AUSTRALIAN SPORTING ITEMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7221, 17 July 1884, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SPORTING ITEMS.

The saccassea of Australian horsea in India baa made turf authorities there alive to the necessity of making a change in the scale of weights. The new scale for two miles is as follows For Australian three years old, 7st 131 b : four years, 9st 21b ; five years, six, and aged, 9st 71b; and for imported English horses—three years, fist 61b ; four years, Set 71b ; five years, 9*t 41b ; six and aged, 9st 71b. It will b© seen that the Australian has bad to concede 21lb for the five months advantage in age at three years old. 44 Augur,” in the Australasian, writes ; The success of Tasman and other Tasmanian burses in New Zealand has induced Mr R. Symmons to ship from Hobart no less than eleven thoroughbreds, to be disposed of at Cfaristchurch. They include, says the Tasmanian Mail, four of various ages by St Albans and seven by Manuka, ouo of the latter being a half sister to Tasman, who has done so well for his owner, D. O’JBrieo* The same writer makes the following re* marks about two of the New Zealand entries for the Melbourne Cup Welcome Jack is the acknowledged champion of Maoriland, but I should have preferred him at about Bst 121 b to 9*t 21b. With the former weight I should have considered him a certain acceptor, but even as it is he may come this way, for some of his stable companions are much better

treated, and the son of Traducer may be sent to keep them company during their Australian torn*, probably his beat performance as a three year old was in the Auckland R.C. Handicap, in which he carried 8«t 71b., and easily ran tho mile and throe qnarburs in 3min 7seo, This season ho has kept up his reputation by disposing of the almost invincible Tasman without much of an effort, and as the New Zealanders consider him quite the top of the tree in Maoriland, I hope hia owners will send him this way to measure strides with f-uch horses as Lo Grand and Martini-Henry. Oudeis is one of the best colta in New Zealand, and as ho receives 121 b from Le Grand, who occupies a similar position in Victoria, his owner ought to be satisfied with the position ol his colt. Williams, who left New Zealand » month or two ago, rode for Mr Whittingham at the Moonco Valley Meeting on the Ist of July. In the July Handicap he got third with Honors. The secretary of tho V.A.T.C. has issued the programme of a meeting to be held on Saturday, the Oth August. The proceedings will open with a Sapling Stakes, of 7o * ( >vs, for two-yoar-olds, three furlongs ; after which a Handicap Hurdle Race, two mile*, of 7o bovb, added to a sweep of 3 bovb for acceptors, will command attention. A Selling Race of 50 novs, the winner to be sold for 100 sovs, over four furlongs of ground, will then whet the appetite for tho bonne booche of the day, tho Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase, of 200 sovs, added to a sweep of 7 bovb ; tho second horse receiving 40 sovs, and the third 20 sovs ; the distance being a favorite one, about two miles and a half. The Balaclava Stakes, of 100 boys, seven furlongs, will wind up what promises to be an excellent afternoon’s amusement. At the Canterbury Park meeting on the 2Gth June, the Birthday Gift was Win by Emilias ; the Grand Stand Handicap by Desmond, and the Prince of Wales Stakes by Parole,