THE TURF

Evening Star, Issue 16677, 8 March 1918, Page 7

THE TURF

IGossir bx Old Identity.] Carol Singer, favorite for the Maiden at Akaroa, led into the last furlong, where All Pink challenged and won bV a nose. It was the mare’s first win. Bob Ellis now trails her for Mr Ainge. Harlequin had a very easy win in the Hack Welter, but, says the 1 Press,’ his supporters were fortunate in getting a dividend, as his rider, S. Walls, lost a leather and iron during the race, and it was only by the very narrowest margin that he could draw weight on returning to scale. He had not an ounce to spare. Disdainful led practically all the way in tho Peninsula Cup, but, though she won by a gorid margin, she was all out. There was very little between Achilledes, Bramblotye, and Comely for second place. F. D. Jones was so disappointed with Comely’s running that ho immediately telegraphed scratching her and Harlequin for all engagements at Wairarapa. Tlie Grand National winner Slaight-of-Hand, who lias been spelling since Marton, is again in work at Awapuni. After winning the Egmont Cup, Chortle broke down. The Multifid gelding this season won 1,22050vs in stakes. _ Pink Tie, by Multifid—Necktie, is putting up a successful record at the Auckland country meetings this season. She won a double at Bay of Plentv and Taumarunui, and scored her fifth win at Rotorua. Word is received from Queensland of the death of the Birkenhead horse Mischief, who had for some years been doing stud duty at Mr Frank Dailey’s establishment. _ Mischief never succeeded in getting anything nearly so brilliant as he himself was on the racecourse. It is doubtful, says the ‘Australasian,’ if Queensland ever possessed a more brilliant youngster and the pity of it was that he had not a sufficiently cast-iron constitution to enable him to stand up to the work required of him. Otherwise he would have been a racehorse of fame on the Australian turf. Mischief was bred in New Zealand, and was imported with a number of others of tho Birkenhead® bv Mr F. C. Cox. F. D. Jones has recommissioned Euripos, who looks in healthy condition after bis short respite. Charley has also been taken in hand again. The first Newmarket Handicap was run on March 7, 1874. Odds were laid on Mr James Wilsflh’« representative. Poodle, who was beaten into third place. Dr Bathe’s three-year-old fillies. Maid of Avenel and Atalanta, fought out the finish, the judge's verdict being a head in favor of Maid of Avcnol. The first Australian Cup, on March 28, 1863, was decided under tho auspices of the Victorian Turf Club, and was institutod in imitation of tho Oocdwood Cup in England. Barwon, the wanner, started at odds on and won all the way. Mormon was an accepter, but did not return m time from New Zealand to take part in the race.

Three imported horses have won the Australian Cup—Almissa in 1913, Lempriere in 1915, and Harriot Graham, last year.

“Goodwood” writes :—Desert Gold did not win the Futurity Stakes, but she went very near it. She failed bv a neck only to concede Wedge 131b, and Wedge ha« to bent the previous Caulfield “sevenfurlong record to win. Defeat in the circumstances was not disgrace. She did not have the best of the running in the race; but Wedge, for that matter, was disadvantaged at the start through « bump, which left him with' a lot of ground to make up. In the last half-mile ho must have given Desert Gold seven or eight lengths, so his performance was full of merit. He had, on the other hand, last run, and that meant a lot, as Desert Gold had successively to beat Yoorala, Remmon, and Hoprig. She had also to come out a little at the straight eqtrance. Wedge has often run out at- this spot, but on this occasion he m?.do the turn splendidly. His final effort was a very fine one, and he must have made exceptionally fast time for tho last two furlongs. According to Mr Heath, tho first furlong of the race took the next two furlongs 23Isec, and the final half-mile SOscc. Mr Lowry, the owner of Desert bold, took his defeat in a sportsmanlike spirit. Ho had no complaints of any sort to make as regards the riding or tlie luck of the race. He merely’remarked that'a time record had to be put up to beat his mare. In his opinion she ran a great race under her weight. That view was doubtless held by everybody who witnessed the race. Mr Lowry was greatly interested in Wedge as th-e Futurity Stakes winner was being walked round after the race. He wanted to feast his eyes on the horse that had beaten his mare. Wedge is a tall, powerful-looking black, not as handsome as Desert Gold, but with several good points to recommend him. What I liked about Desert Gold was the wav she struggled on when caught by Wedge. There was-no sign of caving in.' ° “Wedge descends ou his dam’s side from Carbine, for his dam is by Wallace. Beltane and Kill’em, after their racingat Caulfield on February 25. were sold to Mr S. P. Mackay. r Ths New Zealand-bred gelding Now York'had rather a lucky win in the Stanle\ Steeplechase at Caulfield on February 23. The ‘ Australasian ’ says : Tire Stanley Steeplechase provided one cf the best races seen over fences at Caulfield for many a long day. Now York and Pinon set such a pace that they soon had the field strung out, and in the end the time record for the race was beaten. New York won, but Pinon was unlucky to lose. New York appeared to have Mr Miller’s gelding beaten at the distance, and his r;der (H. Thompson) stopped ridinn- f ox a. few strides. A little farther on‘New York commenced to stop badly. Thompson, getting to work again, pushed Pinon along, and only failed to catch up by a, short nock. A stride past the post Pinon ■was in front. A pot of Duoedin money was !o=t at Gore over the defeat of Thnddeus and Tho "White Kin,s’. Much satisfaction is expressed ip Dunedin at the news that the Australrin Gup, the hig back-end long-distance handican, wn» won by Defence, “the last of the Carbines.” It is too early to cay much about tho O.J C. weights for Easter, hut I ppto that Rcike’s Drift has now drifted" into the seven stone division, and that Killard’s D.J.C. Handicap win has not lifted him out of the sixes.