SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 24

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

(By Our Australian Sporting Corbb- - ' spondent " Warrior.")

Melbourne, July 24. The many friends of "Warrior", will, no doubt, be sorry to learn that owing to the bursting of a blood vessel on the lungs he w?s laid up for a couple of weeks. Now, however, he is nearly convalescent. In the meantime I, his amanuensis, will nof deal with the Caulfield Cup, but will fully discuss the merits and demerits of the various candidates engaged in the Victoria Racing Club's Grand National Hurdle Race and Steeplechase which takes places on the 4th of next month. En passant, I might state that betting over the latter event is characterised by its lukewarm, character, nothing having yet been backed for " money " by any of the stable partizans, if I except a small, a very small, commission on behalf of St. Louis and Ruby. However, to begin aj; the beginning, I will. commence with the Maiden Hnrdle Race, for which I fancy Darkness, Bonnie Chester, and Scobie's selected, which I fancy will be Victim. The three which please me most in the Maiden' Steeplechase are Wessex, Mylock, and pother*

stone. In the Grand National Hurdle Race Elleralie will not start, as he is better, off in the Steeplechase, but The Yeoman,- with,- all hi g weight, if the selected of the stable, will take a lot of beating. Ocean will find the 11.9 he ia now called upon to carry hardly so congenial as when he won this self same race a couple of years ago. Dragon, with - a like impost, will not be troubled with it;, but I have a notion that he will start in the Steeplechase. If rumour is to be believed, Malua will " walk in," as the son of Edella clears tbe hurdles like a bird. Sir Launcelot I will not have, as 1 am of opinion that half a mile less to travel would suit him better. Yarramsn, who is now trained by that Grand Master oft the Ait Ike Foulsham, has done ar really excellent preparation at Caulfield, and if Corrigan rides the son of Breadalbane, then he will be worth put« ting a few dollars on. Leroy, a son of one of the best all-round horses ever Australians sawSussex — is most highly spoken, of. Once only did Leroy perform at Flemington, and .on that occasion he showed any amount of pace; but was deficient in his fencing capabilities. That was over 12 months ago, since when I have no doubt but that Phil Heywood has got the horse thoroughly proficient. Oculist is in the same stable, and possibly may not be wanted on this voyage, but Leporello will. , Not a few fancy the son of Don Giovanni immensely with only 11.0 to f carry; I do not, good horse though he undoubtedly is. King of the West is well bred enough, but of his qualifications I cannot vouch. Quioklight is the Tasmanian-bred horse who changed hands after he won a hurdle race at Caulfield, and one that I have the greatest respect for. Voltaire will not start, and Cyclops is aßtable companion of The Yeoman. That the son of St. Albans and Jewess is possessed ,of undeniable pace we have had ocular demonstration on more than one occasion, notably in the Champion Stakes won by Matchlock, when he led nearly the whole distance, and later on at the V.R.C. Autumn meeting when the one-eyed horse caiue' with a very fast but late run in the Loch Plate, won by Carlyon. If he is Mr S. G. Cook's elect, well then look out for squalls. Recall won't start, but Boolka'will ; but I don't fan6y the soa of Glorious, nor do I like St. Louis, another of the same breeding. Frolic is by Julian Avenel, and he recently won the Broken Hill Cup. I have seen him schooled, and he jumps very cleverly, and may possess an outside show, at least so think those connected with him,- Victim is the aged son of B. A., who finished third iv the last Newmarket Handicap. He will, I think, go for the Maiden Hurdle Race. Incident occupies a box in the same stable as Leroy and Oculist, and The Victim will be put out" of "court by reason of annexing the Hurdle Race at Williamstown on Saturday, thereby incurring a 101b penalty in the race under review.' , Oxford is a son of Goldsbrough' and he served several mares before being trained. He, however, won the Hurdle Race at Elaternwick Park a fortnight ago easily enough, but I doubt his'finisbing in the front rank. Digby Grand, BonnieChester, and Silverton are engaged in the Maiden Hurdle Race, where the company will not be quite .so select ; but Whitefoot, a terribly fast horse by King Arthur, is almost certain to take part in the contest for the lOOOsovs. Neither Podus Okus nor Glenlevit are class enough, but both Cracksman and Merry Monarch I have a fondness for — Cracksman because he has performed well in New South Wales, and Merry Monarch on accout of his being an own brother to Insolvent, by King Cole from Grace.' A general like Jim Scobie would not ' keep a horse for a couple of years without ho saw in the distance a likelihood of obtaining a reward some line day, and that fine day, I have reason to believe, will be on the 4th of next month/ The chances of Speculation, Lord" Harry, Sinking Fund, and Dick Turpin may be dismissed in one act, which brings me to the end of the chapter, to sum up which I think the winner will come from Yarraman, Leroy, Quicklight, Cracksman, and Merry Monarch. It is worthy of mention that last year none of the placed horses carried over 9 12. The following table shows the nast winners of the

