SPORTING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18533, 15 July 1922, Page 7

SPORTING.

FIXTUBES. July S. 12, 15—Wellington R.C. Winter. July 13—Waimate District Hunt Club August 8, 10, *2 Canterbury J.C. September 2—Dannevirke Hunt Club September 2—North Taranaki Hunt Club September 6—EgmonldVanganui H.C. September Sr—Marton September 14, 16 WanganiS J.C. September 20— Manawatu Hunt Club. September 22, 23—Ashburton C’nty R.C. September 23, 25 —Avondale J.C. September 23, 25 —Otaki-Maori R.C. September 28, 29—Geraldine R.C. September 30—Nauier Park R.C. October 4 Hawked Bay J.C. October 6. 7—North Otago J.C. October 7—Pakuranga Hunt Club. October 1«, 14 —Whangarei R.C. October 12. 14—Dunedin J.C. October 13, 14—Masterton R.C. October 21, 23—Welington R.C. October 21. 23—Gore R.C. October 23—North Canterbury and Oxford J.C. October 23—Waipawa County R.C. October 23 —Waverley-Waitotara R.C. I October 23 —Waikato Hunt Club. October 26, 28 Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 27 Poverty Bay Hum Club. October 3^—Taratahi-Carterton R.C. November 4, 6 Auckland R.C. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Early Bird.”) Concluding day at Treptham today. Ridden a different race Spook may make a better race of it with General Petain in the Winter i Hurdles. The latter’s great jiunping . enabled him to beat Penury Rose I last week-end. ; Passenger and Ruatara ought to | show improve form in the Talvora I Hurdles. i Yankee Dan may upset Wrangle I in the Crofton Handicap, despite the | latter’s good form. Cochineal and I Good Mark are a pair of likely ones I in the Novice Handicap.

' Dainty Step and Gold Kip will take : some disposing of in the Winter Oats, and in the Steeplechase First (Line and Gakleigh should run well. I Astinorie and Backsheesh in the 'Onslow Handicap, and Big Push and Loyal Maid in the Kia Ora Handicap, i axe fancied.

A mare by Boniform from Female Franchise is shaping in promising style over the Riecarton fences. She is a half-sister to Daylight Bill, a good performer over hurdles and steeplechase country.

Red Hind is bowling along freely in her work, and she may prove a useful Winter Cup candidate says a Christchurch writer.

King Bolt is imp: oving as a jumper, and on present appearances he is likely to pay his way at the hurdle game iater on.

The Demosthenes mare jigotism, who has carried Mr. G. D. Greenwood's colours for a couple of seasons, has finished racing, and will lake up stud life in the spring. Percy Mason, who has charge of Mr G. D. Greenwood’s team al Riccprton while his father is absent in Sydney, has Pluto, Vespucci. Veil, Valdamo, and Conision in work. He is also handling 10 yearling. The youngsters represent a variety of sires.

Ihe new post-and-rail fence near the home turn on the Wellington steeplechase course accounted for a lot of horses in both cross-country events on Saturday, and it seems as though the horses were unable to sight it properly. An official of the club says it is more than likely the fence will be removed.

A new starting machine for the despatch of trotting races by . the yards system was given a trial at Addington on Wednesday. It is the invention of Air H. Reynolds, and it made a favourable impression. It is similar in principle to tlje Higgens barrier, and in some respects is an improvement. It is likely to be installed at the Metropolitan Trotting Club's course in time for the next month's meeting. A private letter received from H. Gray, dated May 22, stated that during the fortnight previous to that date he had riddaen six winners for Sir Cunliffe-Owen. White Satin won three times in three starts, and was the stable representatives in the Derby, but. according to Gray. was hardly up to the form required to win the big classic event. At the lime of writing Gray said that Orpheus was in great nick, and was confidently expected to win some good races before the season closed.

