RANDWICK MORNING GALLOPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1865, 19 August 1887, Page 25

RANDWICK MORNING GALLOPS.

MR A. DBAKB'S NEW ZEALAND TBAM. Milne commenced in real earnest with his horses this week by despatching Spade Guinea, Pasha, and Teddy Yuille for a mile and a-half pipe-openers. So as to know the exact trials of these horses I took up a position at the sevenfurlong post one morning and the two-mile post another morning. White on Spade Guinea and stable boys on Pasha and Teddy Yuille, started from opposite the grandstand at a moderate pace until they reached about where I stood, when off they went at a merry pace, Pasha having a slight advantage. A furlong further on the mare appeared to run very unkindly, and it took White all his time to keep her from running off the track. Rising the hill at the back of the course, all three were well together. When they had negotiated three furlongs the watch showed 41sec, and Pasha was leading by half a length, Teddy Yuille and the dark chestnut well together. They brushed down the straight at a dashing pace, the mare rushing up to the front, but Pasha again shook her off. As they crossed the tan Teddy Yuille was running well within himself. Passing me, I could see that it took White all his time to keep up to the son of The Mute. The once round from where I stood (one mile 15 chains) occupied 2min 7sec. No doubt this trial was a good one, and both Mr A. Drake and his trainer were about halfway between the distance post and the judge's box, and had " their eyes on the watch." Both Rudings and Milne deserve great credit for the splendid condition these horses are in. I can assure my readers that they are at the present tkne as sound as a bell, and fit to run for a man's life. At present I must commend my readers to Pasha. Rocket and Vinaigrette were the next to show a dash of foot, the lastnamed running very unkindly. The chestnut had all the best of the finish at the mile, which was covered in lmin 54sec. THE HON. W. BOBINSON'S STBING. Shortly before breakfast Silver Prince, Thunderbolt, Enfilade, and Disowned put in an appearance with their fancy and costly clothing. Their work was scarcely worth recording, as they have been undergoing a course of physic. To my mind, Silver Prince stripped the best. They are all up to the "knocker," but a writer I should express an opinion in a case of this sort, for my readers then know how to act in backing Robinson's horses on condition. Thunderbolt has improved wonderfully since I saw him lead Prometheus, Brown and Rose, Nordenfeldt, and Trenton round the Saltwater river in Sheet Anchor's Melbourne Cup. Enfilade is a splendid-looking animal, and looks more like a racer than Nordenfeldt did when a three-year-old. I now come to the last, Disowned, whom I consider a beauty, but not equal to his relative, whom I saw in New Zealand, Mr E. Lyons' colt First Lord. Cutts, in company with Derrett, worked the horses on the tan track on Saturday, and this merning they were indulged in three-quarter pace. Judging from the style of moving as they passed me at the two-mile post, I would sooner put my dollars on Thunderbolt, with his 7st 81b in the Melbourne Cup, than Silver Prince, notwithstanding he has been backed for a " potful" of money.' So was Archie in Martini-Henry's Derby. Enfilade has splendid hindquarters, and if started' in the V.R.O. Derby should acquit himself respectably. THE AUSTRALIAN STBING OP HORSES. Mitrailleuse recorded three furlongs in 42sec after cantering two miles. The Hon. James White's horses, with the exception of Abercorn, who is at present a little " off colour," are all in tip top order, especially Trident. Payten has for the last eight days been working Cranbrook long and strong gallops, and, consequently, the chestnut is beginning to look and move like a racehorse. Cranbrook's latest achievement was this morning, with his shoes off, when he started from near the tan sheds with Perfume as a companion for six furlongs, when the Derby candidate was picked up by Plutarch. They led past the two-mile post at a merry pace, finishing the once round (one mile 15 chains) in 2min 4sec, quite good enough (considering he was running on a training track) to win any Derby. As Cranbrook improves Carlyon and Abercorn recede. Among the other horses who are engaged in the big events of the spring that are galloping well, I may mention: Volcano, Rosebud, Morok, Aberdeen, Aristocrat, Frisco, Matador (who must go near winning the Sydney Derby), Yetman, Arsenal, Cairo, Honeycomb, Industry, Bothwell (a good-looking colt by The Assyrian), First Chester, Hexham, and a host of others. GENERAL TOPICS. " Warrior," when writing to the Witness of his visit to New Zealand last year, concluded his article with the following remarks: —" On our way home we called at Mr T. Morrm's neat little stud farm, aud were there shown the making of the best racehorse in the North Island. I speak of the Anteros —Frailty colt." When Mr Cooper purchased Niagara' for the handsome sum, and when the other evening in Tattersall's Mr Oxenham offered to back Niagara against Abercorn for places for £1000, I felt proud that I was the first man in Australia to mention that colt. When I was on a flying visit to Melbourne (express train, 18 hours) last Wednesday, I had a look in when passing Ike Foulsham's boxes, and found both the Anteros— Frailty colt and Trenton in the best condition. They should arrive in Sydney this morning. Touts are repeatedly asking, " Can anybody tell me which of White's string will go for the Derby;" and again, " Who is really going to win the V.R.C. Derby?" This is a question I have myself to solve. Hortense, if she had been in the race, would have certainly been favourite. Outside of her we have no first-class performer, for my readers must remember that Abercorn never ran in public until he won the December Stakes, and his running with Maxim last Australian Cup meeting proves that New Zealand owners have got his measure. With Niagara, Cranbrook, Enfilade, Abercorn, Tranter, Silverton, Carlyon, Whakawai, and several others in a race, good judges admit that it is hard to pick. The A.J.C. Spring meeting next month will no doubt give us a line. At present I prefer the two firstnamed. Anteros, the sire of many New Zealand winners, and whom the Auckland Stud Company so foolishly exchanged for Captivator,with other sires, has been nominated for the Clarence River Sires' Produce Stakes of 1891. Lesbia, winner of the Geelong Winter Handicap on Saturday last, beating Ringmaster and a good field, has performed more work than any horse in Australia. This aged daughter of Tim WhiiHer—Peerless made her debut on the turf in the spring of 1881, since which time she "has run in 58 races (this does not include last season). Haying been a great loyer of Trident, and j knowing how well I blew his trumpet last year i

