HAWKESBURY AND RANDWICK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 7

HAWKESBURY AND RANDWICK.

By Manuka.

I The Campaign opened at Hawkesbury — Which is now no mean rival to the senior blub—in a way which must have been most gratifying to its patrons. The interest in bhis meeting is increasing every year, and as ■i number of the "cracks" engaged in the Metropolitan and the great event of tbe season—the Melbourne Cvp —are entered for the Grand Handicap, the result of this race jxercises considerable effect upon the proipects of horse 3 entered for these events. Dagworth. — a worthy representative of iTattendon—had, for two consecutive years, appropriated this stake ; and, despite the veight, was again a hot favourite. Game as le undoubtedly is, he was unable to concede st 81b to the son of Sylvia; and while adlitting that his chances were influenced by he element!*, I cannot think the positions nder any circumstances would have been iversed. The veteran has again assumed the prelier position ; and the fine, genial, openparted geatleman, from whom the horse srives his name, must feel gratified with le judgment evinced by his friend John, oldsborough, who is now a four-year old, as bred by Mr Petty, at Maribyrnong, his re, Fireworks (a son of Kelpie) was one of .c sliaUnchest horses that ever performed on c Colonial turf, and winner of a aurar of the principal stakes of hia day, laring often the well-known j'ellow and ack to the front, and maintaining the pres;e of his owner right well; his dam Sylvia is out of the imported mare /uliet, so that 3 pedigree is all that can be desired. He VB, as a three-year old, a somewhat loo?ely t together and overgrown colt, but 1 hear at he his furnished well and improved inderfully. In the Australasian, of the i2nd August, there is a list of Mr John Tait'B winnings since the compilation of the furf Register, but our contemporary has imitted the firat successful appearance of the viiiner at Hawkesbury, then known as the iylyia Colt. A reference to one of his own lies will, no doubt, supply the following tern:—On Wednesday, 1 ?th December, 1873, t the Bendicjo Jockey Club Meeting, Mr J. bait's beby Fireworks—*Sylviaopenedtheball y winning the Maiden Plate, one mile and -half, carrying 7st 31b3, in 2min 49secs, lewbold, owned by Mr Winch, running econd. His second wiu was at the V.K.O. leeting, on the following New Year's Day, rhen he pulled off the 3 year old Handicap, eating his relation, Lapidist—who acquire I he position of second place—and also that teat flyer Atalanta. At the same meeting c ran Becond to the terror Don Juan, the est son that' Lucifer produced—in the Canirbury Stakes, and it was the opinion of lany that if he had not swerved coming own the straight he would have proved vie* (rious over the Cup winner. His next sue sss was achieved at the succeeding A.J.C. Utumn Meeting, when he occupied pride of 'ace in the Leger and won the Autumn sake, 1| mile, carrying Bst 31bs. His next Ld best performance w*s carrying off ie Hawkesbury Grand Handicap, beating le second largest field of horses that 'er ran in New South Wales, in iod time, 3min. 40sec, considering what b heard of the ground. Public opinion tinted to his stable companion and near lative, The Rose, to be" entrusted with the inoilr of maintaining the reputation of the able j but she afforded another illustration 1 the inconstancy of her sex by proving Ise. The time of the year was more in her your than later on in the season, and it was |od judgment, if possible, to reserve the ilt, who is now, for his recent victory, malised to the extent of 51b. in the Metro>litan—bringing his weight up to Bst. 71b. r that race, and Sst. 21b. for the Melbourne up, supplemented by an additional 31b. for te Cup in the event of his pulling off the etropolitan He is now, no doubt, warm •operty for this event; but Dagworth will lere meet him ou better terms, to the ex« nt of 161b,, and if the ground ia dry, I will i prepared to hear of the old horse giving ie colt the go-bye, The next of the top. Bights, Reprieve, has co often disappointed a friends since he was a four-year-old, altougft at that time of life he gave promise « briUUat mm, being pwonti h V*s<

