SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8680, 24 September 1891, Page 5

SPORTING.

THE MELBOURNE CUP. Prut Association.—Electric Tclerjraph.—Copyright.

Melbourne, September 28. The following horses have been scratched for the Melbourne Cup -Centaur, Dearest, The Swell, St. Blaise.

THE A.J.C. DERBY.

We clip the following graphic account of the race for the A. J.C. Derby from the Sydney Morning Herald : — " After one unimportant break away, the word to go was given to a good start, and Oxide against the rails, and Brasenose in ; the centre were the first to move, but had hardly settled into their strides when Sulphide appeared at the front, and even thus early making the pace very strong, led his stable mate and Bengal a length and a-quartcr past the stand, and a length from them came Stromboli a ler ,i and a-half in front of the others, who Wore whipped in by Aster. At Cutts's, Sulphide had increased his advantage to a couple of lengths, and Oxide's head just showed in front of Bengal; while Stromboli was little more than a length away, and fighting hard to get his head, with the others on terms . a length , off.. After passing Oxenham's the pace seemed to ease down a little, and as they approached tho six furlongs post Sulphide had three lengthsto the good, and Bengal was still with Oxide and worrying him in the interests of Stromboli, who was a length off' with Brasenose at his side and the others a length away. After ascending the hill Sulphide drew away a little more, but tho effort told its tale, and, as lie began to waver, Oxide, leaving tho beaten Bengal, raced up to his friend, and the pair flashed past the half-mile post and came round the bend together, with Stromboli thundering behind them at an interval of a short length, and the others were out of it. The pace now became very solid, and Oxide, fairly extended, swung into the straight against the rails, while Sulphide, hanging out; when beaten, gave Stromboli the chance to follow tho son of Sardonyx, and also take advantago of the opening. Sulphide, having performed his allotted task, then retired, and when tho two cracks were fairly on their home journey, it was seen that, although Oxide had an advantage of three-quarters of a length of the distance, Nerricker was hard at him, while Huxley, though wriggling with the spurs, still had a good hold of the big fellow's head and was sitting still. Keeping out a bit wide Stromboli made his run at the half-distance, and reajhing the leader's throat strap it looked to be all over, but, answering every call of Nerricker's red spurs, Oxide made one more brilliant effort, and again led by a neck. Matters now assumed a serious aspect tor the favourite, for Huxley had begun to ride and the whin was in the air. Three sharp whip strokes down the shoulder brought Stromboli on terms once more, and then a slashing race ensued as the pair raced locked level to the post. For half a dozen strides neither gained, but just at the last a supreme effort on the part of the favourite enabled him to secure a victory by the shortest of half-heads, after one of the most brilliantly contested races overseen at Randwick. Aster was about eight lengths away, and just got home from Lebel, Sulphide, Bengal, and Brasenose, who finished in a great heap. Time, 2m. 415."

Australian papers to hand state that Carbine is again in strong exercise, and there is every prospect of him fulfilling his Melbourne Cup engagement.