NORTHERN NOTES.

NZ Truth, Issue 602, 30 December 1916, Page 9

NORTHERN NOTES.

(By "Walmangu")

There was ideal weather on Cup day, A tremendous crowd was present. Bon D'orwas out by himself tti tho early part of the Shortland Plate und tin almost tho winning post, wlum the • Australian importation, Tobasco, just reached him and got the prize. The winner was well back m the early part* but finished well. Ayah did not jump off too well m the Shortland Plate, but her rider hunted her along till she dropped into second poslUon. which she held to the homo turn, where she was doing her best. Though close up to the placed horses at the finish she was fairly beaten out of a place. Rockflold was backed for good money on Cup day. but was not sighted on tho trip, Beltano carried good money In tho ShortJand Plate, but nover got m tha danger zone. Biplane was tho favorlto for tho Foal Stakes; tho Comedy King colt won nicely at tho finish fYom Hymnestra, who at one part was ouc by himself. Dcelcy had to ride Biplario very hard to set Ormond's prad,, who also Hnlshed vyell. Outsido Biplane and Hymnestra, nothing ever had n charice m the Foal Stakes, Tho Demothenes colt. Simonides, was a long way back m third place, with the others down tho course. Pourparler, the slater to Bobrlkoff, won the Robinson Handicap m Rood style, though Clark had to kick th« chestnut maro right out. The English bred Uanishen ran well In tho Robinson Handicap, and looked an easy second, but Fabriquptte cam* with a lino run over the last furlong and dendheated with Llanlshen. Independence woe rlftht m tho limelight up till a furlong from home m tho Robinson Handicap, but could not go on with it and. was easily beaten out of a place. Autumn Rose was well supported on Boxing Day but was not sighted on tho trip. She will do better m ft smaller flold. Chilblain might win before long ua ho is on the

Gold Necklet went like a scalded cat for five furlongs m the Robinson Handicap,, and then lost her breath. The Cup was a. great race till a furlong from home, when 3>epredation could only have lost by falling down, which he did not do. He held a good "posse" after going a mile and when Roy Reed asked him to go up to the leaders m the straight, he just strolled* up, going right away and won very easily. Wishful ran right up to his reputation m the Auckland Cup. He went to the front from the barrier rise and only went under to Depredation over the last bit. ' Bjorneborg finished m good style m the Cup and was going on m third place at the death. When the field settled down he dropped into the last position and remained there for nearly a mile and a half, a long way behind the leaders. Over the last half-mile he , came very fast, but had too much leeway to make up and did very well to finish third. Mullingar was close up at the home turn m the Cup. El Gallo and Colonel Soult were always m winning positions had they been good enough, but both Were well beaten inside the distance. Colonel Soult was right up on the outside a furlong from home, but then started to warn. The Oaraaru owned John Barleycorn never showed up at any part of the Cup, but may do better over a shorter distance. Lady Penury, Prince Merriwee, Chortle, and Alteration were each m the picture of the first mile of the. Cup raoe, but after that they were never sighted. Marconi was the favorite for the Grafton Hurdles, but ran like a commoner, never having a chance at any ' part of the race. The Australian-bred Plymouth and the Karamu represen- | tative Gladful went for their dear lives m the Grafton Hurdles, with the result that both were gasping for breath half a mile from home, and were well beaten. Waimai "waited", on Gladful till the second fence from home m the Grafton HurdluH. and than jumped to the i front and won on the bit. i Ulster came from a long way back I and got second to Waimai, later on j Ulster should win a good hurdle race. : Harbor Light did not last long m the Grafton Hurdles, tossing out at the third fence. ' Fisher showed a bold front for a mllo and a-half m the Grafton Hurdles, but then faded out. The Railway Handicap was a great race, Blsogne putting m c phenominal run over the last furlong- and just getting up m the last stride to touch off Downham, who looked all over a winner. Hushman went out like a shot m the Railway Handicap and led fro five furlongs, he should be 'hard to beat m the Qrey Handicap on the last day. King Lupin was first to show m front' in the Railway Handicap, but did not last long, Hushman tleing him m a knot In three furlongs. Waluta ran a surprisingly good race In the Railway^ and was finishing on close up third. Tete-a-Tete carried her weight like a champion m the Railway, but was snowed m on the fence m the run home, otherwise she would have got, got placed. Downham's run suggests Carlyslan as a sure winner at the meeting. Ample won the Nursery Handicap nicely, but had Vagabond been a little closer m the early part he would pro* bably have won as he waa flying at the finish m second place. Vagabond stays on well. ■ Though The Toff failed to get a place m the Cup. he ran a good race, finishing fourth, but it is hard to see how he can beat Sasanof In the Great Northern Derby on Monday. Conclusion of the Cup meeting on Tuesday when the Auckland Plate and Royal Stakes will be decided. Opinions differ as to the best of the pair, The Toff and Susanof, but Sasanof for our money. f Desert Gold should win the Royal Stakes and puy her backers just about enough profit to buy a drink for themselves. Owners should not forget the Te Kuitl meeting on nomination day- The Cup is worth SOOsovb. and might he easy to win. The annual yearling sales open today at the Show Grounds, Epsom, and the second batch of future champions will go under the hammer on January 3. Carlyslan has been galloping m great style and showing heapw of pace, and it will be a .surprise if he does not catch a good stake very shortly. On January 3 nominations close for the Walkato Trotting Club's meeting. The entries for the Whangarel meetIng to be held on January 11 and 12 are far and away the best yet received by the club. Amongst thoea nominated are many useful winners. J. Liimbess evidently thought hi* would be more likely to pick up a race with his team away from, than at EUerslte. and he is doing tho Stratford meeting wltli Soldier, Kauri King und Co. Kauri King had beon galloping well before he loft. Since going Into J. Rao's .stable, Waluta has boon frnlloping j n much Improved «tyl«, and bcsldea running faKt time*, she had alwuya been finishing on the bit. Many trainers took teams to the Thames meeting, but will be back at Elteralle for the third and fourth days of the meeting. Tho cancellation of H, Goldfinch's license on the ovc of the Cup meeting cauKOd much inconvenlenco to several owners who hod engaged Goldfinch to do their rldlnjc. Besides canc-elllnK the jockey'H 11---censo hold by Goldfinch, tho Auckland R.C. went out a number of letter* tp persons intluuulnK that their presoncc was not desired at the nwtlnß. Menvlituji bun been K*illopsnKr really well since beltuc brought to EllGr«lk\ and Home people will be surprised if he does not get amongst the money boforo returning home. Slgno has tufnod very dirty and allows a ruronjr diftUUe to galloping on tho training track, H may not t*? nate to place Jnek Dwluvul nmormti thf hiiK Ufcnn. Th«< little bay KchliriK i» qiiJt« sound and ha.«* dono v lot »( uistful work. Allegation, who hft* not raced for v con»UtQrabUt time, la umonsiu Uiosn uymmateU ft>r tho Whangnrei Cup.

Prior to Cup day, Prince Merriwee had been an absentee from the training track for a few days. Delemar, one of "Kinch" Irwin's team, is on the improve and should win a hurdle race or two at the small meetings.