SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 157, 20 November 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

PIASTRE'S CUP. A RECORD RACE. j (Sydney Morning Herald Special). I Melbourne, November 7. "Cloudy at times, with occasional showers, but improving; cool fresh west to south winds." That was the way in which the Government Meteorologist forecasted the weather for Cup Day, and if he were asked to describe it to-night he could use no better terms. It looks as if the sporting public of Melbourne and the visitors had a miserable day, but, apart from the disappointment of the ladies in not being able to display their finery, nobody suffered much by reason of the adverse climatic conditions. The showers were- very occasional; in fact, it is straining a point to call some of the falls showers. The worst only'sent the ladies scurrying to the grandstand, andwiien they reached there it stopped again. This was while the parade of the Cup candidates was being held, and the shortness of its duration may be gauged by the fact that when the barrier rose for the big race it was fine again. Taking it all round, little complaint can be made of the weather. The pieturesqueness of the meeting being spoiled by the weather, visitors were forced to turn their attention solely to the racing. In this regard the day must be classed as a success. True, the favorite suffered defeat in the Cup, and other well-supported horses were beaten, but there were some splendid finishe*, and a few much-fancied runners were first past the post. The Encourage Stakes provided a fine finish, with a win for the second favorite; and it looked as if the bookmakers were again setting out on a hard road. The next race, however, brought solace to the bagmen, for the winner turned up in Tadanga, who was /one of the least favored of the 18 starters. The Hurdle Race also served to eiirieh the layers of odds, for it w,ent to an outsider in Warwidgerie, who won as he liked from the favorite, Common King. No sooner was the Hurdle Race over ■than the crowd began to prepare for the event of the day—the Melbourne Cupnot that this had been long lost sight of since the first man entered the course. With the programme cleared for the big fixture, a decided change took place. In the betting ring, where previously an occasional bet was booked on the Cup, the bookmakers were issuing tickets as fast as they could write their indistinguishable characters on the cards. If the manner in which the money was poured into the bags be taken as a guide, there is a pronounced state of prosperity in Australia. Judging from the remarks in the crowd, however, the betting would have been heavier if the race had looked more "open."' Duke Foote was thought to be so good that many hesitated to pick anything against him, while they were reluctant to accept the short odds offered on the favorite. Still there were thousands "who backed what they called the next best thing, in the hope that something would happen to the favorite. In the bird cage there were hundreds who paid the five shillings demanded of them to see the horses being prepared for the tussle they were to engagb iu. To the man who makes his first visit to Flemington at Cup time this charge to see something for nothing at Randwick comes as a great shock. Still, if he wants to see the horses he must pay. It was not hard to pick out where the favorite was quartered, as around his stall all day. was a dense crowd of admirers. He looked well worthy of the attention that was bestowed upon him, but'subsequent events proved that in horses, as in many other things, looks don't count. The parade of Cup candidates was started by Aurofodiiia, then came Matouree, and then the rain. It was a sharp shower, and the jockeys bowed their heads as the squall struck them when they came pn to the course, .For the most part the horses did not seem to be at all upset by the shower, excepting Lord Alwyne, who for a time steadfastly refused to come up the straight. The shower was of short duration, having passed as the barrier was drawn down. There were the usual little delays at the post. One horse and then another would get the wrong way round, but the gradual coaxing of the riders brought the fractious animals into line, and before they had time to alter their minds, up went the barrier, and there was nothing between the 23 horses and the famous Cup but a run of two miles. Down the long straight they came, and for the first two furlongs it was only the expert who could tell what was in front. By the time the judge's, box was passed, however, the field had spread out, and the colors of Slmja were well to the front. Nobody cared much then who led, for there was a long way to go. and .