THE WORLD of SPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 261, 3 November 1926, Page 15

THE WORLD of SPORT

RACING NEWS.

iTHE MELBOURNE CUP.

WON BY SPEARFELT.

NEW ZEALAND HORSE SECOND.

CHERRY RIPE WINS HURDLES.

(By Cable.—Press A- S oclation.-<*op y jig_t.)

MELBOURNE, November 2 Melbourne Cup Day attracted an enormous crowd of visitors to Fleminc*. ton, and with fine, calm weather the scene witnessed showed the Victoria Racing Club's ground off to marked advantage.

The Governor-General, Lord Stonehaven the State Governors, and members of the Empire Parliamentary Delegation were present. A number of New Zealanders were included amon. the visitors. ***

The race track was in capital order The usual excitement prevailed when the norses filed out to contest the Mel--°y i rDe -£ Up ' 21 horseß exposing the held. The contest was always brimful of interest, and excitement was raised to a high pitch when the finish came to be fought out between Spearfelt and !Naos, tne former winning by half a length. Cairns' Last Minute Engagement. Comus set a merry pace over the first mile. Five horses appeared to hold winning chances at the distance. Spearfelt here came with a great run and won brilliantly. The New Zealand gelding Naos came fast in the last furlong, and he ran the winner to half a length. Spearfelt is owned by Mr. D. Grant, who purchased the share of the trainer' V. O'Neill, for 2500 guineas last month! The horse was sold as a yearling for 120 guineas. Spearfelt finished third for the Melbourne Cup in 1924. The time of to-day's race equalled the Australian and New Zealand record held by Windbag and Kennaquhair. H. Cairns, who rode Spearfelt, said he was a long way back in the first portion of the journey, but his horse made a good run behind The Banker. Spearfelt was the fittest horse in the race, and was not the least distressed at the finish.

Cairns was originally engaged to ride Heroic. Later there was a possibility that he would ride The Banker, but he was engaged on the course to ride

Spearfelt. Cairns is a native of Paimerston North, and in his early career was apprenticed to Mr. J. Carter, of Blenheim. His first winner was Hydrant. Cairns is 38 years of age. Mr. V. O'Neill, the trainer of Spearfelt," is also a New Zealander. , Cherry Ripe Puzzles Hurdlers. In the decision of the Cup Hurdle Race, the New Zealand-owned gelding Cherry Ripe registered a win. In the early stages of the contest Cherry Ripe was racing in sixth position, but his finishing run puzzled hia opponents and he won nicely. Cherry Ripe was trained by Mr. F. McGrath, and is owned by Dr. C. C. Murphy, of .Auckland.

Fuji San was responsible for a brilliant performance in the Railway Highweight Handicap, which he won under the big impost of list 51b. J. Pike, who steered Fuji San, won the , same race last year on Red Gauntlet.

Maritza, who won the Nursery Handicap in good style, was bought cheaply when a yearling for 100 guineas.

In the Cup Steeplechase Brenda's Son, who figured top weight, led nearly all the way and won easily. He was ridden by the ex-New Zealander, H. Thompson.

The Van Yean Stakes furnished a great finish. Metellus was prominent in the early stages, but lost his position at the half mile. He made up his ground and won in the last stride. This gave Jiis rider, H. Cairns, his second win for the afternoon. Detailed results: CUP HURDLE RACE. Of oOOsovs, added to a sweepstakes of ssovs each. Two miles. CHERRY Rli-E, b g, 6yrs, by Nassau —Cherry Roe (Dr. C. C. Murphy), 11.3 1 CASH KING, 9.2 2 SPARKLING MOSELLE, 10.12 3 Nine • started. Cherry Ripe won by half a length, three lengths between second and third. Pindarus was fourth. Rambler pulled up and Renown fell. Time, 3.40. RAILWAY HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP. Of 500sovs, added to a sweepstakes of ssovs each. Six furlongs. FUJI SAN, b g, syrs, by Valais— Lady San (Mr. A. J. Matthews'), 11.9 1 NOTE, 8.7 2 QUIXOTIC, 10.3 3 Twenty-three started. Fuji San won by a length, a neck between second and third, Garrula was fourth. Time, I.lßs. NURSERY HANDICAP. Of oOOsovs, added to a sweepstakes of ssovs each. Five furlongs. MARITZA, eh f, by Kenilworth— Loyal Lady (Mr. J. P. Arthur), 8.0 l CANON LAW. 8.3 2 HEREWINKIE, 7.7 3 Eighteen started. Maritza won by half a length, a neck between second and third. Censatis was fourth. Time, Mf. THE MELBOURNE CUP. Of 10,000sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 30sovs each; the owner of the second horse to receive 2000sovs, and the owner of the third lOOOsovs from the stake. Two miles. SPEARFELT, br h, syrs, by fPe"head—Lady Champion (Mr. D. Grant), 9.3— H. Cairns ........ ! * NAOS, b g, oyrs, by Martian—l*dy Lucy (Mr. S. Green), 7.0— _ N. Percival •■' " PANTHEON (imp.), b _, 6yrs, by Tracery—Scotch Rose (Mr. J. E. . and a TH, Briea), ■»*• * •

•Also startedi The Banker 8.12, Tooko T } 7 -J' lo ' Spe-*-***- - B*B. Royal Charter 8.5, Phutoon 8.4, Valanrita 8.0, Johnnie Jones 8.0, Valbee 7.11, Comus 7.11, Rampion 7.9, Balbus 7.8, The Slave 7.7, °_» Prince 7.6, Limerick 7.5, Valaisian 7.4, Stratia 6.12, Beedos 6.7, Miss Disraeli 8.7.

