SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1919, Page 9

SPORTING

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa") All manner of betting systems have been experimented with on the turf, but with no n»irked success in the Dominion. However, an Auckland syndicate had some cause to rejoice over the financial results obtained by following the "sec-ond-start" system on the final day at Avondale. The method followed by the syndicate referred to is to back horses saddled up for a second time which have previously run into a place earlier in the day. On the concluding day of the Avondale Autumn Meeting two of these chances, in Gaycium and Corregidor, romped home in their second starts on the day, both returning handsome dividends, which more than reimbursed the party for the unprofitable operations of its scheme during the earlier part of the season.

Sydney touts will he on the lookout, for Shaclowland when he reaches Ramiwick, says the Bulletin, for if James Scobie can get him fairly fit the runnerup for last Sydney Cup will seem very likely to improve on his previous performance. A year ago nobody took much s'.oek in Rebu3, who unexpectedly won the Cup, but to-day the perform'ance of Shadowland in running second to .the other Englishman is rated a lot higher than it was. The tall, leggy animal had not been trained for a long journey, and was not expected to beat his stable companion, Lanius, but he proved himself an unmistakable stayer. On the other hamd, there is a strong oase against Shffdowknd's soundness. Clark and Robinson thought it good enough to Fell him, and since ho ha» been in .1. Scobie's stable he has gone, wrong, more or less, on at least one occasion.

The Panther, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas the other week, is by Trarery from Counters Zie, and lie was one of the best of last season's English tii-o-year-olds. Writing in the Sportsman at_ the beginning of the year "Vigilant" said: The Panther is unquestionably a very nice horse than may be included in the category of "good big 'mis," and if he goes on all right, there must be room for more than average improvement dur hi.r. the winter, while Manser may be relied on to do him justice. The colt inherits much of the character of his sire. Tracery, but I shall want to sec him do more than he has yet before admitting him to be of the same high class. Still, it is something in his favor that he had a light season List year, having run only throe times, twice successful, and once when cleverly beaten on his debut by Rapor Money. His last performance was his best when he heat Baynda cleverly by three-parts of a length, with Galloper Light, from whom he was receiving 101b, beaten nep.rly three lengths, SASANOF. At the present time Sasanof is the best New Zealand-bred gelding standing on four legs, and as a horse that has proved his ability over nil distances, both in Australia' and in New Zealand he must rank with the best of the unsexed division that has ever graced the Australasion Turf. What his actual place is people may differ about, but ''Phaeton," in his interesting way, sums the matter up as follows:—"Some we to be found according the son of Martian first place even at this stage, so far as New Zealand is concerned, and such may not be going too far. As everybody abreast with the subject knows, it is always -unsatisfactory to offer a comparison between horses that have figured as racers at different peri'ods and who never met, but still it is interesting to just note the equine stars of the past and those in evidence at the present stage. Of the old-time geldings that figured on the New Zealand turf, Mata (by Dead Shot), who won the Dunedin Cup in two successive years and who subsequently won the Adelaide Cup. would probably be regarded as the most sensational performer. Bohrikoff was undoubtedly great up to a mile and ahalf, but, though he won over two miles, such was not gained/under weight-for-age conditions. Bob/ikon" was undoubtedly a great galloper, but it cannot be contended that he was a great stayer. Sasanof has the qualitv of being able to stay well. For a three-vear-old to win the Melbourne Cup under anv conditions is a noteworthy feat, for the Flemington race is invariably run at a cracking pace. Everybody knows Sasonof registered a victory in that important event at the age mentioned, and to find him putting up records over a mile and a mile and a-quarer at the close of his five-year-old career shows very clearly that he is wearing extremely well. Sasanof's exploits under silk this season undoubtedly give him a high place among the illustrious performers that have graced the scene in this particular Dominion, and it would appear only to be a question of health for him to gain further renown when he comes out at six years old." ANOTHER OPINION. "The Rook," a well-known and entertaining writer on the N.Z. Referee, thus voices his opinion: "At the present moment Sasanof is about the best horse in commission here, and it is doubtful if anything over in Australia could beat him at w.f.a. over a distance. The Martian—Ukraine gelding was a somewhat plain statement as a three and four-year-old, but there are no two ways about him now; the brown is good to look it, and it has been on very few occasions that The Rook has ever Been a fitter horse than G. Jones had the Thompson Handicap and Gold Cup winner last week. Sasanof is engaged in the Awapuni Gold Cup this week, and take a tip for once, don't back anything to beat him." Sasanof won the Awapuni Gold Cup, beating Desert Gold in 2min. 4 3-5 sec., equalling the Australasian record far a Bul« and a quarter.—Ed iter, ABOUT CARBINE. In a recent issue of the Sydney Referee "Musket" had the following about Carbine's first race: "Dan O'Brien said that Carbine, from the first moment of his being handled, was a kind horse and good doer. He was not called upon to make his debut under silk until December, and his first race was in the Hopeful Stakes, five fsxlongs,, wwth only £BS in the winner. O'Brien had other business, and could not be present at the maeting. Beyond rseehraug wwl;' that Carbine had won, be knew nothing of the cirauaatancM of the race. Just afterwards S. Mas«B, trainer far tbe late Mr. Q. G. Stead said: 1 h*ve bad a wire from tike bsss, asking tbat you should pat a price qb (S»t two-year-old.' O'Brien replied tbot Carbine was cot for sale. Mason was insistent, aad MjHh "Pat any price you Hk*; ask a thoosaad. Ti» tea is gang tt IbKbewot, Ml bt

is anxious to make up a tea.ni.' The owner of Carbine, however, refused to entertain the thought of a sale. Subsequently he met a friend, Mr. E. W. Roper, who had attended the races at Christchm-ch. Mr. Roper remarked that Carbine was a wonderful colt. O'Brien replied somewhat testily: 'I don't see anything in that performance to make him a wonder. 1 felt sure he would win.' Mr. Roper observed: 'lt appears to me you know nothing about it. The colt was left 00 yards behind at the start. I had my fiver on him, and thought what a shame it was. About the distance Carbine was coming so fast that people began to say what a good thing it would have been for liim had he got away decently. They did not think he had any hope of making up so much ground, yet in the end he simply walked in.' After this revelation Dan O'Brien readily understood the eagerness of Mr. Stead to buy Carbine." UNCLE NED. ;' The successes of the Marble Arch — i Lady Gladys gelding Uncle Ned in the ! Easter Handicap and St. George's Handicap at the A.R.C. autumn meeting lead an Auckland writer to look up the , performances of this plain looking "surprise packet." As a two-year-old Uncle • Ned was not bustled much, his three starts failing to bring shekels to his owner's pockets. At three years he was saddled up ten times, winning the Maiden at Te Aroha; the Komate Hack . Handicap at Paeroa; the Mt. Roskill Handicap at Avondale; and running two seconds and a third. His stake earnings totalled 400 sovs. His eleven starts at four years saw him first home in the Plumpton Handicap at Avondale, and the St. Andrew's Handicap at Takapuna. He was twice second and thrice third, and picked up SI!) sovs. This season f nele Ned has sported silk on twelve occasions, winning five races and being in second place twice. He won the . Christmas Handicap at the A.R.C. sum- , mer meeting; and the Mitchelson Cup a few days later on the same course. For the second time he filled the role of 1 runner-up in the Te Aroha Cup. but scored in the Goldfields Cup shortly afterwards. A second in the Thames Plate • followed, and he then went on and added the crowning laurels to a useful career by easily accounting for the Auckland , Easter Handicap and St. George's Handicap at Ellerslie. Stakes won totalled 2615 sovs. making a grand total of ; £3830 to date.