THE GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8057, 19 September 1887, Page 5

THE GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES.

The following are the probable starters for the Metropolitan Stakes, to be run on Tuesday next :—

Mr. A. Drake's ch m Spado Guinea at. lb. 4yrs, by Kins; of Clubs—Rupee ... S 10 Mr. W. Kelso's b h First Cheater, 4yrs, by Chester—Marie Stuart ... 8 6 Mr. John Mayo's b h The Jewel, syrs, by Goldsbrough—lda 8 4 Mr. R. Donovan's b or br h Dunlop, 4yrs. by Neckorngat—Etta 8 2 Mr. W. For<V'it« r 's br h K:*Awa,4yrß,, by Manuka—Aurora 8 0 Mr. A. Hulenburg's br b Acolyte, 6yrs, by — Nightingale 7 12 Mr. A. Drake's b h Pasha, oyrs, by Musket—Rose d'Amour 7 12 Hon. W. A. Long's br f Crossfire, 3yrs, by GoldsbroughPowder ... ... 9 Mr. T. Sampson's bl g Frisco, 3yra, by Grand Flaneur—Verbena 7 4 Mr. H. Oxenham's ch h Phaon, 4yrs, by King of the Ring—Sappho ... 7 2 Mr. W. J. Forrester's ch m Folly, syrs, by master—Sweetlips ... 7 2 Mr. S. G. Cook's br c Dividend, 3yrs, by Bolton Green—Frou Frou ... 6 9 Hon. J. White's b g Morok, 4yre, by The Drummer—Jewel 6 13 Mr. J. Chambers's ch h Cardigan, 4yrs, by Goldsbrough—Signora 6 13 Mr. J. Lee, jun.'a br h The Felon, 4yrs, by Gemma di VergeyLilian ... 6 2 Hon. J. White's bo Aberdeen, 2yrs, by Chester—Goldfinch 6 0 Mr. A. E. Cornwell as br h Opperout, 4yrs, by GemE>a di Vergey—Caller Ou 6 0 TRAINING NOTES. The weather continues fine, and a large number of horses were out this morning. Spade Guinea snd Pasha did a great trial to-day over the Metropolitan Stakes distance, the last mile being finished in lmin 53aec. *pade Guinea had the beet of the spin. K. | Derritt was up on Pasha. Cardigan and [ Acolyte did a strong gallop over two miles. Duulop did a serviceable gallop. Crossfire had a flutter over a mile, finishing in splendid style. . Silver Prince was sent three miles at half pace. Kitawa and The Jevcei went twice round splendidly. First Chester, Phaon, Aberdeen, and Upper Cut put in useful work. THE BETTING. September IS. There vraa a large attendance at Tattersail's last! night, and a considerable amount of money was invested both on Spade Guinea and Dunlop for the Metropolitan Stakes. Cardigan has somewhat receded in the betting. Pasha claimed a good deal of attention, and a large commission in his favour was executed at 100' ato 3. A demonstration was made against Morok, and like Cardigan, he has receded in the betting. Spade Guinea, on the strength of being backed by the stable is most in favour with the public, and along with Dunlop holds the pride of position in the market, Morok and Cardigan being next in demand. The stable is evincing a disposition to back Phaon, but there is little money forthcoming. There are also inquiries for Acolyte. The only important wagers booked during the evening were on Spade Guinea, and all the money in the market was taken at 100 to 12, after which she shortened to 6to 1. Abercorn's victory in the A.J.C, Derby has improved Trident's position in the quotations for the Melbourne Cup. The stable appear very sweet about the chance of Kitawa and Upper Cut. The quotations are :6to I agat Spade Guinea and Dunlop, 7 to 1 Cardigan and Morok, 10 to 1 t'haon aud Acolyte, 12 to 1 Upper Cut and Kitawa, 100 to 6 The Jewel, 100 to 5 Crossfire and Frisco, 100 to 4 (tkn) Pasha, 100 to 2 (tkn) Dividend. «