With a profit of only some £ll7 on the season s operations by ihe Avondale Jockey Club there is probably no great reason to sound the high note thereon, but all things considered the report and balancesheet presented at yesterday’s meeting has a right to be regarded in a satisfactory light, for in giving the sum of £16,700 for four days’ racing the A.J.C. committee undertook a bold step. In the face of the situation ruling the A.J.C. will probably have to shorten sail, but with a splendid property unencumbered with debt, and tbeir high-favourable position to maintain the popularity won, the future can be viewed as quite bright for the Avondale Club.

In the decision of ihe Wellington Steeplechase on Saturday last Master Strowan, though well up in years, demonsirated that he" is very far from ranking as a spent light. ' The fact of the Strowan gelding not having won a race since the winter of 1920? there was not much encouragement to favour his chance in the big race at Trentham, and he ruled one of the outsiders. The old fellow, however, appears to have fairy revel led in his task under 10.10, and he ran home an easy winner in good time. Master Strowan, who is rising 12 years old. has an attractive record, and his victories include the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. • Wellington Steeplechase I twice). Rangifikei Steeplechase, and Otago Steeplechase. Master Strowan figures among the entrants for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase and in The face of his form at Trentham he will apparently’ have to be taken into serious account for the Riecarton race.

The defeat of Mr John Rowe for the presidentship of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, came as a big surprise to Aucklanders, for

I it was only during the past few days | that it was known that Mr H. F. i Nieoll was to be a candidate for the position. It is to be hoped that the new president will be a worthy successor to Mr Rowe, for the latter has devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to the affairs of the Association and the sport of trotting generally. His one aim has been for the betterment of the game, and the success of his efforts may be some reward to him. He has set a very high standard for Mr Nieoll to maintain, and it is satisfactory to note that Mr Rowe still maintains a position on the executive, for his experience'and advice will still be available when matters of policy are considered.

When Mountain God won the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase of 1921 in the fastest time on record and scored under the good impost of 11.5, the feat registered by the son of Mountain King was on all hands held to be invested with true brilliancy of the all-round order. Mountain God again took the field at Flemington on Saturday to fulfil another Grand National errand, and he carried the steadier of 12.7 to victory. Mountain God furnishes another illustration that it is very difficult to gauge the capacity of a horse in the Parly stage of his racing career. Mountain God changed hands several times before his present owner, Mr F. S. Feehan, by a lucky stroke, secured the gelding, .and, with a brace of Grand Nationals captured the Victorian sportsI man has good reason to rejoice over i bis ownership of the son of MounI tain King. i The full weights for the Melbourne Cup of 1922 are now to hand, .and with 229 horses engaged it may i be inferred that the list in tabulated i form is highly impressive, especially i for those who set themselves the ' task of endeavouring to find the ■ winner of the great Flemington race. I That Beaut'ord was selected by the I V.R.C. handicapper Dr. Lang, to I head the list was announced by I cable. It is quite recognised that l the Beau Soult gelding is great up I to a mile and a-half, and lit is stoutIly argued that he finished up his task in the A.J.C. Autumn Stakes as though he could have compassed the extra half-mile which the Melbourne Cup calls for. The 9.13 opposite Beauford’s name represents (with the 31b allowance for ranking as a gelding) lOlbs over weight-for-age, so that the magnitude of the task in front of Beauford can be fully realised. It is always interesting to note the conclusions arrived at by the handicapper in regard to the rising three year olds. Dr Lang has been content to allot the one (Soorak) who he considered entitled io head thel Ist an impost (7.6) in conformity with weiglit-for-age. SooIrak is a descendant of the Traquair horse Woorak, whose brilliant ex- [ ploits up to a mile and a quarter gave him a good place among the racers that have graced the Australian turf. Tffg question, however, arises as to whether the descendants of Woorak are destined to win fame as stayers. Ranged up at lib , below -Soorak is a youngster in whom a very large amount of interest is centred. This is Polytheist, a colt sired in England and foaled in Australia. Polytheist won at the first time Of asking and lie also would have ranked as a second winner but for an unfortunate over-

sight on the part of his owner in saddling up without the lead-bag Polytheist was got by that stud success Polymelus (son of Cyllene) from Cran brook (a daughter of The White Knight). By all accounts, Polytheist is a beautiful specimen of the thoroughbred, and his reappearance on the scene at three years old is awaited with considerable interest, and it goes without sayihg that the colt’s Melbourne Cup engagement is a subject well in the forefront in focussing his spring prospects.

