NOTES BY HIPPONA.

By cable wo learn that tho Grand National Steeplechase, run at the Victoria Racing Club Winter Meeting on Saturday last, resulted in a victory for Mr Lotighlin's four-year-oid gelding Wy-nlet, with Sailor second, and Denmark third, Tho winner is an occupant pf tho clover Dowling Forest stable, and as I notice by late files ho was a good deal fanciod for tho groat cross-country ovont, it is pretty certain tho bookmakers would not havo had a good time of it. That great horseman Corrigan, isalinostcortaintohavoriddon Wymlet, who claims King Tom as his siro, and who promises to become as colobrated as Horatio in the production of steeplechasers. King Tom is credited with putting plenty of size into his stock, and thoy all inherit the gift of galloping which ho possessed when on tho turf. No mention is made in tho cablegram to hand whether Clarence was among the twelvo who started, but I am inclined to think he was not, Wymlot hailing from the same stable in which the Now Xeulander occupies a box. Tho Hurdle Ruco fell to The Agent, who was got by old Traduccr's soti Slanderer, Guardlish acting 09 runner up, with Cockboat third. In connection with Guardlish, I may nioiition that the sporting folk of Mount Gambier (Victoria), from where tho horso hails, wero co enamoured with hia chance of winning that one of thoir uunibor lately took £20,(100to .t.2,500 from Mr.l. Thompson that ho would win. Subsequontly.tho taker evidently thought tho wager was too big, and had it reduced, taking 2,C0 to 500. Whon tho " leviathian" witnessed Guardlish in the straight, quite probably ho congratulated himself that ho did not have tho sensational wagor going against him.

I learn that Foul Shot, tho son of Musket and Slandor, who promised to develop into such a great horse in the spring of last season, but unfortunately somo months later went all to pieces, is himself again, and ia doing serviceable work. Among those French has under charge at Papakura is a rising three-year old full sister to Marion, who has only lately been broken in. Tho rising two year : old full siater to Mitrailleuse that Mr Robertson purchased privately after the last New Zealand Stud Company sale, I am informed, has grown into a very racinglooking young lady, and ia ono.of tho kii.d that will come to hand early.

The youngsters at Sylvia Park aro reported to bo looking wonderfully well just now, ami taken altogether aro said to bo a tine-looking lot. This ia in somo measure due to the splendid weather wo have had, and thu absence of sickness from amongst their number. Both Sylvia nnd Onyx aro in foal to Musket, but among tho somo half-a-dozen mares who aro empty is Fancy, tho dam of Foul l'lay and Tho I'oot.

From Sydney I learn that Thunderbolt bag como in for a lot of attention there for tlio V.R.C. Derby. Tho Leviathan, Mr E. E. Jonos, laid -1000 to 100 in one hand lo

a commissioner, and several smaller sums woro alto booked. For tlio same event, 10*9 to SO was pencilled against tho Hon. J. White's colt Nordenfe'dt, and 1000 to 00 offered.

Judging from tho largo number of juveniles that Auckland trainers have in hand, wo should have somo splendid two-year-old racing next season. I can count nt tho present time no less than sixteen youngsters that are being put through regular work, and this is not counting Mr J. Enko's colt Jamaica, by Cadofjan — Luro, Mr J. Lennard's Auriga, by Ran Iwiek —Xantippe, The Boot's full brother Tennyson, owned by Mr C. 11. Lushiugton, and a couple belonging to Mr C. Hewitt.

Mr Poniold, the Secretary of tho Canterbury Jockey Club, has aent mo a copy of the Club's programme for tho forthcoming season. It is published in tho usual handy book form.

Tho Wel'ingteii Racing Club Steeplocha o Meoting on Saturday was tho means of bringing forth an evidently promising crosscountry horse in the shapo of Faugh aballagh, To place two s.eopleclußj-a to hia creuit in ono afternoon was by no means a bad performance, but from all accounts ho was greatly served by heavy ground. Previous to winning tho Maidon Steeplechaso at Napier in March last, Faugh-a-ballngh had little in tho way of performances to recommend him.

