SPORTING- NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 24

SPORTING- NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

(By Our Australian Sporting Correspondent " Warrior.")

Sydney, July 5. GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES AND MELBOURNE CUP. On Saturday, most of the weekly journals in Australia, in their sporting columns, spoke in the highest terms of the two handicaps . produced under the able management of Messrs Scan and Barnard, in their respective colonies*

As usual; fault was found lin "many instances, btit on the whole the • Metropolitan Jand Cup weights found favour with owners and backers. " Warrior," in now referirpig to the above, only desires to make a few remarks which may prove interesting to his readers when reviewing the weights themselves.' I would ask, how does Mr Scarr reconcile his handicapping top weights to that of Mr Barnard during tlie past two and present important racing season ? For instance : Welcome Jack in the Metropolitan was appor-i tioned top weight, 9st' 31b, in 1885, Reginald - 9st the following year, and Trenton 9st 121b, on this occasion. Whilst Mr Barnard has sbeen going down the scale, as proved by Commotion having been weighted for the -Melbourne Cup of 1885 at 9st 101b, and .Mama in 1886 at lOst, and this year Trenton 9st 91b. Why should Spade Guinea be called upon, to oarry 41b more in Sydney than in Melbourne. Judging by Mr Scarr's placing 9st 121b on the top weight's back against 9sb and 9st 31b carried the two previous yeirs, I should fancy that he must believe that the present race of horses are much better able to overcome weight and distance than in 1885 and 1886. Araong the 64 entries for the Metropolitan, to' my mind, 'there is not a Malua or Commotion. Trenton's running in the Melbourne Cup with 9st 51b does not justify Mr Searr in imposing a penalty of 71b. It must be born in mind. that at the same meeting Trident beat Trenton badly in J the Canterbury Plate, three miles, weight for age ; yet Trident only concedes 21b. From my own observations on the training ground I don't believe' we possess half a dozen racehorses in Australia who can carry a respectable weight over two miles of ground, consequently' I agree with Mr Barnard commencing his handicap of 9st 91b. Notwithstanding my opinion expressed above, I mnst congratulate Mr Scarr on the able manner in which he has handicapped his mixed goods in the Great Metropolitan Stakes of jubilee year. Briefly analysing Mr Scarr's labour, and dealing with the first three horses on the list, I may mention that there is hot the least probability of either Trenton or Trident facing the starter next September, as their owners are desirous of " bagging " the Melbourne Cup. Spade Guinea, no doubt, has been wretchedly treated in having to carry Bst 101b. Why the New Zealander should have thus been treated perhaps some of my sporting readers may know, I am sure I do not. No doubt the daughter of King of Clubs will also be reserved for Melbourne, where she has been more liberally treated with Bst 61b. The same may be said of Abner, who, for running second to Lochiel in the Newmarket Handicap with 6st lHb, has been treated to Bst 61b. This splendidly-built son of St. Albans— Starlight is about as fit to gallop two miles as your brown mare Mitrailleuse. Among the Bst division commend me to The Jewel and Silvermine (Bst 41b)— both of whom are well-known performers in public — Bohemian, and Kohai (Bst). There are 18 horses carrying from 7st 121b to 7st, of which number not above half a dozen are worth mentioning — namely, Pasha and All Gold (7stl2lb), Crossfire and Cairo (7»t 91b), Bnfield (7st 61b), and 'Frisco, late winner of the Sydney Cup (7st 41b). Then we come to what are supposed scrubbers, handicapped under 7st. Notwithstanding' that the 32 six-stoners haven't got a " ghost of a chance," I must mention five for whom I have much respect : — Burrilda (6st 121b), Teddy Yuille (6st 101b), , Sorella (6st 81b), and The Queen and Rosebud (6st 41b). Tf this race should come from this division, well, take my word for it, Rosebud, who is in Jimmy Monaghan's stable, will be the horse. This mare, who does excellent morning gallops, will certainly win the first race she is sent for.

The Melbourne Cup handicap is one that requires more consideration than I have had time to devote to it, but hope in a future article to place before my readers facts that may- tend to enlighten them as to the probable winner. , Taking a casual glance at. the weights " Warrior V would say that nothing looks better on paper than the following horses :— Trenton (9st 91b), Trident (9st Bib), Sheet Anchor (Bst 81b),, Lord Wilton (Bst 41b), Silvermine and Ringmaster (Bst 31b), Grace Darling (Bst 2lb), Ben Bolt, David, and Industry (7st 121b), Bravo and Crossfire (7st 91b), Lord William and Abercorn (7st 71b), Recall (7st 51b), Cairo and Mozart (7st 41b', Ruf us, Niagara, and Silver Prince (7st 31b), j Meteor and Moorhouse (7st2lb), Little John (6st i 131b),. Carlyon and Cranbrook (6st 121b;, Enfield and Krupp (6st 111b), Kenneth (6sfc 101b), j Master John (6st 7lb), Silverton (6st 61b), Tranter (6st 51b), and Abner (6st 41b). ' Laht evening at Tattersall's Rooms the weights for the Caulfieid Cup, which were published early yesterday afternoon by Mr Barnard, were ' posted up. After a couple of hours serious attention to the above race, and knowing full well that the Caulfield Oup has only been once won by ahorse carrying over Bst (ISB3— Calma, 4yrs, Bst 21b), the rest being carried off by four competitors under Bst, and one carrying less than 7st, I must pass the 9st and Bst division, with one exception, Kohai (Bst3lb), who has not yet done any wonders,, owing to "Captain Armstrong." Kohai's sire, Manuka, is by The Peer; Manuka won the Can 7 terbury (N. Z.) Derby. of 1868-9, and the same sovson the Canterbury Cup. Kohai was bred in Tasmania, where he won the Colebiook Plate and Carrick Plate, and with Bst 101b on his back the Oaklands Handicap, If mile, in 3min 10§seo. His next feat was in the Tasmanian T. C. Free Handicap, 1 mile, with Bst 51b up, in lmin 47sec. Among the 7st contingent, I like nothing better than Lord William, Mitrailleuse, Volcano (the latter having ran ljmile, with # Bst 121b', in 2min 13|sec, and six furlongs, with Bst 21b, in lmin 14sec), Crossfire, Bravo, Meteor, Recall, Hortense, The Levite, Harvester, Mozart, Claptrap, Enfield, New York, Pbaon,, and Little John. With four exceptions, I must discard the 6st contingent, — Simon, Myall King, Peeress, and Abuse. Should a winner come from the 6st division, well it will be Abuse, : who last March, with 6st 81b, defeated Phaon, Kohai, All Gold, Meteor, and eight others in the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, St. Kilda Cup, one mile and a quarter and a distance, in 2tnin. 29sec. lii conclusion, "Warrior" in reviewing the above three important racing events at this juncture, does it merely from their past performances this season, and his individual knowledge of their morning gallops on the training tracks. - <