DESERT GOLD, one of the most brilliant and spectacular mares ever to grace the Australasian Turf, died in New Zealand last week. She was a venerable old lady at the time of her death, as she was foaled in 1912, so was rising 30 years when she died. It is not often mares live as long as Desert Gold did, but Circle, the last daughter of Carbine at the stud in Australia, who bred the Newmarket winner Blague, was about the same age as Desert Gold when she died. As a performer Desert Gold was not the equal of Wakeful, as she did not stay as well as the peerless daughter of Trenton, but she probably had as much speed. Mr Leslie Macdonald owned Wakeful during her racing career, and…