ABERCORN'S VICTORY. j [BY PHAETON.I , _ | For the fourth year in succession the Hon. J. White's colours have proved successful in | the A.J.C. Derby, and in securing Saturday's race with a colt of his own breeding, the Sydney sportsman has at last achieved the pinnacle of his ambition. Though of course it would have been mora to our heart had either of the Auckland bred ones, Niagara and Enfilade prqjved successful, it is gratifying to know that the blue ribbon has been placed on the neck of a colt in every way well entitled to wear it. Aberoorn's performances throughout the whole of his two-year-old career were certainly of a most sterling character, winning as he did no less than five out of the seven races he started for, while his other two engagements were a second and a third. The colt had been a' very staunch favourite for the blue riband during the past fortnight, odds of 6 to 4 being freely laid last week on his ability to win. The following is a full list of Abercorn'a performances : —

At 2 years : A.J.C. Summer, won December Stakes, 5 furlong*, Sst 101b : Huntingtowor second, Sst 13ib ; Moorehouse third, 8stl01h; time, lm 2si. Tatiermli'j Club, Sydney, third in Lady Carrington Plate, 5 furlongs, Bst 71b ; won by Moorehouse, Sst 71b ; Huntingtower second, Bst 71b; time, lm 3s. V.R.C. Autumn, woo Sires' Produce Stakes, 6 fnrl'>ngß. Sst lulb; Maxim second, 101b ; Bowmont lliird, Bst 101b ; time, lm 17js. Hawltesbury R.C. Autumn, won Claret Stakes, 5 furlongs, Sst 2lb ; Sumatra second, Bst : Huntintftower third, Bst 21b ; time, lm sa. A.J.C. Autumn, won Sires' Produce Stakes, 7 furlong?, Bst 1011) ; Moorehouse second, Sst 101b ; Bowmont third, Sst 101b ; time, lm 309. Same meeting, second in Champagne Stakes, 6 furiocga, 9-t 61b ; won by Matador, 83t 101b ; The Charmer third, 8« 81b ; time, lm 19; won first Foal kos, 6 furlong', 9at 31b ; Lava cord Sst 51b ; Huntingtower third, Bst 71b ; time, lm 20}s. At three yours : A.J.C. Sprin?, won Derby. 1} miles, Sst 301 ; Niagara second, Sst 10ib : Xho Australian Peer third, Bst 101b ; time, 2m 39Js.

Niagara ran the right down good colt everyone expected he would, and though defeated the eon of Anteros and Frailty has by no means disgraced himself by his second to such a flyer as Abercorn, From the moderate nature of the work Foulsham had been treating the colt to of late, it was generally concluded that lie was to be reserved for the more important race to be run at Flemington next uiontb, and that he would not be amongst the starters for the A.J.C. blue riband. That he was as forward in his preparation as Aberoorn would appear to be unlikely, and the details of the race will therefore be looked forward to with much interest, in order to ascertain whether or not the half-brother to Trenton was beaten on his merits, and as to whether sufficient improvement can be wrought in him to give a reasonable chance of his clipping the wings of the Hon. Mr. White's representative when next they fight their battle o'er again in V.R.C, blue riband. Niagara, it will be remembered, was purchased in Auckland in March last by Mr. W. Cooper for 1750 guineas, and, apart altogether from the colt being locally bred, it would have been extremely gratifying to have seen the plucky purchase followed up by a win. Enfilade's running is, I think, too bad to be true, for surely a colt claiming half brothership to the brilliaut Nordenfeldt is capable of something better than a " beautiful last "

Abercorn'a brilliant performance on Saturday will have the effect of hardening him considerably for the V. R.C. Derby to be decided next month, and all going well with him in his training, there can be no question that he will prove a very hard nut to crack. Whether all the tales about brook being the Hon. Mr. White's likely one for the V.R.C. blue riband are correct, it is of course impossible to say, but this seems clear that if the Sydney sportsman has a better one in his stable than Abercorn, then the Derby is pretty well all over.