SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 62, 6 November 1912, Page 2

SPORTING.

THE MELBOURNE CUP

WON BY PIASTRE,

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press [Association.) Flemington, November 5.

A bitterly cold wet wind and driving showers rendered Cup day unpromising. The weather moderated slightly by noon and the crowds wore undeterred. The Flemington enclosures contained a record crowd before the second race. The predictions by the Club that the precious record would be exceeded by twenty thousand appeared to be verified. For the first time in the history of the Club the programme included a seventh race, starting at 12.30, for juveniles previously unplaced. Lord Denman and Sir J. Fuller discarded their motors and drove to the course in the old style with outriders and a cavalry escort. A shower fell as the Cup horses were doing their preliminaries, but cleared off at the start. Duke Foote took his position outside Matouree on the rails. Shuja led the field amid intense excitement, but when rounding the turn Piastre and Hallowmas were seen struggling to take up the running. Uncle Sam soon afterwards put in a very fast run, Duke Foote falling back into the ruck and Uncle Sam being proclaimed the winner, when Piastre cut him down and with-Hallow-mas finished well.

The following are the details of the racing:—

Encourage Stakes, of 300 sovs; five furlongs:—Wise King 1, Mac Duff 2, Nata 3. Eighteen others started. Won by half a length, with threequarters of a length between second and third. Time, train 58sec. Cup Hurdle Race, of 300 sovs; two miles.—Warwiclgcrie, 10.13, 1; Common King, 11.-5, 2; Canvasser, 9.0, 3. Eleven horses started, including Paisana 13.4. Won by fifteen lengths, with Canvasser a poor third. Time, 3min 4.7 sec.

Railway Handicap, of 300 sovs; six furlongs.—Tadunga l, Yarrum 2, Sylvander 3. Fifteen others started. Won by a length, with three-quarters of a length between second and third. Time, Imin 18sec.

MELBOURNE CUP, of 30 sovs each, with 3000 sovs added ; second horse 1400 sovs and third horse 700 sovs from the stake. Two miles.

Mr W. Brown’s c h Piastre, by Positano—C Land Bee Bee, 4yrs, 7.9, (Shanahan) ... ... 1 Mr F. Merton’s c h Hallowmas (imp.) by Martagon—Halloween, oyrs, 7.3 (inc. 101 b pen.) (Smith) 2 Mr W. Reid’s eh h Uncle Sam, by United States—Molly, 4yrs, 7.6 (inc. 101 b pen.) (Lambert) ... 3

Aurofotlina, 9st 21b; Cadonia, 9st; Lady Medallist, Bst 111 b; Eye Glass, Bst 81b; Eudorus, Bst 71b; Wilari, Bst 41b; Duke Foote (inc. 101 b penalty), Bst 31b; Ladies’ Man, Sst 21b; Artesian, Bst; Matouree, 7st 131 b; Bobadea, 7st 121 b; Danaus, 7st 121 b; Cider, 7st 71b; Sandbath, 7st 41b; Almissa, 7st 31b; Shuja, 7st 31b; Golden Point, Cst 131 b; Mousme, 6st 121 b; Elystan, 0«t 81b; and Lord Alwyne, 6st 81b also started. After a few strides, Shuja went to the front and led past the stand from Cider, .Ladies’ Man, Eye Glass, Matource and Hallowmas, Lady Medallist coming last and being ultimately pulled up. Golden Point then ran into second place, from Matouree, Danaus, Cider, Hallowmas, Ladies’ Man and Wilari. At the bridge Matouree displaced Golden Point, Duke Foote lying in the centre of the field well back, with Piastre and Uncle Sam, Shuja and Matouree still led at the field sheds from Danaus, Aurofodina, Golden Point, Cider, Eye Glass, Ladies’ Man, Uncle Sam, Duke Foote, Wilari and Hallowmas. The latter, with a fast run, followed Shuja round the turn, Piastre running into third place, and then came Danaus, Ladies’- Man, Artesian and Uncle Sam coming very fast. Duke Foote wa well beaten and Shuja fell hack, Piastre and Hallowmas struggling on for supremacy. Piastre ultimately drew away and won comfortably by a length and a half, with three-quarters of a length between second and third. Ladies’ Man was fourth, and then came Eudorus, Shuja, Mousme, Sandbath, Bobadea, Golden

Point and Artesian. Time, 3min 27 Isec.

1 Cup Steeplechase, of 400 sovs; about two miles.—Continuance, 13.0, 1; Biblenluke, 10.10, 2; Kyappa, 9.3, 3. Thirteen started. , Statecraft fell at the first fence, and Coradgil ran off. Payto, who was leading after a mile, fell. Biblenluke led over the last fence, but Continuance immediately passed him and won easily by two lengths and a half, with eight lengths between second and third. The winner was cheered.

