THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 255, 3 November 1897, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Another Melbourne Cup has been lost and won, and this year's contest adds one more to the long list of surprises in connection with the great race. How Gaulus Avon by half-a-head from his stable companion, The Grafter, and the long list of favourites were defeated, is recorded elsewhere in the cabled description of the race. Suffice it to say the win was a meritorious one, the two miles being traversed in 3min 31sec. The past public performances of Gaulus go to show that he had nothing to recommend him to the public as a Melbourne Cup winner.

As a two-year-old, Gaulus started three times, but lie failed to catch the judge's eye, and the season following he did not run. When a four-year-old he was again asked to sport silk, and out of ten starts he won the Hawkesbury Autumn Handicap and Rosehill Cup. -Last season he failed to win a race, despite that he was seen out in public five times. His best performance was running second to. Right Honourable in the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap. At Sydney last month Gaulus annexed the Rosehill October Handicap, 1 mile 3 furlongs, with Sst. He was a deal fancied for the Caultield Cup, but after the race it was Stated that he had his chance spoilt by getting a bad bump (which nearly brought him down) early in the race, otherwise he would, it is thought, have given the race a shake. In the Hotham Handicap on Saturday last he ran a dead heat for third place. His next effort was his Cup performance yesterday. A remarkable thing in connection with the race is that The Grafter, who ran second, and the winner Gaulus, are full brothers, and they are in the same interest, being owned by Mr W. Forrester, one of the best known of New South Wales sportsmen. His colours are crimson and white, and until last month, when his colours were carried successfully on Gaulus and The Grafter, it was a long period since he appeared among the winning owners. Both horses are trained at Warwick Farm.

In the year 1890 Mr Forrester ran second for the Cup with Highborn, and in 1892 his representatives, Honda and Penance, had to put up with places behind the outsider Glenloth. This year he has made full amends for past disappointments by running first and second, a great feat indeed.

! Auckland can take unto itself a little praise in connection with the breeding of the Cup winner and runner - up, for Industry, the dam of the pair, is by Musket from Pearl Ash, and first saw the light of : day at the defunct New Zealand Stud Company's establishment at Sylvia Park. She was bought for Sydney, and as a four-year-old she won races at Kandwick. The headings of the pedigree of Gaulus read :— GAULUS (bred at Tucka Tucka, N.S.W.). Industry. | Gozo (imp.) ? ? i i ! I or $ as o f*! §• -to sr • ? b' E I *" s

One of the surprises in connection with the race was the position of third occupied by Aurum. It only goes to show that if the colt had been thoroughly sound at the meeting that he would probably have accomplished a record deed. Looking at his performance yesterday in any light it must be summed up as a great one.