SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

riccarton notes. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Not. 1. The weather was fine at Riccarton early this morning, but during the breakfast Interval light rain started, but so far there has not been enough to have any appreciable effect on the tracks, which were hard. This morning’s work was very - uninteresting. Rational did three furlongs in 42 sec. Pawdry and Heathcote ran four furlongs in 52sec. Wink covered six furlongs in 1 mln. 19 3-5 sec. Tenterfield did two strong rounds, the last five furlongs tn 1 mln. 8 sec. Most of the previous day’s arrivals were given useful pacework, but the majority of the horses that worked yesterdav had an easy time. * Old Gold jumped two hurdles, and Cerberus did the same. The two-year-old Bathos was not on the track, being lame, and it is doubtful whether he will be a starter in the Welcome Stakes. ELLERSLIE TRAINING NOTES. Auckland, Nov. 1. Showers fell at Ellerslie this morning, but the work as a whole was confined to steady pacing on the sand and the tan. No. 3 grass track was available for galloping, but the only ones to go fast were: Royal Present, who covered three furlongs in 40sec.; Shortland, five furlongs in Imln. 8 2-ssec.; Bonn}’ Canny and Sundaur did four furlongs in 52 l-ssec. Polthogue and Kato jumped four hurdles and gave a fair display. NOTES FROM MELBOURNE. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 1, 10.10 p.m. Melbourne, Nov. 1. Steel Gold has been scratched for the Derby. V. Sleigh will ride Stare in the Melbourne Cup and Molyneaux in the Cantala Stakes. E. Bowden has arrived from Perth. He will ride Easingwold in the Cantala Stakes.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa..”) The New Zealand Cup Is now the principal topic in racing circles, though the field for next Saturday's race is a poor one for such a splendid stake. Only fourteen remain in at present, and it looks as if the writer’s prediction of a dozen runners is likely to be fulfilled. Of those left in, only one (I believe) has ever won over the distance, and at least half a dozen have yet to prove their ability to get beyond ten furlongs. Viewed from all points of the compass they are a poor lot, and it looks as Jf the conservative Canterbury is going to take second place to progressive Auckland in the matter of quantity and quality in distance events. Monday’s final payment accounted for Rouen, Admiral CodringtOn. Penitent, and Many Kittle, and previous senatchings were Insurrection and Taipalru. The latest quotations place Cupldon and Foo Chow at the head of affairs, with Royal Box. Marqueteur, Equitable and Festivity next. In "doubles” with The Hawk, Rational, and one or two others, Marqueteur, Foo Chow, and Cupfldon are quoted as "full books.” Present day Bar Vons are a weakkneed crowd 1 Here is a "double” with the first "leg” as "openf' as the wide, wide sea •„ with every possibility of a "boll over,” and yet they are not game to go on with it! Cupidon probably holds his place in the betting because R. ,T. Mason is behind him, though (on paper) he is not by any means thrown into the race. His condition may stand to him, however, and he is the only horse that has raced over a. distance of ground this season. Foo Chow has bean doing good work, and his recent victory in the Ranglora Cup suggests that he is in good form. Whether he will run out two miles remains to be seen. Royal Box is a horse that has been going to * do wonders, but has done practically nothing. He has been a royal winner for "the books,” but for no one else. Marqueteur—well, now you've got one thinking. He’s a great horse, and a winner up to a mile and a half. Unless the pace is very solid he should be well in the picture when the straight is reached the last time. Equitable has done nothing to warrant his position in the betting market, and the other Hallowmas gelding, Festivity, reads miles better. Muraahi, if judiciously ridden, would have a chance, as would Tenterfleld. Trespass lias too much weight, and Royal Star (last year’s winner) should beat him. Roseday is more of a sprinter than a stayer, and Scion, Kilgour and Almoner do not catch the eye as likely winners. As the field now stands the issue appears to be very open Indeed, but training gallops may shed same light upon the vexed question before next Saturday. Owners’ response in the Stewards’ Handicap was a remarkable one, twenty-three of twentyfive being paid up for, the only absentees being Canyon and Moutoa’s Gift, both .of which were on th© minimum. In most places The Hawk is a strong favorite, but Rational, Epitaph, and Glentruin are well supported. From all accounts The Hawk is galloping at his best, and many good judges consider that Epitaph will be his toughest opponent. From Bst. up they are a good, even lot, but below that the likely ones are few. Some of the minor heats at Riccarton look easy—on paper. Tinihanga should run well in the Spring Plate: Joy Ride In the Apprentices’ Handicap; and Bonnie Heather In the Riccarton Welter. The classics will only draw small fields. Bathos looks like being prominent at the end of the Welcome Stakes, and Enthusiasm should show up in the Derby and Oaks. Rapine's defection from the Derby has imade things easier for the Fordell filly. Ashhurst nominations are good all round, and the open races have attracted such horses as Prlntemps, Paonui, Bitters. Ambitious, Civilform, Backsheesh, Nursing Sister, Mark Time and Kikini. The hack fields run frem 20 to 36, and contain a sprinkling of Taranaki prads. A feature of the New Zealand Cup field Is that all the acceptors are geldings. Festivity finished with a surprising burst of speed in the Wairarapa Cup. A rider in the race told the writer that he had never seen a horae leave the rest of the field "standing still” in such convincing fashion. Miss Roseland, who won three races at Gisborne last week, is likely to race on this coast during the holidays. Mr. George Gillett has made arrangements for the mare to go into a Feilding stable, and probably H. King will have charge of her during the next few months.

