SPORTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9641, 5 November 1909, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING. | V.R.C. MEETING. By Telegraph— Press Association. Received November 4, 6.40 p.m. MELBOURNE. November 4. At Flemington to-day the weather was hot and sunny. The New Zealand bred Haermi performed poorly in the Hurdb Race, cantering nearly to the last. Manganits, by Machine Gun, was sixth in n field of eight in the Mimosa Stakes. Kerlie was greatly fancied for the Linlithgow Stakes. He led at the start, but apparently got bumped a furlong later dropping back last. Recovering he mads a fight in the straight, but Dhobi, who was fresh, beat him at the finish with plenty to spare. In the Carnival Handicap the New Zealand sired Golden Slipper, Waipuna and Seddon failed to do anything startling. The Oaks saw only three horses face the starter, Lady San winning in fairly fast time. Results:— Hurdle Race.—Vernier, 10.13, 1; Last Mistake, 11.12, 2; Coir, 16.7, 3: Nine others ran. Won by a length. Time, 3min 49Jsec. Mimosa Stages.— La v i 1, Des-trt Rose 2, Plamen R. Five nthero ran. Won by a length and a half. Time, Imin 17sec. Linlithgow Stakes.—Dhobi 1, Kerlie 2, Knox 3. Other starters— Pink-'an, Parsee, lolaire, Motoa, Son ofa Gun, Enchanteur, Mindful, Lady Rueoalf. From a good start Kerlie and Pink-'un were first away, and maintained a good position. Motoa •led into the straight. Kerlie came fast but Dhobi shot out at the grandstand and won by three lengths, threequarters of a length being between second and third. Pink-'un was fifth and Motoa sixth. Time, lmin 4 Usee. Carnival Handicap —True Scot, 8.8, 1; Britain, 7.2, 2; Winteriga, <6.9, 3. Eight others started. Mala was in the lead for the greater part of the time. True Scot, full of running, won by 'half a length, two and a half lengths being between second and third horses Waipuna wa* sixth, Seddon ninth and Golden Slipper last. Time, 2min 7J sec. Oaks.—Lady San (Smith) 1, Byplay (Wood) 2, Vivacious (Pratt) 3. Vivacious made the most of the running at a smart pace. At the five furlongs post all raced together. Lady San came away in tbj straight and won by a lengch. from Byplay, Vivacious ten lengths off third. Time. 2min 37|sec. Veteran Handicap.—Mushka, 8,5, 1.; Woorooma, 7.3,2; Footpad, 7.1, 3. Other starters—Kooringa, Crofton, Trelo Vouni, Pendower, nidi, Memnon, Idyll,Kaitanga. Idyll headed the field for a furlong, and occupied a good position till the straight was reached, Nushka then made a run winning by half a neck, a neck between second and third. Idyll was laat. Time, 2min 36Jsec.

TURF NOTES. (By ''Zetland"). The New Zealand Cup—the event of the year that causes such enthusiasm on the part of thousands of the sporting public throughout the Dominion—will be run at Riccarton to-morrow. The final acceptances resulted in the list of probable starters being reduced to eighteen and it is fully expected that at least fifteen will face the barrier for the strenuous contest of two miles. The issue is decidedly in doubt, for although at least three of the much fancied candidates have been doing exceptionally good work on the training tracks, the fact is not being forgotten that on the last three occasions of the Cup being decided the numbers of the leading favourites were not those hoisted at the conclusion of the exciting event. The extreme difficulty of selecting winners is often exemplified in connection with the New Zealand oup, For nearly five months many sportsmen use theirutmost endeavours to find the moat likely candidates to score, the news relative to the final gallops at Riccarton is eagerly read, and on the eventful day thousands make their final selections when the contestants are paraded before their eyes. "The Roar of the Ring" and the figures exhibited on the totalisator point to the chances of the starters from the public idea, and also from the weight of public coin. But when the winner flashes past the post, what do we often find? Well, that a comparative outsider has triumphed, and the result a decided surprise. Such may not be the case to-morrow, and naturally there will be more jubilation if the winner comes from among the top weights, for they have indeed been heavily backed. All Red, who heads the list with 9.5 is a leading selection, and although the Cup has never been won by a horse carrying more than 8.9, his admirers consider he is capable of breaking the unbroken spell of twenty-seven year?. BobrikolT, 8.13, has been doing record breaking gallops on the track, and may go to the post favourite Hus bandman, 8.8, is Sir George Clifford's selectad, while Downfall, ■ 8.6. is a stable companion of BobrikoT, and *won the race last; year. Bollin, 7.10, as owned by the Hon. J. D. Ormond, anl is the best stayer of a very strong stable, and Sir Prize, 7.9, ichieved distinction By winning the

