ENGLISH RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 120, 22 May 1901, Page 3

ENGLISH RACING.

From Chir Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, April 12

Mr Spencer Gollan, it is understood: landed a very nice little stake at Alexandra Park last Saturday, when his five-year-old son of Australian Peer, the black Australian Star, romped home in the London Cup, a mile and a quarter race worth £1564 in solid cash and a hundred guinea cup. There were twelve starters, and of these Merry Methodist, syrs, 8.13, was favourite at 0 to 2, Australian Star, carrying 8.1, being second in demand at» 11 to 2; and among the other runners were Sir E. Vincent's Sailor Bay in., aged, 7.0, who was among the 100 to 7 chances, and Cara Mia, 4yrs, 7.8, who also stood afc 100 to 7.

The course was a quagmire, and for that reason Australian Star and his compatriot, Sailor Boy, were presumed to be at a disadvantage. As a setoff, they were both very fit, and it was their fine condition which enabled them to fill the first and second billets. It was, however, a very one horse show, for Mr Gollan's colt, after being- in the van for the first mile, came right away from his fellow mudlarkers and cantered home the easiest of winners by ten or a dozen lengths from Sailor Boy, this son of Gozo being- almost as far ahead of Cara Mia, and so crediting his owner with £200. Australian Star has evidently profited greatly by his work over hurdles during the winter, and if he does not go stale should stand a very good chance of landing the City and Suburban for Mr Gollan. The horse's weight in this event, though increased lOlbs by his victory on Saturday, is only. 7.lo.—[Australian Star won.— Ed.] Australia was again to the fore at Kempton Park on Easter Monday, Mr Edgar Cohen's old gelding Oban, carrying 11.12 to victory in the Two Mile Hurdle Handicap, which brought the day's racing to a close. There were-only five starters, and Oban was a warm favourite at 6 to 4 against. The son of Lochiel and Venosta justified his backers' confidence by making the whole of the running and getting home in a hack canter. The official verdict was eight lengths, and had Keogh desired it Oban could have won by a distance. The value of the stakes was only £100. The New Zealand 'chaser Levanter has put his party in the hole every time they have had any money on him, and I should think Major Ed- ' wards must be pretty well _ tired of jiaying his hay and corn bill. The Gaiety Company, 'tis said, backed the horse for the National, as if the race was a gift for the expatriated Maoriland lepper. They, of course, "went down wop," but" in the Lancashire Steeplechase they thought Levanter would recoup them, and the New Zealand g^ding-, with the feather-weight jof 3.13 up, started et ? to 1 in a &e\fi

of fourteen. Once more he flattered bxit to deceive, and could only finish fifth to Coragh Hill, which won by half a street, Grudon, the National winner, being broken down when leading a few hundred yards from home. Levanter, I suppose, will come home some day when his sorely tried connections haven't a penny piece on, but so far he has been a ghastly failure.