worth in the J. C. Plate, 3 miles, who won the deciding heat by a head in smin. 56sec. He also won at Mudgee the Town Plate, 2 miles, Bst. 131b., beating that gay deceiver Priam by a neck in 3min. 41sec. ; but I cannot prefer him to the Son of Maribyrnong and Rose of Denmark, the winner of the same race last year- -all doubts as to his gameness was set at rest by his running in the Melbourne Cup. Our Maori friend, Lurline, leaves in the hands of Calumny the hopes of Mr Redwood ; but I will be agreeably surprised to hear of his name being in the h'rst division. Javelin may again do a good thing oue of these days. I don't anticipate Poodle carrying the black and white past thn Judge'? box in the van, although all that judgment and condition can accomplish will be done by the trainer of Don Juan. H is extremely difficult to form opinions in reference to winners under favourable circumstances, but at a distance there is but little chance of doing ' so, owing to the absence of what is going on, you know, you know. The Prophet is certainly well in, and as he did a good thing once, he may repeat the operation ; but if The Arrow and Fitz are well, I anticipate hearing of them occapymg a forward position. The meeting opens on the sth inst. (Saturday), and closes on the following Saturday — the days being the sth, lObh, 1 Ith, and 12th. The other mo<*t exciting event of the meeting was the Hawkesbury Guineas. This stake fell to the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson— an enthusiast in all genuine sportmg— by his colt Kingsborough, 3 years, by Kingston — Sappho. He first carried silk at Flemington as a two-year-old, bub had to concede the pride of place to Stockbridge in the Maribyrnong Plate. He seems to have been more fortunate on his native heath, securing at the Autumn Meetiug of the A.J.C. the Champagne Stakes and the A.J.C. Sires' Produce. There will be a feeling of great satisfaction at the success of Sir Hercules, and I sincerely trust that he will return safely and well from hia projected trip to King Thakombau. The Derby is considered as good as over, ami, from this colt's performances, there should be nothing in the race but him. Betting is very lively on the other side of the water on the forthcoming Sydney event and the Melbourne Cup, while our local metallicians have no reason to complain, to judge from the reference they make to their books. There is good business doing on the Melbourne Cup, and there is a decided run on the local Sweep ; so that some of the townsmen need not be surprised to hear of country commissions having forestalled them.

The second sale of the Middle Park yearlings — since the present Mr Blenkiron adopted the role of his father — was held on June 27fch. Tho racing world was well represented, and the returns must have been most satisfactory to the breeder. There were 41 lots sold, realising the sum of 10, 120 guineas, or an average of 24S guineas apiece. A bay filly, by liosicrucian — Bas Bleu, foaled May 30th, was knock* d down for the sum of 1500 guineas. Mr Chaplin gave 720 guineas for the progeny of Asteroid and Aivipule. So there is little fear of interest in the turf dying out. It will be a matter of general regret to hear that the ill luck of Spritsiil's owner sticks to him. f understand that the mare broke away from the groom, and getting on to the railway line, uufortunatily, when a train was coming up, received injuries which are likely to preclude her from appearing on the flit again. Ie is a long lane that has no turning, and I sincerely trust this will be the last disagreeable episode that the Captain will have to complain of. Our relatives on the other side of the Pacific — although, thank 3to the bundling of some people, we arc threatened with a termination in the way of direct intercoursehave al « ays been celebrated for their tall ideiw, and they certainly maintain their prestige on the turf in the. w,ty of s*akpf». The Pacific Jockey Club offers a prize of 25 000 dollars— say £5000. What is now obsolete with us is still in vogue with them — heats. A record. of a few performances may be interesting. True Blue, at Baltimore, won in 2 rnin. 2is(?c, Imin. 59& sec., Imin. 56Jsec., equal to 7min. 49«ec., a fo'ir-miie race. At New Orleans, a hors* named Lexington performed the same distance in 7min. 19£ sec., carrying 7st. 51b. At Saratoga, Alarm ran one mile in Imin. 42^aec, and another ho<-se called L : ttleton encompassed two miles in 3min. 34kec., so that we at the antipodes havfl something to pull up ere we equal this result.