THE WORLD OF SPORT

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2314, 5 December 1925, Page 11

THE WORLD OF SPORT

(From Our Own Correspondents) October 22nd 1925. Surprise Packets. Quito apart from tho Cosarewitch result (writes Centaur, our racing correspondent), there were several surprising happenings at the First October Newmarket meeting. If the defeat of Saucy Sue was mntiiy staggering the downfall of Lord Woolavington’s Coronach, who had previously singled himself out as the best two.year-old of the season, in the Middle Park Plate, which is regarded as the Juvenile Derby, was like a crash of .some thunderbolt. One ought, of corns to be inurof to I surprises of all sir.es and sorts,, but j the day will never como when we can accept such a defeat, say, as that of Coronach, and remain rjimovod. Otherwise racing would not be racing. It would be something dull and colourless. The defeat of Coronach was far more gravely important than what occurred to Saucy Sue. This filly, as wo know, had conquered in easy fields against very meliorate ones of her own sex. Her reputation had been cheaply earned, though she will go down in Turf history as the winner of a couple or classic races. At Doncaster —where her first defeat was brought about —she had been beaten by the distance or a mile and three quarters rather than by Juldi. On the latest occasion she was pitted against some colts of class of her own age. It may nave been thought that she would puil though easily enough over a mile and a quarter,, but though her downfall involves her in much loss of caste, and calls for some modification oi the eulogies showered on her while she was supreme, we have to aaralt that her eclipse is as nothing in a comparative sense to the tragedy of Coronach. The weather and the going did all they could for the colt. Rainfall in i London missed Newmaru.. ,and the turf therefore remained in excellent condition. Lord Aster's Swift and sure was an intended runner, but eleventh-hour coughing caused his withdrawal. Apparently there was no limit to the overpowing turo of the unbeaten Coronach. Two owners, however, there were who could not bo daunted. They wore Lord Glanely and Sir Abe Bailey They ran Tenacity and Lex respectively. What is more Sir Abe had the temerity to hack his horse. Ho at least, had cause for hilarity wnen it was all over. Tho favourite looked splendid, and was generally admired as a most imposing example of the big colt of high merit find pronounc. ed character. There was a rum out that he had had a slight .cough,- but I am sure no sort of excuse could b'e advanced for Coronach on tho score of lack of condition. He had all the appearance of being a perfectly trained horse, and no suspicion ot the shock In store was suggested as he cantered to the post. Lex is a very attractive creature, too, but ha locks the scope and immense liberty of the other one. A Debacle,

Moreover, Coronach had already accounted for him in unmistakable fashion in the race for the Cham, pagne Stakes at Doncaster, where, aa now, they met at level weights. It was a pity that, in a field of three, there should have occurred a false start. True, they did not go far, nut Coronach, in particular, resented the sharp restraint of pulling up. The ‘incident possibly upset him more than it did the other two. When they were allowed to go. Lex jumped off smartly, but oßary, his jockey deliberately pulled him in behind them. Meanwhile. Coronach set a firm gallop, with Archibald having to maintain a strong grip of him. Halfway down Bushes Hill, Beary showed his hand. He brought up Lex with a steady run which carried him up to the others. There was then then very little between the three, and you expected the favourite to shoot out the instant his jockey asked him to do so. All the while Lex was continuing his strong run. The- first inkling of trouble occurred when Archibald began to rido with his hand. He had ceased to have occasion to ride CorPnach “on the bit’’, and though there was some response it was not the real thing. And so at once it became a most serious duel. Lex had got In that invaluable first run thanks to tho tactics employed. Sir Abe’s colt may not have given the other much room, but they were never In danger of touchingWhips came out, and I suppose for the first time Coronach felt one. He appeared to race on gamely enough, and there was no question of shirking the pressure. Yet he was a neck behind as the winning post was reached. By a brilliant piece of 'ockeyship Beary had undoubtedly .mtributed to the upset of the odds •i 7 to 1 which were laid on tho avourlte.

