THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18532, 17 October 1923, Page 12

THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

RAPINE AND VICTORIA,

BY PHAETON.

, The fact of Rapine not having been nominated for any of the weight-for-aso races at the V.R.C. Spring Meeting would appear to point cither to such being due to an oversight or to tho trip to Victoria with the Martian gelding not having Keen viewed "in a sorioua vein until after the A.J.C. meeting at Randwick had concluded. In viow of Rapine's Cup engagement, his omission from the list of entrants for the Melbourne Stakes must be viewed as a little unfortunate, but a, recent cablegram to hand from Melbourne states that the New Zealand gelding has been entered for tho Cox Plate (9} furlongs), which event comes up for decision on tho 27th Inst., so that he will havo a race 10 days before he is seriously confronted with tho Melbourne Cup question.

THE V.E.& DERBY. With tho A.J.C. Derby victor Ballymena. out of the question in connection with tho V.R.C. Derby and none of the crowd engaged claiming unduo prominence, tho issue of the Flomington blue ribbon is rendered very open. South Australia certainly claims an unbeaten three-year-old in the shape of King of Mirth, and there is undoubtedly much to be expected from that quarter in a staying point of view, for, by all accounts, it is feared that such will not bo a feature in tho general run of three-year-olds racing in Australia this season. Shrapnel, who filled the role of runner-up to Ballymena in the decision of the A.J.C. Derby, has been transported to Flomington with a view to contesting the Derby, and .ho appears to be an eligible representative to strivo for supremacy in tho blue-ribbon contest. PROMISING DERBY COLT. King Carnival seems to have been benefited by the racing which he wont through »i Randwick in the early park of tho present month, and that must bo viewed as a, good sign a3 bearing on bis prospects of earning Derby honours at Flomington on tho first Saturday in November. In the decision, ol the Caulfield Guineas on Monday King Carnival had matters all his own way at tho business end. and altogether it may be said his performance was such as to inspire confidence in his prospects oB earning further distinction at an early date. King Carnival, who was sot by Comedy King from the Wallace mare Orvieto, was bred by the iAto Mr. J. V. Smith, and at a, sale of yearlings the bay colt fell to the bid of the commissioner acting for Mr. I*. J\. S. McKinnon at 650gns. The Comedy King colt has paid his way well, for last season he won three valuable races, the collective stakes attached to which amounted to £5590, while so far this season he has won £3-125. A BONNIE MARE. When Maid of the Mist defeated the bold Eurythmic at Flemington last autumn in the decision of the C. M. Lloyd Stakes it was recognised on all hands that tho Victorian sportsman, • Mr. Phillip Russell, had bred a mare of high-class, and by opening her four-year-old career with a win in the Meruaio Stakes, and following up the same with a victory in the Caulfield Stakes, she certainly furnishes pointed evidence that sho did not play her best card at three years old. " Teviotdale," of the Australasian, who is a great admirer of Maid of the Mist, penned tho following in March last after the mare had worsted Eurythmic:—" Maid of tho Mist! Is she not a lovely mare? Ido not think I am divulging a secret when I tell you that when the rider asked the owner for his orders how he was to ride ' The Maid' against her famous rival, Eurythmic, the answer was: 'Do not ride her at all. Let her rim her own race all the way.' And this she did. " You saw her sailing along ip front and you saw Eurythmic all but catch her. Then, with the jockey of the Maid never asking her ■ to go any faster, you noticed the chestnut began to drop back, and all was over. Maid of the Mist pulled up beautifully, and looked a picture in the paddock on returning to scale. xou will see this beautiful mare. Maid of the Mist, the living image, only with a sweeter expression, of Desert Gold, win lots of races before we say good-bye. to her for ever. They ara closer than cousins, and. I predict that the Maid makes a more successful matron than Desert Gold will ever be. She is more feminine, milkier, more mare-like, and kindlier." , Tho following are tho respective lines of breeding of these two mares: —

MAID OF THE MIST,, by All Black (son of GallinitleV from Breva. by Grafton (son of Gnlopin) from Mistral, by Havoc (son of . Nordenfeldt) from Aura, by Richmond (son of Maribyrnong) from Instep, by Lord Clifden (son of INewminster). DESERT GOLD, by All Black (son of GalUmile) from Aurarius. by Maltster (son of Bill of Portland) from Aurons, by Wall (son of Carbine) from Aura, by Richmond from Instep, by Lord Clifden (son of Newminster).