■mything had a chance, excepting Ladv Medallist, who at this stage pulled up lame. Round the course bobbed the bright jackets in a well-defined line, with Shnp still making the pace, while the others were changing positions at every furlong. AH eyes were strained te catch a glimpse of the favorite, but he nevr seemed to bo where he was most wanted, and by the time' the straight was reached hope for him was given up, and his backers settled down to watch his opponents fight it out. The finish resolved itself into a tussle between : Piastre and Hallowmas. These two beautiful animals came thundering down the track locked together for a while, and then stride by stride the Newcastle horse left his rival, and, amid cries of "Piastre!" "Piastre!" from thousands of throats swept past the post an undisputed winner. THE RACE DESCRIBED. When the barrier was lowered Danaus took up the position on the rails, with Eudoruh, Shuja and Lord Alwyne near him. In the centre of the field the colors of Uncle Sam. Eyeglass, Elystan and Artesian were conspicuous, and the pair on the extreme outside of the field were Lady Medallist and Duke Foote. The start was :i. good one. and the field moved awav line a line of cavalry, but it was a. .m broken bv Eadorus! EveS't" •• Hu'.e Foote. Malouree. Shuja. Sar.d'i-.i and Cider. Before the field had ijo:i,- ii furlong. Shuja had taken up the running, and. coming to the course proper, he was showing the way to Cider, Ladies' Man, M.atource, Eyeglass. Eudor.i? and Hallowmas. Shuja continual to act as leader at the distance, wlcre tie most forward of the others were Cider, Ladies' Man, Danaus, Matourec, Eyeglass, Hallowmas, Golden Point, Sandb-ith and AVilari. As the field ran past the judge's box the colors of l -:iir:i were showing well clear of Golden Point, and then closely packed behind him were Matouree, Cider, Eyeglass. Hallowmas, Danaus. Piastre and Wil-r: I'hev turned out. of the straight, where Lady Medallist pulled up, in that ;, order, and racing along the river side Shuia was setting a solid pace from Golden Point, who had Matouree. Danaus. {'id-r. Hallowmas, Eyeglass. Ladies' Man, Wilari, Bobaden. Sandbath, Eudorin. Duke Foote and Moustne in a bunch behind him. Approaching the bridrre Shuia had not been displaced, and the most conspicuous of the others were Col I n Point. Danaus. Cider, Eyeglass. M'ltonree. Hallowmas, Ladies' Man, Wilari, Artesian, Duke Foote, while the last three were Lord Alwvne, Aurofodiiia and Cadonia. At the back of the course Shuja and Matouree were two lengths clear of Danaus, Hallowmas, Cider, Goldirci Point,.£jeg^,^Qtt^jß J .Jir^ft^flts J ;

Ladies' Man and Bobadea. Uncle Sam at this point had only one horse ne- ■ hind him. At the abattoirs Shuja had a lead of two lengths from Matouree, and the most forward of the others at this point were Hallowmas, Artesian, Danaus, Piastre, Duke Foote, Eyeglass, Golden Point, Almissa and Bobadea. Coming to the-turn, Hallowmas ran into second place, behind Shuja, followed by Piastre, Almissa, Matouree and Uncle Sara. Shuja came into the straight on the rails, with Hallowmas close in pursuit, while Piastre was making a fast move forward, followed by Almissa, Matourae, Uncle Sam and Duke Foote, who was hanging out signals of distress, and Ladies' Man, who was making up his leeway at a great rate. Shuja hung on until they approached the distance, when he began to give ground, and Piastre took the lead. Just before they reached the distance post, he drew awav from Hallowmas. Uncle Sam and Ladies' Man were making great runs. By the time the half-distance was reached Piastre had the measure of Hallowmas, and easily holding his own in the run home, he won by a length and a-hnlf, Uncle Sam, who showed no signs of failing on his run, and kept going to the end, got to within three-quarters of a length of Hallowmas. Ladies' Man was close up fourth, and then came Almissa fifth, Eudorus sixth, Shuja seventh, •Mousme eighth, Sandbath ninth, Bobadea tenth, Artesian eleventh, while the four last to finish wcre'Cadonia, Cider, Eyeglass and Wilari. Time, 3min 27% I sec.