THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 14

THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

BY PHAETON.

' Rivoli's.- defeat in the Melbourne Cup marked the downfall of a horse that had been in popular ; favour for some time, but the victory registered by Bitalli over • his New South Wales rival was. it transpires, by no means the surprise that it seemed when the result of the race came to hand. Late papers now show that Bitalli was well in the betting, and a subsequent cablegram received from Melbourne would lead to the impression that ho actually ruled a better favourite than Rivoli on the day. The description of the race shows that Bitalli bad to be ridden out to beat Rivoli by three-quarters of a length, and. as we are told the latter was well behind half * mile from home, it may be a popular conclusion that luck played a good part in Bitalli's victory, even though he £ad 291b the best of the weights compared with Rivoli. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The Victoria Racing Club's Spring Meeting concludes at Fleming ton to-day. me C. B. Fisher Plate, which is run over a mile and a-half at wei*ht-tfor-age. will probably find Rivoli. Whither. Easmgwold, Harvert King, Claro. and Maid of the Mist on hand to try conclusions. Some little time prior to the Melbourne Cup Bitalli was galloped with last years winner, King Ingcda, and he shaped so well that a stable commission for £20,000 was, it is said, immediately floated. From that time Bitalli was always well in the picture.