Having'dealt with the Grand National Hurdle Race horses in exfenso, I will only briefly summarise the steeplechase horses. Through the withdrawal of Blue Mountain^ anci Kangaroo Ruby heads the list with 12.7, and .even with that impost the little daughter of Mincepie will take no end of beating. Mernder' comes next with 51b less, and I must label this big son of King Tom "most dangerous." I verily believe he would have won last year, but owing to the curb breaking before half the distance had been traversed, Harry Watson, his pilot, had no command over his mount, and he ran himself to » standstill, albeit that did not happen until witnin a quarter of a mile from home. If Corrigan has the mount on Dragon, then the son of Grandmaster will be worth following, but rumour hath ifc that Tommy will ride Flashlight, who ran third last year. The Irishman, Studley, Beadsman 11, Lizette, Reny, Voltaire, Wollongoug,; Royal Oak (last year's winner), Adeline, Cuckoo, Grafton, Mineral, ' Peter Flat, Forester, Peter, Coolart, Saxon, and Milepost I will not have. Having disposed of the lot ifl that summary manner, all I have to state v I favour the chances of Ruby, Mernder, Ellerslie (who fences beautifully), and Kestrel. Shonld Wessex not go for the Maiden" Steeplechase, then he will be hard to beat. The Selling Hurdle Race may be won by Oarrick, and the Fl»* I Race by The Levite, Morok, Meriotti^ or Ambition. ' I had almost forgotten to append a list of the previous winners of the ■ ■■" GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE.

SPORT 11^ BRIEF. . The Bth of September will be the opening o' what promises to be a very sultry "season bow for backers and layers, for on that datew recently formed Mentone Racing Club will <xft brate thejr inaugural meeting. . Four days aft* l : wards the Rosehill Cup will come on for decision to be followed, with not a.day's intermission, <v the Hawkesbnry Turf Club meeting. Jl*J 1 ** 1 comes the A.J.C. Metropolitan . ; meeting» ft* tending over four days- and - commenca* on the 2&id of September;- Well, to $»

back to Mentone. As I have just stated, the inaugural meeting will beheld on the Bth of September, and, as everyone knows, there is as a rule a lot of levelling required in one place and filling up in another before a perfect racecourse track can be formed. When so much has been done time is required for the displaced earth to settle and become firm. Now as the going will probably be a trifle soft when the Mentone Cup comes on for decision calculations may thereby be upset. However, on paper the following half-dozen please me most — Stanley, The Levite, Mistletoe, Whitefoot, Quicklight, and Richruby. lam of course reckoning that a Bumber of the " top sawyers " will not risk incurring a penalty in some of the more important events of the spring by annexing the Mentone Cup.

On Monday, the 6th of August, owners and trainers having horßes engaged in the Melbourne Cup must declare out before 4 o'clock or they will liable for the second forfeit of ssovs.

One evening last week the members of the Sydney Hunt Club were entertained at a banquet given by the master,Mr G. C. K. Waldron at Baumanu's Cafe, Pitt street. Over 50 gentlemen were present, including his Excellency the Governor, his Honor Judge Owen, Sir John Robertson, Hon. W. A. Long,Dr Cortis, M.L.A., Dr Huxtable, Messrs J. M. Toohey, M.L.A., F. Farnell, M.L.A., John Bennett, and other prominent citizens. Mr Waldron presided. During the evening Lord Carrington in the course of a speech said that it afforded him great pleasure to see such a number of prominent men assembled on the present occasion. On his right was a sporting member of the Bench (his Honor Judge Owen), who, in his younger days, used to hop over big fences ; patrons of the turf, members of Parliament, land owners, representatives of art and literature, and last, though not least, the youngest and most popular man in the colony — Sir John Robertson. — (Cheers and laughter.) The chairman had been good enough to allude to his (Lo^d Carrington's) crosscountry experiences in England, but he could assure them that he never knew what " big timber " was until he came to Australia, where the fences are fully a foot higher than were to be met with in the Old Country. The most difficult country that ever he met with in England was on one occasion when having a run with the Cotsmore hounds, and the fox crossed the railway line twice, but only four horsemen successfully negotiated the fences for the second time, and ono of the four was a Mr Russell, an Australian, who was mounted on an Australian horse, which he had brought to England with him. — (Cheers.)

