ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1171, 10 August 1894, Page 25

ENGLISH SPORTING NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent.

London, June 22. THE GRAND PRIZE OF PARIS. The Grand Prize of Paris has so often proved fatal to red-hot favourites from our si,l e of the water—the instances of Blair Athol, Doncaster, St. Blaise, The Lamblrin, The Baron. Crowberry and Ravensbury occur to me as I write—that there was strong fielding against Matchbox fer Sunday’s race. This fact and Baron Hirsch’s known unpopularity in Paris led to extraordinary precautions being adopted to guard the favourite. A regular regiment of police met the “ crack” and his trainer at the Gare du Nord on Friday evening, and watched his stable till Sunday at noon. Matchbox seemed then perfectly well, and never looked bette: than when walking about in the paddock before the race.

Eleven runners faced the starter for the Grand Prix. (worth £9568 this year), and 13 to 8 was finally laid freely on the Derby second. The French Derby winner Gospodar finished next in demand at 6 to 1. though the “sharps,'’ to a man, took 7 to 1 about Dolma-Baghtche, an unbeaten colt of Baron Schiciler’s, of whom it was truly said ntf one knew how good it might be. M. Blanc’s Toujonrs stood at 12 to 1, and Baron Soubeyran’s Mansour at 20 to 1. Bar five, 50 to 1 could be had about anything.

t • • • The race, as so often has happened m this international contest, was a very fine one. Outsiders made the running till about half-a-mile from home, when Dolma-Baghtche drew out, followed by Matchbox, and Morny Cannon beginning to ride the latter a loud shout proclaimed him beaten. This, however, was soon shown to be a mistake. At the distance the favourite collared Baron Schickler’s colt, and the pair raced home neck and neck. Opposite the enclosure Matchbox had the best of the struggle, but Dolma-Baghtche, ridden with great determination by Dodge, fairly stalled him off and won amidst great enthusiasm by a neck ; Baron Soubeyran’* Mansour, two lengths away, third.

Dolma-Baghtche is by Rraktoa (by Thunderbolt out of Little Sister, by Hermit), who ran third for the Grand Prix of ’B7 ; his dam being Alaska (by Galopin—Agapanta).

At 15,000 guineas Matchbox now seems well sold. To do him justice, the redoubtable “Bunny” (as Lord Alington’s friends irreverently call him) does not often make mistakes in bis bargains. He is not like Her Grace “Mr Manton” (the Dowger Duchess of Montrose) who no sooner sells a horse than it at once begins to win. ROYAL ASCOT. The weather on the opening day of Royal Ascot was delightful, arid both sport ani attendance well up to average, which, as you know, is very high. For the A scot Stakes cf 1000 sovs., over two miles, eleven runners went to the post, the favourite being Tom Cannon’s Irish Wake (4 years, Bst 9lb)', This marc finished absolute last, the winner turning up in Alex. Taylor’s Aborigine (4 years. 7st 121 b), who won easily from Sir E. Jardine's Red Ensign (4 years, 8stlllb) and Vr Wadlow’s Spindle Leg (4 years, dst 41b). Betting—loo to 12 Aborigine, 100 to 14 Red Ensign, and 8 to 1 Spindle Leg. Aborigine, it may be remembered, was a tremendous favourite for the last two Manchester Cups, in both of which, however, he ran badly. Probably the heavy ground affected him, as at Ascot he had the field beaten a long way from home.

Lady Zetland won the two-year-old Biennial of 1052 sovs., with Pastorella, a nicelooking filly, by Springfield—Griselda, which cantered home three lengths in front of Lord Derby’s Propeller and five others. The Prince of Wales Stakes, fur three-year-olds, seemed in the absence of j.adas anil Matchbox to bo a good thing for Mr Baird’s Sempronions (9st lib), but he could get no nearer than third to Mr Manton’s Contract (Bst 31b, by Isonomy—Wedding Day), who just got home after a tremendous race with Lord Bradford’s Beighterton (Bst 9lb, by Chilling!on—Black Stocking). Only four ran and the betting was 6 to 4 Sempronious, 5 to 2 Beighterton, 4 to 1 Contract,

The Gold Vase, worth 200 sovs., with 580 sovs. added, over two miles, was also productive of a fine race between old Barmecide (aged, 9st 41b), Lord Cadogan’s Sarana (3 years, 7st 31b), and Lord Ptnrhyn’s Qusesitum (4 years, 9st), the latter (by Hagriscope Strange Lady) eventually scoring by a neck. Eight ran. Betting 5 to 1 Qusesitum, 10 to 1 each Sarana and Barmecide.

The sky wept the whole day long at Ascot on Wednesday, and the downpour was thickest during the race for the chief prize of the day, viz., the Royal Hunt Cup, the fine finish for which was seen through a perfect veil of water. No less than twentyfour animals were placed under the starter’s orders for this event, and the betting ranged from 7 to 1 to 100 to 1. The “talent” favoured Amandier, last year’s winner, most,

in spite of the fact that she had a stone more to carry. In the lists Baron Rothschild s mare, however, was closely pressed by Cabin Boy, Maundy Money, Adoration, 9 to 1 being accepted about any of these. Avington, whose four-year-old back was considered too weak for a burden of 9st 21b, was backed by “sharps” 25 to 1, and the ultimate winner, Victor Wild, 4 years, 7st 71b, was friendless almost at 50 to 1. The race to the distance left Victor Wild and Avington well in front of a beaten pack, and the leaders ran home locked together and apparently with much less between them than the half-length verdict in Victor Wild’s favour given by the judge. Maundy Money was a good third, but Amandier could get no nearer than fifteenth.

The remaining events were all won by outsiders, Hazy, a 10 to 1 chance, taking the 42nd Triennial for Mr Houldsworth by half-a-lengtb from the favourite Carrington ; the Coronation Stakes were placed to Sir F. Johnstone’s credit by Throstle (half-sister to Common, by Petrarch), who, in a field of eight, started at 10 to 1. The '-scot Derby was won by None the Wiser, who beat Bullingdon and Athlone by lengths, though a worse favourite than cither.

THE GOODWOOD CUP. London, August 2. The result of the race for the Goodwood Cup was as follows : Killsallaghan 1 Mr J. B. Burton’s Barmecede 2 Mr J. Durward’s Medici ... ... 3 London, August 3.

The Duke of Westminster’s crack colt Bullingdon injured himself in his stable and died.