AUSTRALIAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 24

AUSTRALIAN.

The run on Malua having slackened, matters have been rather quiet in the betting world this week (snys the Australasian of the 7th). For the Caulfield Cup Silvermine has met with some support at 100 to 6, and William Tell and Ben Bolt have received some attention at 100 to 4; but on Monday 1000 to 20 was offered against Merrimu, who is reported to be quaer. A fresh candidate for V.R.C. Derby honours appeared in Whitebait, who was backed at 100 to 4, 5000 to 200 being booked. The only other mentioned in connection with this event was Trident, about whom 100 to 14 was taken, though it was subsequently offered. There is no change in the Melbourne Cup wagering. OA.ULFIELD CUP. 100 to 6 ag*t Silvermino (tk) 100 — 4 "William Tell (tk) 100 — 4 Ben Bolt (tit) 100 — 2 Merrimu (off)l V.R.C. DEKBY. 100 to 14 agst Trident (tk and off) 100 — 4 Whitebait (tk). MELBOURNE CUP. 100 to -1 agst Trfnton (tk) 100 — 3 Malua (tk) 100—3 Ben Bolt (tk) 100 — 3 • Trident (tk). Trenton was backed yesterday (says the Argus of the 11th) for the Melbourne Cup to the extent of £5000 at 100 to 4, when the best price was 100 tos. x ( Betting quotations on the spring events are as under : — HAWKBSBUBY GRAND HANDICAP. 100 to 7 agst Hexham 100 — 7 Elsinore 100 — 7 — The Jewel 100 — 6 The Orphan 100 — 6 Ringmaster 100 — fi Corday 100 — (5 Premature 100 — 6 Lord of tho Lake, GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES. 100 to 6 agst Hexham 100 — 6 ltingmaster 100 — 5 Silvermine 100 — 5 Acolyte 100 — 5 Cerite and Blue 100 — 5 Lancer 100 — 5 Corday 100 — 4 Miles-'na-Conpaleen 100 — 4 The Jewel 100 — 4 The Orphan. At the Geelong meeting several Melbourne Cup horses took part in tho Winter Handicap, which was won by Little John (7st 2lb) in 2min 41sec, for the mile and a-half; Meteor (7st 10lb) was second, Impulse (6st 81b) third, while among the unplaced lot were Duration (Bst 81b), Acolyte (Bst 51b), Kitawa (7st 71b), Plausible (7st 61b), Lesbia (7st 31b), and Recall (7st). Little John is engaged in ,the Caulfield Cup at 7st, and in the Melbourne Cup a,t 6st 71b, and incurs no penalty for either, the net value of the stakes being under lOOsovs. Trenton, writes " Vigilant," ought to have won the last Cup, and this I think, Alec Robertson would be one of the first to admit. He was badly blocked more than once, and then ran third. lam inclined to think that we really do not know how good this horse is. A good judge says: " Not within lolb of Malua or Commotion." Well, my esteemed friend, I must differ from you, for I certainly think— and have no hesitation in writing it— that, if Trenton stands his preparation, he will take the places of both Commotion and Malua. If Nordenfeldt was a really good three-year-oki— and I don't doubt it for one moment, although he didn't win the Oup, in which he was a good deal knocked about — then Trenton on his Canterbury Plate running must be nearly, if not absolutely, as good as Commotion in his best day. The manner in which he wore down Mr White's bull dog stamps Trenton absolutely " 18-catat," and if cherryripe on Cup day, I shall be surprised if he doesn't finish even nearer than he did last year. The doubt as to the pedigree of the Grand National Hurdle Race winner Ocean has been cleared up, his owner, Mr William Moffatt, who purchased him for £150, vouchsafing the information that he is by Chevalier from a mare named Tilly. It will be interesting to my readers to know that Ocean was one of a mob of horses sold some time ago at Ballarat for £5 10s a head. The leading Australian jockeys scored as under during the season just closed. : —

From Tasmania is announced the death of the veteran sportsman Mr Robert Lyall, at the ripe age of 85 years. The deceased in days gone by was a prominent supporter of tho Tasmanian turf , and owned several notable performers, including Messenger and Ben Bolt. With the former he once made an unfortunate match against Sir Walter, distance three miles, Mr Lyall laying £1000 to £500 on the loser. Navigator, for whom Mr B. De Mestre once refused an offer of £4000, is now serving mares in the West Maitlaud district at ten guineas each.

With reference to Lurline's son Darebin, who has recently been sold to go to America, " Vigilant " writes as follows : — After a couple of years in Mr Wilson's service O'Brien was employed by Mr Dakin, and amongst other duties was told off to ride Darebin — who, as a two-year-old, was refractory in his work. '• None of the other boys could stick on his back," explained O'Brien " and sometimes when I was up he wouldn't go a yard, but stand still and buck and kick till Mr Dakia would come after him withabig whip, whan he d rush off like a shot from a gun. I never was lucky enough to be on his back when ho won a race though, and on two occasions I ran second • >o\ ra " t. OU S nt of that in the V.R.G. Derby m '81 when I rode Santa Claus. I could feel Darebm coming up tome, and I said to myself : }/c/ c £ ad aU the trouble with y° u as a two-year-old, when you wouldn't try a yard, my boy, and I'm Wowed if you shall beat me when you are in the humour.' So I shook Santa up, but it was no go ; Darebin was too good for us, and he won easily at the finish. Again, in the Sydney Gold Cup he beat me. I was oh Mistaken, and at one time it looked any odds on us, but old Darebin came with one of his determined rushes, and licked me again." Lord C^rrington's handsome brown two-year-old filly by Maribyrnong from Gondola met with a serious accident when being exercised at Randwick recently. Something startled her and she unseated Whiting. The unfortunate youngster then charged the treble, and struck one of the fences with such violence as to split the posts and rails, which have withstood the shocks of sfceeplachases for some years past. The filly, which was caught by D. De Courcy, was led from the course in a very shaky condition, and it is almost certain that she has sustained very seriousanjuries. When tho late Mr Mafchew Bryant purchased Guesswork and Conjecture for the Cairn Curran stud from Sir Thomas Elder, he gave llOOgs for tbe son of Gang Forward and Peradventure, and lOOOgs for Conjecture. At a sale of thoroughbred stock held by Messrs W. C. Yuill and Co. last week, the full brother and sister were knocked down to Mr Goold for 220gs and IGOgs respectively. At the same sale Bosworth fetched 220gs; Atlantic, 155gs; and Duke of Afcbol (Captain Webster's brother), 550gs.

l. Robertson !. Qorry ... !. Hales ... !. Brown ... l. Cox Inglish 1. Moore ... lolley I. O'Brien SUis 5. Power ... Mounts. J ... 110 ... 88 ... 52 ... 74 ... B8 ... 51 ... 84 ... 48 ... 88 ... 76 ... 71 Lost. V 87 76 32 56 f>6 39 73 37 78 613 CO Won. 23 22 20 18 13 13 11 11 10 10 11