CONDENSED ITEMS.

Captain Webster is said to bo looking in first class form.

Acceptances for tho New Zoaland Cup aro due or, Saturday next. "Caspian " picks Acolyte or Anglesey to win tho Hawkesbury Handicap. The Hon. J. White's filly Uralla ii first favourite for tho A.J.C. Derby. Adamant, tho Dunodin Cup winner of ISS3, has beon shipped to Sydney for disposal. King's Own was submitted by auction in Sydney, and knocked down to a Mr Kinsolo for 105 guineas. It is universally agreed in Australia that Silver King ia the worst treated horse in tho Melbourne Cup. Tho last issuo of the " Sydrey Sportsman " contains a loading article denouncing tho totalisator. Nnnnio has passed into tho hands of Messrs Lyons and Blaikie, and will in future bo in charge of M. Carmody. Mr McDonald, of First Water fame, is training a full brother to Creswick, who has novor started in public. Tho Christchurch sportsman, Mr H. Wostmacott, has christened his yearling filly by Loojinus—Wni i-ti, Wairuna. Dunlop, who was reported to bo in Qucerstreot, is all right again, and it is said that his buekers have no cause for alarm. Littlo Alf. Woods has erected training stables at Kaikora (Hawko's Bay), and J. Munn will act aa public trainer there.

Lord Marcus Beresford haa been appointed starter to tho English Jockey Club in tho place of the late Mr T. McGeorgo. T. Lyford, who was soveroly hurt while riding Silver King in tho Maiden Steeplechase at Napier, is still in a feeble condition.

First Demon is still boing trained by Lawson, the rumour relating to his having gono into Monaghan's stublo boing unfounded.

Tho well-known Sussex, a son of Grandmaster and acknowledged to be tho best allround performer Australia has over seen, has beon placed in Mr W. C. Yuillo's hands for private sale. Mr R. Ray's colt Pusilado, by Musket— Wai-i-ti, is now an inmate of W. Milne's stablo, whero ho will bo trained for his spring engagements. Othello, the winner of the Hack Steoplechaso at Napier, is a son of Gladiator—ll air Ellen, winnerof so many races in Wangantti in the good old days, and was bred by Mr J. E. Stent.

Venetia, the little black, who scored a flukey victory over Helone in the V.X.C. Oaks, has been turned out of training, her owner being disgusted with her lato porfor-

I notice among thoso engaged in the Melbourne Cup is a five-year-old full brother to Captain VVebster in the s'ape of Duko of Athol, and a full brother to Ilubina named Courtier, 3 years.

Mr D. O'Brien, while in Melbourne, hinted to " Augur " that if the woights put on Trenton andTasman for the Melbourne Cup wero satisfactory he might send ono or the othor over.

Amongst the members of the new Conservative Ministry in England is Lord Harris, who ia well Uoowri to oricktt supporters as the leader of tho mixed team who visited tho colonies a few years ago.

Mr P. P. Tancred intends relegating The Consul to stud duties. It is stated that tho colt has nevor thoroughly recovered from an injury to his leg that ho received at tho Cambridge Autumn Mett.ng of 158-1.

The Australian Jockey Club has pasced a rule providing " that to bring a raco meeting within tho operation of tho rulo as lo registration the suid meeting must have been advertised in fome newspaper."

The Victoria Racing Club havo decided to give SOOsovs. for a Special Juveni'o Stakes, to be run during tho Spring Mooting of 1880, for geldings two years old ; weights, Bst 51b ; distance 5 furlongs.

Mr William Bladder, tho well-known South Australian bleeder of blood stock,

bad the ill-luck to lose his imported mare Cameo, the dam of Topaz, recently, s! o having died very shortly after foaling twin;,.

Farewell, by Beauclerc from Adiou, is a colt that Sydney backers are speculating pretty freely on fo the Hawkesbury and Metropolitan. It is whispered that he has been tried, and proved better) than Hast togs.

Melton mado his appearance in public n fortnight before ho won tho Derby-viz, in the Payne Stakes at, Newmarket. Ho started with 5 to 2 on him, and beat Kingswood and Lonely (subsequently winner of tho Oaks) with great ease. Imperial, tho Sydney Cup hero of 1875, competed in a race at Elsternwick Park (Melbourne) lately, but the old follow dropped astern as soon ns his oppononts wero set going.and he finished last but one— a long way oil'

News comes from Adelaide that there is every prospect of racing being resuscitated in that goody-goody town, a company, with Mr VV. B. Rounsovell at its held having been formed for tho purpose of amalgamating tho two rival Clubs. It is said that Royal Hampton, who ran tiird in tho Epsom Derby, is owned by an illustrious personage. It is moreover said that his Royal Highness, tho heir apparent, landed nearly £50,000 by backing tho horse t« got. a place. Thoro wus somo close racing at Caulficld recently. The Steoplcchase was only won by a head, with tho same distanco botwoen second and third, and in tho Ladies' Bracelet the Judge's verdict waa a head, with a dead-heat for second place.

Mr Gerard has been second in tho Two Thousand in two successive years. Last year St. Modard carried tho pink and white stripes a head in front of Harvester, and five lengths behind Scot Free in tho Rowloy Milo race. On that occasion Archer rode St. Modard.

The best two-year-old in England is The Bard, who up to tho time the last mail loft England had won oight races in succession, value £4,810. In all of these except one ho was ridden by Fred Archer. Tho Bard is by Proto-Martyr's half-brother Petrarch, from Magdalene by Syrian.

Mr D. M. Robertson has purchased a block of ground ut Flemington, where ho intends to erect stabling upon the most improved principles, and with Coronet, Moonsheo, Claudian, Cincinnatus, and others, ho will havo a nice little string to commenco noxt season with.

In tho Melbourne Cup Signor was wrongly nominated, his age having been given at fivo instead of four years, and in the Caulliold Cup Sister Teresa was incorrectly nominated U3 being by Goldsborough from Sister Teresa instead of Lady Superior. Both entries havo been amended.

Commenting on Commotion's chance for tho Melbouruo Cup, the "Sydney Sportsman " says: —" It is safe to assume that if the last Champion Stakes winner only trains on to Mr Uakin's satisfaction, he will havo such .a following at Flemington as was never boforo known, and tlio run on him for a place will bo altogether unprecedented "

The NowmurUet Handicap winner, Coronet (says " The Loader "), presents a blooming appoaranco on tho training ground which augurs well for his undergoing sueoeucfully tho ordeal of hia preparation for tho groat spring campaign, and vi-itors to Flemington aro also favourably impressed with the appoaranco of his stablo companion, Moonsheo.