The form of the two.year-olds Is so mixed up now that Coronach Is not likely to become the short., need Winter favourite for the Derby that at one period seemed a practical certainty. Just consider this, and ace if you can make head or tail out of it. Coronach beat Apple Sammy, and Lex a good couple of lengths in the “Champagne" above referred to. Mpti Mahal, the Aga Khan’s filly beat Lex at Goodwood. Apple Sammy defeated Moti Mahal several lengths in a big event at Kempton. Lex beats Coronach in the Middle Park Plate! We must leave it at that for the moment. There Is an opportunity for Coronch, Lex ,and Apple Sammy to meet again before the season ends, and then a solution to the problem may be forthcoming. There was no excuse for Saucy Sue. No one recognised this quicker than Frank Bullock. Lord Derby’s Conquistador made a very favourable Impression by winning from Warden of the Marches by 2 lengths, the filly being four lengths farther in the rear. Conquistador. it may be recalled, was tried a "certainty” for , this year’s Derby, but faded completely to show hie form A,t the moment he i$ being canvassed as ope with aa outstanding clmaco for the Cambridgeshire with Ist. 131bs. will kuw t bjf ttroe-ytfat saad

this, whether he has justified himself this time. Rough Rugger. The agitation against rough play In Rugby growg apace. Nowhere is there any attempt to hide the truth and it is very significant that h players hemselvea are keenest of al. that tho black sheep should be driven out of the game. Attention has been tho more firmly directed In «fia mat. ter by a most unfortunate Incident in the match between Northampton and St. Bart’s Hospital last weok.cnd. when A. F. Blaklston, tho England forward and this year the Northampton captain, was sent off tho field for alleged misconduct. Big and powerful, Blakiston has always been n notably virile player. The referee charge of tho match has made a re port to tho authorities and an Inquiry is to be held. In writing on this subject last week, I told of a famous player who declared that, if the other side fought, ’ho encouraged his men to fight back. But It Is well-known, by those actively en. gaged in the game, that there arc men in some packs who are always ready and eager for a fight. They are known as the “storm” forwards, and it is their business to create an impression in the first rew minutes by “shock" tactics. In a nut.shol! their policy is one of intimidation Good is bound to come as a result of the agitatin. Referees will bo encouraged to take strong action to put down rough play. More important still, club captains will realise that the game can be played in the proper spirit by men who are subject to moral discipline! There is far too much talking to-day. It leads to “talking back” — and yvorse. Only one man on a side should be allowed to speak—and ho unquestionably is the captain. Tricks of the Bowler. Towards the end of the cricket season a sensational story yvas told concerning a well-known amateur howler. It yvas said that ,by ingenious means, ho was able to raise the scam, of the ball, and so gain an advantage. Tho object of raising tne seam is, of course ,to make tho ball swing, and it is “not cricket”. But I am assured by county players that the practice l a by no means new. This, • however, is no reason why it should be tolerated. It was expected that some Inquiry would be mane, but it is apparently a matter which has been forgotten, or not thought yvith yvhile bothering about. During the last M.O.C. tour