SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN TURF, Australian-New Zealand CablG Assn, Melbourne, Sept. 2ii . Speaking at the annual meeting of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, ilie chairman said the curtailment of rafj'.fewould mean a loss of between A-o00(» «n<l £BOOO to the 'Patriotic fund and considerable loss to the Government of revenue. The matter, however, had been officially and finally settled, and it was no use protesting. Sydney, Sepf, 20 Further rain made the Randwick track heavy. Sasanof, in company with Shrill, did t'sp best gallop of tin m-irn-ing, covering iy t miles in 2min. 12see. Kilflinn did seven furlongs in lmin 39sec; Beltane covered live furlong.) in lmin. 9Vssec. Cagou beat The Toil over a mile in lmin. 43sec.

NEW ZEALAND CUP ENTRIES. The following nominations have been received for the New Zealand Cup:— Multicipal. Hcndra, Nottata, C'ient. Blackall,' Cleft. Snub, Wardancer, Menelaus, Mascot, Johnny Walker, Devotion, Mullingar, John Barleycorn, The Toff, Kilboy, Killem, Sleight of Hand, Paraoa, Teka, Desert Cold, Egypt, Rorke's Drift Midnight .Star, Dusky Eve, Colonel Soult, Marc Anthony, Multifual, Bjorneborg. Killard, Orleans, Sir Solo, Battle Eve, Keimua, Detroit, Bronk Delaval, Marai, Thaddeus, Tressida, Rose Pink, Trials. Sedd-el-fiahr, Minesweeper, Fiery Cross. Varnish, King Star, Multiply, laverloa Lass.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Considering the lack of convenient train arrangements there was a very fair attendance at Otaki on Monday last, and winners were rather easy to pick. Lady Beaufort, Sleight-of-Hand, Bloomiiie, Merrie Poto, and Thoughtful all had big followings, but dividends were surprisingly good. Stay-at-home punters gave the Bar, Vons a pretty bad gruel- ! ling—the worst this season. - .Matilda (A. Seed) and Astropbel (J. Olsen) were best backed in the .Maiden, pnd the pair carried on the running to the turn. The former then retired, leaving Astrophel to run in a comlortable winner from the Hawera-owned BeauI fort. Beaufort is by Ouianforte—Excel, and paid the best dividend of the day H. Grav had the mount on Little Ann. who has been responsible for nice track work at Wangantii,, but the best she could do was to finish fourth. I Punters found it very hard to decide between Polynesian, Lady Beaufort, ami Hastie in the Dominion Bay Handicap and there was little between the {fitat the finish. Lady Beaufort was ridden a waiting race by 11. Gray, and 'nor. rather cleverly, though she appealed t<> be all out to gain first money. After his many disappointing displays in public it was surprising to see Uniok Jack sent out a firm faiorite for tha Hack Steeples. The. Waverley-owned 'chaser ran a good race, but Coalitior. had too much pace for him over the last furlong. Considering h.'/j recent winning form, Coalition paid r. great "price." Sleight-of-Hand, Orle.Muy and Lady Louisa were the public elect in the big race, and filled the places. The lightweights made play to the distance, where Rose Pink was 'in front, but once A. Reed asked Sleight-of-Hand to overhaul the leader he did so in convincing fashion. Lady Louisa and Orleans finished fast, but they had no chance with the Grand National hero, who won in splendid style. Ashley Reed was again seen in winning form in the next race, hi? mount, Bloomine. scoring very comfortably from Perrier. Trickery, Goldbearing. ami Holyhead, and paying a fair dividend, n Merrie Poto, the second "leg" of a heavily backed double, was a warm order 'in the Flying Handicap, and H. Gray always kept him near the leaders. At the distance the favorito had everything well, beaten, and won very easily from' Sweet Tipperarv. The form shown by Meneiaus, Lady General, Crowhurst, and Kiltess was' hard to make out, though the holding nati"'" tlie track may have upset their chances to some extent.

The Welter was voted a ''moral" for Thoughtful, and so it proved, the Treutliam neddy having the race in safe keeping at any stage. Mr. ''.Jack" Henrys has been appointed handicapper to the Avondale and Opunake Racing Clubs. Paraoa is the only Taranaki horse flattered with a New Zealand Cup nomination. The entries arc rather poor for such an important event, and early favoritism may rest on Client, The Toll, Sleight-of-Hand, and Rorke's Drift. Lady Mascot dropped dead the other dav. She was another turf failure.

Little Ann i 9 a speedy five-year-old by Advance—Greygown, trained by C. Gordon at Wanganui.

Concerning the Publicans' Handicap, mentioned in Saturday's News, a correspondent writes: "There was no shouting when the numbers were hoisted, but a, large number of usually steady and sedate politicians were observed turning remarkable back-flips."

The Masterton Racing Club have received excellent nominations for their meeting next month, the total number being 457, as compared with 1102 last year. No fewer than 27 nominations have been received for the Cup, and the smallest number for any event is 22. The entries for the Masterton Cup are: Chortle, Chuckle, Egypt. Multitual, Client, Perfidy, Iceberg, Cleft, Coldstream. Red Ribbon, Heeltap, Undecided, Teka, Multiply, Mascot, Johnny Walker, Midnight Star, Lady Louisa, Trials Bronk Delaval, Detroit, Devotion, Orleans, Multainc, Maniaroa, Botanist, and Multicipal.