SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 112, 1 November 1911, Page 3

SPORTING.

TUKF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Auckland Racing Club's spring meeting will open at EUerslie to-day, and will be concluded on Saturday. The various handicaps promise to draw exceptionally large fields and should provide excellent sport. The presence of Miss Winsome is no doubt responsible for the poor field engaged in the Great Northern Guineas, the race being considered only a walk-over for the speedy daughter of Soult and Winsome. Pleiades, Royal Arms. Crown Pearl, and Highden have paid up for their engagements at EUerslie to-day, and as the New Plymouth horses are* reported to be m good fettle, their running will be watched with interest.

| The Wanganui trainer. A. Jackson, took Coromandel and Taft through to Auckland last week. Coromandel raced prominently at the Wanganui meeting and has come on a lot since then. Taft won at Waverley and in consequence will be required to put up albs extra, making Ids weight 7st Clbs in the Short* Handicap. The pair will carry a lot of Wanganui money to-day. The Referee describes the Caulfield Cup as a one-horse race. Lady Medallist started a warm favorite in a field of sixteen, and as there was a lot of bumping at the bends in the first mile Jocko v Barnett took her to the front in the last half-mile, which she cut out in 50seeonds, and the mare stayed 'it out in' great style, finishing full of running. She was cut about a 'little in the race, but. her ' injuries are not considered serious.

The wonderful Jack Delaval is hitting out very freely at Ellerslie, and will probably find most admirers when the field goes. to the post for the Shorts Handicap. Mahinga won the first division of the 14.2 Handicap a,t Kensington last week, and divided the stakes. Ihe ex-Auck-lalidcr was confidently supported by her party.

A smart crowd will sport silk in the Auckland City Handicap. Antoinette appears to have thrown off her soreness, arid she is a hard one to beat when ready. B. Deeley will ride Soultoria, and that horse should have a good following. Santa Rosa, First Wairiki and Coromandel arc also very fit, so a good race seems imminent.

Interest is becoming more evident in the New Zealand Cup as the days go on, and the final payment, which is due today, may shed further light on Saturday's problem. So far Prim has been going as well as anything at headquarters, and Los Angelos appears to be in good trim. Training gallops this week may help the punters in making their final selections.

When the mail left Sydney Comedy King was quoted favorite" for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup, and it looks as if last year's champions, Comedy King and Trafalgar, will carry most money next week Cadonia and Jaeamar have been well supported for the race, but the public—the untiring good old general public—are going "all out" on the firstnamed pair. Master William, a maiden candidate, has been galloping and jumping in good style at Ellerslie recently. The famous mare Apology, who won the Oaks and St. Lcger in 1874, was bred and raced by a clergyman, who adopted the nom de course of "Mr. Launde," and the victories of the daughter of Adventure, which were numerous, were always received with additional acclamation on account of her particular ownership. ""Sir. Launde" has an Australian equivalent—only as a breeder, however —in the Rev. J. Campbell, of New South Wales, owner of that good but unlucky cftlt Antonius, who as. a three-year-old had the misfortune to bump up against' Poseidon. The reverend gentleman who! bred and owned Antonius has since gained the distinction of breeding the! Debutant Stakes winner Golden Gaunt-: let. This filly was submitted to thej hammer at the' last autumn sales at llandwiek, but the reserve of 200gns not: being forthcoming, she was passed in. Golden Gauntlet was subsequently leased, but she still remains the property of her breeder.