THE CYPHER AND MELBOURNE CUP. The Cypher- is credited with having made advancement since he raced at Randwick, and maybe the New Zealand-bred colt will repay for recent disappointments at an early date. In the decision of the Melbourne Cup 12 months back The Cypher was. as the saying goes, " knocking at the door lor the great handicap, and the half-neck by which he was defeated by the four-year-old Kin* lugoda, it is said, only separated his owner from a stake that would have rim to over £20.000. The Cypher is ticked off to make another effort when the Melbourne Cup comes round on the first Tuesday in November, and, with a recollection of last. years narrow defeat, it would, be pleasing to chronicle that the New Zealand colt has repaid his connections for last year disappointment-

. 'VICTORIA AND the "'VOTE." The agitation for the legalisation of the totalisator in Victoria continues despite dofeats, and there is some reason to accept the view that those* in favour of the machine will bring sreat political .pressure to -bear next year with a view to giving, the totausator to Victoria, which, it is pointed out, is the only State in the Commonwealth of Australia which has kept " tho automatic, dispenser of odds" off it 3 racecourses. It is stoutly argued that many, things will combino to reverse previous Parliamentary decisions on the matter of legalising the machine in Victoria. Melbourne papers to hand state that "Mr. Morley, who is the champion for the machine form of.betting.m tho State, has obtained leave -in the Legislative Assembly to introduce a Bill on the lines of the measure that was defeated by 41 votes to 15 last year. As on the previous occasion, it will be a private members Bill. There is apparently no hope of Mr.Jiorley s Bill, which comes up on October. 25, being passed this session, but an interesting debate is anticipated. Mr. Morley contends that he only requires 18 members to change their votes to secure a majority of the whole House, and he will bid for. the support of the Premier, tho Treasurer, and other member* who think like them, by. proposing f tho abolition of the bookmaker within a certain period. Mr. Morley is sanguine that if he does not succeed in this Parliament he will be more fortunate after the next Par lament is elected. 13, months hence. It cannot, be says, escape being a live issue at the next general election for the Assembly.

THE RANDWICK PLATE. The battle for. supremacy between Rivoli, David, and Rapine in the Rand™ok Plat on the concluding day of tho A.J.C. meeting on the 6tb instant, was of a very stirring character, and is considered to be one of the greatest two-mile contests Abac ..baa eventuated on the Randwick course. Writing in the Sydney Mail. "Musket" penned the following account of the contest:- After Harvest King had led for a mile and a-half David ran past him, and turned for home with Rivoli in pursuit, and* Rapine making up ground. At the Leger stand David and Rivoli were together, while Rapine b rider was looking for an opening on the Tails just behind them. He got it a little later on. but it probably cost his mount the race, for though Rapine squeezed in between David and tho rails he did not seem to have sufficient room: in fact, from the stand he appeared to bo almost obliterated by the other two, who were rutting up a grim struggle and did not go out of their line. "'He's got him!" was the cry as Rivoli appeared to have his head in front of David; but in the next stride they were level again. In this way, going neck-and-neck. they battled out the last furlong, with Rapine drawing up inch by inch on the rails, and it was not until a stride or two from tho judge that Rivoli got his neck in front and .kept it.there till the line was crossed. Rapine was half a neck, behind David, and had ho been in Rivoli's' position (on the outside) over tho last bit tho chances are he would have won. It was a 'Homeric struggle, and stamps all three as great horses, with little between them. The time, 3m 255, has only once been, beaten in the race, and that was when Poitrol defeated • Kennaquhair and Pershore in 1920." David started an odds on favourite.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The Monk must be accounted to hare completely lost caste at least for the time being. The son of Absurd figured among the contestants for the Caulfield Guineas on Monday, and. according to the cabled result of that race, he was placed ninth at the finish. Considering that the distance of the race in question only extended to a mile. The Monk's display—-unless, some valid excuse be forthcoming—soems: to- make .'him tak» a. place with the moderates even over a mile course.. The next meeting to claim attention from backers is that of the V.It.C!. which opens at Flemingtoii o n November 3. • The Derby figures on the opening day's programme and the Melbourne. Cup on the second. The Caulfield meeting will be continued to-day. The leading event of the programme is the Herbert Power Stakes, which is run over a mile and three furlongs at weicht-for-age. wjth penalties and allowances. Several Derby candidates in the shape of King of Mirth. All Sunshine. Robiri and Shrapnel are engaged, .and ..noteworthy weight-for-age performers in David, Rivoli, Purser and Maid of tho Mist are included in the entrants,