VICTORIA RACING CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9668, 5 March 1897, Page 5

VICTORIA RACING CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING.

Third Day.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, March 4. The weather was simply perfect for the continuance of the V.R.O. meeting and the attendance, despite the counter attraction of the Federal elections, very good. There was remarkably close betting' on the Hurdles, the supporters of Millers stable again sending Hive out the favourite, whilst E-rlaton's friends were agreeably surprised to find,three's obtainable about the ton of Braemar, who won comfortably at the finish. The .opposition to Reka -was not any too strong in the Maiden Stakes, Marusa being palpably out of condition, which accounted for the rearward position held by the brother to Malvolio throughout the journey. The betting was very spirited on the Autumn Handicap, albeit despite excellent work on the training track Cinderellen was comparatively neglected. The daughter of Cinderella. won a great race from the Tasmanian representative Benedict. The Champion Stakes once more showed up the champion three-year-old in his true form, as he left the others in the straight at the conclusion of a slow run race, winning easily amidst enthusiastic plaudits of the general public, albeit students of racing form were sadly perturbed at the autumn meeting's racing incongruities, so far a_ the leading three-year-ofds are concerned. Manfred was made a hot pot for the Nursery Handicap, the stable backing him as a real good thing, with the result that nothing able to pace with him the son of Bellissima won very easily. Following are detailed results : —

SECOND HURDLE RACE, a handicap sweep of 5 soys each, with 200 added ; second 40 and third 20 soys out of the stake. About two miles. Mr J. Turnbull's b g Earlston, by Braeuiar— Silence, 5 yrs, list 81b .. (Underwood) 1 Mr G. Fairbairn's b g Bloodwood, aged, 9.t 121b (.'oul-jnaru, jun.) 2 Mr S. Miller's eh g Hive, 5 yrs, 125141b (ftlooney) 3 Other starters—Eular, Charon, Mailbout. Betting 5 to 2 against Hive, 3 to 1 Earlston, 7 to 2 Eular, 10 to 1 Bloodwood.

Bloodwood and Hive were quickest to get to work, followed by Mailboat, Underwood riding a waiting race in the rear, and never attempting to corns until entering the straight, when Earlston ran through the field, winning easily by three lengths, two lengths between second and third, Eular fourth, Charon last. Time, 3min 57|sec. MAIDEN STAKES, a sweep of 5 soys each, with 150 added; second 30 soys out of the stake. For maiden two-year-olds and upwards. Special weights—two years old to carry ost Blb ; three years, Bst; four years, Bst 51b; live years and upwards, Bst 71b. Mares allowed 31b and geldings 51b. One mile. Mr J. McSweeney's b c Reka, by Neokersgat—Lady Lovelace, 3 yrs .. .. .. (H. Cook) 1 Mr D. S. Wallace's b. f Moonlyong, 3 yrs (0. Hnwer) 2 Mr J. Wilson's br g Blackwood, 4 yrs (Holmes) 5 Other starters—Lord Brassey and Marusa. Betting—7 to 4on Reka, 7 to 1 against the others.

