eyesight trying to find Oiyoi's name in the New Zealand Cup final payments. 'His defection cost them a _<nodly sum. Penates, or as lads call him—Peanuts —put up a fine gallop over six furlongs on Thursday morning and is sure to run forward at the Canterbury meeting. Emblem will be amongst the runners at Ellerslie, that is, if she leaves the mar. A bad starter would pay a record dividend if there were many of the same mind as this scribe betting on the race. Owners and trainers should note that Waitara nominations close at 9 p.m. to-night, and that the Waitara telegrapli office puts up the shutters at 8 p.r sharp. The full programme is advertised in another column. The complete disaster which overwhelmed Maorilanders in the Mell . -lie Cup caused many sad hearts on Tues-iay night. Wanganui sports went solidly for Lady Lucy, and the pencillers cheer-

} fully took all the money offered. Trust i the' Bar Vons to know when they stand lon velvet!

Bv wav of consolation for their losses, several Webbtown sports are reported to have drawn two big prizes in Tatt's Melbourne Cup sweep. I should imagine a four thousand pounds' cheque would patch up a crack in the heart of an elephant! Since going north Waitapu lias been shaping poorly on the training tracks, and although well down in the weights now, the l-ipsy King gelding does not strike one as a neddy that is due to win at any moment. The old horse must be wondering if they ever spell their racers in Taranaki.

Some speedy sprinters claim engagements in the Shorts Handicap at Ellerslie, and if Miss Winnie, Salute and Turbine face the starter the pace is sure to be fairly torrid from the jump. St. Bill has been paid up for, but the big fellow may find the left-handed course a trifle awkward in his first race or two. and he who runneth wide runneth last or thereabouts, generally speaking. Boanerges, running out wide, was clocked to run six furlongs in 1.17 at Riccarton on Thursday. If the time is right it makes the Highden horse out to be a real flier. The tracks are very fast at Riccarton just now, and 1.14 will probably be hoisted in the Stewards' Handicap to-day. Pierene was all out to beat Miscount at Hastings, and again at Trentham, and a lOlbs penalty on Greenwood's filly should just about bring the pair together. Of the others engaged. Bootle won the Juvenile at Hastings in easy fashion, and Clifford's Masterpiece romped home in his only start last month. Stead Bros, are reputed to have a flier jin Culprit (bv Chariemanga ll Culroy), and altogether this year's Welcome Stakes promise to provide a close and interesting contest. Golden Loop is in amongst the hot cattle at Ellerslie asain. With 0.13 his owner cannot grumble, but it is just a question whether the chestnut is quite good enough for his opponents. On Wanganui running he made many friends, but his form, when well backed, at Otaki was too bad for anything. Trainer R. Barlow has the gelding bright and well, and a win would be well received—in these parts at any rate. The Canterbury Metropolitan meeting will be continued on Monday, but the second day's races at Ellerslie do not take place until Wednesday. Monday will be Derby Day at Riccarton, and the blue riband will not be handed over until Danube, Formby and Co. have shown their paces in what promises to be a very interesting race.