SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1919, Page 6

SPORTING.

DESERT GOLD t GLOAMING. Sound the timbral! Ring the bell! The champions of two countries will measure strides at New Plymouth on Thursday next. Will all Taranaki be there? Yes; and a big proportion of the Dominion's keenest sports. What all the racing clubs of Australia and New Zealand have angled for the Taranaki Jockey Club has caught- A meeting between the ever-green New Zealander, Desert Gold, and the triple Derby winner, the 'Stralian-bri d Gloaming Well may the Taranaki Jockey Club feel proud of its capture —the race of races ! And w«l! may Taranaki sports feel overjoyed at the prospects of witnessing such a memorable meeting. It will be a contest de luxe. Gloaming, as is well known, reached New Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon, and most local enthusiasts have already availed themselves of having a peep at this brilliant but ordinary-looking son of The Welkin. 4s the winner of the A.J.C. Derby, New Zealand Derby, and Great Northern Derby, Gloaming needs no introduction Not only is he a stayer of the first water, but his recent triumphs over Surveyor in sprint contests at Trentham mark him as -a quick beginner and a whirlwind over any distance. He is as sound as a bell, and is now at the top of his form. He will carry the full penalty of lOlts in the Taranaki Stakes, but his admirers nre sanguine that Deeley will have a comfortable ride on Thursday next. I doubt it.

Desert Gold, the dear old girl that has charmed the peoples of two countries for several seasons, is due to arrive here tu-aay. As .with Gloaming, this will lie her first appearance on a Taranaki ravwoune, and all necks will bo craned, and all eyes abulge when this equine wonder steps forth to take up the challenge on Thursday next. DesertGold, although beaten .by a relay of fresh horses in 'Stralia, lias never run better time than this season, and provided she comes through from Sydney in good order and condition she may te depended upon to uphold her remarkable reputation. Considering that she has done her preparation on the other side of the 'J'asman, Sir T. H. Lowry is not wanting in gameness in taking on such a big proposition at short notice, hut the H..wke's Pay sportsman has never llinched, whatever the opposition, but has chased Australia's best over two continents to test his champion against them- Desert Gold escapes a penalty, and this may stand to her on Thursday. Unfortunately her usual pilot, J. o'Shea, .nily not be back in time to rile her, but if Gray could be secured for the big contest she would lose nothiii!i by the change of riders. The three furlongs straight run along the back of the New Plymouth course will tef.t the beginning abilities of th.> two cracks. If the mare can lend her younger rival to the first turn she will tak-j a heap of beating in the short straight. The racing track is.in perfect condition at present, and provided the weather holds good the eonId I should be ons that will live long in the annals of racing in Australasia Che poor support accorded llie Taranaki Stakes >n recent years led. to an agitation, to delete tk» classic event from future programmes, hut the Taranaki Jockey Club gamely went ahead frith its effort to cater for the best of horses, ;;rid provided next week's contest eventuates the club will have earned its reward Jii past seasons some very fine performers have been attracted, by the stalc.es, and though track races might have prove!! more remunerative to the club the uplifting of the metropolitan body's gatl erings l as been, most noticeable.

fn addition to BeTng; matched 'in the Taranaki «tal;<.':- Desert Gold and Gloaming also ligure in i.he F.ginont Stakes and Havvera Stakes at the Eamont summer meelir.g, and in the Jaf-kson Stages, at the Wanganui J.C. autumn meeting.