SPORTING REVIEW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 21 May 1912, Page 1

SPORTING REVIEW.

THE TURF.

Five horses (Paritutu, Woolloomooloo, Napper, Antarctic, and Blue Mountain) claim an engagement in each of the Great Northerns, aiul curiosity will naturally be excited as to whether any of the number will be found equal to the task of landing the double. It will be 17 years next month since Liberator won the Great Northern Hurdle Race and Great Northern Steeplechase, and the doughty feat for which the Betrayer gelding was responsible in the winter of 1895 still stands by itself. Of the five horses named Woolloomooloo. Napper,- a,nd Blue Mountain are new to cross-country work, and that being so they have, of course, to be taken on trust. Liberator, it is quite true, mastered Ellerslie at the first time of asking. But Woolloomooloo, 'Napper, and Blue Mountain are a very long way behind Liberator. Mr. H. Massey, the owner of Antarctic, will, it is understood, give the big chestnut an opportunity to win the double, and possibly Paritutu may also face the barrier in each of the big jumping events to be. decided at Ellerslies ne.\t month.—"Phaeton," in Auckland "Herald." W. Young has captured the Hawke'a Bay Cup 011 three occasions with Tangimoana, Fort William and Los Angelos respectively. Recently at Warwick Farm (Sydney), a hurdle rider named Clifton was fined ±5lO for finishing in a race after his mount, Gorlias, had missed one of the obstacles; The horse came in first.

"Dick" Taylor, an old trainer, wellknown throughout Tasmania, died at Hobart towards the end of April, after a lingering illness. Deceased _ originally learnt the game in New Zealand, and had trained horses for Tasmania's leading sportsmen.

A highly-pleasing incident recorded in connection with the opening of the present racing season in England was a victory for His Majesty's colours. Tho equine to distinguish himself was Dorando, a four-year-old son. of Gy.llehe, who led the field home in the Knowsley Plate at Liverpool on Grand National day. It was only a small race that went down to the credit of Dorando, but the success of the Royal colours evoked- a strong outburst of enthusiasm. His Mflr jesty, it is mentioned, had up to that time never been present on the occasion of his successes on the racecourse,, and at Aintree his absence was equally regretted withe the circumstances which caused the Royal visit to be given ud.' A cable" published in another column, however, states that the King was at Kempton Park on Saturday wheji Dorando scored a win in the Sunningdale Plate> and. the victory caused great enthusiasm. Amongst the high-prices, yearlings to do well in England last season were Lomond (1600 gns), Hall Cross (1900 gns) and Combination (1050 gnsj. • .