FOR ELEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS.

Evening Star, Issue 7772, 17 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOR ELEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS.

[From Odr Special Correspondent.] London, October 5, The big eleven thousand pounds stake at Manchester last Saturday week resulted as many expected, and all good sportsmen hoped in a literally terrific set-to betwixt the winners of the Derby and St. Leger, who came right away from the other twenty-two runners and raced home neck and neck. Since Ormonde and Minting metin Homeric combat at Ascot, a finer struggle between equine cracks has not been witnessed. The large field made a really fair start (such as is essential in a short sprint of but seven furlongs) a matter of considerable difficulty, but eventually Lord Marcus Beresford got them off tolerably even. Certainly none of the favorites were lucky. The two-year-olds Sawdust and Quartus showed first in front, closely followed by the French cracks Le Saucy and Bavarde, both of whom travelled exceedingly fast. The pace indeed was such a “ cracker” that before half the distance bad been traversed quite half the field were out of it. Sawdust still led, with Quartus close up, and Antibes (the two-year-old sister to Seabreeze), Ayrshire, Bavarde, Le Sancy, Annamite, Friar’s Balsam, and Galore all well in it. At the bend Antibes and Galore lost their places, and Sawdust began to come back to his horses. Up to this time Friar’s Balsam was going extremely well, but here* abouts Annamite, swerving from distress, knocked the son of Flower of Dorset well nigh off his legs, and bore Mamia (also going well) all but over the rails, thus destroying both their chances. A few yards further on Sawdust compounded, which seemed to leave the issue between Quartus, Ayrshire, and Le Sancy, very few noticing Seabreeze, who was now coming through her horses very fast. The almost immediate retirement of the two-year-old left Ayrshire in command, and loud shouts proclaimed the Derby winner’s easy victory. Very soon, however, it was seen that Seabreeze had yet to be settled with. The filly had a lot of ground to make up to win, but she was obviously doing it steadily. True as steel, and answering gamely to every call, she slowly gained on Ayrshire, and at last drew level with him. Neck and neck the pair now raced home amidst a scene of the wildest excitement. This lasted for a few strides, and then, as they drew near the fateful post, Seabreeze forged just a little bit ahead, and won, it was thought, by a neck (though the judge made it more), the vast crowd exhibiting the mostextraordinary enthusiasm. Both animals were all but, and it was purely stamina secured the victory. The French Le Sancy, a very speedy animal, was placed third, a length and , a-half away from Ayrshire. Then came Love in Idleness (who passed the pulling up Bavarde on the post) fourth, Bavarde fifth, and Friar’s Balsam sixth. Time, Imin 29sec. As to the betting, Seabreeze started a redhot favorite at the absurdly short odds (considering the size of the field) of 9 to 4, 6 to I being offered against Ayrshire, 100 to 12 each Annamite and Friar’s Balsam, 10 to 1 Galore, 100 to 9 Le Sancy, 100 to S Quartus, 100 to 7 Antibes, 20 to 1 Gay Hampton, 25 to 1 Phil, 100 to 3 Melanion, 33 to 1 each Enterprise and Bavarde, and from 50 to 200 to 1 the others.

The friends of Friar’s Balsam, of course, loudly bewailed their bad luck, but that the colt would have fought out the issue with Seabreeze there is nothing whatever to show.