NOTES ON E V.R.C. MEETING.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 38

NOTES ON E V.R.C. MEETING.

[By Cable.] '

Clarion was late in reaching the post for the Cup, and there was a delay of nearly 10 minutes before Mr Watson gave the order "Go I " and every pair ot eyes became focussed upon the moving mass on the running track. Delaware forfeited at an early hour, leaving 29 to battle.for the rich prize. Despite his recent eccentricities on the track, Positano found plenty of friends, who backed him so consistently that ere the field had assembled at the post he had deposed-Coil from the position of first favourite. Coil, who was a strong second favourite, was in splendid condition, and Wait-a-B.it fit to race for a kingdom. Amberite, who was in great nick, attracted large crowds, as did Gaulus, who had been trained to the hour. Aurum, too, made many friends. Without much delay they took up their positions behind the barrier, Positano being on the rails, with The Chevalier next, Aurum, Fucile, Gaulus, Amberite in the centre ; while ou the outside were Patthenopseas. Tcout* and Tke Grafter.

When the barrier was released, Positano got quickly on his legs, and, with Trent, T'ha Chevalier, Koha, and Gaulus, formed the first division until they reached the course proper, where Wait-aßit came through and led for a fuiloug, but resigned in favour of Koha as the field thuudered past the ftand. A little further on Bundook deposed K-»ha and carried the horses along at a merry pace out of the straight aud along the river side, with Mischief and Fleet Admiral to bear him company ; Aurum, Wait-a-Btt, and Dreamland being handy. Koha fell back to last at the bridge, where Mischief joined Bundook. This pair were three lengths in advance of Auruin and Coil, who hitherto had boen among the back division, but began to improve their positions, and The Grafter also commenced to make a forward movement. Mischief took temporary command at the abattoir*, but Bundook again got level with her at the sheds, where Aurum and The Grafter were in pursuit, and Coil, Gauhis, Positano, and Battalion on their way towards the leaders. Bundook turned the home corner ia safety, but The Grafter was hard upon him, and out- ; pacod the Mill Park horse after a short struggle. Then Aurum, C6il, Dreamland, and Positano appeared on the seen«, and as they approached the distance Giutus shot out in pursuit of his stable companion, who had placed a couple of length* between himself- and the field. Inside the half-distance Gaulus gradually began to close the gap, and, steadily gaining on The Grafter, caught him about a hundred yard* from the post. They raced together for a few strides, and then , G*uluf, asserting himself, forged ahead, and gained the judge's verdict by half a head. Aurutn, who held a promising position all the way, could not pace it with the Warwick I<*rm pair at the end of the journey, j and passed the post four lengths behind Gaulus. Bundook ran a good horse, but after making ; most of the tunning just failed to get a place. : Considering tha heavy state of the track, Coil acted well under his burden; bat Atnb- j ri(;e j never fl-ttvtred bis friends. Facile ran most disappointingly ; so did Parthenopteas. The much-fancied Poaifcano failed to run up to expectations, and Trent was never dangerous. Fleet Admiral kept in a leading division during the greater part of the race, but died out when it came to real racing. Mischief ran a good mare, but could sot live to the end of the journey. For the first time since the inauguration of the Cap the unique spectacle was afforded of two equine brothers belonging to the same owner fLhtiug out a determined battle for the great handicap of the neason. The result was received by the crowd with an outburst of cheers. The Argus quotas Giulus's starting prica at 14 to 1, and the Age at 10 to 1. Mr W. T. Jones, the whiiom owner of Newhaven, who is now in England, netted £5000 by Ganlus's victory. Mr Forrester laid J. R Smith, the breeder of Gaulus, £1000 to nothing. Gaulus acted well in the heavy going, The mud was so thrown up at the back of the course that Callinan had both his eyes bunged up. j Pallinan, the rider of the winner, in the j course of an interview, said : "I got w?ll away, and, leaving the «traight, about 10 horses were ia front of me. Running alon* the riverside I found that I wai falling away from the main body, and commenced to- shake Gaulua up. Neari«g the sheds I made a great ru«h up to the leader*, atid for a time feared that the effort had taken all out of my mount. Sweeping round th« corner into the straight I lay aboat seventh. Through the leaders accidentally swerving outwards I managed, by getting close in to the rails, soon to secure such a pl*ca that by making a leap I was ab'.e to pass Aurum on the outside. I then found that GUulus was third, having The Graffcer imtrHdiafcely ahead, with some other horse nearer the rails. The winning post now catne in sight. On getting alongside of Aurum Gaulus seemed uncertain on his legs for a moment, and lost tome ground until I could get him into a fair swing again, and I did not cohm level with The Grafter until very close j to the fiaiih. Thea it became a neck-and-neck ■ race, and Iwo a, they say, by half a head Mr ■ Forrester gave me the choice of riding either ] Tho Grafter or Gauius, but as I kuevr more aboat Gaalus I stuck to him." Continuing, he said : "I regarded Posit&no as a. sure win before we started." Apart from the stake Mr Forrester won £10.000. Key was vary unfortunate in the Flying Stakes, having "split one of her hoofs in the Melbourne Stakes, in addition to which she got a bad position below the distance before making . her final run. The judge's decision in the Nursery and Vetaran Stakes caused much caustic comment. Novus apparently held a decided advantage over Little Widow at the finish of the Nursery, whilst the Argus states in relation to the concluding event : "It may be mentioned without prejudice that the judge's decision did not give general satisfaction, even the backers of Bua- . dook being of opinion that Positano won by a head." Oae thousand two hundred and fifty-three more railway passengers were carried to the course yesterday than on the same day last year, representing an increased revenue of £578.