MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 25

MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS.

(Weekly Press.) R. Batty, the Victorian jockey, who was down here some years ago under engagement to Captain Hutchison, and who steered King Philip for that worthy, rode, if I mistake not, his first hurdle race on the Riccarton course, his mount being Lunn's old mare Alice Grey. Since that time Batty won the Melbourne Cup on Wollomai, and then getting too heavy for flat race riding, confined his attention to jumping events. In order to satisfy a doubt existing about the distance of the coarse on which the big steeplechases at Ellerslie are run, Mr J. B. Williamson has put the chain over the ground ; the result was that he found it to be three miles six farlongs six and a-half chains, which is as near as possible the distance usually stipulated. In the Maiden Steeplechase run at the Winter meeting, though, there has been a big blunder in the past ; the conditions put the distance down at about two and a-half miles, but according to Mr Williamson's measurement from the spot where the horses usually started the distance is three miles five and a-half chains. This is too much of a good thing ; the club should see at once that the course is measured. (Canterbury Times.) ' Major George being asked as to his, intention with regard to Nelson frankly said he was awaiting the New Zealand Cup weights before coming to a decision, and that if the old horse received fair treatment he would again be put in training, but otherwise would go to the stud next season. If the son of King Cole does go to the stud, Major George will limit him to five mares outside his own, which number four, viz., The Maid, Memphis, Tenambra,and Florence. (" Asmodeu's," Leader.) Young Bales, who came over from New Zealand in connection with Mr W. Robinson, for the V.R.O. Spring meeting, is likely to take a prominent position amongst our leading light weight jockeys. He recently won a race or two in the country for Mr M. P. Whitty, and by sheer determination drove the pony Willie Riley .home a winner at Sherwood Park. On Saturday he performed a particularly feat in filing twice on Dividend, and these victories,

I have no doubt, are the precursors of many others. There is no better behaved or better dispositioned lad riding at the present time, and he has only to continue to hold aloof from the cpntamiaation of the so-called clever division, known notoriously as "the dead bird association," to ensure a prosperous and creditable future career. ' ' (" Augur," Australasian.) ' Last week I referred to several sensational trials that had been performed in England by youngsters, and they remind me that in Australia, too, there have been sensational trials, the most extraordinary perhaps being that of Firet King previous to the Champion Stakes. Mr James Wilson knew he had a great colt, and | when preparing' him for the chief weight for age race of the year he discovered that he was really a phenomenon, and in his three miles trial he set him a task which no other three-year-old of the day could have got through successfully. Mr Wilson tells me that he carried within half a pound of 9st. Savanaka, with not much more .than sst, was told off to accompany him for amile and a-balf, but before they had gone a mile and a-quarter First King had him in difficulties; then Pardon was ready to take him along from the mile and a-half post, and when she dropped out Bosworth, with a light ,boy up, essayed to bring the great gun home, but First King, galloping just as strong as at the commencement, beat him cleverly, and in such time on a heavy course that Mr Wilson felt certain he could beat smin 20aec at Flemington, provided that the going was good. I remember well on the evening preceding the race Mr Wilson asking Mr De Mestre what he thought Chester would do on the following day. Mr De Mestre then had Mr White's crack under his care, and he replied that if necessary he would run the race under smin 303ec. "Do you' think he could beat smin 20sec ? " asked Mr Wilson. " No," replied the Terrara sportsman.- ,',♦ Then I can," said Mr Wilson, " and don't forget to back First King to win you a few hundreds, for he is far and away the best horse I have ever seen." Those who saw the race will remember how First King romped home in smin 26sec, and I verily believe that had there been anything to make the pace for him he would have beaten the smin 20sec that Mr Wilson declared he could. He was not within many pounds so good a horse when he ran for the St. Leger and Australian Cup, yet in the latter he carried Bst 61b and gave a good colt like Swiveller a couple of stone and a beating. (Sydney Heferee.) It is now about 30 years since the first race meeting took place at Adelong ; I fancy Mr W. H. Kent, of Brisbane, was the principal promoter. There was a race for all horses, the winner to pull a ton round the racecourse immediately after the race. A horse named Jakes Prince, belonging to one of the best sportsmen that ever lived, viz. — Michael Keighran, and ridden by Johnny Phillips, now of Rand wick, won, and as 1 it was well known that Prince, a big thoroughbred, had never been in harness in his life, some speculation took place as to how he would act with a load behind him. He was put in harness, run round a bit, yoked in the dray, and faced the way he was required to go, the winkers .taken off suddenly, and he bolted the required distance. His owner got the prize, which he gave to the funds of the new club. I shall never forget the phenomenal trial gallop Dunlop did on the Thursday morning before Nordenfeldt's Derby, and what a rush there was to get on "Mr Robertson's colt/ The horse ran so badly in the Derby that the opinion generally entertained was that the " Derby was left on the training ground," and his wonderful performance in the Melbourne Cup, which he won ia the fastest time on record, emphasised the notion formed a year or so previously. The Ron of Neckersgat, though always brilliant, was a disappointing horse as a three-year-old. I well remember standing beside him, I think it was just after Ringmaster had defeated him in the Caulfield Guineas, when the two young Robertsou's, who then owned him, walked up, and one of them after exclaiming, " I like to see a horse run up to form," smashed his cane over Dunlop's ribs. Duncan and Bob little thought then that he would land a Melbourne Cup. No doubt the Robertson's lost a heap of money by him, for they were both plungers ; but perhaps the sharpest sting of all was to see their old favourite romping home in the Cup, and they, with not a shilling on the event, witnessing the race from the " flat."