a somewhat similar story came from Australia — that a bowler there was in the habit of carrying powdered resin In his trous&r pocket. This would be a valuable trick to enable a man to grip the ball firmly. But almost as long as the game has neon played, the use of resin has been alleged, without, however, a single case nav. bowler may come to England next Summer, and one is then prepared to discover the story owes its origin to Imagination. By the way, several attempts have been made to persuade Macdonald, the Australian fast bowler, who is now member of the Lan. cashire county side, to play in Rugby League football. Ho yvas a prominent footballer at home, and I believe that he may fill in tho blank winter months, and incidentally add substantially to his income, by turning out, for one of the chief teams. Another item of sporting news is that Mr. F. E. Lacey, the secretar yof the M.C.C., contemplates retirement. He has been in charge of Lords for over thirty years. e Visit of Mile. Suzanne Lenglen. Mile. Suzanne Lenglen, France’s peerless lady lawn teams champion, is to pay us a visit next week to take part in a tournament at Cromer, a sea-side holiday resort on the East Coast. It yvill bo tho first time she has played in a competition outside the championships in this country, though she lias on several occasions appeared in England, where she really founded her reputation, when she came over and defeated Mrs Lambert Chambers. In the meantime she has come to be regarded as a player without an equal, and tho fact that she wins her games yvith so much ease has not robbed her of any of her attractiveness. Since ane appeared on the courts, and jumped to historic fame with meteoric suddenness, there has been only one smear on her wonderful record. This occurred during her visit to America when she retired in tho middle of a dramatic match with Mrs. Mallory at a moment when she was threatened with defeat. In their rather brutal frank way, the Americans said that Suzanne was weak of heart.. The truth was that at the time she yvas in a highly nervous state and unfit to play. There have been few occasions when she has been called up. on to do anything heroic at Wimbledon, but the way she beat Miss Ryan two years ago, when she ought to have been in bod, showed that she did not lack courage. The tournament at Cromer yvill of course, be on hard courts, and on these Mile. Lenglen is thoroughly at home. Championship for South African For the second year in succession P. D. B. Spence, the South African, has yvon the London covered courts championship. A student at Guy’s Hospital, Spence is a great all-round athlete. On the courts he plays with refreshing aggressiveness going for the winning shots as though the only way to yvin yvas to attack. He has no use for defensive measures. From lawn tennis he passes to Rugby football and golf, and excels in both games. Indeed, he is one of tho best full backs in London, and, had ho had a qualification, there is little doubt that he would have played for England. Guy’s this season have a fine Rugger fifteen, and it is largely made up of Colonial players yvho are studying at the Hospital. At golf George Gadd. the welljknown professional, ha 3 told me: “If Mr. Spence would give up his • lawn tennis, he would a great success on the links. He has a wonderful aptitude for the gaipe, But you cannot play both at the sme time.’ ’ Approaching a Soccer Record. For two years the team have been the champions of jjxofowioiial opoepy .To-day they have

