SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Oct. 11, 12—Jtasterton E.C. Spring. Oct. 12, 13—Dunedin J.C. Spring. Oct. 22—Waverley-Waitotara R.C. Annual. Nov. 3, 7—Avondale J.C. Spring. Nov. 5, 7, 10—Canterbury J.O. Metropolitan. ' , AUSTRALIAN TURF. TRAINING NOTES. I Australian-N.Z. Cable Association, j Sydney, Sept. 28. For the final gallops the weather was fine, but the track was still somewhat heavy. The New Zealand horses did some of the 'best gallops this morning. Sasanoff. assisted bv Shrill, did not mile in 1.43 and Biplane took 1.435. The Toff, with a light-weight up, did a very la-t 1 1-4 mile in 2.11; Killem, who beat Kilflinr., occupied 2.12. Bedrock covered six furlongs in 1.23. Pah King defeated Court Jester over a mile. Meliking easily disposed of Wedge in six furlongs. TUEF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Australian Jockey Club's spring meeting commences to-day, and will be continued on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday of next week. A large number of New Zealanders are engaged at the gathering, including Biplane and a heap of lesser but owing to the dislocation of the mails, due to the strike, details are lacking. A considerable amount of space is taken up in this week's N.Z. Referee concerning the advantages or disadvantages of drawing No. 1 at. the barrier. This writer's opinion is that "on the fence" is the very best place for a quick beginnpr, but the very worst for the horse that-cannot foot it with his fellows over the first furlong. Various conditions, such as the form of the course to be immediately traversed after the start, the size of the field, and the distance of the race,, may modify this broad statement somewhat; but the fact remains that the horse that can hold his position on the inner throughout-the whole course is surely taking the shortest route towards the winning post, while a slow beginner is invariably passed and headed off by the more brilliant division, and when the field has settled down he is forced to pull out and come round the field.

Yet most smart horsemen, particularly when riding in sprint events, prefer to draw an inside position, and concerning this a yam might be told which would lend color to the idea that some owners consider such a position the sine qua non towards success. A joekster friend of mine was doing a bit of riding for a "stooard" of an up-country club, and promised to enlighten me as io on6~t>r two likely triers on which ho would have the mount. "Of course." he explained, "I can't tell you until I have weighed out, for the boss never says a word until he slips me the No. 1 marble and tells me to go in and have a dip in the bag for my possie at the post." Things were run under Rafferty's rules up there. ,

The Press Association made rather a,bad mess of the result of the last event at Otaki, sending through: Holyhead 1, Bloonune 2, Arihia 3. Fortunately the News queried the wire, and had matters set right, but in other parts sporting readers were less fortunate. It is queer how the scratched horses could be sent through as the placed division, but it speaks volumes for the potency of the "refreshments" provided on the Otaki' course.

Tn the leader column of this week's Referee is an astounding outburst against the licensing of the jockey Hector Gray, during which the Taranaki Club and the Taranaki horseman come in for considerable absurd abuse. Sportsmen are .proverbially generous, and it pomes as a painful surprise to see the Dominion's leading (and official) sporting organ venting its wrath at the reinstatement of a person who, the most prejudiced must admit, has been subjected to full and almost vindictive punishment for his misdeeds of a couple of seasons back. Some persons have queer ideas of fair play, and even gaol-birds receive more consideration once their term of punishment has ended.

Mr. Jack Henry's weights for the! Masterton meeting are generally regarded as first class, and considering the number and the quality of the horses engaged—an exceptionally large proportion being New Zealand Cup entrants—the young handieapper's effort is decidedly promising. Winners appear to be well concealed all round, and possibly Mc-, Short Odds will get hack some of his Otaki losses at the gathering. New Zealand Cup weights appeared yesterday, pnd at the outset, it must be acknowledged that J. Henrys, senr., was faced with a big task when called upon to weight Desert Gold, Kilboy, and The Toff—an exceptionally brilliant trio for one season—so as to give the other forty odd moderates an earthly ehanc* On the face of it Mr. Henrys appears to have erred in sacrificing the really good horses in favor of the lesser lights, hut it is hardh likely that Desert. Gold, Kilboy, and the Toff will start, nnd in their absence it. would be what is popularly known as a flattering handicap. Multifual and Egypt have plenty of v,-eight, and Fiery Cross, who failed last year with 7.3, reads badly at 5.3. Snub ran second with 7.12 in Ardenvohr's year, but has done little in the interim to warrant a rise of 41b Colonel Soult appears to have regained his best form, and with 5.3 is nicely treated. John Barleycorn found 7.7 too much last year, hut has since shown some fine handicap form. He appears to have got a failload, Bst., but it may not altogether steady him. Client won the Wanganui Cup under 7.!>, and with S.O cannot hr regarded as overweighted. Mullinpar ran third with 7.11 last November, and may be equal to carrying 8.0. Korke's Drift and Marc Antony have both gone t;p in the landieapper's estimation, though their past N.Z. Cup performances vere very mediocre. The pick of the handicap is Pleight-of-Hand, who is remarkably well treated with 7.0. Both on the Hat and over fences he has performed most consistently, and his most recent victories prove that hurdle racing has not impaired his brilliancy. Of his staying powers there can be no .possible doubt. The light-weights arc a poor lot, i Orleans, Bronk Delaval, Sir Solo, and Detroit appearing the best of a rough lot. Possibly Sleight-of-lland, Client, •and Mullingar are likely to be the elect of early backers. Notable absentees from this year's N.Z. Cup arc Adjutant, Analogue, Depredation, Toatere, and Kewipoto. Although Sir Geo. Clifford's colors did not gain first place at Ash burton last week, three of his breeding—Don Francisco, Subterfuge, and San Sebastian—jron races for other owner*-

Fiery Cross and Zuland were double ■winners at Ashburton. The former won the same two races last season. Considerable interest was taken in the appearance of the imported horse Fleetham at Ashburton. On the first day he finished just outside a place, and on the second was "only beaten in the last few strides after making all the running. Ho should be a much improved horse now, and locks as if he would win good money for Mr. W. Mac Donald this season.

Rather a smart three-year-old filly in Xanna, hy Martian—"Nantes, was produced in the Trial at Ashburton. She quickly left her opponents, and getting a bigger break in every furlong, won, polling up, by many lengths. She covered the six furlongs in 1.14 1-5. In the X.Z. Cup Mr.'Henrys gave Warstep 9.5 when of the same age as Desert Gold now ib. The present day champion has been awarded 9.9, which is high flattery indeed. Warstep would have •'eaten" her over a distance of ground. At Ellerslie the 'chasers Gluepot, Troublesome, and Hautere are in work again.