SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 28 September 1918, Page 9

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. October Kurow Jockey Club. October 11, 12-Dunedin Jockey Club. October 17, 18—Mastorton Racing Club. October 19—Auckland Trotting Club. October 26-Otahuhu Trotting Club. October 24, 25-Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 26, 28—Wellington Racing Club. Norember 2. Avondale Jockey Club. November 9—Auckland Racing Club. November Takapuna Jockey Club. December 7—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. December 14—Waipa Racing Club. December 26. Manawatu Racing Club. December 26. 28, January I—Auckland Racing Club. December 27. 30, January Auckland Trotting Club. January 11—Northern Wairoa Racing Club. January 15—Whangarei Racing Club. January 29. February I—Takapuna Jockey Club. February 15—To Kuiti Racing Club. February Rotorua Jockey Club. March I—Hamilton Racing Club. March S— Aroha Jockey Club. March 15—Ohiucmuri Jockey Club. March 22-Thamoa Jockey Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. October 11—Dunedin Guineas. October 28-Champion Plate. Novembor 2—Avondale Stakes, November 2—Avondale Cup. November 6—Avondale Guineas. November 9—Great Northern Guineas. November 9—Mitchelson Cup. November New Zealand Cup, Novembor New Zealand Derby. November New Zealand Trotting Cup. November Feilding Stakes. December Auckland Cup. December 27—Auckland Trotting Cup. December 27-Great Northern Trotting Derby. January I—Great Northern Derby. . Australia. October 5-A.J.C. Derby. October Oaulfield Cup. November 2—V.R.C. Derby, Novembe? s—Melbourne Cup. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Wanderer— Derby Stakes run at Ellerslie has been won by colts foaled in Australia on four' occasions, viz., Tim Whiffler (by Tim Whiffler), Fitz-Hercules (by Yattendon), Nelson (by King Cole), and Sextant (by Robinson Crusoe). It may be explained that Peeress, the dam of FitzHercules, was owned by the late Mr. W. Walters, of Auckland, when she foaled that colt in New South Wales.

Sport.—l. It is difficult and at all times unsatisfactory to endeavour to make a comparison between horses that never met and who may have raced at quite different periods. Undoubtedly Kiatere's performance in the Grieat Northern Steeplechase of 1905, in which he carried 12Bt 131b to victory, is entitled to be ranked with the most noteworthy cross-country performances registered on the New Zealand turf. 2. Liberator is to be accepted as the best all-round performer that has figured on tho turf of tho Dominion. He won the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race in 1893, the Duncdin and Wanganui Cups in 1894, the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race in 1894, and the Great Northern Hurdle Race and Great Northern Steeplechase in 1895.

NOTES BY PHAETON. THREE-YEAR-OLD PROSPECTS. Whin last autumn closed in the outlook , both in this Dominion and in Australia was os all hands viewed as promising for the [succeeding season to bring to light some ! three-year-olds from whom much might be | expected. Beveral have already sported silk both in Victoria and Now South Wales, and, interesting to relate, the one with the most noteworthy performance down to his credit was not at the period named above extensively focussed as a possible Derby candidate. This is Gloaming, whose record-breaking performance at Randwick on the 14th inst, when he made quit* an exhibition of his opponents in the decision of the Chelmsford Stakes, has won him admirers at all points of (he compass. There is no doubt as to tho brilliancy of Gloaming's performance, but the fact ot his sire, The Welkin, not having yet sired a stayer causes some little misgivings in regard to" Gloaming's ability to stay out a mile and a-half which is sure to be run at a high rate of speed. The character of Gloaming's work during the coming week may furnish a line as to whether he is up to the Derby standard. Woorawa, who disposed of the opposition in the decision of the Rose-hill Guineas last Saturday, was accorded a good word at the end of his two-year-old career, and the manner in which he disposed of Finmark and Co. at the business end of the nine-furlong trip last Saturday augura well for his prospects of carrying his winning record further at an early date. Outlook, who won first place in the juvenile, division last season, has been well beaten in each of the two engagements he has been called upon to fulfil, and there is no disguising the fact that some keen men are prepared to seriously challenge his qualification as a stayer. Though Finmark met with a defeat in his initial engagement at three years old, we can apparently accept the view that the chestnut son of Finland and War Scare will see a better day. In other words', his condition may be expected to be improved by the time'the A.J.C. Derby comes round- Further than that Almoner figured amongst the " also ran" brigade that followed Woorawa home in the Rosehill Guineas, we know nothing as to how his performance of Saturday last is regarded. In a comparison between Almoner and Finmark there is a tendency in certain quarters to favour the Derby prospects of the firstnamed as against those of the latter, and tho marked division of opinion on that point will, of course, tend to increase intorest in the meeting next Saturday at Randwick.