Lord Brassey was first away from Reka and Moonlyong, the favourite reserving himself till the straight, when he came away, winning with the greatest ease by six lengths. The same distance between second and third; Marusa last. Time, lmin 45sec. AUTUMN HANDICAP, a sweep of 5 soys each, with 250 added; second 50 and third 20 soys out of the stake. For three-year-olds and upwards. One mile and five furlongs. Mr F. W. Purches's br m Cinder Ellen, by Trenton —Cinderella, 5 yrs, 7st 7lb .. ..(Moran) 1 Mr R. G. Talbot's br g Benedict, 5 yrs, 7st (Lewis) 2 Mr D. O'Brien's b m Response, 6 yrs, Bat 91b (J. Gough) 3 Other starters—O'Trigger, Danjien and Mischief. Betting—s to 2 against Daniien, 4 to 1 Response, 9 to 2 Mischief, 6 to 1 Benedict, 8 to 1 O'Trigger, 10 to 1 Cinder Ellen. Cinder Ellen anticipated the raising of the barrier, striding away in advance of Darnien and Benedict. At the mile post Damien led, with Response last. The latter began to move up at the five furlongs post. Damien led into the straight, where Cinder Ellen again shot to the front, and despite a vigorous challenge from Benedict, won by half a head, Response three lengths away third, followed by Damien, Mischief and O'Trigger. Time, 2min 50|sec. OHAIfPION STAKES, of 25 soys each, with 500 soys added; second 100 and third 50 soys oat of the stake. For three-year-olds and upwards. Weight for age. Unless the race is run in sniin 45seo or -under, the added money will be -reduced to 250 soys and the second and third money to 50 soys and 25 soys respectively; but the stewards, having regard to the state of the course, may, if they think fit, at any time up to one hour before the time fixed for starting such race, v_ry or alter the above condition as to the time within which the race is to be run. Three miles. Mr Cooper's eh c Newhaveu, by Newminster— Oceana, 3 yrs, 7st 12lb .. .. (Gardiner) 1 Mr S. G. Oook's br v The Officer, by Robinson Crusoe—Marie Louise, _ yrs, 7st 121b (Holmes) 2 Mr W. Bailey's eh c Coil, by Abercorn—Copra, 3 yrs, 7stl2ib (Harris) 3 Other starters—Preston Jtet 51b, Fort 9st, Valiant 9-ty Bloodshot 9st.

Betting—s to 4 against Coil, 3to 1 Newhaven. 6 to 1 The Officer, 12 to 1 Valiant.

From a slow start Fort went to the front, leading by a dozen lengths from The Officer, with Newhaven, and Bloodshot in the rear. There were no material alterations in the Sositions for the first mile and a half when Tewhaven moved up, Fort still holding command. Sweeping down to the home turn The Officer headed Fort, while Gardiner brought Newhaven up within striking distance. Once in the straight the superior pace of Newhaven assured him an easy victory by two lengths, the favourite being halt a length behind The Officer, with Preston and Valiant next, Bloodshot being beaten off last. Time, smin 63seo.

NURSERY HANDICAP, a sweep of 5 soys each, with 150 added; second 30 soys out ot stake. For _yrs old. Beren furlongs. Mr W. R. Wilson's br o Manfred, by Robinson Crusoe—Belli_nma,7st 91b _, (Morrison) 1 Mr J. Wilson's brf Key, 9st 51b „ (Dawes) 2 Mr S. Miner's oh f Lustre, 6st 9lb .. (Lewis) 3 Other starters—Keera, Mecca, Waraka, Majestic, Lochwanita, Wild Raven, and Necktie.

Betting—6 to 4 agst Manfred, 6 to 1 Lustre, 7 to 1 Key. The latter was first away, followed by Manfred and Lustre. At the distance Manfred came away, winning by a length and a-half, same between second and third, with Mecca and Majestic next. Time, lmin 32£ sec.

THE RIVER HANDICAP, a sweep of 5 soys each with 150 added; second 30 soys out of the stake. One mile and a quarter. Mr J. I. Field's bin Lilith, by Creswick—The Pet, 6yrs. Bst3lb (Pearson) 1 Mr S. Miner's eh m Miss Gladstone, 5 yrs, 6st 131b (Carson) 2 Mr C. Barlow's b g Don -John, 4 yrs, 7st 61b (Smith) 3 Other starters—Loyalty, Mischief, Excel, So-and-So, Phar.mond, Akarini, Tamino, Acton, Flintlock.

Betting—s to 1 against Flintlock, 10 to 1 Miss Gladstone, Don John and Lilith.

From a good start Acton got away with the lead, but half way up the straight Lilith pat in her claim, winning easily by a length and a half, three lengths between second and third, Flintlock fourth, with Loyalty last. Time, 2min 9eec.