SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1919, Page 8

SPORTING.

THE CUP. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney# Nov. 5. The Herald describes the Cup as a well* conditioned field and* splendid start. Courng dowo the straight Millleino took charge and, with British Arch, Telecles, and Dick Meagher rattled past the judge's box. At the turn Telecles was in command and when Artilleryman worked his way through the field In a few strides Telecles was in difficulties. With a brilliant run on the rails Artilleryman &wung into the home stretch with Richmond Main, Chrome, Lucknow, and Two Blues in hopeless pursuit. The Telegraph says that no easier victory has been scored for years Passing the sheds Lewis got a remarkable opening and took Artilleryman to the front and, after a brilliant and sensational run won easiiy. METROPOLITAN TROTTING OLUB, ACCEPTANCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch. l*ast Night. The acceptances for the Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting are:— NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP.—Author Dillon, Matchlight, Albert Clin?, Trlx Pointer, Don Caesar, Sherwood, John Dillon, Agothos, Erin's Queen, Mintson. SPRING HANDICAP. One mile and five furlongs.—Lord Roanchild scr. f Bainamoan Usees., Treasure Seeker, Mushroom 5, Ben Bell 6, Chub, Te Kultl, Colonel Havelock 7, Miss! Salisbury, Marvin Junior 8, Grattan Abbey, Miss Lctrna 9, Tonight, Succory, Jessie's Dream, Peter Jlmmermaq, Rita Rose, Dragoon Jnr., Lovebird 10. BMPI"*3 HANDICAP. Two miles.—Granger scr., Sihor Nut, Schnapps 550c3., Dillon Edy, Mahunga 6, The Whip, Blue Chimes, Lady Wayward, Will o' the Wisp, Ouimet 8, Irvingwood, Calton 9, RICCARTON HANDICAP. One mile and five furlongs.—Admiral Wood 2secs., Tommy C. I Cora Dillon 5, Huon Patch 6, Cello Sydney Wilkes, Nancy Stair, Hectorata 7, Dean Dillon, Bundura 8, Star Queen, Rorke's Drift, Captain Stanley 9. MIDDLETON HANDICAP. Two miles.—Rita Peter scr., Nelson Bingen, Red Heather 3secs., Whist King, Capitalist 5, Olive L G, Gay Wilkes, Imperial Crown, Electrocute 7, Paul Huon 9, Lady Patricia, Windmill 10, Beeswing 11. VICTORIA HANDICAP. Two miles.—Sympathy, Caprlcio scr., Jack Arrah, Nora Crelna, Rita Peter lsec, Brown's Nugget 2, Gleaming 3, Sir Fulham 3, Dandy Chimes, George Hard, Legacy 4. ST ALBANS' HANDICAP. One mile.— Cora Dillon scr., Ariadne, Lord Dillon 2secs., Captain Stanley. Frank Tracey 3, Xavler, I Proud Spring, King Karri 4, All Bell, Birdwood, Pleasant Mount 5. i HAGLEY HANDICAP. One mile and a quarter—Admiral Wood 2secs., Chid, Sashwood, Sunyod 4, Vice Admiral 5, Tamarisk, Rorkc's Drift, Bundong 6, Pax, Capriclo, Pitaron, Mako Mako 7. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The appearance of final payments for the New Zeahmd Cup this morning should just about settle aJI doubts «is to the likely strength of 'the field in next Saturday's big handicap, and interest in the Cup will be considerably increased. The sudden change in tho weather in Christchurch points to the track being holding, if not heavy, and the chances of the top-weights will bo lessened in consequence. Gay Lad is said to be as much a* home iu the mud as on the top of the ground, and is likely to see a very short price on the day, but several other—notably Nobleman —will lose i'riend3 in consequence of the state of the t;oing. The triumph of the thrce-ycar-nlds, Artilleryman and fcichmoud Main, in the Melbourne r up upset the idea ihat the dead-heaters in tho A.J.C. Derby wero not high-class horses. The Melbourne Cup field was a strong one, Including as it did such proved stayers as Kennaquhair, Nlghiwatch, Lucknow, Snub, and others, as weli as Kenllford, Ard-na-ree, and a number of promising lightweights. The threo-yoar-olds not only won, but won well, and in record time, and can be no possible doubt as to their superiority. The records of the Cup show that of 57 contests, three-year-olds have won 18. This year's Melbourne Cup was worth £7OOO, with a sweepstake of 50 sovs each (twenty runners), and a cup valued at 15(1 sovs. When Carbine, Malvollo, Glenloih, and Tareola won it was worth £IO,OOO, but during the war the VR C, in consequence of giving profits to tho patriotic funds, reduced the added money to £tiooo.

