MELBOURNE CUP

Evening Star, Issue 14512, 2 November 1910, Page 5

MELBOURNE CUP

.AUSTRALIA'S LEADING HANDICAP. ' WON BY COMEDY KING. It was fitting that tko occasion of the Victoria Racing Club’s jubilee cup, run yesterday, attracted to Flemington one of the biggest gatherings on record. The weather conditions were ideal—brilliant sunshine, bright sky, and a gentle southerly wind. On the lawns an hour before the racing began there was not standing room, and tho betting ring and paddock wore crowded to suffocation. In the Vico-rcgal box were Lord Dudley (Governor-General of the Commonwealth) and Lady Dudley, Sir T. Gibson-Carmichael (the State Governor) and Lady Carmichael, Admiral Bosauquet (Governor of South Australia) and Lady Bosanquet, and Sir Richard Poore (Admiral of the Australasian station) and Lady Poore. For the cup that consistent performer Trafalgar held first place in public favor, while the New Zealand representative, Lady Lucy, had hosts of admirers. Appended are details of the race: MELBOURNE CUP, of 6,000 so vs, and a trophy valued at 100 sovs; second 1,200 sovs, and third 600 sovs. Two miles. Mr S. Green's hr or blk hj Comedy King, by Persimmon —Tragedy Queen, 4 yrs, *7.11 (M'Lachlan) 1 Messrs P. and W. Mitchell's ch hj Tra-

falgar, by Wallace—Grand Canary, 5 yrs, 9.2 (Cameron) 2 Hon. A. Wynne's hr m Apple Pie, by Avr Laddie —Praleen, 4 yrs, 7.5 (Foley) 3 Mr H. Power’s b hj Pendil, by Bobadil— Penitence, 5 yrs, 8.12 (Pike) 4

Also started: Alawa (9.9), Maltine (8.10), Flavinius (8.9), Eric (8.7), Post Town (8.5), Lord Nolan (8.3), Sequarious (7.13), Artillerie (7.13), Kerlio (7.12), Lady Lucy (7.12), Britain (7.8), Olivaster (7.7), Tanami (7.6), Son of a Gun (7.5), Mindful (7.3), Nuwara Eliya (7.3), Mutilator (6.13), Prizefighter (6.13), Balgowan (6.13), Carl Dour (6.11), Danaus (6.11), Isothermal (6.11), i Matouree (6.7), Flavian (6.7), Kirn (6.7), Idyll (6.7). Kerlio led past the stand just in front | of Mindful, Danaus, Britain, Idyll, Flavian, j Apple Pie, Prizefighter, Comedy King, Oli- 1 vaster, and Alawa. Mindful led out of the straight from Kerlie, Apple Pie, Danaus, I and Pendil, with Comedy King moving . up. Along tho back Mutilator moved into fourth place, with Flavian next, followed by Son of a Gun, Comedy King, Olivaster, : Post Town, and Alawa. Mindful led past | tho sheds from Danaus, Mutilator, Trafal- I gar, Apple Pie, Flavian, Post Tom, Com- • edy King, and Prizefighter. Comedy King then moved up fast and took charge, and Alawa also improved his position. Comedy King led at the distance from Apple Pie, j Alawa, and Mutilator. Then Alawa faded out, and Trafalgar came strongly. In a : most exciting finish, during which Pendil put in a fast run, Comedy King won from.] Trafalgar by half a neck, with two lengths between second and third. Pendil was; fourth, and then came Alawa, Mutilator, I Matouree, Olivaster, tho last three to finish being Lord Nolan, Kirn, and Kerlie. Time, 3min 27;Jsec. Wiiuicrs of recent Melbourne Cup races:

Comedy King, vho was bred at Home, is owned'by Mr Sol. Green, the well-known metallic ian*, and owner of Gladsome. As a three-year-old ho won the Thirteenth Caulfield Futurity Stakes, 7f, iu_ Imin 27|sec, and ran unplaced at Flemington in the Standish Handicap (6.13), 6f, and Newmarket Handicap (7.1), 6f. Last month he won the Spring Stakes, lira, w.f.a., at , Randwick, beating Prince Foote, but was unplaced on Saturday last in the Melbourne Stakes, w.f.a. Trafalgar as a three-year-old, in October, won the Standish Handicap, lira, with 6.11, and the Spring Handicap, lira, with 8.3, at Flemington ; the Loch Plate, 2m, | w.f.a., in March; the Autumn Stakes,' w.f.a., at Randwick in April; the Sydney Cup, 2m, with 7.11; and the A V .J.C. Plate, 3ra, w.f.a. Last season he won the Spring Stakes, l£m, w.f.a., at j Randwick, and the Randwick Plate, 2m, : w.f.a. Ho finished fourth, with 9.1, in the Melbourne Cup. At the recent A.J.C. meeting ho won the Randwick Plate, 2ni, w.f.a., and on Saturday last finished third at Flemington in the Melbourne Stakes. Apple Pie has been a singularly unfortunate mare. This season at Randwick she finished third in the Epsom Handicap, Im, second in the Waverley Handicap, IJm, and third in the Sydney Handicap, l£m, while in the Caulfield Cup, lira, she ran second to Flavinius. HOW THE RAGE WAS RUN. TRAFALGAR’S GAME CHALLENGE. WINNING JOCKEY’S VERSION. KNEW HE “HAD A GOOD THING.” SYDNEY, November 2. The ‘Herald’ declares without doubt that more people saw this year’s Melbourne Cup than over before in the history of the race. It was a splendid finish, and the public, though they failed to pick the winner, showed that they can tell a good horse, and the cheers were as much for the defeated top-weight as for his successful rival. While their toilets were being prepared the candidates held large levees, and a good send-off was effected. When they settled into their places Keriio essayed the role of pacemaker, but passing the judge’s box ho was joined by his stablemate, Mindful, who, as they opened up the river stretch, left her companion, and at a clipping pace carried the field along until nearing the sheds, where She beat a retreat. Simultaneously Comedy King, who in the early stages had been running in the ruck, but had improved his position as he came along the back stretch, Hashed through. A little further on Alawa appeared on the scene, followed by Apple Pie, while on the outside the colors of Trafalgar were showing prominently. When Alawa moved up to within striking distance of the leader as they swept into the line from the judge's box his success was loudly proclaimed. A little further on Apple Pie put in her claim. Then Trafalgar settled down to his work with a will, and as he passed Apple Pie in turn his victory was loudly anticipated. Carrying his weight like a racehorse, the son of Wallace gradually closed the gap of daylight between him and the leader. Stride by stride he was overhauling Comedy King, who was responding generously to M‘Laughlan’s call, and amid a scene of wild excitement the gallant chestnut reached the throat-strap of the imported horse as they crossed the judge’s line of vision. It was a great battle between the pair, who received hearty ovations on returning to scale. Apple Pie ran a sound, honest race, while Pendil, who escorted her homo, put up a good performance. The ‘ Telegraph ’ says : Kcrlic and Mindful made the early running, and were in possession past the stand. Mindful carried on the running alone to the mile and a quarter post, and remained in possession till the home turn, when ho was done with. The first to turn into the straight were Apple Pie, Alawa, and Comedy King, but though Apple Pie had a slight lead Comedy King soon headed her,- and a furlong and a-half from home had a length lead, with Alawa in second place, being closely followed by Trafalgar and Apple Pie.’ A little later on Alawa shot his bolt, and Trafalgar settled down to a bril- j limit effort. He drew into second place 1 100 yds from home. As Trafalgar was finishing in quiet style a great rpar an- j nounced his success, but M‘Laughlan, calling on Comedy King for a final effort, ho ' hung out just long enough to land home a winner by half a neck, while Apple Pie was two lengths off. M‘Laughlaa mover 1

once bustled Comedy King. He made his way gradually, and only when five furlongs from home did he make any attempt to make up his ground. This was M'Laughlau’s second Cup win. Interviewed after the race, he said: I got away pretty well, ahd was not even near the leaders until the first turn. Then I was seventh or eighth, and was sixth or seventh half a mile from home. After that I went right up to them, r.*id five furlongs from home I knew that I had a good thing. I could have run away with, him at any time from the five-furlongs post. Throe furlongs from home I loit the field and went clean away from them. I didn’t see Trafalgar until just before tho -finish. I had a good run right through, and was not interfered with, only just chopped off a bit, as always happens in such a race. Coming up the straight tho crowd frightened Comedy King lie came out from the rails, but recovered instantly.

A‘ r e. Wgt. Slrtrs Time. 1898—The Grafter ... 5 9.2 28 3m 29Js 1899—Merriwee 3 7.6 28 5m 36|s 1900 —Clean Sweep... 3 7.0 29 3m 29s 1901—Revenue 5 7.10 19 3m 3O4S 1902—The "Victory ... 4 8.12 22 3ra 29s 1903 —Lord Cardigan 3 6.8 24 3m 29^3 1904—Acrasia a 7.6 34 3m 281s 1905—Blue Spec ... 6 8.0 27 3m 27£s 1906—Poseidon 3 7.6 21 3m 3l£s 1907—Apologue 5 7.9 16 3m 271s 1908—Lord Nolan ... 3 6.9 22 3m2&Js 1909—Prince Foote... 3 7.8 26 3m 27js 1910 —Comedy King... 4 7.11 30 3m27js