down your way, I gave Mr M'Sherry, the rising Australian artist, an order to paint bun. 'As he intends visiting Dunedin shortly, en route to the stud farms, I thought as well to give credit where it. was due. The Hon. James White speaks of it in the highest terms. The, Sydney Daily Telegraph remarks :— " Master M'Sherry, the rising animal painter, has committed to canvas a picture of the equino champion Trident, with Hales in the saddle, and both are hit off with great effect." The betting market in Sydney is still dull. Last evening Thunderbolt was backed at 1000 to 30 for £3000. Cranbrook's price for toe Melbourne Derby is 100 to 12, 100 to 8 Carlyon, 100 to 10 Enfilade. Rosebud remains a staunch favourite for the Hawkesbury Handicap. She at present stands to win her owners £6000 at 100 to 6 and 8, but they are very clever fish, and one can't be certain when properly hooked. ' Impulse and Volcano also came into the market for the Hawkesbury, the former at 100 to 4, and Mr White's gelding 100 to 4 (wanted), the books offering 100 to 6. The late Mr Thomas Chirnside's thoroughbreds will be submitted to auction on Friday, the 19th inst. Among the lot not to be sold are the two fillies purchased by him at the Auckland Stud Company's last important sale — the full sisters'to Martini-Henry and Nordenfeldt. The full sister to lolanthe and the full brother to Bargo will come under the hammer. On Monday the racing folks of the metropolis were asked to assist, by their attendance at Canterbury Park, the opening of the racing season in Australia. Of the six events decided, the "punters" got home on no less than five occasions. Rosebud, who I mentioned in my notes in the Witness of the 22nd July, as a mare doing excellent work at Randwick, was backed last night at Tatfcersall's to win £1000 at 15 to 1. Honest John Tait, I am glad to inform old Australian sportsmen resident in New Zealand, has recovered from his late illness, and looks well and hearty. Abercorn, from what I can observe as a morning tout, can never win the V.R.C. Derby, and Oxenham was perfectly correct in laying yesterday £1000 that Niagara would put him down. Work on the training tracks at Randwick has now commenced in real earnest. Trident did an extraordinary fast gallop on Monday, and Cranbrook looked more himself. The New Zealand contingent, owing to the non-arrival of Mr Milne, has only been indulging in half -pace work. Spade Guinea appears a little stale, but Pasha and Teddy Yuille extend themselves like true racehorses. To-morrow morning Drake's team commence business. I must publicly thank Mr Milne, the trainer of the New Zealand horses, for his kindness in giving me every information aboub his horses, some of which, there is no doubt, will be a profit to the sporting readers ef the Witness. Pressmen should speak of trainers as they find them. After the publication of a paragraph from your Christchurch correspondent had appeared I was almost afraid to approach Milne, but on Mr Moss introducing me as "Warrior" he did all he could to supply me with profitable information, and should there be a big winner i come from his stable the Ofcago Witness readers will be made aware of it. Mr and Mrs Drake arrived from New Zealand j yesterday. Cairo has been working well lately, and surprising the "early birds." Carlyon and Volcano are in splendid buckle, and should win the first race they are meant for. Niagara, Trenton, and the rest of Mr W. Cooper's horses leave Melbourne for Sydney on f Saturday. Ike Foulsham has been provided I with a pretty little homestead. While exercising at Randwick on Saturday i morning, Morok,"who by the way is in the Mel- ' bourne Cup at 6st 131b, attempted to bite Trident, but the champion managed to get out of. his way, and for the rest of the mile and a quarter the boy kept him at a civil