Previous to Artilleryman's 3.24% on Tuesday, tiie record for the race was held by Nightwatch, who won in 1918 in 3 25%. On these figures the horses of to-day cannot ho said io have deteriorated. In fact they would have been able to give many of the old-time "champions" half a furlong start and a beating. Artilleryman's defeat by Richmond Main in thtf V.R.C. Derby, though only a matter of half-a-length, must have puzzled punters, when the Melbourne Cup problem enme to be tackled. Though eighteen Cups have fallen to three-year-olds it is remarkable that since 1894 only five V.R C. Derby winners have won the two miles race. They were is'ewhaven. Merrlwee, Poseidon, Prince Foote, and Patrobaa. Possibly their Derby efforts have unfitted tlujm for a gruelling Cup race three days later, but at any rate, the longer race should see the survival of the fittest.

Sydney horses have done well In the Melbourne Cup, having won eleven of the last seventeen contests. Artilleryman races In the nomination of Sir Samuel izordern and Mr. A. D. Murphy, and so keen was tho firstnamed Sydney sportsman on winning the Cup that he purchased a second string, Kenllford, runner-up to Rebus in tho Metropolitan, for 3000 guineas, in order to win. That the outlay was not needed is now evident, but Hordern's gameness was rewarded In some measure.

The V.R.C. spring meeting will be continued at Flemington to-day when the Linlithgow Stakes, 1 mile; Veteran Stakes, lVa miles; Carnival Handicap, 1% miles, and Mimosa Stakes, 6 furlongs, will engage attention. Beltane and Silent Way are engaged in the Hurdle Race (3 miles), and Delight in tho Mimosa Stakes. vHymestra may takeon Artillerymamn, Richmond Main, Cetigne, Wolaroi, and Euseblus in the Linlithgow Stakes, and Rebuff Scornful, and British Arch nro in the Carnival Handicap. Snub, The Toff, and Brit-* lsh Arch figure in the Veterans' StaKes. The ' meeting will be concluded on Saturday. Marqueteur Is being quietly backed for the j Mitchelson Cup, jfhd has been c.nuyied with' Jutland for a heap of money. Marqueteur's recent running does not suggest that ho is in the same class as Some Boy, but money talks loudly in betting transactions nowadays. Mention of Mr. Alison's importation, Some Boy, and the change of name to Some Boy 11., cannot pass without comment, and this practice of naming horses by numbers Is one that should be put down with a. firm hand. U was disallowed years ago, and no exceptions should be made now. Why not call the horse "Some Other Boy?" That swindling still goes on in betting was shown last week when a crowd of shrewdies In a .down-the-lino town got a "lively wire" through with the result of the race, It was only a couple of minutes after starting time, but most of the big layers refused business. Ono of the small fry, however, took everything that came along, being fully aware that the horse had actually won. When the shrewdies camo to collect they were met with a flat refusal" to pay or even refund investments. Tho layer told them point blank, "You thought you were putting it on to me. Well, you put it on to yourselves. You're paid!" There are a few angry punters down that way now, but the layer can lay on "stoush" as well as 011 races, and they are left to ponder deeply over a swindle that rebounded on the swindlers themselves. it served them right, tool