Balbus was the early leader, but passing the stand Comus went to the front and at the ten furlongs post led by 15 lengths from Balbus. Then came Valaisian, Piastoon, Limerick, Rampion, Beedos, and The Banker, with Naos last.

At the mile post Comus had increased his lead to 20 lengths from Balbus, who was followed by Pantheon, Rampion, Valaisian, Limerick, The Banker, Piastoon, and Spearfelt, with The Slave now last and Naos beginning to move up. Spearfelt Wins Great Race Home. At the seven furlong post Comus began to tire, and Pantheon was with him for half a mile, the others most prominent being The Banker, Royal Charter and Spearfelt, with Rampion dropping back.

Pantheon and The Banker were in the lead coming round the turn from Royal Charter and Spearfelt, with Naos coming fast. The first four were almost on level terms at the entrance to the straight, and a great race home followed.

Spearfelt gradually forged ahead, and won by half a length from the fastfinishing Naos, with Pantheon a neck away third. Royal Charter was fourth. Then followed The Banker, Our Prince, Johnnie Jones, Valamita, .. Tookarby, Spearer, Valbee, Rampion, Limerick, Miss Disraeli, Beedos, The Slave, Piastoon, with Comus and Balbus- last. Time, 3.22 J.

The first four furlongs occupied 52Js, the next four 49Js, the third four 50|s, and the last four 50_s. Winners Since 1890.

BRENDA'S SON, eh g, by Sunburnt —Little Brenda (Messrs. H. and M. Bourne), 12.11 1 REPARATION, 9.13 *f SCOTCH THORN, 9.3 t fDead heat.

Ten started. Brenda's Son won from Reparation and Scotch Thorn, who ran a dead heat for second place. Hannan wao fourth. Tarquil, Mountain Grand and Liberate fell. Time, 4.3 J.

VAN YEAN STAKES. Of 500sovs. One mile. METELLUS, b g, syrs, by Valais— Averse (Mr. C. B. Keilow), 9.12 H. Cairns 1 ATAMAN, 8.0 2 TOMMY DODD, 8.4 3 Fifteen started. Metellus won by a head, a similar distance between second and third. Epilogue was fourth. Time, 1.38|. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. R.G. (Glen Eden). —As the acceptances are not due till 9 p.m., in most casethere is no chance of reviewing the fields for the second day of a meeting when it takes place' on Monday. CURIOUS. —Cureaform did not start n a hurdle race on the day she finished second to Serene in the Carbine Plate at Ellerslie

Time. m. 8. 1890—D. 6. Wallace's Carbine. 10.5 3.28J 1891 —H. Redfearn's Malvolio, 8.4.. 3.29J 1892—M. Carmody's Glenloth, 7.13 3.36J 1893—-J. D. Lewis' Tarcoola, 8.4.. 3.304. 1894—P. W. Purchases' Patron, 9.3 3.31 1895—D. James' Auraria, 7.4 3.29 1896—Jones . and- Cooper's Newhaven, 7.13 3.281 1897 —W. Forrester's Gaulus, 7.8.. 3.31 1898—W. Forrester's The Grafter, 9.2 3.-29J 1899—H. Power's Merriwee, 7.6.. 3.361 1900—F. T. Forrest's Clean Sweep, 7.0 3.29 1901—C. McDonald's Revenue, 7.10 3.30. 1902 —Clark and Robinson's The Victory, 8.2 3.29 1903 —J. Mayo's Lord Cardigan, 6.8 3.291 1904—H. Oxenham's Acrasia, 7.6 .. 3.28J 1905 —P. A. Connolly's Blue Spec, 8.0 3.27. 1906 —H. Denison's Poseidon, 7.6.. 3.31* 1907 —R L. Cleland's Apologue, 7.9 3.271 1908—J. Mayo's Lord Nolan, 6.10.. 3.281 1909—J. Baron's Prince Foote, 7.8 3.27J 1910—S. Green's Comedy King, 7.11 3.27J 1911 —J. F. Kirby's The Parisian, 8 0" * - - 3 272 1912—W. Brown's" piastre" Y.9*! "I 3-57i 1913—J. Chambers' Posinatus, 7.10 3.31 1914—L. K. S. McKlnnon's Kingsburgh, 6.12 3.26 191S —Mrs. E. A. Willis' Patrobas, 7.6 3.281 1916—Stead and Luttrell's Sasanof, 6.12 3.27J 1917 —D. U. Seaton's Westcourt, 8.5 3.26J 1918 —C. L. McDonald's Night Watch, 6.9 3.25J 1919—Hordern and Murphy's Artilleryman, 7.6 3.24J 1920—W. and F. Moses' Poitrel, 10.0 3.252 1921 —F. Norman's Sister Olive, 6.9 3.27J 1922—Dubois and Bennett's King Ingoda, 7.1 3.2S1 1923—A. X. Craig's Bitalli, 7.0 3.24i 1924 —E. L. Braillieu, W. Clark and A. Hughes' Backwood, 8.2 .. 3.261 1925—R. Miller's Windbag, 9.2 .. 3.22g 1926—D. Grant's Spearfelt 3.225 CUP STEEPLECHASE. Of dOOsovs, added to a sweeptakes of osovs each. About two miles and a-half and half a furlong.