THE BALLARAT CUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11400, 18 April 1899, Page 3

THE BALLARAT CUP.

Melbourne Sportsman's special commissioner writes of lliis race: a report thai, she was off her feed, Carevie started in most demand, with Aclon n, good second favourite. Mr M. Newton got the dozen starters away on excellent terms, Carevie holding a good position on the inside. After, leaving tlio straight there is no railing for a furlong or two, and then, on a bend, there is another couple of hundred yards of railing. B/ some means Carevie got. put inside the second piece .of racing, a mishap which escaped the notice of many of the spectators, who oviuced surprise at wiiat -they thought the feeble efforts of little Gyiner in the run home. As a matter of fact, Carevie was practically pulled up several times during the race. Her rider appeared to be between two minds whether to pull the mare up altogether oi* go on. She was running well in the straight, but finally deciding on the first course, Gyrner took a pull at, the. Carbine mare a furlong or so from home. Even then she finished fourth, and could scarcely have lost with ordinary luck. Carevie was made /uvourito for the Balhrat Handicap on the next day, but her backers could hardly have been aware of the fact that she had been knocked about onthe Friday.; The chestnut mare was so sore that she could Ecarcely raise a canter, and she finished in the rear, Orla winning, from Model, who appeared to be unlucky, to lose the. Cup the previous, day, after Carevie had been put .out of court. Reverting to the Ciip, it has been said that the winner, The Miming Link, was backed for the merest trifle. Even the second horse, Aiisterlitz (who was only ■ beaten a head), would have taken more money out of the Rin<* than the winner, for -Mr W. Hill backed his gelding to win between £60() and £700 at long prices. The Missing Link has been a frequent winner in the country. Last season he won 11 races out of 17 starts, and to the end of January he had accounted for eight out of 16, making 19 victories out of 33 starts the last 12 months. The Missing Link is an ordinary-looking brown gelding;' by Dick Swiveller from Gambler Maid., whoso name does not appear in the Stud Book. He evidently inherits his sire's resolution and stamina, and, on appearances, should make a first-class hurdle-racer. In fact, the gelding has already been introduced to the battens. • ■ . : ■