SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1918, Page 3

SPORTING.

V.A.T.C. MEETING, SECOND .DAYS' RESULTS. Received Oct. l(j, 7.5 p.m. Melbourne, Oct. ltJ, The following are the results:— HURDLES.—Thaletas, 10.10. 1; Shadow Dancer, ,}.G, 2; Tliarnolc, 0.10, 3. Time, linim -tO^sec. MONA NURSERY HANDICAP-—At-t-Ueryman, 8.1, 1; Moorna U*s, 77, 2; Deuacre, 8.10, 3. Twemy-oiie starters. W on by three-quarters ot" a length. Time, o7see. ECLIPSE STAKES.—Outlook, 7.11, 1; Wolaroi, 0.4, 2; Democracy, 7,2, 3. Seven starters. Outlook led all the way. Wolaroi met with a little interference early in the race, but got a goo I chance in the straight and made a vigorous finish, being beaten by a neck. Ethiopian waa fourth, and Eusebius ran badly. Time, 2min 22£ sec.

TURF TOPICS., (By "Moturoa.") The Masterton Racing Club's spring meeting takes place at Opaki to-day and to-morrow, and judging by the first day s acceptances big fields and interesting racing should he the features of the meeting. Taranaki stables will be strongly represented, and upwards of a dozen New Zealand Cup candidates will give the meeting some "tone/' In all probability the track will be holding and the weather unsettled.

Forty-two horses are carded for the Trial Stakes, 5 furlongs, and the race looks rather a formidable proposition from a punter's point of view. However, the public seems to pick these Trials pretty well, and Taranaki will probably nap on though Bonny Briar may be hard to "stousfli."

Tlie field in the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, is a 1 oiwioteh one, and whatever wins should pay a fair price. Torfreda, Nanna, and Acre have been well supported in "doubles," while some have a sneaking regard for Royal Chef. The Ladies' Purse, one mile and a. distance, will see the three top-weights dividing favoritism. On Otaki form Classification must be given a good chance.

If tapping goes to the post for the Masterton Hack Handicap, 1 mile, lie should be a firm favorite. Penury Rose, who has a "pull" of 291b, may be the top-weights most dangerous opponent. Man.aamahoe is the most discussed horse in the Masterton Cup, one and a quarter miles, and the Aueklander is the best treated one in the race. Client may ho all the better for a race, and the same applies to Volo. Form CJp has yet to prove his ability to get" to the end of ten furlongs, and Depredation, who is very well at present, should hold him quite safe. Snub has been getting through good work at Opaki, and may .be able to "come back." Mangamahoe and Depredation may be worth watching at the meeting.

The Ruamahunga Hack Handicap, six furlongs, looks like providing an interesting race between Zela and Matatua. The former looks very fit.

In the Opaki Welter, 1 mile, the public can hardly go beyond Devotion, Multaine, and Royal Park. The latter is well in at 7.11, and may keep the topweights busy. To-day's racing concludes with the Dash Hack Handicap, five furlongs, which should see Kipling most in demnud.

Fred Tilley took Client, Acre, and Oratress through to Masterton on Tuesday. Walter Ravner will be represented by Pennon, Zela, Rose Queen, and Farce. Rose Queen is a tivo-year-nld filly by King Rufus —Roscomrcan, and Farce is a two-year-old fillv by Absurd or San Fran out of Cowl. Harry Rayner did not take Starengo across, reserving the ■gelding for Wavevlev.

Sasanof is now a firm favorite for the New Zealand Clip. The Caulfield Cup will be run on Saturday. The English-bred King OiTa, who is well in with 7.11, is first favorite. Killard was spoken of as a New Zealand Cup possibility, but liis showing at Dunedin does not make him out to be a good one. Ivillowen, by winning the Clibborn Stakes and Grantham Stakes at Randwick, bears out the opinion expressed in these columns that he was likely to turn out a better horse than his stable-mate, Kilhope, who was then one of the prime orders for the Epsom Handicap. Providing he keeps sound, Crown Pearl should have something to say in the settlement of the Grey Lynn Hurdles at Avondale, in which he has 10.10. In the Avondale Flying Handicap, Silver Link, 7.12, reads remarkably well. Desert Gold. Estland, and Killowen are down lo race at Flemington in the first week in November. Wonder if the mare will start in the Melbourne Cup?