GREAT YEARS. At various periods, guided by what seemed bright prospects ahead, opinions have been ventured that a great year might bo expected to eventuate, but in many cases these hopes were far from realised. Well, now, just let us try and find those periods which aro entitled to be Tanged up as great years. Going back to 1877, and taking the three-year-olds on the scene at that particular period, it will be found that First King! Chester, Woodlands, and Cap-a-pie were all out together at that time The | two first-named were undoubtedly great, and it may be remarked that it wa? not until j Carbine came out and registered his mar- 1 vellous feat In the Melbourne Cup of 1890 that the Australians surrendered the position they took up In declaring First King to be the greatest horse produced in the southern hemisphere. Three years after First King and Chester were on the scene at three years old Grand Flaneur and Progress stood out in front of that particular division. Grand Flaneur, it may be remarked, never once tasted dofeat, and he holds a high place with the greatest racers that have graced the turf in the southern hemisphere. In 1883 MartiniHenry and Le Grand were the leading pair of that period, and in 1887 Aborcorn, The Australian Peer, Niagara, Cranbrook, Carlyon, and Volley were a doughty sextette- engaged in measuring strides in Australia, while In New Zealand Maxim and Gipsy Ring were on the scene. The following year saw Carbine, Ensign, Melos, Manton and Cuirassier undor silk. What a quintette I The seasons of 1887-88 and 1888-89 each occupy a very bright page in Australasian turf history, and from the present aspect of matters we shall probably yet see a good stretch of years pass by ere the record of the two periods named lose any of their glamour, The season of 1889-90 claimed a notable quartette in Megaphone, Gibraltar, The Admiral, and Correze. In the decision of the Cravon Plate Megaphone stretched Carbine to tho uttermost, and he ran tie mighty son of Musket to half a length, when the mile and a-Quarter record was reduced to 2m 7s. Gibraltar only scored twice, but had unsoundness not como against tho son of Grandmaster he would, it is held, have taken ft very high place. In the season of 1899-1900 Seahorse, Miss Delaval, and Advance were on the scene in New Zealand, but unfortunately the last-named was not engaged in classic events, so that kept a very dangerous rival from the path of Seahorse and Miss De : laval when they were contesting for Derby honours. The season of 1901-02 will be long remombered in New Zealand by reason of the number of three-year-olds ,that earned marked distinction, MenschikofJ, Royal Artillery, Cruciform, and Nonette all being engaged in carrying silk at that period. The fact that the three first-named horses all hailed from the same stable no doubt deprived the situation of much interest, but not sufficiently to prevent it being termed " a great year." In 1905 Noctuiform, Bungod, and Lady Wallace were out together, and the fact that Noctuiform succeeded in knocking out all previous Derby records when he galloped home in front for the A.J.C. blue riband is an incident likely to keep the period- green. J In • 1907 ; New Zealand ' was once again rich' in three-year-olds, • for Boniform. Elevation, Gold Crest, Bobrikoff, and All Red were carrying silk at that period.

