AUSTRALIAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1583, 25 March 1882, Page 20

AUSTRALIAN.

At the auction sale, on the, 13th inst,, of Mr H. Phillips' yearlings, considerable sensation was caused by the crack three-year-olds Commotion and Pell-mell being also sent info the ring. After spirited bidding the former was knocked down to Mr W. Pearson for 1400 guineas, and the latter to Mr W. Pender for 1400 guineas also. The late Sir J. P. Bell's stud has been bought in a lump for £10,000 by a private company. The old New Zealand trotter Native Cat is noted among the horses in training at Elsternwick Park for the approaching big meeting of the Victoria Trotting Club. The entries for the events are not very numerous, but the quality of those engaged is far above the average. For the Stallions' Race seven horses have been entered, and they are all imported American stallions, including Ajax and Vermont Junior, from New South Wales. Between these wo may expect to see some splendid contests. Startle and Ajax both have records under 2 mm. 30 sec M> and Vermont Junior made a record of 2 mm. 33 sec. when he was six years old. For the 100 soys Purse, the Colonials Brown Hawk, Wanderer, Captain Darborn, Native Cat, and Nellie are pitted against the American Contractor and Grainger, so that we may expect to see some good trotting for this prize. In the Maiden Plate there aye 10.

The Sydney Turf Club have a cash balance of £1300.

Wellington was repurchased for 1000 guineas by Mr A. K. Finlay, just previous to tho race for tho Australian Cup, and ho will probably be put to stud duties next reason. Mr do Mestre has lost a valuable brood marc in Sour Grapes, who died atTerrara a few days ago from the effect of a snakebite. Sour Grapes was by Fisherman from Gildermire, and was a very brilliant two-year-old, for at that age she won the Ascotvalo Stakes and beat The Barb in tho All-aged Stakes. As a brood mare her chief production was Burgundy, a very smart son ol The Marquis. Tho V.li.C. has decided to chargo all bookmakers* who ply their vocation in tho sadclliiigpaddock an annual foe of £25. Every bookmaker is to bo licensed by the V.R.C., and will liavc to wear a small badge, with his name a»a

number upon his coat. It is high time something "was done, for notorious welshers are to be found in the paddock at every meeting j and this step will, if properly carried out, effectually put an end to their career so far as the grand stand enclosure is concerned.