SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 51

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Ravenswceth.

MELBOURNE, November 20. ASPENDALE PARK EACES.

On the day my last letter was posted, November 13, a small meeting took place at Aspendale Park, which was very tame after the recent fast and furious sport. Eose Queen, who won the Maiden Plate, conies from a famous family, being a full sister to such -joed performers as Moss Eose, Eo3eleaf, Bay Eosc, and Roscommon. So and So 8.13 took the Jumpers' Fist Race, and Hobm 7.5 the Trial Handicap, these three winners being at 8 to 1 each. Spindrift 7.11, who is under orders to leave for West Australia, started at even money, and easily won the Aspendale Park Handicap, one mile ; and the leniently-treated Chartreuse 9.9 scored an easy win in the Steeplechase, in which the favourite Tri dOr, lan off. First May 8.4, by imported Harmonist, was successful in the Welter, for which she started a strong favourite.

VICTOEIAN CLUB EACES

Melbourne's premier betting institution, the Victorian Club, held a race meeting on the Caulfield course on November 16. It was a tame affair, fields being small and the attendance ditto. Th Stonnington Handicap, run over five furlongs and p-half, went to Mr S. Miller's Bill of Portland horse. Duke of Portland 8.7, who was not fancied by the stable to the extent of even a penny piece. The favourite, Sweet Sound 7.13, who is also by Bill oi Portl-and, again failed to stay. The Hurdle Eace should have gone to the grey Turk 11.4, but his jockey (A. Cooper) rode like a butcher's boy, and Austerlitz 9.0 won from him. This was Austerlitz's first win over hurdles. He is owned and trained by W. Hill, a bookmaker. The Victorian Club Cup, of 2Qosovs, one. mile and a. furlong, was also lost owing to bad riding. Tsarina 7.6, the favourite, was -winning easily, but the Adelaide 3ockey, W. Hopwood, who had the mount, allowed Marama 6.13 to slip up on the inside and win by half a head. Marama is by imported Nobleman, and was ridden by Percy King, a son of the old-time jockey Jimmy King. Old Clown 9.7, a recruit from the ranks of the hunters, was landed 'th,e winner of the Steeplechase by H. Underwood, from Excelsior 9.13, the favourite ; while Flying Artillery 9.0, by Light Artillery, landed the odds of 3 let 1 laid on him in the Two-year-old Handicap, only having three poor ones to beat. He was helped thereto by being given a flying start. The field included Clean Sweep's brother New Broom, who ran a very bad last. He has not done much work, but it will take Bellamy a long time to make a racehorse of him — if ever he does. The Grong Grong Welter, seven furlongs, went to So Long, who carried no less than 11.0, and won in a canter. He travelled very badly in the market at the finish of the betting, but in the race, after being second last; at the turn, could not go slow enough for the others in the run home. He is still in J. E. Brewer's stable. Diike of Portland was saddled up again, and with 10.9 up was made favourite, but shaped badly.

RACING IN SYDNEY.

Two jockeys who won at the recent Flemington meeting were successful at the Canterbury Park meeting' in Sydney on Saturday, F. Kuhn winning on Neichdale 7.7 and J. Barden on Ranjitsinhji 8.12. Barden only got his mount home a head in front of Santoi in the Flying Handicap, while Neichdale's victory over Bar On© in the Canterbury Handicap was a similarly narrow thing. Each horse started favourite in his respective race. Blackwing 7.5, by Albatross, took the Park Stakes, six furlongs, and Eoi-de-Lis 7.7, by Buckthorpe, the Stewards' Mile. A warm favourite in Frontier 9.0, who is by the New Zealand-bred Cuirassier, won the Jumpers' Flat Race for Ike Earnshaw; and Fair Helen 8.7, by imported Nobleman, won the Shorts Handicap.

ODDS AND ENDS

The Williamstown Racing Club gave £2000 in Stakes *t their Spring meeting on November.

8 and 11, and made a profit of £1000, which shows that the game cannot be a bad one with the proprietary clubs, who give very poor stakes. The Wilhamstown Club is the thud in importance in Melbourne. The V.E.C. and V.A.T.C. les*-it.

Paul Piy's leg filled during the recent racing at Fleinmgton. If he stands another prepaiation, I suppose he will be put over hurdles. Gunga Din, sold recently in Melbourne, is to be shipped to Singapore or South Africa. Paradox, by Stockwell, who canie to Melbourne with Sequence, was sold privately in Melbourne to the Flemmgton trainer W. Glasscock, and is to be tried ovei hurdles. Spat, by Vengeance, from Zuleika, knocked down to Mr W. Williams at the Newmarket sale last week, has since been sold to Mr R. Barr-Smith, of South Australia, who will use the horse a<3 a station sire.

The Melbourne jockeys C. Deiclrick and T. Torpey intend to try their fortunes m West Australia.

C. Moore has sent Vocalist back to Sydney The son of G-ozo will be given a long speli. Vocalist's box will be filled by Centuuon (Meial —Amazement), who is expected from Sj'dney in a few days.