I "CONFIDENT NEW ZEALANDERS." I " Milroy," the vorsatilo contributor to the sporting columns of the Sydney Mail, de--1 lights in having a dig at the New Zealanders, and under the heading -which surmounts this paragraph the following rbcently appeared in his notes:—"A writer in the Australasian who declared that no sort of feeding will improve the Australian horse— says we boast too much— be a New Zcalandcr, because we know that the men of the Dominion never boast. They hardly said anything when Martini Henry won the Melbourne Cup. A prominent Auckland writer at the time said " Auckland was drunk for a week." That, however, is not boasting, it is mere drinking. New Zealanders are tough people to dispose of, and intensely patriotic. An educated and highlyintelligent Wellington business 'man called on me over a matter when Woorak was at his best. Of courso we talked horse, I mentioned incidentally that Woorak was a smasher, but he very quietly and very confidently remarked: "Yes, I know, but Desert Gold will lose him when she comes over." That about settled the argument- Certainly there was nothing left for me to say; but Mr. Lowry did not send Desert Gold when Woorak was on deck. Of course I cannot say which was the better of the two, but I would be prepared to wager my money and lay odds on it that Woorak could give Wedge 211b over seven furlongs every day in the week and twice on Sundays. Woorak was a wonder, while Wedge is a handicapper. Yet, with an allowance, the latter beat Desert Gold. I might mention that Woorak was bred, fed, and reared on tho Goulburn River, which is in Australia, and is a tributary to the Murray River. He can find it on the map. Biplane was bred in Australia, as were Abercorn, Morman, The Australian Peer, Melos, and others. Of course the answer to that will be: Carbine was bred in New Zealand. Yet both Abercorn and Melos beat Carbine on occasion. However, when such calamities occurred, the New Zealanders and Victorians always described them as " flukes." BOASTING AND THE LONG BOW. Boasters, as well as those with a penchant for drawing the long bow, are to be met with in most countries, and I feel sure lha'; " Milroy" would bo one of the last to claim that his beloved Australia was altogether

free from either species. Boasting and j pride in one's country's achievements, my ] Sydney confrere will not require to be told, are quite two different matters; and il we i show a little of the high spirit at times, | such might be deemed pardonable, considering that our equines have travelled wide in search of honours. I wonder if Australiarf-bred horses had achieved as much in this Dominion as horses from here have accomplished in the Commonwealth of Australia whether our dear neighbours would be qui!* silent on the matter I trow not, " Milroy" tells us about a Wellington business man making small of Woorak when Desert Gold was in the picture. That of course could be termed flippant, for Woorak was undoubtedly great at a mile. As a set-off to this I am tomptod to relate that a wellknown Australian averred to me In most positive language that Desert Gold would De sure to meet defeat at the hands of Biplane the first time they met at any distance. There has been at least one opportunity for Mr. G. D- Greenwood to produce his Australian-bred colt to try conclusions with the bay mare; but, as everybody knows, such was declined under circumstances that left little doubt as to the reason. Need I say that I am highly curious as to the identity of " the prominent Auckland writer" who, according to "Milroy," is credited with saying that Auckland went drunk for a week as a result of Martini-Henry's Melbourne Cup victory. That statement, I have no hesitation in stating, can be characterised as a pronounced effort at drawing the long bow, but whether Australia or Auckland is responsible for the offence I am not quite prepared at present to say

A WORD FOR CARBINE.

