ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1136, 8 December 1893, Page 27

ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

SPECIAL TO MAIL . (From our Special Correspondent.) London, October 20. THE CESAREWITCH. Tom Jennings had a bet of 2000 to 30 only about Cypria for the Cesare witch and just before the start refused 1000 to 10. Lord Dunraven’s Mollie Morgan, 4yrs, 6st 41b, with Bradford up, started favourite at 11 to 2, but only a point more could be had concerning the ex-jockey Morbey’s Red Eyes, 4yrs, 7st 101 b, who, it will be remembered, won the Goodwood Stakes. Mr Hobson’s Vanguard, 4yrs, 6st 41b, was the hero of one of those tremendous home trials, which generally pan out badly when it comes to racing, and stood at 100 to 12, and 9 to 1 each could be had concerning Buchanan’s Newcourt, syrs, 7st 121 b, Sir R. Jardine’s Red Ensign, 3.yrs, 7st 31b, and the original favourite, Lord Cadogan’s Prisoner, 3yrs, 6st 111 b. The latter’s victory over the veteran Lady Rosebery in the Doncaster Cup seemed to make the Cesarewitch a certainty for him, but Mr u Jersey assured her friends the form was all wrong, and though her mare had Bst slb at Newmarket, she took 10 to 1 about her getting a place to win nearly L 15,000. Nor was this Mrs Langtry’s opinion only, as one of the last bets Morbey booked was 2500 to 50 Lady Rosebery to win, and eight fifties a place. The race was run in pouring rain, and for some time nothing but a faint blur marked the advancing cavalcade. Then a man shouted that “ something of Tom Jennings’," Mollie Morgan, Red Eyes, and Vanguard were in front. Directly after we could see that Mollie Morgan was beaten and (they were now at the bushes) that Cypria and Red Eyes had come right away with Lady Rosebery (the place money already safe) in hot pursuit. For a bit it'looked as though the old mare would have worn the leaders down, but the weight told in the Abingdon mile bottom, and, Red Eyes tackling Cypria, loud shouts proclaimed a popular victory. But Cypria was by no means done with. Little Pratt, who rode, is a pocket Hercules, and finished with tremendous resolution. Tom Loates likewise did his utmost. For an instant the issue hung in the balance, first one and then the other leading. Finally they passed the post locked together, and even Judge Robinson, famous for his “ short heads," could not separate them. Before the dead heat numbers went up

odds were betted on the outsider who had the inside berth, and Mr Corlett says in the Pink ’ Un Cypria “finished the stronger of the two." Lady Rosebery,.three lengths away, was third, and Insurance (second in 1.892) a bad fourth. Vanguard broke down, and Prisoner, Red Ensign, and Mollie Morgan failed to stay. Newcourt was last but one.

The weather was so bad and the course so heavy that both dead heaters gladly agreed to a division. In a run-off no doubt slight odds would have been laid on Red Eyes.

Starting prices: 6to 1 Red Eyes, 66 to 1 Cypria, 50 to 1 Lady Rosebery. The race was a good one for the ring, who, indeed, had the best of all the events on Wednesday. Red Eyes is a four-year old by Goggles out of Mi3s Florry (by Cardinal York), and Cypria (third for the Oaks) by Carlton out of Queen of Cyprus.

MIDDLE PARK PLATE. The six youngsters who opposed Ladas, 9st 31b, for the Middle Park Plate were Mr D. Baird’s Sempronius, 9st 31b, Mr Manton’s grandly bred Jocasta (by St. Simon —Thebais), Bst 71b, Mr Rose’s St. Hilaire (brother to St. Damien), 9st 3lb, and three dark nonentities. Backers who desired to be on Lord Rosebery’s crack bad to lay 5 to 1 on the good thing and be quick about it. Many bookies indeed declined to trade under 6 to 1. Sempronius was second favourite at 10 to 1, 20 to 1 being tendered Jocasta, and 50 to 1 others. The race was an absurd spectacle. After going three furlongs White gave Ladas his head, and pulling his way to the front the favourite cantered home by himself two lengths in front of the “ all out" Jocasta and Sempronius. Ladas, who is as you know by Hampton out of Illuminata (by Rosicrucian) would seem to have an easy task before him next year when his first appearance will be in the Two Thousand.

LOWTHER STAKES. The Lowther Stakes late on Thursday afternoon produced an interesting race between Baron Rothschild’s Champion Stakes winner Le Nicham, 9st 31b, and La Fleche, 9st 51b. In the belief that the latter had lost her form the ring obliged backers to lay 6 to 4 only cn her, offering like odds against Le Nicham. The latter, however, had not, it was soon obvious, a 50 to 1 chance. La Fleche in fact left him behind in the dip, and cantered home with “ ears pricked ” six lengths to the good.