Gunbearer, who only came over to win a wager made by his owner that he would be a starter in the Melbourne Cup, returned to West Australia last week. • He was accompanied by Cra'gmore. H. Cripps has returned to Melbourne. He took Clean Sweep to England. Spindrift, who has been sold to go to West Australia, left Melbourne for his new home last week. The Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Race winner Redeemer is ttncler orders to shortly leave for South Africa. The Flemmgton trainer Walter Hickenbothain journeyed to Wagga Wagga a few days ago, and purchased Sir Joseph, by Sir Oliver —Pinafore, on account of Mr W. Leonard. Sir Joseph, who is a half-brother to Rackstraw, is to be tried over hurdles. J. J. Allan and D. Allan have both recovered from their recent accidents. They were at the races at Caulfield on November 16.

Messrs Krcrouse and Madden recently shipped to India by the s.s. Euryalus the following thoroughbred stallions : — Solem, by Melos from Lady Clieveden; Flodden, by Lochiel from Forget-Me-Not : The Ringer, by Gigue (imported) from Golden Fleece; Metallic, by Emulation from Fishy; Mutineer, by Padlock from Restless; The Marnier, by The Admiral from Discard; Voltigeur, by Eagie from Cinderella; and Royal Admiral, by Richmond fioni Footstep. Messrs Krcrouse and Madden are specially commissioned by the Government of India to select eight thoroughbred stallions for them every year, and up to date they have purchased and shipped 48 horses. To give an idea of the extent of the horse business during the last season, Messrs Krcrcuse and Madden state that they sent away 1579 horses to India and 4762 to Africa, which brings their total to 6341. They say they can still buy large numbers. The price has advanced considerably, but there are plenty of good serviceable horses to be bought at fair prices when required. This is the record ot but one firm. There are a dozen other horse exporters in Melbourne doing a big business, and making money fast. The stakes of the Caulfield Boxing Day meeting have been, increased from HSOsovs to 1200sovs, the leading event being the Hopetoun Cup, of 300sovs. Mr Clarence M'lvor, well known as a tabulator of pedigrees of thoroughbred horses, died in Sydney a few days ago. A| stipendiary veterinary surgeon has been appointed to act at all the Epsom racing meetings in future. E. Turner rode three winners at the Gisborne races, in this State, held on November 17. An action of interest to racing clubs was decided in the County Court, Melbourne, on November 18. It was brought by the Mentone Racing Club to recover £250 damages against the Victorian Railway Commissioners. Judge Chomley, in delivering judgment, said that the evidence showed that a race meeting had been arranged at Mentone, and, in accordance with the usual custom, a special train service was la be provided by the Railway department. In consequence of the weather being unfavourable, a message was sent by a clerk at Flinders street to the traffic office, asking if the Mentone races were to ba postponed. That message was misunderstood, and was taken to be an intimation that the races had been postponed. Telegrams were sent otit by the railway authorities to that effect, and on some of the stations notices were posted. About two houi-3 afterwards the secretary of the racing club saw one of these telegrams, and communicated with the department, and the notices were at once countermanded. There was an undoubted falling-off in the attendance on that day, but before deciding on the question how much of this was due to the erroneous notices, and how much to the wet weather, it woiild have to be considered whether the plaintiffs had a case at all. In the particular circumstances the words published, "Mentone Races Postponed," probably gave rise to some loss to thf chrb. • • But the words, not being defamatory, must, according to the authorities, be malicious, either in the sense of being the result of some improper motive, or the result of uncalled-for and meddlesome interference with other people's business. There was no malice in the first sense, and if the message was giv-en a reasonable interpretation, it was one dealing with the defendant's own business. The facts did not, therefore, amount to actionable wrong. The injury, if any, aTose from the important position held by the defendant. It could not be said that if one- man had mentioned to another that the races had been postponed he would be liable. There would be a verdict for the defendant. During the trial evidence was given to the effect that ihe club made a profit averaging £215 per meeting. Two inter-State lawn tennis matches were concluded in Melbourne on November 18. Victoria had two teams in the field, one being successful against New South Wale 3 and the other against South Australia. The following were the figures : —

Victoria v. N.S.W. Doubles. Victoria— 4 rubbers, 8 sets, 76 games, 12 points. New South Wales— s rubbers, 11 sets, 96 games, 15 points. Singles. Victoria— ll rubbers, 27 sets, 227 games, 22 New South Wales— 7 rubbers, 18 sets, 210 games, 14 points. Totals. Victoria— ls rubbers. 35 sets, 303 ganios, 34 points. New South Wales— l 2 rubbers, 29 sets, 306 games, 23 points. Victoria v. South Australia. Singles. Victoria — 5 rubbers, 11 sets, 100 games. South Australia — 3. rubbers, 8 sets, 92 games. Doubles. Victoria — 3 rubbers, 6 sets, 52 games. South Australia — 1 rubber, 4 sets, 35 games. Totals. Victoria — 8 rubbeis, 17 sets, 152 games. South Australia— 4 rubbers, 12 sets, 127 games.