ANGLO-COLONIAL SPORTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 28 February 1896, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL SPORTING.

(FROM 0011 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, January 26. Mr S. H. Gollan's famous Now Zealand 'chaser Norton made hia dibut on an English race courso ab the Lingliold Park Now Yeai'a Meeting on Friday aftornoon last. He wan one of the nino competitors in the New Year's Handicap Steeplechase, a two mile ailair having a paltry stake of £52 attached. The handicappor, of course, gave the smart old gelding every credit for hie Antipodoan performances, and consequently Norton found himself aC tho post with 12ab. 71b. up. Hickey waa in the eaddle. The New Zealand horee's opponents included Witch of Endor 10.5, Skipper 11.1, Grigon 11.10, O'Kuepodua 11.0, Lainbtou 10.10, Chip 10.8, and Sir Knight 10.5. Grigon, Witch of Endor, Skipper, and Lambbon monopolised tho betting, finishing up even favourites at 4 to 1, and Norton found a few friends at double those odds, tens being oflered against the rest. From the start Hickoy let Norton pilot the field, but after going half a mile Grigon and the Skipper drew alongside, and the latter soon went to the front, only, however, to lose the lead to Lady Bride at tha water jump. A mile from home the issue was left to the Witch, Skipper, Norton, and Lambton, but nearing home the race re polved itself into a match between the Skipper and Witch of Endor. The mare gradually forged ahead and won by four lengths, Norton being beaten for second place by perhaps two lengths Considering the weight he bad to give away, Norton parformed very well. Hp is a splendid fencer, and pretty fast, but he is not, 1 think, sufficiently powerful to negotiate the Grand National coimio successfully under anything above list., and it is almost certain that ho will get more than that.

Ebor, Norton's stable companion, gave Hickoy another unsuccessful ride later on in tiie day. The Australian horee was started in tho Yuletido Handicap Hurdle Race of £62 decided over 2J,- miles. With Grimpo, Ebor shared the honour of being top weighb with 12 7 in a field of eleven, which includod Joe Miller 11.11, llmmgton 10.12, Xylophone 11.6, and Bacoarab 10.13. The last named, started a hot favourite at 11 to 8, but against Ebor 10 to 1 was freely offered right up to flag fall. The Australian horse ran well throughout, and made no mistake ab his fences. But he coulcy nob give the weight away when the final tussle came. In the run home Ilmington shook off Baccarat, but had a narrow squeak when challenged by Xylophone a huudred yards from home. The latter got his head in front for maybe a couple ot strides, bub finally succumbed by a neck, Baccarat being a third, with Ebor in close company. The Australian borße jumped like a deer, and having plenty of quality and substance, Bhould credit) Mr Gollan with some decent races when thoroughly ab home on Englißh courses. The entries for the Spring handicaps disclose the facb bhab only Norton has been entered to do battle for Australia in the Grand National. The sixty-four subscribers include Wild Man from Borneo, the winner last year, Father O'Flynn, the oft tried Why Not, Horizon—which once beat the mighty Cloister—Cathal, Midehipmite, and jEaop. These last three are Norton's stable companions at Alresford, and each knows the Grand National course. Swatton should be able through them to got a pretty accurate idea of the New Zealand 'chaser's chance, though of course Mr Gollan and the other owners may object to anything in the nature of a briaL

Id the Groat Metropolitan Sfeakea Australia is represented by the aged Parie 111., bub tbo gelding is also nominated for the

Suburban, which is run the day following, viz., April 22nd, co ib is uncertain which race Lord William Beresford will select. The opposition will, of course, not be so keen in the longer race, and if Paris 111. is the stayer he is supposed to be, his chance in bhe Great Metropolitan should bo a good one. The gelding's form last autumn was sufficiently mediocre bo warrant the handicapper putting him in at about Sat.

The "Sportsman" commenting on Norton and Ebor's display ab Lingfield says : " Seeing thab they were most properly given big weights pending" euch time as their forma can be properly gauged, they ran very respectably, and were at any rate by no mean 3 disgraced. Ib is nob ea?y to believe, however, thab aged horses who Dave been accustomed to the poses and rails and other unyielding obstacles of Australian courseswillreadily fatlinto thestyleof jumping that is needed here,andonewouldalmost wishbhabtheonterpiisingownerhad brought with him some younger samples of colonial blood stock co as to give Swatton a chance to achool thorn curly and develop their best qualities with a special view to our courses. It may be, of course, thab the old horses will adapb themselves to the changed circntnabancoH, but ib is obvious that with youngor ones tihe trainer would hare a bettor chance." Mr William Slavin, commonly known as ! " Frank's brother Bill," has grown tired of i living a genteely idle life in the Metropolis, and is now negotiating for a match with Ted Pritchrfrd. Once upon a time tho Londoner would have told the colonial that he has " no use for a fifth rater," bub times are changed. Jim Elalls' long arms first convinced Pritchard thab he wasn't quite the world-whipper his sycophantic followers averred him to be, and since then tbo Lambeth middleweight has been badly whipped by Jem Smith and the notorious "CoU'ee Cooler." These reverses, and the fiubsoquenb doings of his mosb recent conquerors (Smith with about three stone tho best of the weights only managed to t beat Dick Burge, a lOsb. man, on a toul in ! nine rounds, and Craig wenb down before Creedon), have apprised Prirchard of hia true status in the fistic world. Ho has, without preamble-, signified his willingness to light Bill Siavin ''on his own terms" providing tho latter can find £2UO Thin Beams a tolerable sum for an out-of-work "pus." to find, but the Slaving all seem to know whoro to lay hands on money when necessary, so probably a match will bo made. If, however, the Auctralian's backer does nob care to put up £200 Slavin may get a cheaper match with Arthur Bobbett, of Fulham, a tricky customer, but) not i particularly dangerous to a decent boxer with strength and hitting power.