SPORTING

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13643, 24 November 1917, Page 3

SPORTING

A visitor to Melbourne states that John Wren offered £15,000 for Biplane, but there wans nothing doing. Mr Sol Green should have a sueeessful time with Comedy King, alter the New Zealand colt's great performances of late. Johnnv Walker and Menelaus have been worked right-handed (the other way round) at Trentham, which vculd indicate that both of thesi horses will fulfil their Auckland engagements. Bo Peep also is more than liN.'j to make the Auckland trip a !ratter of fact. Judging bv the way she hniO.ed in the Electric Plate at Chrisicuurch the other day. the extra distance up North should 6uit her. Sasanof and Sweet Corn are to be left in Sydney for the summer and autumn meetings. The two-year-old filly by All Black from Lilywhite, will keep them company. The latter is said to be possessed of a great deal of pace. The crack Australian rider. W. H. McLachlan. scored his third Melbourne Cup on Westconrt. He is the only rider to win three Cups. A writer points out that it is a remarkable coincidence that both the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup were won by riders with damaged hands. F. Demfcsey had a broken finger when he won on Bronzetti, and McLachlan injured his hand in a motor smash and had to ride with it bandaged. In previous years the crack horseman B. Deeley has had many successful sea. sons, but it is doubtful if anv of them have paid him as well as this season has done. Although it is not half gone yet, the Auckland horseman has already ridden the. winners of the Rosehill Guineas. A.J.C. Derby, V.R.C. Derbv. V.R.C Oaks. Linlithgow Stakes, and two good handicaps in Australia. Commenting on the racing at Flemington on the first day of the Victoria Racing Club's Meeting, a Melbourne writer had the following:—There were many visitors from other States and from New Zealand, but the one that attracted most attention was Biplane, the New Zealand colt, who was favourite for the Derby for weeks prior to the race. Some of the horses Were led round the paddock, but Biplane held his reception under a tree. He remained very quietly—almost dreamily—in the shade whilst hundreds of people walked round him and admired every point in one of the finest three-year-olds that has been seen in Melbourne for a long time. On the course Biplane threw off all his langour. His starting price was very short, but most backers declared that even then he was the best bet of the day. The result justified the statement. From the start it was evident that nothing but an accident could prevent his winning, and an accident was guarded against in the best way possible. Biplane plunged to the front, despite the efforts of his rider (Deeley) to steady him. There was a general laugh as he passed the judge's box in the lead. No bookmaker would have ben rash enough to take the starting price then. From beginning to end his position was not seriously challenged, and as he came to the distance Deeley was merely giving the colt his head, and both rider and horse appered to be enjoying the run home without any stress on either.