SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 148, 9 November 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. November 9. —Canterbury Metropolitan Meeting. November 9.—Auckland R.C. Spring Meeting. November 20, 21.—Marlborough R.C. November 20, 21.— South Canterbruy November 27, 30— Takapuna J.C. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa." Stead Cup to-day. Concluding day at Riccarton and Ellerslie. Lady Medallist broke down l.adly in the Melbourne Cup. Wtimangu has a nice handy weight in the King Edward Handicap to-day. Rawima was well supported fo'r the Maiden Hurdles on Wednesday, but was never prominent. Len Nodder rode Coromandel and Ngatiruanui, both paying good prices for second place. Lady Lucy toiled in the rear all the way in the Canterbury Cup, and it is about time she was retired for the last time!

Brown Owl took 2min 49sec to win the Oaks on Wednesday. Fashion Plate could have done (better with the hurdles up. The smallest dividend paid for many a month was that of Bleriot in the Great Northern Guineas. As expected the Ally fairly flew in! The favourite, Bon Ton, ran a good race in the Canterbury Cup, but when a couple of miles Had been flung behind the real stayers of the crowd, Goldfinder and Domino, had it all to themselves. The Melbourne Cup winner Piastre is named after a Turkish coin. Nobody took the tip although the Turks have been running well the last few weeks. Merry Roe was a warm order for the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, and led until within 100 yards of the post. She should take some beating over four furlongs to-day. Since winning the New Zealand Cup Luke Wilson has had a big run of luck. On Wednesday he scored on Jason, Haskayne and Goldfinder. Royal Soult signalised his return to form by running all over the opposition in the concluding stages of the City Handicap. The brown horse is staying better now, and should add to his victories very shortly. Seatondale was a strong tip away from the course for the Avon Welter on Wednesday, 'but had to strike his colors to Pilgrim's Way. The latter is reputed to be a flier and has a record of lmin 13 sec for six furlongs somewhere down South where the courses are fast and the watches slow. A good number of Taranaki-owned horses will be chasing the elusive wealth at Feilding at the end of the month. Weights for the first day's events are due about Tuesday.

Golden Loop lias been running consist-1 ently into places in the hurdle events at Kiccarton, and is not over-weighted with lOst 101b to-day. The distance should suit White Cockade who is in good nick,' and has winning form to recommend him. Bonny Helen was given a spell on Wednesday, and should be a much fresher filly to-day. Our Fordell and Wanganui friends are very sweet on her chance in the Pioneer Handicap. Apparently Our King cannot see a mile out. After running prominently to the turn in the Great Northern Guineas he shut up badly when challenged by Bier-' iot, and could only finish fourth. Oui King figures in the Epsom Handicap, sis furlongs, and may give Tact, Jack Dolaval and Co. a good "go" for the money. Seven horses have been paid up for in the Stead Memorial Cup, run over a mile and a quarter at Riccarton to-day. Of j the older division Bobrikoff reads most j dangerous, but the three-year-olds get in so lightly that a good youngster is always hard to beat. Recent form \ points to Bon Reve and Haskayne being Bobrikoff's most likely conquerors. On the strength of running fourth in the Stewards' Handicap Culprit does not lead badly in the Members' Handicap (six furlongs), and strongest opposition may come from Pilgrim's Way. The ex-New Zealander is now enjoying a well-earned spell. At the same place (Bacchus Marsh) Golden Cairn, Motoa, Bridge and Silver Bullet are eating the oats of idleness. Jockey C. Jenkins, whose illness was reported from Riccarton last Saturday, spent several days in the Christchurch Hospital, but is now on the mend. Crown Pearl has raced without success at Riccarton this meeting, but will be given another chance in the Cressy Welter to-day. The New Plymouth horse has more than his fair share of weight with lOst, and the opposition —notably Blue Lake, Sea King am! My Lawyerare a speedy lot. Obligado received another good adver tisement on the opening day of the Auckland meeting, when his daughter Tact got away with a double in fine style. She was ridden by C. Brown and won both ; the Shorts and Flying Handicaps in such convincing style that she looks like do-1 ing bigger things at any moment. Our Queen led the field into the straight in the Shorts Handicap, and was being proclaimed the winner when, a hundred yards from homo, she suddenly collapsed and finished right nut-dde a place. She had a good load. (Ist lib. but even that should not stop a good mare if her heart is in the right place. There seems some foundation for the assumption that both Our King and Our Queen are rogues. Coromandel ran well in the City Handicap, and had bad luck to bump such a cracker as Royal Sonlt at almost level weights. Coromandel is engaged in a mile event to-day. and the distance is much more favourable to the Wanga-nui-trained horse.

■ A heap of good money changed hands when Royal Irish failed in the Hobson Handicap at Ellerslie. The black gelding appeared to have the race won when a pair of rank outsiders. Parawai and Lady Gladstone, swooped down inside 'the distance and paid handsome prices. Royal Irish will be asked to travel over a furlong shorter course thh afternoon, and will probably start favourite again. An old veteran in the shape of Grenadier figures amongst to-day's Auckland acceptances. Surely he is a spent licht. Continuance's easy victory at Fleminston under 13st makes the 'Stralian 'chasers look very prior cattle. The Plawke's Bay horse has paid his way well across the Tasman. and would fetch a fine price if put under the hammer over there.