ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8903, 20 September 1889, Page 2

ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

[FROM OtTB OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Friar’s Balsam was so badly beaten by Pioneer in the private trial, for which the latter was specially sent to Kingsclere, that John Porter did not advise his being started for the Eclipse Stakes, and it is very unlikely the son of Hermit and Flower of Dorset will ever again see a racecourse. The opposition to Ayrshire at S&ndown was consequently of the weakest, Seabreeze, El Dorado, Seclusion, Gold and Benburb alone putting in an appearance to compete for what was not long ago the richest stake in. the world. At first 2 to 1 was freely laid on the lucky Duke’s crack, but rumours spread that the colt was not in his Kempton form, and so busy did Mr Fry's usually deadly pencil appear that at the last the ring accepted as little as 5 to 4, and in places even money. Seabreeze and El Dorado were well backed at 9 to 2 each, and Mr Manton had .£SOO

on Seclusion at 10 to 1. Gold avid Bonbm’h made the running till fairly in the line 1-r home, when Seabreeze compounded, and Ayrshire, assuming the lead from the hard-ridden El Dorado and Seclusion, won in a common canter by a couple of lengths. Mr Baird’s colt beat Mr Manton’s filly by a head only for the second money (£500). Gold was fourth, and Seabreeze last. Valua of stakes, £10,500. The Duke of Portland’s three cracks have now won as under this year and last:— 1883. 1889, Total. £ s. £ s. £ B. Ayrshire... 8,675 0 20,000 0 28.675 O Donovan... 16,487 IS 23,275 0 39,762 IS Semolina.., £25,162 15 £13,885 8 £74,0*8 S This is, of course, irrespective of his Grace’s minor winners,which of themselves make a respectable show. The institution of these rich stakes (especially two-year-old ones) has made an enormous difference in the value of promising youngsters. What would anyone have thought a few years hack of an owner who refused twenty thousand pounds for a two-year-old filly ? Yet this was the sum offered to, and declined by, the Duchess of Montrose for Riviera, prior to the race for the Portland Stakes, of 6000 sovs, at Leicester, which the sister to Seabreeze won. Moreover Captain Maohell (one of tho shrewdest living judges of turf matters) commended her Grace’s discretion, as Riviera’s engagements are of enormous valne (over £100,000), and, given average luck, the filly will certainly win more than a fifth of them.

John Corlett calculates that £30,000 would nob buy the six runners for the Portland Stakes, and predicts that Heauma will win next year’s Derby, and Riviera the Oaks.

Another magnificent-looking two-year-old that has been " off colour ” since early spring came out in all its old form at Sandown Park on Friday. This was Mr Leopold de Rothschild’s Lactantius, which, starting favourite at 7 to 4, beat Ambassador, Tostig and nine others, including Margarine and Devilfish, for the Great Kingston Two-year-old Plate. The Chetwynd fiasco has been followed up, as anticipated, by the warning off the turf of Macksey and Charles Wood, and the withdrawal of Sherrard’s training licence. Wood is a rich man, and probably cares not a dump for the disgrace involved, but to both Macksey and Sherrard banishment from Newmarket and other training quarters means absolute ruin. On dit both Mr “Abington” and John Hammond only escaped a similar fate by the merest squeak, and have both been severely cautioned.