THE A.J.C. MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8375, 1 October 1890, Page 5

THE A.J.C. MEETING.

A SERIES OF EXCITING CONTESTS . Full details of the recent meeting held at Rand wick are now to hand, and we clip the following relating to the most exciting contests from the Sydney Morning Herald :— THK FOAL STAKKS. Gatling was installed a warm favourite at even money, Gibraltar being quoted at 3 to 1, Gresford at 7 to 2, while 10 to 1 was on offer about Prelude when the flag fell. Gibraltar jumped off in front, attended by Argos, who, before they had travelled past Oxenham's, took up a determined lead, and at the mile post wuß three lengths clear from Gibraltar, who had Gatling and Gresford within a length, with the others a couple of lengths away. Argos was further away at the seven furlongs post; but when another furlong had been travelled, Gibraltar, with Gatling on his quarter, had reduced the beautiful chestnut's advantage to a couple of lengths, while Gresford and Prelude were a length off in patient waiting, and Ethelbert was taking it easily two lengths in the rear of everything. They ran in something like the same order to the throe-furlong post, after passing which Gibraltar and Gatling raced up to and cut Argos down. Gibraltar led into the straight, but when racing up the sl'zhfc incline near the distance, Gatling headed him, and Nerricker was compelled to draw his whip. For a few strides Gatling appeared to have it all his own way, for Harris was sitting still, but the son of Grandmaster and Algeria came again under punishment, with lion-hearted gamencsa, and the pair raced fairly tied together until about twenty strides from home, when Gatling, answering every call, got his head in front, out Algeria's son was not to he denied, and responding to Nerricker's forlorn demand, renewed the battle, and got his head in front once more. While the two colts were racing so bitterly, Prelude and Gre.sford came on with a great rush, and, for a fow strides, it was anyone's race. With a head between them they got within half a length of the finishing pair, and so they raced to the post, and the judge said, " Dead heat." Time, 2m. 11s. In the run oft", Gibraltar, on whom odds of 5 to 4 were laid, forced the pace all the way, and won by about a length. Time, 2m. lGs.

