TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 41

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. A RARE DOUBLE. Very few horses have been class enough to win both the Great Easter Handicap and Challenge Stakes in the same year, but Biplane is just the sort that might accomplish the deed. Hippomencs won the first Great Easter /Handicap, although the tabulated records in tli3 Turf Register do not show that he also won the Challenge Stakes of the same year. Hippomenes achieved his notable double in 1892. and one has to travel on to 1902 to find that great horse Cruciform repeating the success. Both, by the way, were got by St. Leger. Cruciform won comfortably with 9.9 or. her three-year-old back. Pampero won the Great Easter, and acted as runner-up to Palaver in the Great Autumn. Lady Lillian won the Great Easter following- Cruciform's year, and, judging by what Treadmill did with a good horse in OilofE in the Challenge Stakes after the latter acted as runner-up in tho handicap, the Bill o Portland horse could have landed the double as a two-year-old. Treadmill wont away from Orloff at the finish of the Challenge Stakes, and put up a remarkable performance at about the

same poundago as "the first and second met in the Great Easter. Advance broke down when running in the Challenge Stakes that year, and thus ended the racing career of a very brilliant galloper. Martian made his first appearance in the Great Easter of 1804, but ran green, and failed to show up, although he afterwards gave a taste of his real quality by winning the Challenge Stakes. Armlet won both the Easter and Challenge, but not in the same year, bhe won the handicap as a three-year-old and tho Challenge as a four-year-old. Emperador also won both races, but not in the same year, although "he acted as runnerup to Flying Start after winning the Great Easter. Multiform won the Challenge under a full penalty as a three-year-old, when ho found his most stalwart fbo in his stable mate, Gold Medallist, who was running under a 51b penalty. Biplane has proved himself a colt of unusual class, and ho may be found following in tho footsteps of another great three-year-old in Cruciform, who was also in R. J. Mason's stable.

THE W AIM ATE MEETING. Although nothing of any great note, except Kilbovne, has dropped out of the Waimate Cup," tho field does not bear so pleasing an appearance as it did "prior to tho declaration of acceptances, as just about half those originally engaged are now missing. Daytime now heads the list, and as he is a handy horse, may be quite at homo round the Waimate turns. He ran a good race under 8.8 in the Xnvercargill Cup last season, when heads separated Golden King, Gunrest, and himself at the finish of a mile and a-quarter, run in 2.8 3-5. On the second day Daytime won over a a mile and a distance, and both these performances suggest that he may get a good 10 furlongs at Waimate, although in iair company the distance seems to be beyond his tether. Daytime placed the Craven Plate to his credit at the C.J.C. Midsummer meeting,. and won from end to end in smart time. It would not be surprising to" find him doing the same at the Waimate meeting if nothing endeavours to assist him in carrying on the pace. Comely is a pood little mare, but may be troubled by.-the distance. She, however, meets Killard' on the very liberal allowance of better terms than when they met in the Buckley Memorial at Oamaru. Killard ran an excellent race in the D.J.C. Handicap, which he won under difficulties; but still ho is a long-striding chap that requires a fair amount of room, and may be bothered by the turns. In a solid-run race he should, however, be handy at . the finish, even though he "has been jumped up 201 b, and meets Marsa 151 b worse than when they last met. One is almost inclined to discard Marsa, but on her best form and track work—particularly the latter —which has been quite good enough to score in better company than she is down to met next week. Brambletye won. over a mile and a-quarter at Timaru in December last, and is a fairly solid sort that should help to lend , interest to the fray. Marco Bello ran third in the last Birthday Handicap to Highwater and Marsa, and the last-named should beat him again if she runs up to the book.' Spangle finished fourth in the Midsummer Handicap, and altogether the Waimate Cup promises to furnish an interesting race even if the field is a bit on the small side. After the running at Gore and Akaroa one may have to regard the Waimate handicaps from a different point of view. - THE GORE SUMMER MEETING. The Gore Racing Club's summer meeting will, as a result of the curtailment of racing, be confined to a one-day card. Fairly good fields, however, promise to be on hand to supply an interesting day's sport, and the enclosures should present a well-filled appearance during the progress of tho racing—in fact, the public may be found', turning out in unusually large numbers as a result of having to concentrate their attention on one card instead of spreading it over two. Rorko's Drift made a poor show in his races at the Dunedin Cup meeting, where he finished well outside the money in each of his engagements. Marsa also ran very disappointingly, and after some excellent track work put up prior to the meeting, one is forced to write her down as a mare of rather uncertain moods. Still, she finished in front of Rorke's Drift in the D.J.C. Handicap, and as she meets him again on the same terms, should account for tho Calibre gelding. Thaddeus, however, is meeting Marsa on only 41b worse terms than in the D.J.C. Handicap, and this lenient treatment should result in his going out a good favourite —in fact, he is easily the pick of the handicap. Marsa may run a better race in a small field; but Gunrest may not be ready to reproduce his best form. Ascalaphus was making a bold show in the early part of the Dunedin Cup; but one cannot enthuse about the chances of the balance of the field. The White King and Glensponse will possibly attract the most support for the Summer Handicap. The White Kin"- moots Glensponse on 71b better terms than on the second day at Wingatui, when tho former got badly away, and afterwards finished a good fourth. THE STARTING QUESTION. The report presented at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association stated that the important question of starting was still causing a lot of trouble and anxiety. The majority of tho clubs in the Dominion were starting by tho yards system, but the three principal clubs in Canterbury were starting by seconds; consepuently locally-trained horses were at a disadvantage when racing outside of Canterbury. It was fl difficult matter to please everybody, and it would cause great satisfaction when some uniform and satisfactory manner of starting was adopted by all the leading clubs in the Dominion. Apparently the compilers of the report were not inclined to give a strong and, what would bo under the circumstances an influential, opinion as to what system should be adopted. Tho New Zealand Trotting Association seems to be abo marking time in connection with tho same matter. Perhaps it is wise for both associations to do so. and watch both systems at work during the present season, and then declare for either one or the other at the annual conference. The Trotting Association should certainlv take a load and play a strong hand to put an end to the mixed systems at present in use. Tho Trotting Association, however, have not led the way in two of the most important, steps made in connection with progress in light-harness racing. but. on tho contrary, loft it to individual clubs to specially eater for trotters and to show the way in connection with the establishment of stipendiary stewards. It is adopting much the same attitude in connection with tho much vexed starting question in allowing the various clubs to use whatever method they may fancy from meeting to meeting.

