THE V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1895, 16 March 1888, Page 24

THE V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

The first day of the V.R.C. Autumn meeting 1 was remarkable for the success of the Hon. James White, whose horses, ridden by the renowned jockey Hales, won the first four_ events of the day, and were favourites at starting for two. The first event of the day was the Essendon Stakes, a weight-for-age event of a mile and a-quarter. Mr Whita trusted to Carlyon in this event to meet the jtfew Zealander Nelson, who won the same race last year, and who was backed on this occasion at 5t02 on him ( The race lay entirely between Nelson and Carlyon. Hales on the latter lay in the rear till about the distance post, when he came up, and after a capital i struggle Bettled Nelson and won cleverly by threequarters of a length. For the Ascot Vale Stakes, which came next, Mr White's Volley was favourite at 2to 1 against her ; Wycombe and Pearl Shell being the only others backed at 5 to 1. The penalties on Lady Betty and Consequence put them out of court. This was a very easy win for Volley ; and Pearl Shell, who also had a 141b penalty, showed herself a good filly by beating all the rest. Next came the St. Leger, in which the betting was 7 to 4 against Abercorn, 5 to 2 against Australian Peer, 4 to 1 against Moorhouse, and 6 to 1 Enfilade. The last mentioned looked in excellent form, but the Peer looked faded. There was no lingering on the mark, for away they went at once, Enfilade making the running, and Hales on Abercom watching the progress of events from the rear. So they remained to the sheds, where Enfilade went back and Abercorn came up. Hales rode the race as he has ridden many this season — not venturing the ruck, but skirting the field and playing for position. Just at the home turn he appeared, as usual, on the outside. As the five horses came into the straight at the distance, both Enfilade and the Australian Peer were being ridden, and Gorry on Moorhouse were blocked in an attempt at a run along the rails. They had to pull out sharply, and lost all chance. The race was then clearly Abercorn's, and showing scarcely a symptom of distress, the chestnut led them past the post the strongest of winners by threequarters of a length. There was great cheering for the chief owner and chief jockey in Australia, who had won three events in succession, though still greater honours were in store for them. The race confirmed entirely the suspicion that Abercorn was not beaten on his merits when last seen at Flemington, for just as Volley had beaten all previous records for the Ascot Vale Stakes, so Abercorn had shortened the time for the St. Leger. This made Mr White's third successive victory in this race, and altogether the fourth that he has achieved, j while Hales has now won the St. Leger eight time's, on Richmond, Bosworth, Grand Flaneur, Navigator, Martini-Henri, Matchlock, Trident, and Abercorn respectively. The Newmarket Handicap has been one of the best betting races Australia has ever seen, and there was something like the excitement attendant on a | Melbourne Cup as the horses weighed out. Stodille, one of the best backed, had been scratched late the evening before on the plea that her party had been forestalled, and the i public were much incensed. It was significant, if anyone chose to notice it, that Cranbrook was starting at exactly the same price as last year's ! winner, Lochiel, though Centaur, on thestrength of his training ground performances, was the actual favourite, after them coming Lord Allen and Mitrailleuse. There was little of incident to note before the race, 6ave that when Malta came out, ridden by the steeplechase jockey King, he was cheered ; and that Ramage, who rode Mozart, went from crutches into the saddle, ! his knee being so bad that it seemed an act of folly for him to ride at all. There was very little ceremony in getting the large field away ; for a moment they exercised under the hill, then they filed into line, and were away over the tan into the straight. At the distance any one of a dozen seemed a possible winner, those who were so far prominent being Ben Bolt, Mitrailleuse, Lord Allen, Mozart, Epicurean, and Chicago, but at the distance the prospect of a struggle faded away instantly, as Hales brought the big Cranbrook through with a rush — and a wonderful rush it was— without an effort he seemed to take a four lengths' lead, and with the rider looking behind Oranbrook strode past the winner of the Great Short Distance Handicap by three good lengths. Had Mr White's horse been out of it, the race would have been something to remember, though Cranbrook's finish was not a matter to easily forget. Behind him half-a-dozen horses seemed to reach the post in a line, Lord Allen, however, beating the Ballarat horse Victim by a neck for second place. It was small wonder that Mr White and Hales shook hands heartily as tho ; latter left the scales, for both had backed the ; horse to win them a good stake. The time was lmin 14£ sec, which was faster by a second than I Malua's and Lochiel's. It was a notable fact i that the three best jockeys in Australia, now Robertson is dead, and excepting Gorry, finished first, second, and third ; Hales rode Cranbrook, O'Brien Lord Allen, and Power Victim. The Hopeful Stakes, in which Mr White sustained his first defeat, saw the best race of the day, as the Musket— Sylvia filly, Forest Queen made a dead heat with Wy vis, but beat him easily in tho run off. Lava and Lord Allen were nearly equal favourites in the Brunswick Stakes, which finished the racing, and in which Mick O'Brien, with a rush like Ben Bolt's in the Caulfield Cup, brought Mentor through the horses, and won by a length. Mr Mitchelson's Escutcheon could get no nearer than third.— Christchurch Press correspondent. Melbourne, March 12. At the V.R.C. Autumn meeting the Hon. J. White won £7724 in stakes out of a total of j £14,270.