TIIK CBAViSN PLATE. The betting was 7 to 4 on Carbine, 7 to 4 v. Megaphone, '20 to 1 v. the others. When the all-important moment had arrived, Carbine took hie place against the rails, with Cardigan and Megaphone next, while Cuirassier, who was very fractious, occupied a position on the left. A loud exclamation proclaimed the fact that the battle had commenced, and perhaps Carbine got a trifle the best of the start. Ten strides after the fall of the flag Megaphone dashed to the front, ™nd soon put two lengths between himself and the crack. The pace was so severe even thus early that the others began to tail-off, and they continued to do so all through the contest. With the sensible view of making the weight, tell upon Carbine, Megaphone increased his advantage to three lengths as they raced along the back of the course at a pace that was ever increasing. After they flashed past the five-furlongs post, the son of Musket begun to close gradually and surely like an avenger upon his flying opponent, and, as he drew closer and closer at every stride, the excitement grew with the pace, and when the tliree-furlougs post was reached and raced past Carbine's head was on the colt's girths. Still the Queensland hero lengthened hie terrible stride in his endeavour to shake oil' the big fellow ; but Carbine came on, and although the three-year-old never flinched or faltered, he reached his head at the bend, and they Hew locked level into the straight. Neither had the slightest advantage, but Ryan was seen to be hard on the colt, and as they faced the rising ground the favourite got his head and neck in front. A resolute and well-answered call brought Megaphone on terms again, and at the distance Ramage drew his whip and shook it, while the spurs were buried deep into the champion's sides. That was enough. He extended himself until his belly appeared to nearly touch the ground, and gained an advantage of half-a-length. Ryan now drew his whip, and settled down in real earnest on the Hawkesbury Handicap winner, but ride as he would he could not get the head of the gallant colt past the other's girths. One supreme effort on the part of Megaphone, and one final demand on Carbine,and the great horse drew further away, and won by threequarters of a length from the sou of Newbold, who never flinched from the bitter punishment, and thus ended the struggle, while the public were almost wild with excitement. Cuirassier was some .SO lengths away, and four lengths after him came Cardigan. Time, 2m. 7s. Though Carbine won with the least bit in hand, the race was a desperate one all the way, as shown by the wonderful time, 2m 7s. The mile was run in Int. 39a., the last seven furlongs in lin. 2Gs , and the final five furlongs in the lightning-like time of lin. 2is. The cheering after Carbine had passed the winning-post, and as the horse was returning to scale, was something tremendous, both owner and trainer coining in for a fair share of the popular applause as though to show how highly the public appreciate straight going. THE KANT/WICK PLATE. The betting was : Even money on Melos, 6 to 4 against Whimberel, sto 1 v. Gresford, 10 to 1 (Jainden and Sir William. Whimberel led oil', and conducted them past the stand with a lead of half-a-dozen lengths of Melos, with resford the same distance off, find the others waiting. The pace was little better than a canter, and at the back of the course Whimberel was fully 12 lengths clear, and so they ran to the half-mile post, where Gresford headed the hard-pulling Melos, and followed the leader into the straight. With an advantage of five lengths Whimberel was first past the stand, with Gresford next going well, and two lengths clear from Melos, and the others three lengths away. No change took place until they were six fill , longs from home, when the pace mended, and the field got on closer terms, and the son of St. Albeis, still going well within himself, turned the home corner two lengths from Gresford, with Melos two lengths off, and the others hopelessly out of it. When their heads were turned for home Melos bid Gresford good-bye, and settled down in real earnest after the colt. He caught him at each stride, and when one hundred yards from home called upon him to finish, but the three-year-old quite failed to respond, and not making anything like an answer to the challenge, collapsed like a balloon, and Melos, fairly wearing him down, won easily by a long half-length. Gresford was four lengths away, and a length and a-half in front of .Sir William, while Camden was beaten off. Time, sm. 80s.

THE BETTING MARKET. The leading items of the Victorian Spring campaign were the medium of some spirited speculation at Sydney Tattersall's last week. Little Bernie, Marvel, Singapore, Churchill, Bothwell, Dunkeld, and Vengeance, were most fancied for the Caulfield Cup at 1000 to r>o, and small lines >vere written about each at that figure. For the V.R.C. Derby, Titan was supported to win about £3000 at 5 to 1, and he was again installed favourite at 3 to 1 (taken and offered), Gibraltar was quoted at 4 to 1, and he was backed to win a fair stake at that price without exhausting the market; sto 1 could be had about Whimberel, 6 to 1 about The Admiral, and lOtol aboutGatlingand Annealey. Melos and Carbine divided the honours of Favouritism for the Melbourne Cup at 10 to 1 (taken and offered). The Queen was backed to win a good stake down to 100 to 4, aud 100 to 5 was the best offer at the finish t while the same price was available about i'rince Consort, and 100 to 4 could be got about Tantallon, Titau, Whimberel, and Gibraltar. In double betting on the V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, the prices were 1000 to 30 each, the two Titans, Whimberels, and Gibraltars; 1000 to 20 two Giitlings, and the same figure about either of the trio coupled with Carbine or Melos, while 1000 to 10 was obtainable about any other combination. For the two cups—Caulfield and Melbourne — 1000 to 5 was the best otter against any combination ending with Carbine or Melos ; and ativ other could be had at from 1000 to 2 to 1000 to 1.

The three-year-old Gresford (by the Drummer—La Muette) was purchased during the A. J.C. Meeting by the Victorian sportsman, Mr. W. T. Jones, for 1000 guineas. Gresford has been transferred to Mr. T. Payten's establishment. It being found that Carbine was very sore from his great exertions in the Craven Plate, Mr. Wallace wisely decided not to run him in the Rand wick Plate, so as not to endanger his Melbourne Cup prospects.