distance. ' The steamship Hauroto safely landed in Port Jackson yesterday the Ho». William Robinson's string of racehorses, comprising Silver Prince, Enfilade, Engagement, Thunderbolt, and Disowned. They are all looking well. AQUATICS. William Beach, the champion oarsman of the world, was up in Sydney on Saturday, and during a conversation I had with him he stated that after his match with Hanlan in November next he intended retiring, but not before giving Gaudaur a chance. THE GUN. A heap of money was lost on Saturday afternoon at a meeting of the New South Wales Gun Club on the death or escape of the pigeons. One horseowner lost £700 and several others £200, the fielders having, all the best of the deal. ORIOKET. Philip Sheridan, the managing trustee of the New South Wales Association Cricket ground, has been getting regular fits from the Australasian with respect to his action in causing two English teams to visit Australia this season, and has asked me to forward the following letter which appeared in the Leader : — " Sir,— l shall be obliged if you will permit me to make use of your columns to give an emphatic denial to a number of statements which are periodically repeated in the Melbourne press concerning the action of my co-trustees and myself in regard to the visit of a team of English cricketers to Australia during the next season. It is stated we have agreed to give Lillywhite's team the whole profits of the undertaking, and to indemnify them against all loss, I wish now to say that this statement is untrue, and to express my belief that it is untrue to the knowledge of the personß who have made it. We confess to having invited Lillywhite and his friends | to bring out a team next season for the reason | that we thought the visit would add to the ! attractiveness of our centennial celebration, and we undertook to arrange the matches for them in the colonies, and to afford them what assistance we could by our personal efforts to make the trip a success. What the contributors to the Melbourne press appear anxious to do is to create an impression that we have unfairly stepped in to embarrass the Melbourne Cricket Club in their attempt to bring out a team. In regard to this, I wish to say that when I was in Melbourne in August last I had a conversation with the authorities of the M.C.C., in which I j suggested that they should join with us in controlling the visits of English teams to the^ colonies; they, however, did not appear desirous of joint action. I may also state that I was in Melbourne in November last, and no intimation was made to me that arrangements for 'bringing out a team were then in progress. It is now stated that arrangements for bringing out a team under the auspices of the M.C.C. were then completed. Why was this not communicated to me at the time? Was it because the M.C.C. wished to monopolise the concern, enjoy the eclat, and pocket the profits? See what has happened. In ignorance of the carefully concealed designs of the M.C.C. we have encouraged Lillywhite and party to visit us. The M.C.C. know full well that all the profits likely to accrue from sucVa

visit are made in Sydney, and that cricket is a veritable frost in Melbourne. Tho only thing now to be >done is to enlist public sympathyby creating a belief that we are usurping the position which should in justice be occupied by the M.C.C. I can only repeat that .we have made no such compact with Lillywhite as is asserted, and that when we took action we were in complete ignorance of the intentions of the M.C.C. to bring out a team. A little more candour and a little less reticence on the part of our neighbours might have obviated the unpleasantness which seems to have been created. — Yours, &c.,

"Philip Shbbidan, Managing Trustee Association Cricket ground. "99 Elizabeth street, Sydney, July 12."