NOTES ON THE RACING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7565, 8 May 1919, Page 6

NOTES ON THE RACING.

SREAT RACE BETWEEN SASANOF

AND DESERT GOLD,

(By "EARLY BIRD.")

The opening event, the Hurdles, resulted in a big dust-up. Master Lupin was always the favourite, being mpre firmly supported than Sir Fisher, Kahumangu, Thrace and Mullicipal. Kahumai-gu led along the back from Multum ,and passing the Rands was leading Arlington, Master Lupin, Sir Fisher and Sleight of Hand, with Papanui tailed off. TurnIng for home there was very little Letween Kahumangu, S" ight of Hand, Sir Fisher and Master Lupin. At the distance Sleight of Hand had Sir Fisher beaten, and went on to win by a length and a half from Maste:, Lupin, which headed Sir Fisher on the post for second money. Kahumangu was close up fourth, with Multicipal and Multum next. Master iJoTIB and Papanui were the rearguard, being a long way back. There were only 58 tickets on the winner, the Grand National Hurdles winner of a couple of seasons ago paying a thumping dividend.

■\> A battle for favouritism between 'Negligee and Speechmaker in the Maiden ended in the former being made a slightly better favourite t but good support was also forthcoming toi Glentour and Tunatau tti a good betting race. Lonato was left badly md ran in the rear the whole way. Speechmaker made the early running for Tunatau, Glentour, Golconda and Negligee. Turning for home Glentour, Speechmaker and Negligee were together, and in a slashing finish Glentour, ridden a nice race by spr rent ice Rowlands, got the verdict by a neck, a head separating NegliN Speechmaker. Negligee ran le at the home turn, otherHighen filly may have lentour. ■hIG HANDICAP.

of defections leaving a

I was also a fair amount of money on! hand for Gazique, Lovematch and' riattle Song. A splendid start, and when the field had settled down Sweet Corn led out of the straight, being followed by Trcssida, Battle j Song, and Fabriquctte, with the favourite about eighth and Classification last. The only alteration along the back was that Bagdad made p. forward move and was lying second to Fabriquette going across the top, with the favourite well back, bagdad and Fabriquette led Marqueteur, Sweet Corn and Tressida into the straight, an dhere Gray had brought Vagabond through in great style, ami apparently relishing his task, the favourite went out to win handily by :« length from Marqueteur, with Tres sida nearly a length away third. THE STAKES. A high-class field of a dozen w^nt out for the Sires' Produce Stakes, the only notable absentee of the crack youngsters befng Surveyor, which did not have an engagement in this event. The Fordell-trained Aruythas was a solid favourite, carrying half as much again as the Highden bracket, Warplane and Ermine. Affectation was third choice,' next being the Chokebore pair, Miss Mimic and Royal Stag. For some reason Hetaua was allowed to go ,out at big odds. After a false start they ail moved off together, Ermine* leading Hetaua, Bindle and Miss Mimic, with Affectation and Sycorax at the rear of the remainder. At the four furlongs Miss Mimic ran into second place*, and was actually in front at the bottom of the straight, where Warplane was rushed up from the ruck. Ermine, Bindle and Hetaua were first into the straight, but from ike distance Warpl-.e and He"; aa fought out a hard finish, che former winning by three parts of a length, with Amythas (badly placed in the early stages) a lengt:. and a half away third. Royal Stag was fourth, Bit-dle fifth and Affectation and Lady Ball together next. Sycorax was always last. The winner is certainly a very useful colt, and the best ha 3 not yet»been seen of him. Affectation" was second to last at the half-mile .post, but finished on well in sixth place. Miss Mimic had every chance bui failed badly.

Only five saddled up for the ton Hack, and of these -Pretty Bobby was always the goods, and carried nearly a couple of thousand tickets, or thrice as much as Railand and Vacuum, the second and third favourites. Vacuum led Railand -and Pretty Bobby but of the straight, an' so they raced along the back. [Turning into the straight Railand and Wapping were together, but once heads were fairly turned for, home the favourite came through and went len to win comfortably by three lengths from Railand, which was a neck in front. of Wapping. Master Strowan was three lengths away *n fourth place and Vacuum last. THE SOLD CUP. The starters for the Gold Cup numbered three only—Desert Gold, Bonnie Maid and Sasanof, the respective mounts of Emerson, Deeley and Gray. The popular mare got a good reception on her appearance in the birdcage. There was never any doubt as $o which would be the favourite, and Sasanof finished up carrying" twice as much money as Desert Gold, with Bonnie' Maid unfancied. ; The trio.. mcved off together, Bonnie Maid and Sasanof being together, with Desert Gold a couple of lengths away, '"'lus they, raced round the back to the half-mile, where Desert Gold closed up to wtyhin a length of the leaders. Sasanof was first into the straight, leading Bonnie Maid by a length and a half, Desort Gold being a similar distance away. At the bottom of the straight Desert Gold set out after Sasanof, and amid, great excitement the mare gained on the favourite, but riding a well-judged race, Gray landed Sasanof a Winner by half a length, with Bonnie Maid, easing up, ten lengths further behind. Both winner'and" runner-up were accorded a reception on returning to scale. Desert Gold appeared all right after weighing-in. The time. 2 mins. 4 3-5 sees., is easily the record for the race, beating the previous best (by Chortle) by three-fifths of a second, which is a New Zealand record and the equal to the Australasian best. The last five furlongs were run by the winner in Imin. 2secs. ; ' There were five defections in the Woodhey Hack, Moutoa Ivanova being the public choice. Cadet, The Speaker, Black Mark, Astinome and Mandrake were also enquired for. Moutoa Ivanova was Slow to begin, and Black Mark showed the way along the back to Astinome, March On and Cadet. B-lack Mark and March On were together turning for home, and V. pair fought out the finish by themselves, March On getting the decision by a nc-k, with Cadet, which came with a latft run, three lengths away third. The Speaker was last home.

The scratching pen was freely used in the Telegraph, nine out of the 17 acceptors starting. The betting was practically confined to four horses, Demos, Chimera, Tigritiya and Nystad, this quartette carrying four-fifth 3of the money on the machine. Nystad was left several lengths at the start. Chimera and Demos were soon together in front, Tigritiya lying next at the head of a bunch. Chimera and Demagogue hit the straight in front of Demos and Tigritiya, and the favourite running on, won by nearly a length from Tigritiya, Demoa a neck away third.

Hector Gray had three wins yesterday, including the double. His winj ning mounts were Vagabond, Sasanof and Chimera. I Mr. Lowry stated last evening that ■LDesert Gold is not to-day feeling of yesterday's hard race she will be saddled Stakes. writing the acceptnot to hand, but in the hurdles themselves in nn'r fnv

to-day may be Cadet and Moutoa Ivanova.

There was so very little between Sasanof and Desert Gold as they flew past the judge yesterday in the Gold Cup that it might almost be aaid that Gray won the race. He Diloted Sasanof with great judgment.

A meeting between Spanner and Desert Gold to-day in the Stakes should be almost —but not quite—as interesting as the Sasanof-Desert 3old affair yesterday.

Warplane is without doubt a smart olt, and if he is saddled up in the

stakes to-day the son of Martian-Ad-elicia should make it very warm for :he pair mentioned in the preceding paragraph.