SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1922, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING IN AUSTRALIA. < V.R.C. MEETING OPENS. By Telcxrraizh. —Press Aasn.—Copyright. Received July 2, 5.5 pun. . Melbourne. July 1, The Victorian Racing Club's Grand National meeting opened to-day. Rain commenced soon after the start of the meeting, and interfered with the racing. ‘Results:— GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES, of 1750 so vs. Three miles. —Fiscom, 11.6 (Mooney) 1: Roisel, 10.4 (Reid) 2; Rahda, 9.13 (Spain) 3. All started. Bright Plume got away best, but soon gave place to Cunning Fox. Fiscom headed a bunched field the first time round at the home turn, and continued to hold the lead from Well-off, Roisel and) Beltane. Seven furlongs from home Beltane went up into second place, followed by Roisel and Rahda. Fiscom slightly led Roisel round the turn and landed first on the flat, winning by two Time, smin. 41sec. Cunning Fox fell and Bright Plume lost its rider/ RACING IN ENGLAND. Received July 2, 11.5 p.m. London, July 1. Lord Glanely has sold Sceptre for £5OO to a Brazilian buyer. The marc has failed to breed in recent years. There is general regret in racing circles that Sceptre is leaving the country, as it was expected she would be buried at Danebury, where the bay Middleton is buried. TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) The acceptances received on Friday night for the Wellington Winter meeting, which opens on Saturday next, are first-claas. Sixteen remain in the Wellington Steeplechase (three miles). Including Coalition, Ngata, Sen De'il, Kohu, Khartoum, and Red Cent. The Winter Hurdles (two and a quarter miles) has attracted 21, and amongst the number are Paonui, Volo, Gladful, No Bother, Alteration, and Sea De’il, the most notable absentees being Ngata, Fisher, Omahu, and Explorer. A big field of 28 is promised for the Charity Cup (one mile), and good ones engaged include Tame Fox, Dainty Step, Printemps, Heather Sprig, Royal Box, Gold Kip, Demos; Arch Salute, Tenterfield, Strategy, Whipping Boy, etc. On the face of it, the Wellington treble looks a hard one to pick. Possibly Coalition and Sea De’il will be best backed in the Steeples; Paonui and Sea De’il in the Winter Hurdles; and Tame Fox, Royal Box and Strategy in the Charity Cup. All the minor events have filled well, the Vittoria Hurdles (a mile and three-quarters) attracting 17; the Hack and Hunters’ Steeples (two miles, five furlongs), 15; the Stewards’ Handicap (six furlongs). 24; and the Te Aro Handicap (six furlongs), 25. Horses that appear to be well placed in the above events and Ruatara and Passenger (Hurdles) ; Hyginas and Grand Canyon (Steeples) ; Weldone and Cold Steel (Stewards’ Handicap) ; and L'Amour and Wrangle (Te Aro Handicap).

Died at Palmerston on Friday evening, aft.r a long illness, Mr. W. J. Phillips, one of the best known and straightest sportsmen on this coast. The late Mr. Phillips was a prominent member of the Rangitikei and Feildlng racing clubs, and raced several horses, the best of which was Nobleman, who won two Manawatu Cups. The funeral takes place at Sanson this (Monday) afternoon.