tho beet record in the League .and, though some of the members of the side are nearing the veteran stage, they are as good as ever, yvhich la equivalent to saying that they are the best team in the country. Huddersfield, too, are aproaching a f lotahlo record; In the flrbl season after the. war, Burnley played thirty consecutive League matches without suffering defeat. Huddersfield noyv require to get safely through their next three matches to equal this performance. The last time they were beaten wa 3 by Burnley on January 17 last, so that their record extends over part of the tyvo seasons and thus lacks some of the distinction of that set' up by the Lancashire club. There is great keenness on the part of their rivals to bo the first to loyver the champions colours, and the Huddersfield men tell you that all their game a are played with the intensity of a cup tie. week-end the neighbouring Leeds United were thought to have a chance of checking the champions, but at the finish they were soundly outplayed. Indeed, Huddersfield scored three goals in tho first half, and put on a fourth after the interval. A Canadian Tour. Next Summer the Football Association are to send a representative team to Canada, Tho men will leave in May, and return in July. It Is expected that the party will embrace both amateurs and professionals, ana that, as tho team will not b c away as long as the one that visited Australia last summer, the difficulty of selection will not be so groat. Canadian tootbali Is not in a very advanced state. Two years ago the Corinthians the famous amateur club, sent over n team, and, though it was a weak one, moat of the matches were won. There is one drawback about these close-season tours. When the men return, they are stale. Thi a has been the effect in the case of several players who visited Australia. One of them, unfortunately, it is feared will never bo able to play again. He suffered & very severe injury to his knee, and it Is said that the limb will never be sound again. The player in question is Whittaker, the Arsenal back. Boxing and Boxers. Johnny Brown Is one of tho rarities of tho ring (writes Eugene Corrl). He is a natural bantam—the weight docs not trouble him. He Is also a worthy' champion. And yet he has been just a trifle lucky in his belt contests. First he was fortunate to meet Bugler Lake when tho little Plymouth fellow was obviously worried by ad, monitions from the chair. Next Corbett had to make a terrific fight to do the stipulation poundage, and took the ring pretty well burnt out. And at the beginning of the week Mick Hill, of Tooting-,, went to tho scales over weight, not much It is true, but sufficient to make him anxious, and maybe tho task of getting it off Impaired his boxing and flighting qualities. None of this was the concern of Brown. Of course not. But it never, theless operated in his favour, and there wore not a few at tho ringside of the N.S.C. who were of the opinion that, if Hill had not found it hard to do Bst. 61bs. ho might have stayed tho course,, and won. Weary Johnny. Hill, considering his limited experience, and after he had weathered the first two or three rounds, was surprisingly good-—in point of subtlety better than Brown —and there was a moment when it seemed likely that he would upset popular prediction, which was that it was more than a tolerably good thing for the titleholder. But Brown’s tiredness, I suspect, was assumed. He took on tho appearance of being weary in order to lure his young opponent into a. trap. At all events, in the eleventh round, the champion was ns fresh and as strong as he was at tho beginning. And it was all over in tho next session. Hill, than very jaded and much punished, being counted out. Brown fought intelligently and well, in that ho swore by his ability to punch. And believe me, he puts considerable weight in his blows. He has a knock.out In either hand. I would not, however, say that be la a wonderful bantam. He i a our nest bantam unquestionably, and he takes himself very seriously. Which is the proper way. Brown Is nothing of a philanderer The contest was a model one, and as good as anything we have seen ar headquarters for many a long day. And now we are al) wondering where the next opponent for Brown, who as you know, has made tne Lonsdale belt his own property, is to come from. If Hill can, without hurting himself, remain in tho bantam class. I should favour another match between them before tho end of the season. But I am afraid that the Tooting lad, who is unusually tall for a nan., tarn, will have to go Into heavier class. It will bo a pity if Brown, for the want of an opponent, has to lie fallow for any length of time. Rather than that, he might, with with much profit to him, make another trip to America. Hill should not despair because ho lost last Monday. After all in point of experience, he Is but a baby. And showing as he did that he has many natural gifts for the game ,he should make good. I formed a most favourable Impression of the lad. He did as much as Brown to make the first championship of the season an unqualified success. If outstanding bolt contests come up to the Simula.d of that last Monday, a rare fillip will be given tp boxing. Next Monday at Covent Garden we are to see Alf Barber, the former Brighton amateur, who was of our last Olympic team ,and Kid Socks, who not a very long time ago astonished Blky Clark, our champion fly weight—and also himself at the Al. bert Hall. Barber and Socks, if I remember rightly, have met before. 1 On the night at The Dome. Brighton when Bombardier Wells and Soldier Jones had their unsatlsfac. lory contest Then, after a rare set to, Barber, if my memory serves me well, was the winner. ' Barber has done more than reasonably well, since- he turned profeyional while I Socks is as clever as they make them.

