SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

DESERT GOLD'S NOMINATIONS. Australian Cable AssoeiatioiS Received March i>, 10.10 p.m. Sydney, March 5. Desert Gold has been nominated for the A.J.C. Autumn All Aged Handicap, Cumberland Stakes, and Jockey Club Plate. DESERT GOLD'S DEFEAT. RACE, FOR FUTURITY STAKESTHE BOOKMAKERS LOSE HEAVILY. The Sydney Sun published the following message from Melbourne, under date Saturday, February 23: Desert Gold was beaten at her second start in Australia in the Futurity Stakes to-day. It was perhaps the only event ir. which this could 'happen, because she met most of her opponents on worse than handicap conditions. Many of those who had sung the praises of the mare since her successful .debut the previous Saturday regretted her defeat by such a narrow margin. Hut bow fickle public opinion is was shown by the attitude of the great majority of the onlookers. Desert Gold was cheered as she loped along the straight, on her way to the start, but when she was beaten a" the cheers were for Wedge.

It was a really great performance for Desert Gold to" get within a. neck of such a performer as Wedge at a stone worse terms than wcigiit-for-age, but there were no more cheers for her, and no crowds followed her back to the stalls, as was the-case last week. Nothing succeeds like success, and this time all the plaudits were for Wedge.

Desert Gold found, the pace set Ir the light-weights Yoorala and Retnmon too great for her- They carried her oft" her legs, and then when asked to respond to a vigorous challenge, with 9st. 131b, Wedge proved too good. Stories were circulated after the race that she liad been ''dealt with" by some of the runners, whose sole object in running was said to be to stop the mare. Her rider (McLauchlan) denied that there had been any interference except a slight instance early in the race. Deseri Gold was jammed between two hor-.es for the first furlong, and then later on Remmon, in making a ran to the front, cut across rather simply and threw .her out of her stride. But except for,these Desert Gold had a clear run, and once she dashed to the front into the straight there was no obstruction.

It was disappointing to the admirers of a great racehorse to sec Desert Gold beaten, but all going well, she will make amends in the Essendon Stakes next Saturday, and probably will not be beaten again in Australia- The race was run in record time, reducing by a quarter of a second the previous best, established bv Rlairgour, and equalled by Eudorus, Maharajah, and Flash of Steel, so that considering Desert. Gold's weight a fair share of the honors of the contest must be given herThere were no other exciting features associated with the meeting.

The field for the Futurity Stakes was reduced to 12 by the withdrawal of Cetigne, Dwitiilm, and Quilliou. Evidently the connections of Cetigne were not keen on their horse getting another gruelling, which might prejudice his Newmarket chance. Some fancy prices were laid against many of tho runners. Desert Gold was the cynosure of all eyes. Crowds followed her everywhere. With her customary lack of concern, she wandered about quietly wherever her guardian took her without being the least perturbed by the crowds. As she c-antered down the tracks the rrowds gave her a great cheer.

Desert Gold was drawn near the outside of the barrier at the start and she was not the first oil'. Yoorala headed her, and led the New Zcalandor for the first live furlongs, with Remon and Petracia nearest of the others, while Whitelichl and Lord Marco, who had been left, were tailed off. They ran in this order down back, and half a mile from home RSTnon had joined Yoorala, and they led Desert Gold, with Hoprig. Petracia, Wedge, and Panaero next. At the turn Remon was still in front of Desert Gold, but the mare appeared to be going easily. When McLaehlan took her to the front at the straight entrance she was hailed as the winner on all sides. She did not shake off the opposition easily, however, and although she got a length lead, Panacre r.nd Wedge were dangerously close to her. Panacre made the first run at her, but quickly tired, leaving Wedge to take up the challenge. He gave the mare a two lengths lead, but, gaining on her at every stride, caught her MO yards from the post, and, continuing full of vigor, won by a neck. Desert Gold fought out the issue gamely, and for a" moment after Wedge had caught lic-r it looked as if she Would come again and beat the black horse, but the weight told 011 her, and she had to give way to Wedge's superior pacePanacre hung oil long enough to beat lloprig narrowly for third money, while Thrice, who was never prominent in the early stages, was running on in fifth placeWedge is owned by C. T, 3odbv, a young CauHield trainer and a brother of Norman Godhy, whe was formerly a noted jockey. When Wedge came up for sale at tho dispersal of the late Mr. John Tumbull's horses about eighteen months ago, Godby gave TlOgns. for him. It. seemed a big price for the three-year old, as his form had been disappointing; but lie has more than justified Godhy's judgment. He won two minor races up the Flcmington straight last winter, and last spring wa"s second to Harriet Graham in the Balaclava Stakes, second to Cetigne in the Kosehill Spring Stakes, second in the Epsom to Satin Bird, and second in the Shorts to Merrimee. This was an aggravating sequence of seconds in good stakes, but Godby's win more than make.? amends, it being worth £"2000 to his owner, apart from bets. Godby was very confident that Desert Gold would not be able to give his horse 131b, and the stable connections had a good win on the big black horse. Wedge is engaged in the Newmarket Handicap with 0.7. The handicapper was freely criticised for placing him within 71b of Desert Gold in that race, but the figures are now justified, and it looks as if he has a great chance with all that weight, ns he is an exceptionally good horse up the straight.

Interviewed after tho race, McLaehlan said he had 110 excuses to ftPd foe | Dfcsert Gold. The light-weights ->re i able to set too great a pace fcfc® 1 ' ;t Gold, and then when she looked a *»' "• ner a 'better horse in Wedge, \v*° is [great seven furlongs horse, came in and