ENGLISH SPORTING LETTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11421, 9 November 1897, Page 2

ENGLISH SPORTING LETTER.

[Correspondent “ Canterbury Times.’,] LONDON, Sept. 17.

Tho few plungers who ventured to lay 10 to 1 on Galtee More for the Leger experienced an awful moment when, at the distance, Chelandry swooped down upon the Derby winner and all hut overset the odds. Morny Cannon rodo magnificently, and if the filly could have maintained her effort another minute she might have won. As things were Mr Gubbins’s crack only got home by half a length. Before the race backers accepted 6 and 7 to 1 about him for the Cesarewitch, in which he has 9st 31b to carry. Afterwards 10 to 1 was for a time offered. Wood, of course, says he could have won any distance, and that Galtee More was never extended. Experts, on the other hand, opine Velasquez would have upset the favourite had Lord Rosebery preferred him to Chelandry. The Sporting Times remarks : “ Ridden by Morny Cannon in the style that he is so fond of riding and which undoubtedly often brings about great and unexpected results when the course is clear, Velasquez would, we think, have swooped down on Galtee More, as Chelandry, who was exquisitely ridden, did, and being able to sustain the effort longer, he would have got past the post before the great staying powers of Galtee More could have been brought fairly into play. Many of us remember how Tom Chalouer, on Pell Mell, swooped down on Cremorne, ridden by Maidment, in the Derby of 1872, and was within a short head of beating him, and yet there was no comparison between the two horses. If in the Jockey Club Stakes of 10,000 sovs, to be run for in the First October week at Newmarket, Velasquez gives Chelandry 121 b, which he will be called upon to do, and beats her, nothing will persuade the majority of those who saw the race for the St Leger that in not running Velasquez Lord Rosebery threw away that very substantial and still more glorious prize.” Doncaster was a bookmakers’ meeting, favourite after favourite being bowled over. The Champagne Stakes (the chief two-year-old event) resulted in a tragedy. The least fancied of the eight runners was Mr Leopold de Rothschild’s weedy filly Ayah, by Ayrshire—Biserta, who, both on public form and private trials, appeared to lie out of it. The stable put Tommy Loates up, but limited their commission to i.Ti at 20 to 1. The public were all on Mr M’Calmont’s Florio Rubattino, by Florentine—Wealth, and Lord Rosebery’s Mauchlme. The latter collapsed at the distance, hut Florio seemed winning easily opposite the stand. Here, however, Ayah put in an appearance, and challenging resolutely got the best of a pretty finish by half a length. Most of the ring “ skinned the lamb.” This operation was repeated by many later in the day in the Glasgow Plate, a nursery which attracted twentytwo runners. Mr Garten’s St Lucia 7st7lb started favourite and beat everything but Lord Rosebery’s Alizarine, by Bona Vista— Rose Madder, who had only 6st 131 b to carry. The finish was a repetition of that for the Champagne Stakes, the outsider challenging inside the distance and getting home by three-quarters of a length. On Wednesday the Westralians slipped Mr Albert Calvert’s Prince of the Poets—who has often done them good service for the Milton Stakes. They worked a big commission at fair odds —prooably an average of 5 to I—the1 —the public preferring Mr Hornsby’s Emswoi’th, also a smart plater over five furlongs. In this the talent were right. Tho Prince ran well, but Emsworth stalled him off and got homo cleverly by a neck. The Westralians’ faces were eloquent. On dit, Mr Calvert has found racing expensive latterly. Tho big gamble of this year’s Doncaster took place on Thursday, when Eileock,

Amphora, Melange, Fosco, Bellevin am■ < number of speedy horses met m i popular half-mile scurry known as Portland Plate. Despite a welter weight of 9st 1311-, Kilcock was well to 2, 6 to 1 being laid AH Rothschild s Fosco (Gyrs, Sst lllb), 10 to 1 KBkeriaa (3yrs, 7st lib), 10 to 1 Bellevin (4yrs, /St 131 b), and 100 to 8 to 20 to 1 others. After a long delay at the post, winch greatly prejudiced the hoavily-weig favourite. Kilkerran was first away,.but Bellevin settled down in front of Ugly on the inside, with ATelange, on the ’'S’ next, and Kilcock well up. p ™ sen ™f’ Ugly deprived Bellevin of the lead close up being Kilkerran, whilst Kilcock began to close." At the distance Bellevin was m difficulties, and Kilkerran heading *-ig y the pair came on from Kilcock, who was tiring under his weight. Kilkerran, owever, ran on very stoutly and defealet Ugly by a head, a length away Kilcock was third just in front of St Noel, who was placed fourth. The winner belongs o Lord C. Aloutagn, and is by Ayrshire— Alaid of Lorn. His party won a nice On Friday the Doncaster Cup was practically a walk-over for Winkfield s Pride, Air Rothschild’s Jaquemart alone opposing him. Plungers laid 4tol on Air Sullivan s champion, who won anyhow. The really interesting event or tne Doncaster Friday was the Prince of Wales s Nursery of 1000 sovs, in which that smart two-year-old The Baker, carrying Sat < lb, simply slaughtered a large field. Hie Baker is by Bread Knife —Crusade.