SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

DESERT GOLD RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND. Australian Cable Association. Sydney, April 4. Desert Gold will return to Now Zealand immediately. The Run's sporting critic says that Desert Gold lias proved herself one of the best horses ever raced in Australasia. Her total stake winnings are £21,27*2, which is £I4S ahead of Cetignc. Her time for the All Aged Stakes was1$ seconds outside the record.

A TROTTER POISONED. Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Last Night. The champion trotter, Golden Robin, was found poisoned in his box and succumbed. He was running in the Easter Cup at Victoria Park, whereof lie was favorite- Foul nlay is apparent. Croton oil poison was used-

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.') About thirty horses, representing fourteen Taranaki stables, were racing at Fcilding this week, and between the lot they managed to notch six lirsts, three seconds, and four thirds, and considering the fine dividends received the result was decidedly satisfactory. The holding state of the going was all in favor of the Taranaki brigade, particularly Hawera-trained horses, and it was not surprising to see Iceberg, who had been troubled by the hard tracks at the February meetings, strike form iu no uncertain way- The grey won the Fcilding Cup and Easter Handicap in convincing style, and hi s party had a win, which was overdue, anyhow. Koval Chef surprised the natives by running on strongly at the end of the Mangaone Stakes, and beating a good one like Waimatao,. and the "price'' was several times over the limit. In fact it was the "dizzy limit." Gipsy Gem contin\ied her winning sequence by outstaying llastie and a moderate lot in the Hack Welter, and paid a very fair dividend. On the second day Marqueteur gave Mr Ewart his first return for the moderate sum expended on the King Mark gelding at the Karamu dispersal sale, and the way in which Marqueteur battled the finish out with Polynesian gives promise of even better things. Needless to say, Marqueteur returned a grea' "price" To round matters off properly IVolo got away with the concluding event, coming through in the straight and winning handsomely Outside the v. inning division honorable mention is due to Winning Shot, who ran creditable seconds to such good horses as Ibex (in the Maiden), and Oratress (in the Waiata Stakes). To Tnah for running two great races in good company, being third in the Mangaone Stakes and second in the Denbigh Handicap. In the latter event she. looked all over a winner until dean Laddo. >vho was in receipt of 2st, came and snatched first prize on the post. To Dingle, who ran close thirds, in the principal distance events, and ran up to the top of his form- On the second dav Gray got him out well, and had to fence all the way, riding a masterly race- The horse was not quite good enough; that was all that there was in it, but he shaped honestly. It In stated that Mr. G. II- Gibson intends to put him over ftnees this winter, and he is just the cut of a horse that might go to the top of the tree in that class. Ju Jitsu, King Chiara and Warmth also gained place money King Chiara appeared to be a trifle sor«. It was rather bad luck for Mr. James Hawkins that Toatere should break down just when he did. He was going so weil half a mile from home that he looked like having a lot to say in the settlement of the Feilding Cup, but whether he would have beaten Iceberg at the weights is a matter only for conjecture. it is to be hoped that the mishap will not prove serious, Romance, a bay gelding by St. PaulSolemn, in C. Jackson's stable, was mentioned as likely to run well at Feilding, but shaped very "green." He wants time.

Flying Camp showed out for five or six furlongs in the Kimbolton Hurdles, but he turned it up when Lord Ainslio ran up to him. There was no waiting on the journey, the clock reading 2.45 2-5. Lord Ainslic paid a great "price" considering his good showing on the first day. Albert Jackson, who owned Roosevelt and other good horses, made no "secret of the fact thai he expected to win, and many of • his old Wanganui friends profited by the tip. As expected, Ibex won a double at Feilding in the simplest possible manner The chestnut son of San Fran and that good mare Polycaste came round his fields and won on the bit. Gang Awa' cost followers of the Fordcll stable a tidy sum at Feilding. Tie appeared to be well fronton on the second day, but was rushed from last to first in a furlong, and thai wa3 the end of him. He makes hard work of sharp bends, and may be seen to more advantage at Awapuni. Turangapito played up his usual circus tricks at Feilding. but had the usual luck of the fractious horse, and was on the move when the tapes lifted. Then he said "Good-bye." The writer heard of one punter who cleared .£7OO over the victories of Ibex and Turangapito, but he took a big risk with the latter outlaw.

One. of tiic best finishes at the meetin!!; was in tiic Awahuri Hack Welter on Tuesday. flie one-eyed Lord Nelson just got home a head in front of a line of horses that included Hastie, Consultation and March On. The winner paid the prevailing tall dividend. Oratress at last! She was up against nothing in the Waiata Stakes, and Cray whipped her off in front and stayed there- .the dividend was the smallest of Ilia meeting. The i'res;-. Association wire gave the result of the Makino Welter. Volo won with his earn pricked, and King Chjara, Lady Louisa, and Kiltess followed. Hushman showed out In front for a Jew furlongs on Tuesday, hut he was a very tired horse at the turn for home. The Avondale meeting takes place tomorrow. Amongst the acceptors are Bisogne, Paddington Green and Madam Ristori. The latter is well treated.