SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 244, 5 March 1913, Page 8

SPORTING.

THE V.lt.C. M KKTIXLi. THE AL'STKALIAX GUI'. Ly table Press Association—Copyright. Received 4, 10.30 juii. Melbourne, JMarch 4. The Flcmington Club was again for-' tunate regarding the weather, which was beautifully fine, with a cool breeze. The actual figures show that Saturday's i crowd was a record for the event, and it is anticipated that to-day promises a •similar record. Ladies formed a very large portion of the crowd. A noticeable feature was that instead of autumn fashions, as might be expected, the dress-J ing resembled that at a spring meeting. I* rom a spectator's point of view the Australian Cup, which is the only handicap in Australia with a distance of over two miles, is a better race to watch tlian the Melbourne Clip. There aie fewer runners, and the horses are easier to pick out while going. Several State Government House parties were among the visitors. Light showers fell in the afternoon, but not sufficient to interfere with the racing. Doubtless scared by the easy maimer in which Lord Desmond accomplished Saturday's task, finishing apparently lit for another mile, owners scratched freely, and only four started in the Autumn Hurdle Race. The weight evidently told on Lord Desmond, who never at any staoe headed the field. The Ascot Vale* Stakes was interesting in the light of Caulfteld running. Andelosia, whose dam, Diffidence, lias a Sydney Cup to her credit, is n stable companion of Eubolus. He got off smartly on the outside of the field, and was never headed, though Quair Burn made a fine race of it, and appeared to onlookers to have won. Almissa had been the most-talked-of horse for weeks in connection with the Cup. He had been steadily improving since he won the Williamstown Cup last year, but his running on Saturday,, coupled with Piastre's fine performance, when he finished fall of running and put Almissa out of consideration, made the latter the more favored. To-day he ran a really fine race, steered by AlcLachlan, though the journey was the slowest since 1907. Once again Golden' Point ran disappointingly. Saturday's performance, when he ran fourth with 9.0, led his admirers to believe, with a stone and a half less, that he would have made a good showing in the Cup, especially as he is a known stayer, with fast performances, but lie proves unreliable. It transpires that Almissa's bad performance ou Saturday was due to the horse getting Us muzzle off on Friday night and eating his bedding, after which he started unwell. The following are the results: — Autumn Hurdle Race. of 200 sovs.; two miles. —Recollect, 9.8, 1; Lord Desmond. 12.8, 2; Zal, 9.8, 3. Ellerstine also started. Recollect led the field to the distance, Ellerstine being always last. Lord Desmond was never nearer Recollect than three lengths. Recollect ultimately won by four lengths, with two lengths between second and third. Time, oinin. jIV-jsec. Ascot Vale Stakes, of 20 sovs. each, with .300 sovs. adddd; six furlongs.— Andelosia, S.lO, 1; Quair Burn, 8.7, 2; Maiti aveis. 0.6. >Tuan Fernandez, Anoic, Kildalton. Scotch Malt. Balranald and Kingsburgh also started. From a good start Andelosia led from Quair Burn and Maltravers. The latter, with a good run, got on even terms with Andelosia. but tired a furlong from home. .Juan Fernandez and Quair Burn maintained the challenge, but Andelosia beat them cleverly by half a neck, with two lengths between second and third. Time, lmin. 15sec. AUSTRALIAN GUI', of 25 sovs. each, with 2000 sovs. added; second horse 400 sovs., and third horse 200 sovs. from the stake. Two miles and a quarter. Messrs. E. M. and L. Lawrence's b h \ Almissa (imp.), by Ayrshire—La Roche, 4yrs., 7.12 1 Messrs. J. C. Williamson and A. Mansfield's br h Cadonia, by Prudent King —Enoona, 4yrs., 8.10 2 Mr. W. Brown's b c Piastre, by Positano—Cluind Bee Bee, 3yrs., 9.0.. 3 Tinapagee was scratched. Uxbridge showed the way into the straight from Riffian. Diabolo, Wilari and Flavian. Passing the judge's box the order was Uxbridge (two lengths clear), Rillian, Diabolo, Wilari. Flavian, l'uaka, Barios and Piastre, while in the rear were Cadonia and Golden Point. Seven furlongs from home Uxbridge just led Riffian, the next being Flavian, Diabolo. Wilari and Piastre. Puako took command at the five-furlong post, with Piastre in attendance, and Almissa also making a forward move. Almissa deposed Puaka from the lead at the entrance to the straight, and at the distance, under the whip, still led. In a good (iuish he won bv a length, Cadonia beating Piastre by three-quarters of a, length. Uxbridge was fourth. Then came Barios, Diabolo, Didus and Flavian, I the Inst being Riffian. Time, 4min. 2sec. | "March Steeplechase, of 200 sovs.; 1 about two miles. —Scrutineer, 11.0, 1; Vanguard. 11.11. 2- Acute Angle, 9.3, 3. |

Toaster. Tint®. Zcphurion, Booligal, Seldom. The Miser. Pinpress, Korite. Statecraft. Koreetnung and Stretto . also started. Won by three-quarters of a length. Time. -lmin. B%sec. Ronrkc Handicap, of 300 sovs.; seven fut'iongs.—Aleconner. G. 13, 1; Volsloane, 0.7. '2; Kirn. 7.11. 3. Thirteen others started. Sweet "Malt made the running to the turn, when Kirn aud Volsloane came with a fast run. but Aleeonnei cut them both down and won by a length and a half, with half a length between second and third. Time, lmin. 25% see. Junior Handicap, of 230 sovs.; six furlongs.—Slainer. 7.5, 1; Carisbrooke, 7.7. 2; Onazer. 0.11. ">. Nine others started. Carisbrooke, while leading, ran across Slainer. who passed him and won by half a length. Time, lmin. 13% sec. SALE OF YEARLINGS. Melbourne, March 4. At the Melbourne sale of thoroughbred yearlings a Tarquair—Snowy River colt fetched 000 gns.; a Positano—lndian Queen colt brought 1500 gns.; a Positano—Parisieune colt 800 gns.: a Charlemagne IT.—Drungera colt fetched 725 gns.