SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 291, 3 May 1911, Page 7

SPORTING.

i TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Following close on the heels of the Wellington meeting, the Marlborough Racing Club's autumn gathering, which opens to-day, has attracted a good number of the horses which sported silk at Trentham last week, and in consequence this year's meeting should be rather more "toney" than usual. The presence of Equitas, Merrie Zealand, Tumut and other good horses gives the gathering more than purely local interest. The Marlborough Cup was initiated 'way back in 1875, and many good horses have had their names enscrolled as winners. It is only natural that the "father of the Turf" in New Zealand, Mr. H. Redwood, always had a good hoTse for the cup, and his colors were borne to victory by Norseman, Masthead, Peri and Awarita Rose, while a relative of his, Mr. C. Redwood, won with Rata (twice), Refrigerator and Fay. Lady Medallist won the race last year in 2miii 9sec., the fastest time recorded since , the distance was cut down to a mile and a quarter iri : 1902. This year's cup has drawn fourteen horses—four good ones and ten moderates. If Equitas goes to the post she will command a big following, and on Trentham form Gunboat may have to be reckoned with. The minor events have filled well,, and promise to provide interesting racing.

The "boodle" was well distributed at Wellington meeting, eight owners gathering in more than £IOO apiece. Stead Bros, won with Bandeira and Khamsin, and head the list with £582. Woodhey and Formby lifted Ormond's winnings to £445, and in one swift scoop Mr J. Bull mopped up £4OO with Equitas. Danube's soft victory in the St. Leger meant £340 for Mr. G. D. Greenwood, and Mr. E. J. Watt's share was £215. Far down the list are Messrs. T. F. Goddard (£45) and J. Smith f£10). Master Sylvia went down to Trentham a credit to his trainer; He was as fit as hands could make him. And how the public rushed Mr. Smith's horse! He was sent out favorite each day, and his party was sanguine of success. But how these "good things" come undone! In the Tinakori Handicap the horse was well buried in the ruck until the field straightened up for the run home. Allurement, Makara, Turna and St. Bees were all ahead of him, and it was a great race home. Ayres was hard at work on the Taranaki horse at the dis'tance and he responded with the gamest rilsh imaginable. Allurement and Makara were passed in a flash, and he gained rapidly on the flying leaders. Irt the last hundred yards he tore over the ground at a fearful bat, and was with Turna and St. Bees as they flashed past the box. A stride past the post Master Sylvia showed well clear, but the effort had been too late. Turna had landed the stake by a nose, and the favorite was a head away, third.

The fag-end of the flat-racing season spells disaster to the punter, and last week's Trentham gathering saw morals and "sure things" viewing the finishes from rear positions. With the exception of My Lawyer and Danube—and the latter wasn't worth backing at the price —favorites shaped ingloriously. The' defeats of Wimmera and Formby on Friday must have cost bettors no end of good money, and Cheddar and Obsono on the following day ran miles below their Riccarton form, to the consternation of their armies of backers. Locally, Mastei 1 Sylvia's defeats spelt disaster in great big letters, and generally sportsmen will look back at the Trentham meeting with anything but pleasant re,co]le<rtidns. The crack two-year-old of last seadbn, Formby, despite his utter failures this 1 season, was heavily supported for the Railway Handicap. But it was the favorites' 'tlhlucky day. Formby did hot 1 get away any too smartly, and although running on strongly at the death, lie could do ho fetter than third. With firmer going-and the same weight in the Suburban Handicap the bay colt was practically' neglected, six other horses claiming ' better support. And 'then thing 9 happened which caused the punters' ettj> of sbrrow to run right over and spill into 'the adjoining section. Formby jissumcd' the lead before the straightwas 'Veatfhed, and just squeezed home from'tlie'rankest outsider of the field-" }yimniera : ;' ! another outsider in the-' shape'.Of' Tumut was a close third, art'd the fiWorltes were blowing their heads off down the course.