UNDER THE ACID. The intLitsc ot tiie sporting' world is centred on juesert Gold and now sue comforts herself against the Australian cracks. one opened iier campaign with a winning effort, and although it was not a ca*e 01 "jUciipso ursc aiiu cue. rest nowhere" that some of iter blind admirers ought have expected, stiil sno won, ana that is what counts, even tnough pressure had to be applied to stall oil a cnaiienge from Oct.gae. Desert Gold did not have anything m her favour when she won. blue was racing shortly alter a voyage from New Zealand, ana furthermore, is said ta have been slightly troubled from trials that alliict her sex. xienee there is more merit in tier win than what appears at first sight. The success achieved uy C/&cigu«j in the .Newmarket Handicap, and the fact that Wedge, who beat ner m the futurity Stakes, also ran a great race down the Flcmmgtou '"straight-six" naturally enhances the performance of Desert Uold at (Jaullield. 'ine lflemington track would in all probability suit JDesert Gold much better than tne Caulfieid course, as on firm going she would be able to stride out mucii better at Flemmgton than she woum at the somewhat awkardly-shaped circuit at Caullield. It is a pity that she couid not go to the post for the Essendon Stakes, which, on form, would have been at her mercy, providing- of course that Wallace Isinglass represented the best of those engaged. On the other hand, if Qetigne was trained for speed as his Newm'arKet win suggests, then her success over him at nine luriongs in the St. George Stakes has to suifer a little discount. Some of the Australian critics hold that Biplane would beat her over any distance up to 12 furlongs; and the writer expressed a' similar opinion some weeks ago, for the reason that she had to be stirred up to stall off Sasanol in the last Challenge Stakes. Desert Gold's career since she once struck form has been- practically a triumphal march, but on many occasions she was not challenged in the arena by a "foe worthy of her steel"—or stride. If she trains on all right Desert Gold should strip a bit better than she did in her opening engagements in Australia; and then she will be able to prove her real prowess up to the hiit; but like the man from Missouri, it is a case of "show me the goods and then I'll believe you've got 'em." There is no doubt that 6he will do all that we wish up to a mile.and a-quarter, but the writer for one is waiting to see how she emerges from a trial over a journey. •

THE TIMARU TROTTING MEETING. 'lhe limaru Trotting Oiub will hold its animal meeting on Ihursday of this week, and no doubt the fixture will mark another progressive step ill an effort to cater for the light harness branch of sport. The club is, liowever, considerably Hampered in that direction by the exhorbitant rent charged for the use. of the Washdyke racecourse; and it is to bo hoped that a more satislactory arrangement will be made than the one at present in use. The Tmiaru programme lias met 6uch liberal patronage irom owners that it is obviously a much appreciated fixture. That, at least," is indicated by an acceptance of 15 fairly good-class performers standing their ground in the principal event. The fields are uniformly good in the balance of events on the card, and it only requires fine weather to bring the gathering to a very succesisful conclusion. THE BEAUMONT MEETING. The Beaumont Jockey Club's programme consists of eight events, - headed by the Beaumont Handicap of seven furlongs, and the Flying Handicap of 75sovg, six furlongs. Other galloping, events on the list includes the Maiden Plate of SOsovs, six furlongs; President's Hack Welter of 65sovs, five furlongs; Molyneux Handicap of 7Qsov»s, one mile and aquarter; and the Railway Handicap of 65sovs, five furlongs. In addition to the above the Dunkeld Trot of DOsovs, one mile and a-quarter, and the Electric Trot of 75sovs, one mile, also find a place on the programme. Nominations are due on Saturday, March 9, at 10 p.m. Handicaps are duo' on March 16, and acceptances on March 23.