Frotn Napier I loam that tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club havo this year drawn up tlio programmo for tho whplo of tho forthcoming season, and when comptotcd it will be published in book form. Tho stako for the Hawko's Bay Steeplechase has been increased to OOOsovs , so that it is ovident tho Club are dototmined not to bo bohi*id hand.

At tho opening of tho Cumberland .Hunt Club in Sydnoy, I notice that our old friend Hunray was among thoso who followed the " spotted beauties," and ho made himself conspicuous by being in tho first flight. Sunray was ridden by Mr H. Bennott,

Mr T. W. Hickaon publicly oxhibited his new " Triumph " totalisator at Eraser and Tinne's foundry on Wednesday afternoon. Among tho spectators present wore Mr W. Porcival and Air W. Adams.

" Sir Launcelot " heara on the most roliablo authority that the much-talked of July will be taken to Melbourne to compete in tho Melbourne Cup, and will go into tho Dowling Porost stablo. Commotion is progressing most satisfactorily with his training, and.is reported to be looking tho picture of health. In the Sydnoy papers ho is now quoted at 100 to 4 for the Melbourne Cup, and in that city several days ago, £5000 to £200 was accepted that he places the great Spring evont to his credit.

Tho other night in Wanganui, Mrs Baldwin, in answer to a question during hor exhibition of socallod elairvoyancy, said tho coming Melbourne Cup would bo won by a bay horse with a white star or blaze in his face, whoso name commenced with the letter N. There are four animals engaged in that event whose names commenco with that lettor, viz., Newstead, Ndrmanby, Nordenfeldt, and Nopicallina.

St. John (a full brother to Trump Yoss) has come into notice for tho Melbourne Cup, and he has been supported to win £20,000 at 100'sto2. The "Sportsman" of tlio loth givo." the following as a fow of the biggest bona fide bets actually laid :— Caulfield Cur, 3,OOOto6oClaDtrnp 2.000 to 10 Luck* Hit 2,000 to 5i Anchorite 1.000 to 20 King of tho Gipslca s.Ofio to 50 Videtto 1,000 to 20 Vcrpy l,oooto2oHunicano Mbluouknis Cup. 5,000 to 150 Coronet 3,000 to CO Warwick 3.000 to 00 Sardius 3,000 to flil Norrteufoldt 3.W0 to 51 Mozart 5,000 to 100 Prnnieilieus 5,000 to 100 St Joha 2 000 to 20 Willoroo 2 000 to 30 Impulse 2.000 to 30 Honoydow 2,000 !o 10 Velocipede Douei.es. 5,000 to 20 Nowstead and Plausiblo 5 fOO to 20 Nowstead and Coronet 5,000 to 25 Nowstead and Velocipede 5,0"0 to 25 Nowstead and Reginald 5.000 to 25 No ivstend and Prometheus 5,000 to 15 Monte Christo and Commotion 5,000 to 15 Monte ChriFto and Kit Nubbles 5,000 to 20 Monte Christo and Anchorite 5,000 to 7.5 Matchlock and Matchlock lit.ooo to 10 Matchlock and Stornaway 2.000 to 10 Nordcnfeldt and Nordenfcldt 10,000 to 10 Uralli and Sardius 2 001 to 40 Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 5.000 to 20 Thunderbolt and Commotion V.R.C. Debby, 1,000 to 120 on the fleld (off) 1.000 to 100 Dunlop (off) 1,000 to 60 Isonomy (wd)

I have to ncknowledgo tho receipt of a copy of Oxenham's "Turf Register" for July. It contains a mass of useful informations, including the entries and weights for all of the principal forthcoming events to be decided on the Australian turf. In a noto that I have received from the publisher ho states that the book is becoming a gradual but certain success, and already a large number of the wealthiest and most prominent of the Australian racehorse owners and sporting gontlemen aro upon the list of yearly subscribers. Mr Pilbrow informs " Sir Launcelot" that it is moro than likely he will soon dispose of Mata—Mr 11. Haines, wollknowu n this colony, and one of the most respected members of the Melbouruo " ring,".having expressed a wish to become possessed of him again. It will be remembered that while he was " under the ban " Mr Haines hacked Mata about tho streets of Melbourne, and perhaps ho will again uso tho veteran at the same work.

