A GLANCE AT RANDWICK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 7

A GLANCE AT RANDWICK.

[By Manuka.]

When that august and venerable deliberative assembly the British House of Commons suspends legislation to allow its members an opportunity of witnessing the race of the year, there need be no surprise at the universal interest existing throughout the land. " Ane o' the unco quid" objected to the usual adjournment on the last occasion, but there was little likelihood of such a proposition being received with favour in a House with Dizzy as Premier, when under the regime of Gladstone (who could not be accused of possessing racing proclivities) the custom was maintained. That we at the Antipodes arc imbued with the same predilections, a visit to Eandwick or Flemington proves to a demonstration ; and although Kandwick followed hard on Hawkesbury, there was no flagging in the interest of the Australian Jockey Club meeting. On the result of the Guineas at Hawkesbury, the forHicoming Derby was by almost universal consent ascribed to Kingsborough. I have recently given the pedigree and career of this brilliant son of Sappho— a name recalled by Pacini in opera and Byron in song —

Where burning Sappho loved and .sung--who ha 3 well fulfilled the most ardent anticipations of his friends. There were Borne who pinned their faith to the son of Panic and others to the daughter of Gemma di Vergy, but the wish must have beon tho J?ftJWt «f the thought, The race, in accord.

ance with pieeonceived opinions — assuming the absence of accident — was never in doubt, anrl the congratulations on the result wore as sincere as they were profuse to Sir Hercules. The Vice-Uegal stable, under Tom Lamond, has had a most brilliant caieer since its inauguration, and cveiy genuine lover of the sport will wish it a continuation of such a successful initiation. The King must have been rather hardly used, and there would have been wailing and gnashing of teeth if the other great race of the meeting had been won by the favourite, as he had been backed heavily light out, and also in double and treble event.". Thab he could be bowled over by several in the race was on the cards, bui that th? stout lifctle Sterling should have been (rohlsbrough'a conqueror none but his immediate followers — if they did — ever conceived. Sterling is nosy four years old, and lias appeared upon many occ.i&ions in public. He made his ddhuf as a two-year-old at Bathtu sfc, when he won the Is'uisery Stakes, which was was his only win at this tender age. As a three-year-old he won the Guineas at Hawkesbury, heating his receut rival in the Metrop., who subsequently turned the tables upon him in the A J.C. Derby. For this event Master M'Grath and Sterling alternately occupied the pride of place, but the latter was not even placed, Mr Tait gaining first and second positions with the then Sylvia (Jolt (Goldsbrough), and his fair companion Rose d'Amour. In the interim, between Hawkesbuiy and the A.J. C. Leger, he won a Maiden at "Woolongong, At the A. 7.0. meeting he had his revenge on Gold&brouch by winning the Rons Handicap. At Bithurst, he ran a dead heat with Stanhope, carrying the same weicjb.fr that he did in the Metropolitan, 7st. Olb., taking 3min. 42secs. to accomplish the two miles. His next successful performance, and one thatbrings him down to his last and grcit victory, was beating his contemporary Master M'Grath and others for the Bathur.-t Maiden. It is to be regretted that this son of Yattendon, ex Sultana, w il nob appear to contest the much coveted Cup, and as the time in the Metropolitan was only 3min. SCoecs., he would have been made very warm pro perty. Another surprise was the Maid of Avenel running into third place, her stable companion, Rory O'More, was looked upon as Harding's hope, and I cannot think that even he gave her credit for performing creditably over two miles ; but weight will tell a tale, and no doubt the Gst. 111b. that she bore was the causu of her forward position, and, while admitting that the same fields of horses would not meet, and that the returns would not be so great to the different racing clubs if handicaps were abolished, still it must be galling to De Mestre, owning suoh magnificent animals as Dagworth and Horatio, to be virtually thrown out of a chance of scoring a win by the heap of weight thrown on him. We have not yet had particulars beyond that 19 started, but whether New Zealand was reprtsented, and the positions of the other cracks in the race, will remain obscure until the arrival of the next steamer.

The results at Eandwick will materially affecb the Melbourne Cup prospects, and, as Horatio and Javelin are reported to be lame, the probabilities are against either of them visiting Flemington. I trust that such will not be the case, as the more good horses there are in the great event, by so much will the interest be i.icieafced. The report in reference to tho sJe of Goldbbrough must have been a canard, as his owner positively avers that no negotiation has ever taken place with anyone in reference to his purchase.

The sporting writers in the Melbourne weeklies do not mention Lurliueaud Papapa, and, indeed, the Melbourne Cup has been very little talked about, the events at Rind wick having engrossed all the attention. The latest betting on the Melbourne Cup is given iv the Australasian, of the sth mat., and is as follows :—: — 100 tolsa»bt Oolilsbroujjli.

100 — 6 The Arrow (tk.) 100 — 0 Ivinj;- of the King (tk.) ] 00 5 Fusjlomaii (■ 'ft.) 100 — 5 Horatio (tk.) 100 — 5 Cleolite (off.) 100 — 3 'I ho Dh or (tk.) 100 — 5 Drcak of Day (ti<.) 100 — 5 'Die Ace (off.) 100 — 5 HU-YaUoiidon (tk.) 100 — 4 Speculation (off.) 100 — 4 Triton (off.) 100 — i Kose d'Amour. 100 — 4 ]i(ii>idi«,l(off.) 100 — 4 Lurllne (tk.) 100 — 4 Mountaineer (of!.) 10J — 4 — Da-jworth (tk.) 100 - 4 Triton (tk. and off.) 100 — 3 Vila (off.) 100 - 3 — King' Tom (off.) 100 — 3 Early iMom (off.) 100 — 3 Bi-jijiroo (off.) 100 — 3 Imperial (off.) 100 — 3 Pin it> (tk. and off. 100 - 3 Gladstone (off ) 100 — 3 Romeo (tk. and off.) 100 — 3 Hory O'More (off.) 100 — 3 Prince (tk. and off.) 100-2 King- Billy (off.) 100 — '2 Gloom (off.)