This should be a rattling bout. Big Task for Kmbryo Champion. On tho same evening, the French man, Fred Bretonnel, and Johnny Sullivan, who for a time wa s quartered in the Carpcntier stable, are due at the Rink, .Blackfrlars, so that no one in quest of sport will -bo hard up for a choice. I have seen little of the Frenchman since he was quite a boy. But, without having realised all expectations '.there is no , ctoubt about his quality being high. I should say that Sullivan will find in him one of the strongest, fighters, bar Tommy Milligan, ho has yet met It is trying the young' Londoner rather high to put him against Bretonnel, though for hi s part Sullivan would not side-step a world beater, were he invited to meet one.

i I hope Sullivan will not disappoint I us. He won’t if he thinks more of ! his left hand, and is not for ever tryI Ing to give an imitation of Carpeh. tier’s right. I sometimes wonder whether Sullivan really benefitted bysparring with Carpentler. But whether or no, he Is one of our most promising yungsters, and, if he grows up as he seems likely 1o do, ho may come to bo champion in the heavier classes. I see him a cruiser-weight of the future of high degree. There has been much talk in town' about th probability of Descamps bringing Paolini over for a second match with Phil Scott. It it is true that a purse of £1,200 has been or, fered for such a match, I shall be very much surprised if Dcscamps is not very soon on the premises. For such a sum for'such a fight is most generous. Meantime, if I wore Scott, I should think only of my coming engagement with Frank Goddard, A Horse With a Bloom. Lord Derby’s gallant horse Pharos gained a smashing victory (writes Centaur, our racing correspondent) in the Duke of York Handicap at Kcmpton Park for the second yoar in succession. Second, beaten, by as much as Six lengths, was Lord Rosebery’s lightly-weighted three-year, old, Joy Rider, while another two lengths away was the popular mare Verdict, filling a similar position to that she occupied in 1924. A great crowd thronged the spacious paddock while the fourteen runners were on view, and it la undoubtedly l true that. Pharos was admired most of all, just ns ho was tho most heavily backed-in tho rings. Pie was a perfect picture of hard condition, and Mr. George Lambton, his trainer, had every justl. ficatlon to be proud of him. In stature ha seems anything but a tall horse. It may be that his real height is not at once apparent, for tho reason that he is so thick and powerful in his muscular- development. His bono is in proportion, tho whole giving him a look of splendid masculinity which must go a long way in tho making of his stud career. Pharos always did carry a beautiful bloom on his brown coat, and he retains it still, even though it is late in tho year for horses to be unbroken in their summer coats. Verdict was cool and bright, and obviously won in herself. She gave the idea that she might bo even better in a physical sense by , the dny her favourite race—-the Cambridgeshire —came round. Amethystine, who had won the Jubilee over tho same course, created a similar impression. Warden of the Marches, the second, was not produced until the others were about to bo mounted. He was blinkered as he has been in most of his races this year, and one noted that he was inclined to break out in a slight sweat. Yet it cannot be doubted that there was strong stable belief in him—and Donoghue had the mount. There was money foi Joy Eider, Mademoiselle M., and, in a lessor degree, for Purple Shade, whose coat was broken and dull, nut little or nothing for Donzelon—-who has completely failed to ' maintain two-ye&r.old promise—Mint d'Or, Dinkic, Verdict, Grand Joy, Le Mantonan and Mafoota. From tho stands it was not possible to make out what happened In the early stages, owing to a hazo, and ft was not until they were approaching the elbow-turn for home that Amethystine was seen to be bringing them along at a smart gallop. At that .point Pharos was lying about fourth or fifth. Warden of the Marches was in the vicinity, while Le Mantonan —a stable companion of Verdict—who had been left at the post, was last of all. Once turned for homo the favourite was racing next tho rails, but Weston was not going to be enclosed in. At the first pos. sible opportunity ho swung out his handy horse, and then did wo see something of the paralysing speed of Pharos. Given his head, ■ and asked to take command of the position, he answered in a few strides. Purple Shade had taken up the running from Amethystine but, Pharos simply swept by the grey horse, and it was all over then. >lt was merely a question how far ho would win by, and what the plaoings would be. Joy Rider zigzagged after him, and out. stayed the rest, while Verdict drew into the picture to take third place in front of Purple Shade and Waygood. It is absurd to suppose the best was seen of Warden of the Marches. He was not The colt that ran so well to finish third in the St, Leger, and one can only assume that, like so many horses that have gone through a strenuous preparation for the last of the classics, he has, subsequent to that race,, gone off colour.