SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 142, 2 November 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. NEW ZEALAND. Nov. 2, 4, 6, 9—Canterbury Jockey Club. Nov. 8, 9—Auckland Racing Club* Nov. 27, 30—Takapuna Jockey Club. Dec. 26, 30 and Jan. 1. 2—Auckland Racing Club. AUSTRALIA. Nov. 2, 5,7, 9—Victoria Racing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. Nov. 2—New Zealand Cup. No. 6—Great Northern Guineas. AUSTRALIA. Nov. 2—V.R.C. Derbj. Nov. s—Melbourne Cup. NEW ZEALAND CUP.

(By "Moturoa.")

Sportsmen require no reminding that the Dominion's premier race, the New Zealand Cup, will be run at Riccarton to-day. For months past the race has been the principal topic. New favorites, like new prophets, have arisen; have had their day, and have gone back to their proper places. Of the sixty-odd weighted, but fourteen still hold their places, but to-day's field does not lack quality, whatever its number may dwindle to. The following are probable starters and their riders:— Vice-Admiral (B. Deeley) 9.1 ! Bronze (A. Olliver) 8.8 ] Undecided (W. Young) 8.4 \ I-ady Lucy (W. Price) 8.1 | Domino (J. O'Shea) 8.0 i Midnight Sun (L. Wilson) ....... 8.0 ] Masterpiece (F.E.Jones) 7.13 Goldfinder (W. Whittaker) 7.9 Soldiers' Chorus (A. Wilson) 7.5 Allegory (C. Cameron) 7.0 Sinapis 6.13 Odessa 6.9 Haskayne (H. Watson) 6.8 Obligant 6.7 The top-weight, Vice-Admiral, is set a big task to win to-day, but he is a good hors'e, has a fine rider, and should be benefited by the racing he has had in Australia. Last year he won with 7.8, and at the same meeting won the Metropolitan Handicap with 8.11, and the Canterbury Cup with 9.0. The New Zealand Cup has never been won by a horse carrying more than 8.9, but the top-weight division have always been "knocking at the door," and it appears to be safe to say that Vice-Admiral will not be far away at the finish to-day. Bronze shaped well at Trentham, but her form this spring does not make her read too well with 8.8. Undecided will probably start favorite, and he is such a-brilliant horse that W. Young should have no trouble in keeping him in a good j position in the earlier stages of the | long race. He won the Wellington Cup J (one and a half miles) in good style, { fairly smothering the opposition in the J straight, and taking into consideration

his victorious efforts at Masterton, and more recently at Trentham he must be a hard horse to beat. Lady Lncy won the New Zealand Cup in. 1909 with 7.1,] and our Fordell friends say she is better i than ever. At Wanganui the mare looked > fairly forward, but she ran the reverse, and most punters would require 'further proof of her return to form before they pledged their under-garments on her. chance. Domino ran fourth in last year's, race, and may be in just about the same position this time. Jockey J. O'Shea is .hardly, experienced enough to get the best out of tlie Auckla'nder in a long race where tactics count most. Midnight Sim has had a lot of racing, but he is a horse of moods, and therefore not much favored. Masterpiece's best performance was his winning effort in the C.J.C. Derby, and his track form at Riccarton has been particularly good of late. Sir Geo. Clifford has never won the race, and his prospects are not the brightest this year. Goldfinder, who will be ridden by his trainer, is the dark horse of the field. It is common property that Goldfinder would be a champion if he could be got really well. Last year he broke down on the eve of the race, but he appears to be standing up to a care,ful preparation this time. Good judges give him a big chance if landed at the post quite sound Of the light-weights Haskayne and Allegory read most dangerous. Soldiers' Chorus is a great horse up to a mile and a quarter, but is so far an unknown quantity over a longer course. • On recent form the horses that should be travelling on fastest at the finish for to-day's New Zealand Cup are Undecided, Vice-Admiral and Haskayne. THE MINOR EVENTS.

Twenty-six horses remain in the Stewards' Handicap, a race generally won .by one of the heavy-weight division. BohrikofF is set a stiff task, and would . . have to be at his best to succeed with 9.8. Brilliant mare as she is, Gipsy Belle does not read uangerous with 8.13. Culprit is in fair nick, and should not be far away at the finish. Crown Pearl has a liking for the Riccarton course, and is not over-weighted. Bon Reve won at Wanganui, and is such a game little fellow that he must be about the hardest one to beat. Blue Lake and Heatherbrae read best of those lower down the list, and Piriwai may be in. a mood to reproduce her best form. The race looks the toughest conundrum of the day, but one would not be surprised to see Bon Reve run prominently. Bollin is reported to be galloping well. and should run well amongst the hurdlers engaged at the meeting. Fashion Plate is another tha* is destined to do big things shortly. Phroso has gone down to Riccarton with a blaze of trumpets, but whether the Wanganui horse will shine with Canute, Ladrone &, Co. will be seen in the Spring Plate (one mile) to-day. The Riccarton Welter has drawn some high-class horses, including Autumnus and Bon Ton, and this pair will probably set a merry pace for some of their less fashionable opponent!. The star weight-for-age race to-day is the Welcome Stakes. So far, two-year-old form points to Mowbray, Nightwatch, Adelicia and Warstep as the most promising youngsters. Mowbray carries a 101b penalty for his Trentham victory, and, taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding that victory, his chance of beating Nightwatch does not look brilliant. Nightwatch went under to War Step at Dunedin, but Riccarton touts are of the opinion that Clifford's colt will reverse positions with the filly to-day. Adelicia is a speedy filly, and is well seasoned. Black Lupin puts up 101b extra in the Ldnwood Handicap, and though he is admitted a good horse many doubt his ability to give 71b to Oxenhope. Mr. Bidwill's horses Vocation and Imagination have developed colds since going down to Riwarton, and Domino is also reported to be far from well. Jockey W. Young will ride Bon Reve in the Stewards' Handicap. So far, no rider has been mentioned for Crown Pearl, the latter's usual pilot, A. 01 liver, being engaged for Ermengarde,