Summarising the performances of Tim WhiUler during his career, " Maxeppa " says that he has started in 03 races. Of these he has won 10, been placed socond 22 times, third 9 timos, unplaced 22 timos. Winnings in st.ikes,i;l ) 743. Ugly Buck has started in 27 races. Of those he has won four, been five times second, and nine times unplaced. Winnings in stakes, £484. Tho Adelaide scribe "Trumpa tor" recently interviewed Newstoad in hia box, nnd the genuine information he gives concerning tho colt will provo interesting to his Auckland admirers. Tho writer says ;—" To sco the Derby favourite is to admire. No horso could bo truer made or possess greater power and substanco, his muscular development being something extraordinary. His victory over Malua in tho Flying Stakes ut Flomington, when tho pair ran tho distance in lmin. 14sec, stands out as a wondorful achievement, and fit and well ut the postit will require a clinkor to put him down at Flemington on tho last day of Octobor. Now comes tho reverse sido of the picture as far as the colt's Derby prospects aro concerned. Nowstoad is decidedly on tho big sido after his long spoil, and his fore-legs do not look to bo of tho " sorviceable kind " necessary for a horso who must go through unoxcoptionally heavy preparation. Molten, it is true, was always under suspicion on account ofa weak leg, and yet his trainer was onublod to got him fit enough to fight out a very severe race at Ep°om. The scare aboutNowsteadmay proveno bettcrfounded than were tho objections to tho English Derby favourite ; but without wishing to discount tho colt's Dorby chance in any way, I shall unhesitatingly express my opinion that Mr McDonald has a vory anxious and troublosomo timo before him in preparing the present favourite for tho V -R C. Dorby ; und if ho succeeds in landing him at tho post lit to nit),ho will havo performed a tusk which many persons just now regard as vory dillicult of accomplishment. In writing this 1 do not for a moment wish people to understand that I am one of those croakers who suy " Nowstead cannot win the Derby," but tho colt has all his trouble before him, ni'd until he gets into fast work and is going on satisfactorily backers will be using a wise discretion if they forget his brilliant form last year und let him alono for the Derby.

Referring to tho Caulfiold Cup weights, "Augur" says:—" rt here so many aro nicely handicapped, it is difficult to select anything that stands out prominently, but if Commotion, The Plunger, Fryingpan, Proinetlious, Archie, and Anchorite bo brought lit to tho post, I don't think tho others will have much tho best of thoni when tho judge gives his verdict."

Won by a head, is what the English papers to hand tell us was tho result ol the English Derby, and nothing but desperate horsemanship on tlio part of Archer enabled Melton to turn tho tables on Paradox, who looked all over a winner a fow yards from tho post. There wero 12 starters fur the great raco, but Dame Agnes, who has been running in the linmo of Mr W. A. Long, was not of tho number. Tho winner started at tho short prico of 7 to -1, the French ro'.t Xaintrailles holding the next best position at 4 to 1, in front of I'iradox, who receded to 6to 1. Melton's time for tho important race under not'eo has only beer, beaten twice during the Inst 10 years, viz , by Gulupiti, 2uiin. -12*oc. in 1875, mid Kisbor,2uiiu l-lscc. in IS7O, and the value of the stake, £4,525, is considerably lower than any previous Derby for tho same term. Archer had the mount on Melton, which makes hia fourth victory, having steered other three winners in Silvio, Bend Or, and Iroquois. It is a singular coincidence that tho first four in tho Middlo Park Plato furnished tho lending quartette in the Dorby, with tho positions slightly altorod. It is stated that thu ring was hit to tho tune of £150,000 by Molten's victory. Although several of tho otl . notably Xaintrailles and I'aindox, were upported for a heap of niouoy, many «.' .ho mutnllicians are now said to bo nski- _ for timo.