THE EVE OF THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 253, 1 November 1897, Page 5

THE EVE OF THE MELBOURNE CUP.

The great race of Australia, 'the Melbourne Cup, will be decided to-morrow at Flemington. Saturday's racing has brought to light that Amberite, the Derby winner, is a candidate who will require to be reckoned with despite that he has an impost of Sst 41b to carry, or twelve pounds over weight for age. Without question Amberite is a really good colt, and as he has been thoroughly seasoned through constant racing this season it is just likely that he will be equal to the great task imposed upon him to-morrow. Coil, Wait-a-Bit, Ayrshire and Battalion each will also require to be reckoned with, but it is just likely that the cable to-morrow evening will Hash the name of Carbine's son Amberite as the winner. ' THE DERBY SURPRISE. The defeat of Aurum at the hands of Amberite in the Victorian Derby on Saturday is one of the greatest surprises brought off in the history odjGthe race, and equals that of the yeanj/li_i__S,! when Ensign triumphed over the great Auckland bred colt Carbine. For 12 months past Aurum has been the popular idol for the event, and during the winter months he simply stopped all interest and speculation on the j race. As a two-year-old Aurum could five j Amberite 141b and a beating-, but Satur- j day's running showed that be cannot do it j now, for the latter won by four lengths in the clinking time of 2inin SlHsoc. Amberite was bred by Mr 1). S. Wallace, at the Leederberg stud, near Geclong, and is by tbe Auckland bred Carbine from J Duenna, by Lecturer from imported Signora (dam of Cardigan and IVlantilla). He was purchased along with bis mother when a foal at foot by Mr John Lee at the Leederberg (Victoria) clearing sale in 1895 for 220 guineas. Mr W. Duggan secured a lease of Amberite, and, though tlie colt gave him a lot of trouble as a two-year-old in his preparation, Amberite has now well repaid Duggan for the skill and attention he displayed in completing his training. As a two-year-old Amberite started fmutinies, chasing Aurum home in the A..J.C. Champagne and Easter Stakes at Randwick. He commenced bis Career as a three-year-old by winning Tattersall's Hampden Stakes, and at the A.J.C. meeting in the spring Amberite won the Derby and the Duff Memorial Stakes, but was unplaced in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Stakes. He was also unplaced in the Caullield Stakes, but .since then he has won the Caullield Cup and V.R.C. Derby.