SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

BIPLANE SCRATCHED AT PALMERSTON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. Sir. Greenwood arrived at Palmerston at 4.30. Mr. Mason switched Biplane at 7.30. TUBE TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.' 1 ) It is merely a wa<?te of lime, energy, and printer's iuk to remark that the Awapuni Geld Cup will be drained to the dregs at Palmerston to-day. Every "sport" with a motor car, hundreds in hired ones, and thousands who are possessed only of a good pair of "bats," will be hastening to Palmerston to-day with one intention. It is rumored that there is a big convention there today. Every commercial traveller on the coast has an urgent call there. On trains, trams, and in Wizard rooms there is only one thing talked cf. The New Plymouth grocer, the Inglewood hairdresser. the l'.ltham chemist, the Stratford saddltr, and even the greenest ticket-seller in the railway station at Hawera will all mix Desert Gold, or Biplane, or Estland into the usual rigmalole they call work.

"Arc you going down?'' is a stereotyped phrase lliat has only one meaning. And what will win the Cup anyhow? Now, don't all speak at once. The majority will back Desert Gold. That Is sure. But the cautious "told-J'ou-so" crowd will plead guiitv to a small fancy for the colt, Biplane; and when the result comes through they will swell into enlarged editions of "I told you so" whichever way it goes. So far nobody has been bokl enough to give Menelaua a chance, or eren Impediment, and ueither is slow, believe me.

Boiled down the issue looks to be between Lowry and Greenwood. The formtii- has two strings to his how, but the Southerner is not altogether on his own. It is Quite likely that Koesian will, be 011 Biplane's side, and should Desert Gold, as expected, make the running, Koesian may be the cne to go with her for live 01 six furlongs—just to let her know it is a race', of oourse. When the real racing commences Desert Gold will find Biplane full of running, and Biplane, in Ms turn, may find Estlaml hard to shake oil'. What the result will l:'c is not at all certain. What really is certain is that Desert Gold and Biplane will lia\e the race ofc their lives. Nfost people consider that Lowry will be first, and some even go so far as to sf>y that Lowry will bo first and second. They may not be far wrong, either. (The above was written before the arrival ot the news that Biplane had been scratchi«>d.)

With Arlington out of the road ill tliq Hurdles the issue, looks fairly open. Vacuum and Lord Ainslie have recent form to recommend them, but, Otter may wnrrv them at tho finish. Harbor Light will be ridden by It, llcSweney, Winning Shot lias only to start in the Maiden Plate to decide the question of favoritism. Toddy, Turpinite, and Cyrisian may have friends, hut the local prad has recent form 011 his side, The Autumn Handicap presents many

difficulties. The field numbers/'27, and there are many good ones in the team. iUorifv should hold the top-weights safe, but tiic centre of the handicap appears to be its strongest point. Miss Deval,

Vole, and Gang Awa' must be reckoned with, and amongst tho light-weights nothing has shown better track work tlinn probation. IT. Young will ride Volo. aVd jr. McCarton will be on Gang Awa', Probably Volo and Glorify ivill carry most money. The Manawutu Sires' Produce Stakes iooks (on paper) a fair exerciso gallop for Pinmark. Twenty.five remain In the Linton Hack Welter, and opinions arc varied :is to what will finish up favorite. Hawera sports prefer Gipsy Gem, but Demotic and Whiro read well at the weights. Quantity rather than quality Is the feature of the twenty-nine carded for (he Woodhey Hack Handicap. Ibnx, Melita, and Humorist a,r» much dlscus.-ed candidates, and Ibex and Ayah may carry the money. Parisian Diamond and Sea Lord have dropped out of the Telegraph Handicap, but the field is stll much too large for the average punter. Birkenvalo is the latest favorite, but Tiirangapito will carry nearly asi much money on the machine, and fast sprinters like Croesus and Acre will have plenty of supporters. P.ain fell at Awapuni yesterday, but the weather shows signs of being fine. The course will hardly be as firm as Desert Gold's army of brokers could wish, but nevertheless it should be in fairly good order. Harold Young will be on Estland in the Gold Cup. not C Emerson, as reported in a contemporary.

AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST MARES. The following is a statement of tlie winnings of the most noteworthy mares that have raced in Australia:— £ Desert Gold (bred 111 New Zealand) by All Black—Aurarius a 21,27'2 Carlita (bred in New Zealand) by Charlemagne—Courloijie .. 17,525 Wakeful (hred in Victoria) by Trenton —Insomnia 16,090 Gladsome (bred in New Zealand) by Seaton Delaval Miss Gladys 11,054 Warstep (bred in New Zealand) by Martian —Stepdanccr *10,190 La Carabine (bred in Victoria) by Carbine—Orotava 7,085 Cruciform (brpd in New Zealand) by St. Leger—Forme 7,258 Lady Wallace (bred in New South Wales) by WallaceLady Mostyn 7,139 •Including trophies.