THE SUEZ MAIL.

Auckland Star, Issue 3725, 20 July 1882, Page 3

THE SUEZ MAIL.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

LOS DON, June 3. OUR COJ.RESPONDI.I.T AT THE OAKS.

After returning from the Derby in a first class railway carriage, and without any of the bother or crush which most people have been taught to associate with that process, it was inevitable that " your own should feel tempted to run down to Epsom and see the great "Indies' ra'co"—the Oaks— brought to an issue also. Luckily the day proved as tine aud tempting as the previous afternoon had been tho reverse, and on arriving at the course, shortly before the lirat race, I found the principal stands by no means overcrowded, and sufficient room everywhere, though the number of visitors was well up to the usual average. There is this beauty about Epson:—that in order to meet the requirements of Derby day, all the arrangemeuts are on a colossal scale, and so, on other grand occasions, such as tho City and Suburban Handicap day, or even the Oaks, there is always plenty*™ room, The Oaks of ISB2 wil lung be remembered as producing one of the smallest and most select fields that ever contested the ladies' race, -hero wore In point of fact only live runnors, aud of theßO just three had a chance of winning it. As a two-year-old, Lord Stamford's Geheiraniss, a handsome brown dtughter of llosicrucian, triumphed in every race for Which she started, and retired for the winter with au unbeaten certificate. Geheimniss had not been seen out this season, but early iv the spring she was installed iirst favourito for tbe Oaks, and evon tho victory of St. Marguorite in the One Thousand Guineas could not shake the confidence of her admirers who, several weeks betore tho race, were ready to take 3 to 1 about the filly. Shotover is iv the same stable as Geheimniss.and prior to tho Epsom meeting, tne latter was tried with the Two Thousand winner and found to be about 71bs better— at least so the story goes. Immediately, therefore', Shotover (whom tho Duke of Westminster scratched for the Oaks on the previous Monday) won the Derby, Geheininiss became an extraordinary favourite for the ladies' iace, backors freely layiug 2 to 1 on her to win, nnd any odds the King ■would accept for a place. This furore, however, cooled down as tho time for the decision of tho Oaks diew nigh. In the first place, the One Thousand winner, St. Marguerite, was trained to the momont, and pleased visitors to the paddock far more than tho favourite, who seemed fretful and uneasy; and in the second, ihe Kothschild division wore supporting their mare Nellie (by Hermit, out of Hippia) to win thousands with the utmost confidence. Nellie was a first rate peiformer as a two-year-old, ond it was claimed for St. Marguorite that sho had im. proved many pounds since the Guineas day. Those facts, in conjunction with an outlay of £3,ooo,'.brDught Geheimniss down several pegs in the betting indeed. Prior to the first i ace even money was accepted (and she didn't win) by bookmakers in various parts of the Big Ring. Punctually at 3 the live starteiß, Nellie, St. Matguerite, a French outsider called Lady May und Geheimniss, with a stable companion oalled Incognita, to make the running-paraded. Tho betting, now, was 6 to 4 on Geheimniss, 11 to 4 against St. Marguorite, 11 to 2 against Nellie, and 10 to 1 any other. The field got off at the first attempt without difficulty, Lady May leading, with GehoimnUs and St. Marguerite last. At the top of the hill the French filly fell back, and coming round Tattenham Corner Nellie showed a bold front, though both the favourito and St. Marguorito were clo.o up. In tlie straight tor home Nellie held out signals of distress, and Geheimniss-amidst shouts of deiight, ossumed tho load. As they neared tlie stand, Wood on St. Marguerite challenged Lord i>tamford's filly, and for an instant it looked as if the "all scarlet" was once more to be victorious. Seeing

his danger, however, Cannon gavo Geheimniss a touch of the whip, and without an effort the filly drew away, winning easily by two lengths, Nellie, badly beaten, third. Time, 2miu. 49secs.; value of the stakes, £3,375. I waited to see no more, but went back to town by the first train, having witnessed two good races and the Oaks, besides having spent an hour and a quarter on the railway.between 1.30 and 4.30.