. (Royal Artillery—Curfew Bell) Upset a warm order -Jn Cliffords : bracketed ' pair in the North'! Island ' Challenge Stakes. Sportsmen' have' short memories, and few remembered the colt's brilliant turn of speed in {hie Challenge Stakes at Ricearton recently. He <v*is left standing; at the post there; ' lwV s-ticfciii* gamely to his task;- had run Up to the leader, Counterfeit, at the distaAiifcj" arid but' for the extra effort would have kept the Chokebore candidate'moving over the last bit of that ' journey'. At Trenlham he was jnore fortunate, and before the rider of Madam Madcap was aware of it, was lengths ahead of anything. The young; ster was sure to come back to them, and' nothing Uiattered! Once in the straight' Madam Madcap set sail after the leader, ' but seven or eight lengths is a lot to make Up in a couple of furlongs, and when the judge's box' was reached the little-fancied' colt had a good half-length advantage. It is useless to talk of what should ; have won —Bandeira was first and the rest nowhere, from a betting point of' view. No one will deny that Woodhey's favorite distance is a mile and a quarter. but few expected that the daughter of Birkenhead would start one of the rank outsiders in the Thompson Handicap (one mile). Row she got awa'y badly and ran worse, eventually finishing last, is ancient history. Hut aftqr C'hedditr, nothing was backed better in the. Autumn Handicap the next day. Form was no guide at the meeting, and Woodhev was destined to break all records. She was one of the last to leave the mark; ran on the extreme outside all the way; and in a slashing finish beat everything for pace, and landed the stake. Such things are unaccountable, and but for the magie name of Ormond —which stands for fair running always—people would be inclined to say hard things, and not without cause. The Taranaki horseman, IT. Gray, rode three winners (Khamsin, Silver Bullet and Danube) at the meeting;; while F. Flynn and Luke Wilson eacli piloted a brace. Flynn rode Siinray, 1 winner of both hurdle races. Penates changed hands after the Canterbury meeting, and is now in R. McDonald's stable at Mosgicl. His new owner, Mr. W. Gardiner, paid 300 guineas for the son of Ruenalf. BobrikolT is doing easy work, and all going well will be given a pipe-opener at the Hawkc's Bay meeting. The champion three-year-old. Danube, was verv short of work at Trentham, and pulled np lame after the St. Lcger. It is stated that he will never stand another preparation. Mira, runner-up to Danube, is a full brother to Iranni (Soult—Taifhei), and will probably start in the Maiden at, Hastinffs. His dam, the grey Tauhei, has given many good horses to the Turf in New Zenland. Stated that Paißano is to be reserved fr" the Great Northern Hurdles. Which

is a quiet tip for" the handicapper, some will say!

Northern critics are apt to scoff at their southern contemporaries' enthusiasm for the black horse, My Lawyer. He was never sighted in the Thompson Handicap, but against a weaker field he made an exhibition of his opponents on the second day. ,Mj Lawyer is evidently "class," Considering how few genuine stayers there were engaged in the AvondaU Handicap on Saturday, Sedition's hand some dividend came as a surprise to most people. It is seldom that Deeley'i mounts pay such a price on a northern course.

Paritutu was strongly supported for the Hurdle Race at Avondale, but the lightweights, Taiaha and Master William, made the pace too sultry for the veteran, and he could only finish fourth. Taiaha was ridden by Julian, and has had a good run of luck at the smaller meetings lately. John has been tried at the illegitimate game, and his jumping has encouraged his party to nominate him for the Great Northern Hurdles. Albert Jackson badly wants a win, and John is just about the most unlucky horse racing. Red Lupin has paid up for the Flying at Blenheim, but will have to travel fast to keep with Tumut, Mon Ami and Co. Expansion has run no end of ■"seconds" at the West Coast meetings, and is evidently a gone coon. Mr. Sid Pitt's Glcnfern is engaged in the Maiden at Blenheim to-day.