Nursery Handicap, of 300 sovs; five furlongs and a half.—Scotch Malt, 1; Beck’s Lager, 2; Tramontant, 3. Fifteen started. Tramontanta made the running. Beck’s Lager led into the straight, where Scotch Malt’ came through, and in a game struggle won by a head, with half a length between second and third,. Time, Imin 101 sec.

Yan-Yen Stakes, of 300 sovs; one mile.—Slipper, 7.10, t; Ptah, 7.9, t; Capt. White, 9.5, 3. Eighteen started. Ptah made most of the running, but Slipper spurted, and caught him at the distance, making a dead heat, with Captain White away third. In the run off Ptah won by a nose amid intense excitement.

NOTES BY CICERO. The totalisator arrangements at Waverley were shocking, and I am pleased to hear that the Stratford Club contemplate extensive improvements to their building, before the annual meeting. Another step in the right direction by our Club is the installing of a “silent” machine, which will be worked by a well-known Hawke’s Bay firm. The V.R.C. received no less than 200 applications for the positions of stipendiary stewards, of which three are required. The racing public are asking when our committee intend airpointing similar officials. It is now more than three months since the Conference decided on appointing them. * The defeat of Duke Foote in the Melbourne Cup would mean a great win to the “ring”, as Mr “Baron’s” horse had been supported most consistently since his win at Warwick Farm in August last. The “Duke” would probably see a very short price, but it remains to be seen/ whether he has touched Archer’s price. The latter started at even money, and duly won the Cup of 1862. Revenue, who won the race in 1901, started at 7 ffo 4 against, although at one stage of the betting Mr McDonald’s ,colt touched “evens.” It may be remarked that many authorities would not stand Duke Foote for the Melbourne Cup, owing to his not getting enough fast work. The Spring Meeting of the Canterbury and Auckland Clubs will be brought to a close on Saturday next. Darby Paul will be a runner in the Hurdles at Ellerslie on Saturday. The St. Paul gelding is very. w,ell, and will keep the opposition moving in the race in question. p . An admirer of Monorail has backed that filly for a level £SO to beat Our King in the Great Northern Guineas, decided at Ellerslie this afternoon. The V.R.C. Oaks will be decided tomorrow. It will take something remarkably good to beat Fyrdita.

Manawakaha is ,going “great gnus” on the Egmont track. This gelding will make his reappearance at Feeding, and although a gallop in public would “sharpen” him up, he promises to be hard to beat.

Despite the fact that the Australian press are claiming their horses to be so much superior to those of this Dominion, the handicappers on the “other side” take no risks with New Zealand horses, as the weights for the Williamstown Cup show. Vice-Ad-miral 8.13, Broadword 8.6, Pierene 7.13, Ireland 7.10, are all handicapped right up to form.

Shuja was supported on Tuesday to win a lot of money. Although a fair horse, it is surely flattering to support the Soult horse in a race of two miles like the Melbourne Cup. The race for the Stead Memorial Cup to be decided at Riccarton on Saturday should be a fine one 'between Bobrikoff (who is evidently coming back to form) and Los Angeles.

Should Bonny Helen start on Saturday, she may be depended on to improve on her former efforts. Although showing great pace, she has run very “green” up to the present. North-East will probably be a starter in the hurdle race at Riccarton on Saturday. The son of Euroclydon is still showing the same cleverness as he did when he won the Final Hurdles at .Wellington, at his Ist attempt over battens.

An ex-Wellington horse-owner stood to win £SOOO over the “double” Uncle Sam, Duke Foote for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. The Egmont Club are about to instal a number board, which, when completed, will be the finest in the Dominion. The board will show the number of the starters, riders and the draw for impositions, a most important item. Piastre, who won the Melbourne Cup yesterday, is by .the English bred Positano, from Chan Bee Bee. His best performance previous to Tuesday was his second to Duke Foote in the Metropolitan. The party behind him backed the Positano horse to win a lot of money. In one hand alone, they. secured £OOOO about him at a long price. He is owned by Mr W. Brown, who is a brother of Duke Foote’s owner. The latter races under the non de plume of J. “Baron.” NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP.

The most important event in the trotting world in the Dominion was decided at Christchurch yesterday, when the New Zealand Trotting Cup, of 1000 sovs, two miles, drew a field of sixteen.

Mr M. Maher’s Albert H., by Rothschild—Jessie M, won comfortably by two lengths from Mr J. McCutcheon's Ravenschild, and Mr J. Farrell’s Glendalough. The three placed horses are all Rothschilds. The time was I min 4S 4-ssec.