HECTOR GRAY’S LUCK. A private letter received from Hector Gray states that he was given a pleasant surprise by Lady Cunllffe Owen, for whom he was She asked his opinion about backing her horse heavily, but he declared the horse could not win. . "Hec.” said if she intended backing it he would prefer to ‘‘look on” and let someone else have the mount. The owner accepted his advice, and the horse ran third. The next day "Hec." declared his mount was fit, and could win. Her ladyship backed the horse heavily, and duly landed. A little later on lie received a telephone message from a garage, and was invited to call. On his arrival there he was asked by the grateful lady to pick out the finest car m the garage and Take It as a gift- The New Zealand jockey sorted out a £2OOO car and drove home in high glee. Gray’s opinion is that the New Zealand trainers know a good deal more about the preparation of horses than they do in England where their methods are obsolete. His B on Joe Is following In his father’s footsteps, and will shortly be ready for his first mount.

NEW ZEALAND JOCKEYS IN SYDNEY. In referring to the much-discussed point as to the standard of the New Zealand jockey, G. Young, "Pilot,” of the Sydney Referee, who always seeks to be fair in his comments, writes:—"Some of New Zealand’s turf writers take exception to the suggestion that A. Wood outrode G. Young at the finish of the Spring Stakes at Randwick. Now, while of the opinion that the luck of that tuu waa agalaat Yeung aad net finding the

least fault with the way he handled Gloaming from the time he started the back stretch until he entered the straight, he did not shine by comparison with Wood when it came to a tussle over the last bit. Young is not such an artistic finisher as Wood, and I fancy most New Zealanders who were present at Randwick would admit it. Nor does such a statement discredit Young, who has a long way to go before he has the experience ? of Wood, than whom there is no better rider - in New South Wales. Discussing New Zeas land and Australian jockeys the other day, I t heard a New Zealander—one genuinely quaii- - fled to give an opinion—say:—‘From what I have seen, 1 reckon our Jockeys are just as good through a race, but at the finish yours 1 appear to be a bit the better.' R. Reed rode well during his stay in Sydney, but it struck ’ me that even he was not quite as good at I a finish as some of our best.” P THE MELBOURNE CUP. f Sydney papers to hand by this week’s mail i Show that David holds his position firmly as favorite for the Melbourne Cup, Lut. though i a proved stayer, there is no strong desire to r boom him extensively. In the first plate David has his full quota of weight with 9.3, and then, again, he will quickly lose a position if only slightly interfered with. In other words, a big field is not to the advantage of David. Well, that is what, is to be expected in a Melbourne Cup, and, what Is more, with the first, six furlongs run always • at the speed of a Newmarket Handicap. Har- . vest King (9.1) showed himself up in the . light of a stayer last autumn, and he may > be expected to play his part well. Wirraway , (8.8), a five-year-old gelding by October from Clonsilla, is ticked off to render a good account of himself. The New Zealand mare Radiant Light, who was bought recently by the New South Wales sportsman, Mr. A. P. Wade, at the sale of Mr. W. Q. Stead’s horses in Sydney for something like 2000gns. has been sent across to Flemington. The daughter of Demosthenes won four races In New Zealand last year, but there was nothing of the impressive order about, her form, and one would require to know a lot more about her ability as a galloper before singing her praises in a high key for a Melbourne Cup, in which she is called upon to carry an impost within 81b of weight-for-age. With regard to the three-year-old division, Rivoli (winner of the A.J.C. Derby), Soorak (winner of the Caulfield Guineas), and Whittier (winner of the Caulfield Cup) are engaged, and they all now figure at the same weight—7.6. - Rivoli and Whittier, having each won over a mile and a-half, are the pair most likely to see out the Cup Journey, but none of the number is estimated up to the standard of Poseidon or Artilleryman. "SPORTS” HELP PRISONERS. A meeting of members of Melbourne Tattersalls Club recently took a unique turn. The Governor of Pentrldge Gaol, Mr. T. Conder, took the floor, and spoke a few words on behalf of those who were "down and out” at Pentridge. Punishment was, he said, no deter- I rent to crime. He wondered how many perfectly sane, normal people went to gaol. He should say not one in ten thousand. It was therefore necessary for them to do everything possible to see that after their period of detention, the prisoners were turned out decent citizens. If they did not do that their system was wrong to Billy O One of the most harmonising things was work, and next to that was music. Out in Pentridge they did not. have a plarto, and he appealed to the members to provide three pianos. They wanted a band at Pentridge. (Applause.) The chairman said he would be glad to receive contributions, and those present promised varying sums, amounting In all to £ll2 10s. Mr. Conder, in returning thanks, said the generosity of members would make 500 people happy. "Good luck and God bless you.” he added, "but if you get into my hands, God help you.” (Loud laughter.) "BUYING” MOUNTS. "Buying” of mounts is skid to be rife in certain parts of Australia. According to a Sydney paper one rider in Brisbane is credited with having brought the business to a fine art. He has a big following of punters, and when any horse has shown possible winning form, or a good gallop in private, he is in the position to offer a substantial "cut” from his punters if given the mount.

