DEFEAT OF DESERT GOLD

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1918, Page 8

DEFEAT OF DESERT GOLD

HOW POITREL DOWNED THE CHAMPION

3LOAMING'S WIN IN THE DERBY.

<BNITEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTBIGHT.) (Received October 7, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Sporting writers discuss at length Desert 1 Gold's sensational defeat by Poitrel, which, although known as a good' horse, was never^ in. the most extravagant . imaginings, thought capable of downing the greatest of modern champions under such phenomenal conditions. Poitrel's victory was achieved in most thrilling cir cumstances. At tho top. of the straight Desert Gold settled tho pretensions of Cagou arid Konnaquhair, and just when 'it was thought she would come away and win easily, Poitrel, running wide on the outsido of the course, emerged from , the ruck, and, galloping at a great rate, gradually gained on-the-mare. At tho furlong post Deseit Gold was still clear, and .even at this stage few dreamed that Poitrel would beat the champion.; But half' a furlong from the post he reached her girths, and from there a stupendous struggle kept a multitude of'over 50,000 people tense and silent. Inch by inch the chestnut-gained on Desert Gold over the last hundred yards, ;and. when with a. final dash over the last three strides the"'horse threw, his last effort, into the. struggle and; Poitrel',.gained;.the supremacy, a great shout went up. Desert Gold was beaten. Excuses were found,, hut, none, was needed,,! The performance' was full of merit, and-there was small if any discrepancy on her side in the division' of honours. The race was.her first outing for months,' whereas- Poitrel hadhad several runs lately. Extenuating circumstances were found in the' pace she set. It takes a-good- horse to lead Cagou in a weight-for-age race, but Desert Gold cleared "right away'at one stage,. and doubtless this drew on her reserves of strength. Nevertheless there was no faltering at the finish; 'She answered every call like the wonderful racehorse sheiis. Although Desert"Gold ' was. beaten,. Gloaming's fine performance gave New Zealanders something to boast about.. Many argued before the rnco that if would be fataVfpr tho .son of The; Wel-kin-to make his own pace; but Gloaming. accomplished the task. Like the champion Biplane, ho gets the utmost speed in his last effort. It will surprise many good judges if Gloaming does not turn out a. better 'horse than -Biplane. Finmark-had- a bad. passage,..twisted, the plates on his fore feet, and was also galloped on during the Tace. ■ ■ ' • Gloaming is the first of The Welkin's' stock to win a classic race. It is a great feather:-in- R..-Mason's-cap.-Gloaming i 3 riot; entered -for the Victoria,' Derby,: but'is "in the" Flemington weight-for-a-ge rneea.-The-Sydney Morning Herald,.commenting on the Derby, says: "Gloaming made all his own running and scored easily." The Daily Telegraph says: "The defeat of Desert Gold was sensational, as her win was regarded as a foregone conclusion. Desert Gold was brilliantly and fairly beaten; but her performance was so • ' good that she shared the plaudits equally ■with.the victor." Referring to the Derby, the Telegraph > says: "Gloaming never left the issue in ' doubt, but gave the impression, as he passed the post that another furlong would have found him out."' (Received October 7, 2.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The weather is finefor the second day b£ the meeting. . ■ » ■