AUSTRALIAN SPORTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9269, 25 November 1890, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN SPORTING .

Melbourne, Nov. 6. What with the Moonee Valley Cup Meeting on Saturday week and odd day’s' races to fill up the interval, and then the great V.R.C. Spring Meeting, which was begun on Saturday last and continued ou Tuesday and to-day, we poor pressmen have had a somewhat sultry time of it. At the. Moonee Valley Cup Meeting, the most remarkable thing noticeable was the exceedingly open nature of the principal event as indicated by the betting, for the winner Wiora started at 10 to 1, Portland, who finished second, at 20 to 1, and Propounder, who finished third, went out at half the latter price, whilst the favourite Spifceu, whose price’ was 9 to 4 against, did nob get a position. Another remarkable circumstance was that the, placed horses were all sired by Neckersgat. : The ancient son of Tekoa, Secretary, ridden by Corrigan, won the Steeplechase, two miles easily, with lOsfc 101 b up in 4min lOaec. Yesterday, the old fellow with 141 b more on,'could only get third in a similar event run at Elsternwick Park.

The morning of Derby Day broke dull and cloudy, but towards noon the sun came out in his spring strength and a most enjoyable day was the outcome. To say; that the arrangements on the course, which never looked better, were perfect goes without saying and Mr Moore, the Secretary, Mr Miles the head clerk, Mr F. 1 F. Dakin the Judge. Mr G. Watson the Starter, and all the other officials did everything in their power to make the meeting the success if undoubtedly was. The Harbour Light, Bst, (Hales), was made favourite for the opening event, the Maiden Plate,, one mile, w.f.a., but he was beaten easily by The Serf (Moore) 9st, who won in Imin 43sec. Master Grand was a fair third. Then came the Melbourne Stakes, one mile and a quarter, for which Carbine was made, a ; ,rjsar*n favourite at 3 to 1 on, Melos and Loyal Stone being next in request at 7to 1. > There ■ia little to be said in connection with the race, for Eamsge took the Australian champion to the front directly the flag fell and riding a waiting race in front won easily from Gresford by two lengths in 2min lOjrsec. Melos was third only a head away. The other starters were Benzon, Newmaster, Richelieu, Singapore, Loyal Stone, The Queen, Chintz. King William, and Pygmalion. After that brilliant victory, Carbine’s price for the Cup shortened very much. The Hotham Handicap, one mile ’and a half and a distance, came on for discussion, and Claremont 7st 21b, was made favourite at 4 to 1, Greygown being at sixes. The latter, who had C. Rudings behind him at the start with a stockwhip, so as to assist him off the mark, was last away, but he got there all the same, for he won a good race from Wattle 7st 31b, by a neck. Swing Bst, was third, and Carrington Bst 21b, fourth. The time for the journey was the fastest in the Colonies for the distance, viz., 2min 49|sec. The last mile and a half was run inside 2min 35sec 1. The other starters were—Precedence Sst 81b, Little Bernie Sat 51b, Ernani 7st 12lb, Papua 7st 91b,- Plenty 7st, Forest King7st, Acushla 6st 12lb, The Pioneer 6st 121 b, Yowi flat 121 b, Pingara 6st 71b, Ivy 6st 71b, and Copenhagen 6st 71b. Had arrangements been made with the clerk of the weather, a finer day could not have been vouchsafed than that on Tuesday last, when the Melbourne Cup was run at Flemington. The attendance was estimated at 122,000, and the receipts were £2OOO more than they were for the Derby and Cup days last year. It is needless to speak of the crowd and how the ladies were dressed, as space is limited, and were it not, I doubt very much whether Barkis would be found willing. So let’s to the more serious part of the business, that at anyrate for backers. The Hurdle Baca opened the ball, and Freedom, with Corrigan in the saddle, won cleverly, covering the three miles with 10st 61b in 6min 27sec. The winner, a son of Progress, started at 2 to 1, and as he was trained by Alec Taylor, who prepared Vengeance, the supporters of the latter for the Cup looked upon Freedoms’ victory as au augury of success in the Cup for Vengeance. Incident fell and broke his neck, but Cupitt, his rider, was unhurt. Then came the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, for which Bendigo Bst 51b (Huxley) was made favourite at 6 to 1, but he was beaten half a length at the finish by Teksmn Sst 41b (Moran). Having worked off the minor events ■ of the all important day, I will give an account of the big handicap seeing that there is a deal of record about it. For did not the most numerous field that has ever started for a Melbourne Cup As showing the severity of the pace right from the fall of the flag, I need only give the following figures as taken by, myself and " Olympus " of Punch : —First half mile 4913ec, last mile and a half 2min 39sec, the last mile Imin 4Hsec, and’, the concluding six furlongs Imin • I7|sec. Eamage told me afterwards that he never rode a harder race in his life for the first ueven furlongs, for he knew that everything depended upon obtaining a'-good position, which he_ did. The following is the record of the winner, whom I’regret to state split his hoof during the race, and it it quite on the cards that he will not he, seen, on a racecourse for some time, if ever again:— . Races run ... 39. ... Wins ... - ..• . 27 Second... ' 'g Third ... 3 Unplaced ... 1 . Although I did not tip Carbine, I sent him as one of four from whom the winner would spring, and I am still of opinion, l notwithstanding his wonderfully grand performance, that his stable companion; Tantallon, had he not gone off last week, 1 would have won, and Carbine would have been second. However, I am pleased that so brilliant and consistent a horse as Carbine did win for the sake o£ ; both owner and trainer. What sort of a record would Carbine Lave had had he been in the hands of a less scrupulously, honest trainer than Walter Hiokenbotham? Not one like that published above, I venture to ./say.