The New Zealand Jockey, 11. Gray, recently had another Interview with the stewards In England. At Gatwick on September I Mrs. H. Nugent’s gelding Desire was supposed to be a certainty for the Tilgate Handicap, this on the strength of a good run at Hurst Park. He was backed down to a short price, but. could only run a poor third. The stewards subsequently asked the trainer (Sir H. Nugent) and rider (Gray) for an explanation of the difference in. Desire’s form, and accepted the explanation as satisfactory F. Voight, the New Zealand light-weight, made a successful debut on an English racecourse on September 1, when he steered Rock Fire, to victory in the principal event at Haydock Park, says the London Sportsman. Voight is attached to Leach’s Newmarket stable, whose first Jockey, H. Gray, another New Zealander. has also done good service for O. Bell. Rock Fire’s trainer. The newly-organljied Illinois Jockey Club, it is reported, is planning a. revival of the American Derby next June as a sort of preliminary to the opening of a proposed 11.600,000 dollar racing and amusement plant, plans for ulhich are said to have been drawn and financial backing secured. The Derby revival will he run, it is said, without any attempt at . betting, and entries will he sent from all the big eastern and southern tracks. The American Derby was last run in 1904 at Washington : Park, when Highball won. It Is said a thou- ! sand Chicago "business men,” members of the Illinois Jockey Chib, have pledged a sum of money sufficient to provide for all expenses necessary to the revival of racing there on a scale comparable with that in New York. A purse of 100,000 dollars will be given in the Derby renewal, the largest amount on record for an event of the kind.

One of the biggest betting coups that have ever been worked on a pony racecourse was brought off recently at the Wyong races, when Aymerl won the 14.2 Malden Handicap (remarks the Melbourne Leader). Tt is estimated that between £lO,OOO and £15,000 was won over this niare’s success. The bookmakers in the city were besieged by commissioners from the stable at a given time, and many hundreds of pounds wore staked. In addition, a large commission was sent to the course, and the mare was hacked down to a short price. Aymerl was purchased for £25 by her present owner. In Natal, South Africa, the clubs deduct per cent, from the totalisator turnover. Of this, the Government takes 6VI per cent, and the clubs retain the other 6VI per cent. The working expenses come to about 2 per cent., and the clubs have to pay this out of their share. The Durban clubs reckon they are not. fairly treated, and their representatives are asking the Government to make an alteration. It is suggested that the working expenses should first be deducted and the remainder divided between the Government and the cluhs. The Durban clubs are better off than those of Sydney (remarks the Referee), which have to pay all working expenses out of the 3% per cent, and fractions they are allowed, while the Government gets 9 per cent, as its share. It has not to pay a penny fur collection either.

It is surprising the class of men who find their way into the turf advisory business in England. One of the latest advertising in London papers is the famous boxing referee, Eugene Corri. He is associated with a firm which advertises as the Eugene Corri Turf Broadcasting Agency, and "certainties” are promised, at. 21s a time. The fact that he is the Corri of boxing referee fame is specially stressed in the advertisements.

In England jockeys last longer than in Australia, but even there some drop out. in remarkable fashion after attaining prominence. H. Jones, who won the Derby on Diamond Jubilee in 1900, has been riding his share of winners this season, but, on the other hand, K. Wheatley, who, with a total of 124, headed the winning jockeys’ list In 1905, scored his first win this year on the sth of last month at Derby. It was only his twelfth mount of the season, a fact in a measure due to ill-health.

Eurythmie has the record of having won 10 of the 11 races he has contested at Caulfield, and when he was defeated there it was only toy the narrow margin of half a Moll,