THE MELBOURNE RACES.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 204, 20 November 1869, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE RACES.

By the arrival of H.M. s.s. Challenger, we are placed in possession of authentic information relative to the great event of this meeting—the race for the Melbourne Cup. It appears that Manuka met with an accident two days before the race, when taking a gallop, by which his leg was injured, and he compelled to be withdrawn ; however, he was expected to get all right in time to compete in some of the later events of the meeting. Barwon and Fly were also scratched, but, unlike Manuka, they are irretrievably broken down. The following particulars of the race are from the Argus :— MELBOURNE CUP. A sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, 10ft., or 5 if declared, with 300 sovs. added. Two miles. Mr. A. Saqui’s br g Warrior, by New Warrior, 6 yrs, SstlOlb (J. Morrison) ... 1 Mr. J. Henderson’s br h The Monk, 5 yrs, 7st, (W. Enderson) 2 Mr. E. Lee’s ch m Phoebe, 6 yrs 7st 101 b (3. Davis) 3

Betting.—2 to 1 against Circassian, 5 and 6 to 1 agst Traverton, 6 to 1 agst Sheet Anchor, 8 to 1 agst Warrior, 10 to 1 each against Charon, Salem Scudder, and Strop, -15 to 1 agst Aurora, 20 to 1 each agst Albany and Phoebe, 30 to 1 agst Paddy’s Land, 33 to 1 each agst Norma, Cymba, Barbella, and Australian, 50 to 1 agst Dolo, and 200 to 1 agst The Monk. Warrior, in front of everything when the flag dropped, cut out the running for a quarter of a mile, when he was joined on the outside by Sheet Anchor, Bishopsbourne being on his left, Traverton and Circassian figuring conspicously amongst the next half-dozen. Approaching the carriage paddock, Morrison took a slight pull at his horse, and Bishopsbourne, Sheet Anchor, and Traverton led the field past the stand, Palmerston, who ran off the course at starting, and thereby lost at least 50 yards, bringing up the rear. Rounding the turn Bishopsbourne held an advantage of about a length over the ruck, which was headed by Traverton, Warrior going well within himself, Strop, Phoebe, The Monk, and Circassian, closing up as they neared the spot where the old stanp once stood ; Sheet Anchor, Bishopsbourne, Salem Scudder, and several others fell back beaten. In the next hundred yards' Circassian made his rnn, but the effort proved a fruitless one, and Morrison taking advantage of an opening, brought Warrior to the head of affairs, and from this point the race was never in doubt, for though Monk came with a rush in the straight and got on terms with Warrior, it was on suffrance only, for upon Morrison shaking his horse up, he shot ahead without any perceptible effort, and coming on at his own pace won easily by a couple of lengths, the Monk second, Phoebe, a good third, Sir John fourth, Freetrader fifth, and Palmerston, who made up a great deal of ground in the last half mile, sixth ; Paddy’s Land galloping home next without his rider, and Strop, Circassian, Albany, Charon, and Aurora finishing all of a heap. Time, 3m. 40s. Thirty-three horses started. In the Hotham Handicap, Misfortune came in seventh only. In the Essendou Stakes, Peeress came in second, ridden by McGlashen. Warrior Avon by a length in a canter. In the Railway Stakes, Misfortune again justified her name by making a third, coming in half a dozen lengths behind..