last Wanganui Cup under the name of Kilmarnock. He is said to be a very fine stayer. Merrie Zealand, 7.9, is the only Wairarapa candidate :in the race, but nothing is known by the public as tu his actual staying ability. Roosevelt, 7.9, has shown good fo-m up to a mile and a quarter, and Prim, 7.5, is bred on stout lines, and is said to be very well. Sandstream, 7.7, has winning form to recommend him, and is One that has undergone a very strong preparation. Grand Slam, 7.2, will be making his third attempt to win the race, and Lady Lucy, 7.1, will represent the stable that in recent years raced St. Joe, Apa and Frisco. F. Tilley has the little m?re in splendid fettle. Taskmaster, 6 13, isconsidered to be an unlikely starter, while Field Gun, 6.10. Tikitere, 6.8, Lawn Rose 6.7, Merrivonia, 6.7, arid Boutade, 6.7, form the lightweight division fron. which the pacemakers generally come. Taken altogether . the field is a fairly strong one, and it is on the cards that the contest of 1909 will be a keen one.

RICCAKTON TRAINING NOTES ' FAST TIMES RECORDED. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHKISTCHURCH, November 4. The weather at Riccarton this morning was bsautiful, and the tracks were in excellent order. Prim was sent a mile and thresquarters, doing the last mile and a half in 2min 45 l-ssec. but tiring at the finish. Husbandman beat TaskmaHt-ir over a mile and a quarter, run in 2min 14sec. Penates covered five furlongs in lmin 3 4-ssec, finishing well. All Red was given a working gallop of a mile and a half, the last eight furlongs being done in lmin 51sec. Full Sail beat Stratagem over a mile. Tikitere galloped a mile and a quarter in 2min 16 3-sse?. Daybeam beat Gold Thread over six furlongs, runing lmin 18 2 ssec. Federal covered half a mile in 48£ sec, and Gold Crest went the same distance in 51 4-ssec. Merrie Zealand and Lawn Rose were sent a mile and a quarter, covering the last mile in lmin 48 3-ssec. Dolce beat Celaeno in a six furlong spin, which took lmin 17£ sec, and Boutade ran a mile in lmin 42 1 ssec. Grand Slam, going lazily, took lmin 51sec to run a mile. Downfall gave Sandstream a decisive beating over a mile and a naif, which was accomplished in 2min 38 2-ssec. Downfall finished well, but Sandstream is apparently going off. Bollin, Elysian and Diamond Star covered a mile and a quarter in 2min 15 4-ssec, Elysian and Diamond Star going best. Passion beat Wet Day over five furlongs, in lmin 3sec. Bobrikoff and Multiple ran a mile and a half, cutting out the distance in 2min 31 4-ssec—easily a record for the track. Bobrikoff was fully shod, but onlv carried about 6.4. It was a remarkable gallop, and created a sensation among the track watchers.

Lady Lucy, Roosevelt and Sir Prize ran a mile and a half in 2min 4lsec. Muskerry gave Kilindini several lengths start, and beat her easily over a mile run in Imin 34sec. FEILDING NOMINATIONS. Nominations for all events except the Maiden Hack Scurry to be run at the Feilding Jockey Club's Spring Meeting close with the Secretary, Mr E. Goodbehere, Feilding. at 8.30 o'clock, to night.