AUSTRALIAN SPORTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8552, 4 August 1888, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SPORTING.

[By Tranter.] Melbourne, July 19. So far there has not been much done over any of the big spring events, and notwithstanding the nearness of the Grand National Steeplechase Meeting, which takes place at Fiemington on August 4. the double. Hurdle Eace and Steeplechase, has not received so much attention as it has done in previous years. The fact is that the public now, instead of blindly rushing in on the appearance of the handicaps, wait until the respective owners make a move, which the betting market quickly records, and then they have something tangible to go upon. Of course, those horses .trained at Ballarat receive the most attention, and nine out of every ten doubles laid start with Dragon, Silverton, St Louis, Ocean, or Eecall, and finish with Kuby, Adeline, or Flashlight. At present the popular picks, as indicated by the betting, is a follows: —Malua, Dragon, Le Eoy, and Silverton being selected in the Hurdle Eace, coupled with Flashlight, Euby, and Memder at 100 to 1. Over the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups no move has as yet been made by any of the respective stablea,, nor is one likely to be until after the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap has been disposed of. Dor the Caulfield Cup, Ci’anbrook and Lord Allen are at present the popular picks. Sir Thomas Elder Ifeavea for England in November next, but the Morphetfcvillc stud will not be dispersed. To the memory of the late Alec, liobsrtson, a graceful tribute of respect has been paid by Mr William Cooper, to whoso order a handsome monument has been erected over the last resting place of the deceased jockey in the Wavcrley cemetery. It consists of a matble cross, artistically wreathed with floral embellishments, and supported on. a massive blue-

stone base. The plinth bears the following inscription i —“ln'memory of Alec Robert* sod, aged 27, who was accidentally killed at Randwick oh Jan. 2, 1888, whilst riding Sdvennioe in Tartersall’s Cup. This memorial was erected by William Cooper as a mark of esteem and respect.” At the Moonee Yalley Races, held on Saturday lost, Fiddler, a four-year-old eon of King Cole—Grace, won the Maiden Hurdle Race. Fiddler is an own brother to Merry Monarch, and both of them are engaged in the G. N. Hurdle Race. At the last Committee meeting of the Victoria Racing Club, it was decided that an additional day’s racing should be held at Flemington on Sept. 8. Now, as that date had been selected by the Mentone Racing Club for their opening day, it savoured, to say the least, of bad policy on the part of the Premier Club to run counter to a young institution. When the matter, had, "however, been pointed out, the V.R.C. immediately altered their resolve, but will carry out their original intention, and hold the meeting in the month filled. I visited the Flemington training tracks yesterday morning, but there was nothing of the sensational order performed. Tranter I was very much pleased to notice on the tan, doing gentle exercise, and looking remarkably well. A little bird has whispered me that the big son of Punga will not don silk until the autumn when he will make a bold bid for both the Champion Stakes and the Australian Cup. You have it as I got it. All the New Zealanders at headquarters, including Silver Prince, Whitworth, Waterman, Firelock (who has begun to grow a trifle), Bellissima, and Whakawai, are improving the right way. • None of them have, however, smashed any watches. Great disgust is expressed at the weight allotted the son of Sylvia in the Melbourne Cup. It does seem strange that so soon as certain trainers —the Messrs Dakin to wit —get a horse that fails, say under 7st 7ib in other persons’hands, comes into theirs, that the said horse’s weight goes up half a stone. Strange as it may read, such is a fact. From Sydney I learn that Volley and Ensign look especially well, and the same remark applies to Melos and Wycombe. About Magazine, however, there are doubts expressed at his seeing the post, owing to his shelly feet. If I remember aright, the same remark was applied to Arsenal, hia own brother, but the little son of Powder not only got to the post, but first passed it in no less a race than a Melbourne Cup. Abercorn, The Australian Peer, Cranbrook, Carlyon, Plutarch, Arsenal, Aristocrat, Matador, Cardigan, and ’Frisco are all reported to be doing well. Cinderella, by Javelin, has gone into Kelso’s stable, where she will, under that astute trainer’s charge, no doubt be made to emulate the doughty .deeds of Mirtailleuse.