SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 266, 8 April 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

NOTES Bi' "iIoTUROA." /THE SYDNEY CUP. Although dwarfea by 'Stralia's bigboomed Melbourne Cup, the principal long-distance New South Wales handicap event, the Sydney Cup, is a race of groat importance, and the f ct tluit Sinapis, Midnight Sun, Beau <Soult and Beragoon figure amongst the 3S acceptors invests the race with considerable interest, for New Zealanders. The Sydney Cup is run over two miles, and the "coin" attached to is declared as "a sweepstake of 20 sove, 5 sovs forfeit, and 5000 sovs added." Out of this the owner of the second horse takes £7OO and the third is recompensed wi.th a trifle of f350. Needless to say, Carbine won the race. One wonders if "Old Jack" really missed any of the "plums'' offering in his day! And other great horses like Wallace, Stromboli, Lord Cardigan, The Australiar. Peer and fSn-n Fran have had their names placed on the honored list. Whether either of the two New Zealand Cup winners engaged —Midnight Sun and Sinapis—will achieve a like honor remains to be seen. Midnight Sun is weighted at 8.10, and Sinapis 8.4, so neither are over-ourdened, and the better of the pair should prove a worthy representative of the Dominion.

The Sydney Cup favorite Wallalo scored in the hands of the Taranaki horseman, H. Gray, in the Australian Cup and jissendon Stakes at Fleminsrton, arul lie is well l.p to the 8.13 awarded him. His track form at Randwick has not been particularly brilliant, the veteran Parisian showing to greater adTantage in recent gallons. Gray will, of course, ride Wallalo. One point behind tflie favorite comes Sinapis, and four points further on we find the Westralian crack Lilyveil, C-agou and Andclosia on thq same mark. Lilyveil won the Boulder Cup (two miles)., and was runnerup in the Perth Cup. so that the distance should suit him. The Referee picks out Aurifer, Catron, Sinapis, Lilvveil and Wallalo in tlin t order as horses with more than a rough, chance, and the choice seems to he more for horses that are brilliant rather than stayers of the plodding type. Sinapis has won from live furlongs up, and may be depended upon to hold a good position as soon as the iield settles down, besides being speedy enough to take advantage of any openings that may offer in running. Now that Berry mas decided to remain in New Zealand, a whole host of probable riders have b«en selected for the mare. E. L,owe Mann.n<* and H. Gray have been tipped to fill the position, but Lowe wouid have liad to leave Auckland on Monday last to get there in time, and Gray is already i.ooked for Wallalo. It wa.s rumore'd that the latter might not see the post, but the crack's position in the betting market discounts that idea. It seems likely that an Australian will pilot the mare after all. Midnight Sun won the New Zealand Cup in 1012, and ran third again this year. He will be. meeting Sinapis on pounds 'better terms in the Sydney Oup than at Riecarton last November, but the marc has improved wonderfully in the interval, as she proved when she easily smothered a good fie'd in the Wanganui Cup la:it month. She finished strongly then under S.lO, and had the distance been two milos instead of a mile and three-quarters it is hard to say how much she would have won by. Tf a New Zealander is to win, all things certainly point to Sinapis. CURRENT TOPICS. Auckland and Wairarapa races on Saturday. The i anterlmry and Feilding meetings open on Monday. Rationale awl (lerlicnra were shipped North on Friday evening. A penalty of 7!b br.ngs Kooya's weight ill the (Jreat Autumn, up to 7.3. Jockey F. , Cress, who was injured when Continuance fell at Kaiulwick, is at riding work again. Jmnier will be raced at Fcilding next week, and the. llawera jockey L. Nodder has been engaged to ride uer. 'lliere is to be a re-shul'i'ling of the stipendiarv stewards shortly, and not before it is time either. {some of tlier.i seem to miss a lot. Jockey A. Olliver, who.has been laid up wHb lumbago, hopes to be well enough to ride Expect at Riccartori. Some people, reckon the name Expect, f-pells fulfilment.

The A.Ji.C. Raster Handicap promise* io liring out .".limit 20 horses, and ll;imliesipper -lorse lias set punters a stilt' proposition. GoUNze is ;"illojtisiy as promisingly ;'.s anv of tile AiicklKiidera. mill Ventura, i'.-'!r'ni!e and Sir ifo.-cley look as favor.iMv as any of Gic visiting horses. It is good ne'v to lieav that Bonnv Helen has lain l ii ■•"felv and in fine nick at KHerslie. Mr Alexander's fillv, is a rare galloper whir well; and the popular loe-al sportsman will eome in lor congratulations if n«* lands the Great Northern Oaks 011 Monday next.