SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1919, Page 8

SPORTING.

'VGHSH TURF. London, May 7. The Two Thousand Guinea Stakes resulted: Panther 1, Buehan 2, Dominion 3.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SYDNEY SCRATCHLNGS. Sydney, May 9. Impediment and Lingerie are scratched for all engagements. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Manawati: RaciDg Club's autumn meeting attracted only a,fair attendance, though had it beeji definitely known" that Desert Gold and Sasanof would measure 'strides in the Gold Cup there would have been a much bigger crowd. The Manawatn club was let down once when booming s. star item, and probably thought it wiser to take no risks on this , occasion. It was generally considered that Desert Gold would not put in an appearance at the meeting, and those who were fortunate enough to make the trip were rewarded with a magnificent race in the Cup, and a good all-round day's sport as well.

There were three rnnnera in the Awapuni Gold Cup: Desert Gold (C. Emerson], Bonnie Maid (B. Deeley), and Sasanof (H- Gray). Sasanof was backed as ;f the race was all over. Sasanof and Bonnie Maid went off together, Desert Gold besig slow to find her feet. Sasanof, setting a torrid pace, held a slight advantage over Bonnie Maid as they ran along the back, Desert Gold being a couple of' length?, ■'"•nx. Sasanof had settled Bonnie M: before turning for home, and Desert Gold still had much leeway to make up r Gray then rode Sasanof for all he was worth, and the favorite needed all of the four lengths lead he had at the turn, for the old mare came with a thrilling run, catching Sasanof hand-over-fist, and, amidst great excitement, got to within half a length of Sasanof when the post was reached. It was a great race in all respects. Sasanof carved out» the ten furlongs in the marvellous time of 2min. 4 3-ssee, a record for Australasia, and, while giving due credit to the gallant son of Martian and to Gray, it must be admitted that Desert Gold ran one of the greatest races of her life, and, with a shade of luck, would have won. Bonnie Maid was not bustled in the straight, merely running- for third money. Sasanof ran the last five furlongs in lmm.'feee., vrtuch shows how fast Desert Gold must have galloped to get so close at the finish. Vagabond (Gray) was a screaming hot favorite in the. Autumn Handicap, for which there were thirteen runners. From an even send-off Sweet Corn and Tressida led a bunched crowd out of the straight. Bagdad and Fabriquette ran up to the leaders going along the back. and Marqueteur and Vagabond also imporved their positions. As they came into the straight, Bagdad and Fahriquette were just clear of Marqueteur, Sweet Corn, Tressida, and Vagabond. Marqueteur shot out first, but Vagabond came with a rush and won easily.

With all the big winter jumping races looming up on the horizon, punters invariably fight shy of the top-notchers when it comes to small hurdle races. Last year everybody reckoned that Sir Fisher was "set" for the Century Hurdles, and scouted the idea that he would be "ready" at Awapuni. Yet Sir Fisher won the Karere Hurdles, and paid a false price, and again on Wednesday Sleight-of-Hand did a similar trick, it was a shame to see a Grand National winner carrying only a little over fifty tickets, but he was never far away from the leaders, Kahumangu, Sir Fisher, and' Master Lupin, and at the distance had the race well won. Master Lupin struggled on gamely, and his victory on the second day was well deserved. Sir Fisher's forward running suggests that he will again be "all there" this winter. Papanui was sore, and tailed off early. Acceptances for the Egmont R.C. winter meeting close to-night (Saturday) at 8 p.m.