SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4665, 26 October 1876, Page 3

SPORTING.

With regard to the favourites for the. Melbourne Cup, there is no change to report since the telegraphic advices we published on Saturday last, which give the latest betting and also the final acceptances for the great event. In glancing at the files of late Australian papers, it is on the cards that the great weight for age race, the Metropolitan handicap, is likely to be the most exoiting race that was ever run, inasmuch as, Newminster, Rapid Bay, Tocal, Richmond. Sunlight, The Barb, and other celebrated horses will take part therein, and if such should be the case, it will hardly be less interesting to the public than the Cup itself. Irish Stew, Valentia, and other leading favourites for the Oup, had not arrived in Melbourne when the latest doings wore published, bnt ere this, they have no donbt been hard at work, and in my next I shall be able to give an authentic record. "Augur," in his review of the Cup horses, still gives Irish Stewand Valentia the premier places in his selection. The former with 6st. Slbs. upon his back, must, if the ground be firm, break 3 minutes 35sec. which is quite enough to dispose of ninetenths of his opponents. Of Valentia, his weight of 7st. 71bs is not an ounce too much, with any pretensions to be considered a Racehorse. Well on theday and nicely ridden, he will take a deal of beating, and there are many more unlikely things than that he may emulate the Pearl and the Quack, both of which were beaten in the Hawkesbury handicap, (as Valentia was) and afterwards carried off the Melbourne Cup.. 1 shall look for the winner from the following half dozen, Irish Stew, Valentia, Rapid Bay, Timothy, Canterbury, and Clifton." Since the above was written, a telegram has been received stating-that Clifton had pulled up lame and received in the. betting. . Newminster. for the V.R.C. Derby is all the rage, and this great gun has been interviewed by Augur, who dilates upon him as one of the grandest horses that ever ran in the Colony. In a report of the. inter view, extending over two columns, he graphically describes the precautions that Mr. Oakin, his trainer, and Messrs Chirnside the owners, have taken to prevent anyone from getting at him. Several trials were given especially for "Augur's" edification, and at the close he Bums up, like " Beacon," " Memo," and all other sporting writers, that " barring accidents, and accorded fair play, Newminster cannot be beaten for the Victorian Derby of 1876."