DERBY DAY AT EPSOM. RECORD ATTENDANCE. CAPTAIN CUTTLE'S VICTORY. (From Our Own Correspondent). LONDON, May 31. Derby Day at Epsom is always a great day with followers of the turf, and this year’s attendance, which was estimated at 500,000. is held to have beaten all previous records. The King and Queen were present, and as the Royal equipage drove up tumultuous cheering came from all quarters of the historic Downs. When the numbers went up for the Derby it was found that a field of 30 was to contest,the great three-year-old event. Lord Queensborough. furnished the favourite with St. Louis, who had previously distinguished himself in the Two Thousand Guineas. Pondoland, who carried Mr S. B. Joel’s colons, was second in demand, and the* in order of favouritism came Lord Woolavington's Captain Cuttie and Lord Astor’s Tamar. St. Louis proved a disappointment, for he ‘was never equal to contesting matters in front, and it was lelt to Captain Cuttie, Tamar, and Craigangower to fight out the finish.

THE RACE. THE DERBY STAKES of £5O each h-ft or £5 only if dec., with £3OOO added; breeder of winner £500; owner of second to receive £4OO. and owner of third £200; about 1 1 miles* Lord Woolavington’s ch c Captain Cuttie. by Hurry On—Bellavista, 9 0 (S. Donoghue) p Lord Astor’s b c Tamar, by Tracery—Hamoaae, 9.i0- (F. Bullock 1 A. Barclay Walker’s ch c Craigangower, by Polymelus—Fortuna 9.0 (M. Beary) ' 3

Also Started.—Doctor Quill, ReEcho, Scamp, Simon Pure, Villars Diligence, Rung Ho, North End, Pondoland, Bucks Hussar, Dry Toast,

Irish Battle, Silpho, Satelles. Lord of Burghley, Psychology, Norseman, Baydon, St. Louis, Silvanus, Great Star. Jacquot, Mayode, Galway Prince, Lofax, Double First, Lord Bilberry.

Captain Allison, starting his first Derby, had a very difficult task indeed, for the field was unweildly in size and the heat was terrific. Eventually Captain Allison got them •away to a fair start. Jacquot was the first to break the line, and he was followed by Psychology and Captain Cuttie. Some sort of order hal been established by the time the field swung round Tattenham Corner. Here Jacquot was in front, followed by Captain Cuttie, Psychology, Great Star and Simon Pure. Scamp and Re-Echo were placed sufficiently well here to win if they were good enough. In this order the field swung into the straight where Jacquot was beaten and Captain Cuttie took up the running. The race was quickly over. The further they went the more easily did Captain Cuttie win. For a moment it was doubtful what would be second, but any doubt was soon removed, Tamar coming from nowhere with a long run and beating the othej; 28 runners just atf- easily as Captain Cuttie beat him. Craigangower was third, just in front of St. Louis, who was followed by Simon Pure. The time, 2m 34 3-5 s, was the best ever done in the Derby over the Epsom course.

The victory of Lord Woolavington’s colours was most popular, and rounds of cheering saluted Donoghue when he brought the winner back to the enclosure. Lord Wcrolavington had been endeavouring to win the Derby for a period of 25 years. Though, of course, greatly pleased with the victory of a colt bred by himself, the Scottish nobleman was probably the least-moved man in the mighty assemblage of half a million people. He is a tall, thin figure, in pincenez, and his delicately-look-ing face lighted up for a moment when the horse was safely Past the post. Then he walked slowly down to meet the victor and lead him in, but he scarcely smiled. Then the King sent for him, and he remained for some time talking to His Majesty, after receiving his congratlulations.

Captain Cuttie was the most ‘ admired horse in the paddock, as he walked round the parade ring before the race—a picture of a massive horse, with a quiet eye and the placid temperament of an old sheep-—signs that so often mark the really good horse.