THE MELBOURNE CUP.

THE WINNING JOCKEY'S ACCOUNT. James Anwin, the lad who rode Bravo to victory in the Melbourne Cup whilst 80,000, people looked on, was found a few minuteß afterwards as calm as if he had just brought the horse in from bis customary morning exercise. It is a piece of business which be has been ordered by his master to do, and he has done it in a mechanical businesslike way. Yet Anwin would not be without excuse if he lost his head for a time. He has achieved at the first effort what many an old and experienced horseman has struggled unsuccessfully for ydara to accomplish, Every properly ambitious jockey desires to win a Melbourne Cup. It confers a special distinction in jockeydom. This was Anwin's first mount in a Cup race, and he won easily. Little has been known of him before, but now ia sporting annals he will always be mentioned as the rider who steered Bravo to victory, He is a slim, young-looking lad, and one ,can hardly credit him when he says he is 20 years of age. Heis quite ready to talk about himself or about the race when questioned, but has little to say about either. "I was born in Collingwood," he saya. " I used to always think I would like to be a jockey, and as I kept small I got a billet six years ago with Mr Scobie, of Ballarat. Then I went into Mr Dakiu's stable for a time, and about two and a- half years ago I joined Mr Wilson, and have been with him ever since." This was bis first big win, except in the V.ii C. Handioap, which he won last year on the same horse (Bravo), but he bad won several smaller races up-country. Ho did not ride Bravo in the Caulfield Cup. Anwin understands Bravo welljhavingriddenhiminmostof his work, and thus formed a pretty good idea of what he could do. He does not appear, however, to have felt at all certain of a win yesterday, and had not backed his mount, though be thought he had a pretty; good chow. As to the race, he says he received instructions to keep in a good position all the way, and to win if he could ; and he just did what he waß told. He was in a good position; about sixth from the rails, and his horße was pretty quiet, so he had no difficulty in getting away. A jockey cannot tell much about a race like that for the Melbourne Cup in which there are so many horses, as he has enough to do to look after his own, but he kept about eighth or ninth from the front, as far as he could make out, and Baw Prince Consort sailing away in the lead. Bravo was at first a bit sluggish, aud waß touched once or twice lightly with the Bpurs to keep him amongst the others, but ho soon settled down to his work and went freely and strongly— well withia himself, and yet nob pulling. At the abattoirs Melos wa3 running very strong and pulling hard, but Anwin lost sight of him soon after that, and did not see him any more, nor did the rider of the winner see how the favourite rußbedaftor him in the straight, then just on the post. " After we passed the abattoirs," continued the jockey, " I felt that my mount was still going very strorg, and I began to think I *

had a good look in for the Cup. There were still , , a good few horses ahead of me, and I began he to look for an opening to go tip a bit, but just then about- eight of U3 seemed to get blocked together, and Bravo was a good deal ■J: interfered with. I got one of the other jockey's Q d spurs in my leg, and though I did not feel it much at the time, it is pretty sore now. I managed to get out of the crush after a bit, and 1 saw that Princa Consort was still leading. Then, aa we approached the home turn, I lost 2 Bight of him, and found myself with. Chicago 3 on the outside, and Carbine on the inside, and nothing ahead. Bravo was Btill full of running, and I felt cure I had the race safe. I had little the advantage of the two others, and I jußt Bhook my horse up a bit, ■ and he came away >n and yon, with a good deal in hand. I never had to take my whip out to him at all. I will X| not make anything extra out of my win." This is all that can be extracted from Anwin Ir about his victory. He had a horse that Q waa able to win, and he let him do it. No w great horsemanship was exhibited, nor was it required perhapß. But there was no. bungling, x- or the chance might have been Bpoiled, Nerve and coolness there certainly was in '«• plenty. Very few youngsters could ba^ found ifc who when leading home in their first Cup race could have sat without raising a whip while the &t& t redoubtable Carbine was thundering along in close pursuit. Anwin felt himself master of the situation, and judged the capabilities of [r his horse with' all the sagacity of a veteran. He will no doubt be heard of frequently again. What one missed in him was any. enthusiasm about the horse which carried him home in d such rare style. Apparently he would just as Boon have won on any other horse. Very dif • r ferent would it have been if O'Brien had succeeded in getting home on Carbine. Last year when he won on Mentor one could not but be impressed in talking to. him with a feeling that he rejoiced in the victory of that ' brilliant animal as in that of a personal friend. Anwin is not of the enthusiastic sort. He takes the y whole thing as part of the day's work, and s thinks there is no occasion to make a f übb about f it. i ■ ■ '■ '■' j ■■!