" Milroy" is, of course, perfectly justified I in reminding us that Abercorn and Melos! were bred in Australia, and it is also j allowable that ho should proclaim that both of those horses at times defeated Carbine. It is however just as well to take in the whole of the picture when these equine I celebrities are concerned. Take, for instance, I the Sydney Cup of 1889, wherein Carbine at i three years old, and conceding Abercorn a| year, defeated the New Bouth Wales crackat a difference of only 41b. No one with a I knowledge of Abercorn's performances would' seek to deny his right to a place with the greatest horses that have graced the Australasian turf, but, while saying that, and maintaining a desire to confer proper honours, Carbine's Melbourne Cup feat under ■lflst Bib must not be allowed to be dimmed. 1 It has been said that whatever Carbine accomplished Abercorn could have equalled. I The troublesome little point that intrudes. itself for those'who so argue is that while Carbine accomplished his Melbourne Cup feat it is only inferred that Aborcbrn could have registered a like performance. When Carbine is brought into the picture, truly, there is some reason for New Zealanders to bo confident. . THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. With & poor list of nominations for the New Zealand Cup, and lack of quality a striking feature in connection therewith, Mr. J. E. Henrys's adjustments in connection therewith did not occasion so much interest as in previous years. There was, however, , one point in the matter that gave rise to a little discussion, and that was the manner J in which the C.J.C. handicapper. would: range the topweights. In selecting the top-1 weight, Mr. Henrys decided in favour of | Client (9st lib); and that, too, in the face I of the Elevation gelding having failed to! gain a situation under Sat lib in the Riccarton race last year. In the interval Client won the Wanganui Cup under Bst Sib and the Hawko's Bay Cup under fist 81b; and, in calling upon Client to carry 14lb more than he failed under last spring the C.J-C. ' handicapper has not left it open to any doubt as to how he regards the Wanganui gelding. Menelaus (Bst 111b), who fittingly follows Client, has an impost 101b in ad-. vance of that under which he silenced his field at Riccarton 'last year: and he is not j badly positioned to ropeat his performance. • Sasanot has accomplished nothing of note 6ince he won tho Melbourne Gup of 1916; ' but he was not heavily raced last season, i and may bo he will come again this term. The Martian gelding is not badly treated with Sat 9lb._ Nobleman (7st 9lb)' has received a like impost to that under which he won the Wellington Cup last January, and, though ho subsequently lost caste, it would, | I take it. bo quite unsafe to conclude that i Sir Laddo's son is a spont light. If j Depredation (7st 9lb) could be got to to- . produce the form he displayed when he won tho Auckland Cup of 1917 ho would j have an undoubted chance, and perhaps it | will be wise not to conclude that the son of Campflre is a back number. Red Ribbon (7st 4lb) must Be voted nicely positioned to repay her owner for past disappointments, and. in the event of the chestnut daughter of Elevation training on proporly she is, I think, sure to be one of the fancied ones: when tho day of the race arrives. If the English-bred horse Cynio has any preten-' sions to form he should be able to take a hand in the settlement of the question under such on impost. John Barleycorn (7st lib) is evidently not regarded by Mr. Henrys as the same horse that raced In 19161 and it will be interesting to note whether the Sarto gelding proves otherwise. Mangamahoe. who constitutes Auckland a only representative in this year's Cup, has b*en awarded 6st 121b; and if his owner, Mr It. Hannon, has any designs on the big race at Riccarton, he has some encouragement to go on with tho contract. In the face of three successive wins, Rose Pink (fist Mb) may be expected to have a good circlo 'of admirers when the Cup comes up for decision. HARD-WORKED ROSE PINK. Rose Pink, the five-year-old daughter of Kilbroney and Madder, who has the very satisfactory record of registering three successive victories In her early engagements this spring, holds a place with the hardworked racers of the Dominion. When twoyears old she was saddled up to contest 13 races. As a three-year-old she faced the starter on no less than 88 occasions, while at four years old she was found under silk 28 times. Up to the present Rose Pink has contested 82 races, and she has won 14 of her engagements. Rose Pink must, indeed, be a hardy sort to have _ come through bo much racing and to retain her form at five-years old. In fact, it Is asserted that tho little mare is better than ever. BISOGNE UNDER A CLOUD. The once brilliant Bisogne can apparently be booked for a protracted spell. Asa result of a leg trouble he recently underwent the operation of firing, and that, of course, will necessitate a long rest. When Bisogne disposed of Biplane in the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie in the 6ummer of 1917 the feat carried such a high standard of brilliancy that Beveral would-be purchasers were quickly in the market in an endeavour to secure tho chestnut son of Bezonian and St. Evangeline. Mr. A. Alexander, however, retained his horse, and one could wish that he had been rewarded for his courogo in that connection. The records, however, show that Bisogne has not won a race in the long interval, and, with the firing iron now used, it cannot be said that the situation is at all bright for the golden chestnut to reproduce, the form that enabled "him to defeat the doughty Biplane. BARONET PATRONISES THB_PONIES. Sir Rupert Clarke Is not above racing a pony. The Victorian baronet recently furnished the winner of the Ascot Thousand, with • the . three-year-old filly Katiga, a highly-bred daughter of Eye Glass and Sweet Nell. The dam of Katiga is identical with 'he Sweet Nell who carried Sir.Rupert Clarke's colours to victory in the CaulfieH Cup of 1903.