Upper Cut, by Gemma di Vergy, has been put to the illegitimate game at Randwick.

Optima, by Wilberforce from Azalea, who won a double at the June meeting at Canterbury Park, was sold immediately afterwards, and has gone to Brisbane, where she arrived safely last ■week.

Mr Henry Austin was elected last week to fill the vacancy in the A.J.C. committee caused by the death cf Mr Edward Lee.

Mr George Davis, the well-known racehorse owner of Caulfield, is a candidate for the Gippsland Province in the Legislative Council. May he succeed is the wish of all with whom Mr Davis has come into contact, either as a private citizen or a breeder and owner of racehorses.

For welshing at Canterbury Park recently a, " bookmaker," who bears the somewhat euphonious sobriquet of " Mary Ann," was sent to goal for six months, failing the payment of a fine. It is now the intention of the Canterbury Park executive to only register members of Sydney Tattersall's and the Melbourne Victorian Club to bet. Furthermore, the secretary states that it is the wish of the club that any unpaid wager should be reported to him, and if the matter is a clear case of swindling he will guarantee not only to pay cost of proceedings, but to pay actual wagers where a conviction is obtained, the club being determined that when they once register a bookmaker the backer should be by themselves protected.

Last week the Mordialloc races were to have been held on Wednesday, and the Hurlingham races on Friday, but owing to rain they had to be postponed. On Saturday, however, the Williamatown Racing Club succeeded in running off their races. The weather was most miserably cold, snow lying on the Maeedon Ranges quite thick. With the exception that in the Steeplechase, for which there were but three runners, Milepost, who is engaged in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, took part, nothing worthy of mention occurred. Beadsman, vrho won the Grand National Steeplechase somewhat easily on the previous Saturday at Moonee Valley, was made favourite. The son of Vasco di Gama, however, struck the first fence very hard, and shifted his rider, E. Maloue. Maude and Milepost, who are both trained by Mr W. Glasscock, then had matters to themselves, and the mare was allowed to win somewhat easily. Milepost is a clever little fencer, but he is not class enough to win over Flemington just yet. From a Queensland paper I clip the following: — " P. Lambert and his mare Marion were disqualified for life at Blackall. Marion was entered as having no pedigree, but it was proved that she was well known in New South Wales as Mrs Cook. Too many cooks have spoiled Lambert's broth, anyway."

A committee of the Queensland Turf Club last week tempoiarily removed the disqualification iacurred by horses through racing at meetings registered under the North Queensland Association rules, pending the establishment, on a legal basis, of permanent friendly relations between the North and the South. The disqualifications were removed in consequence of a latter from the secretary of the Northern executive. Last year, it will no doubt be remembered, at the Queensland Turf Club races there was a terrible row owing to a mistake being made at the start, through the man with the advance flag not dropping it. The case was submitted to Messrs Weatherby as follows :—" Ten horses were placed in the starter's hands. The starter said 'go,' and dropped his flag. The man in charge of the white flag did not drop it. Half the horses pulled up. The remainder went the course. Was it a race ?" Messrs Wheatherby replied:—" We beg to say we are of opinion, in the case you mention, that, provided the starter said ' go,' and dropped his flag, the start must be considered to have taken place.— J. E. Weathbrby, J. P. Weatherby." According to Admiral Rous it would not have been a start. However, since the dispute the Q.T.C. have oispensed with the second flag. The New South Wales horses Cracksman (who is engaged in the V.R.C. Grand National nurdle Race), and Grafton (who is nominated tor the Steeplechase) have arrived at headquarters. Marksman and Sterling accompanied them. Saxon, who recently won the Maiden oteeplechase at Warrnambool, has also arrived. J-ne latter is engaged in the Steeplechase. At the recent show of the Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Society Mr M'Gill, of oiacklands, took no fewer than a dozen prizes in me thoroughbred sections. Although Carbine was withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup at 4 p.m. on the 2nd inst., in the son of Musket was not scratched here until the 19th instant. There is undoubtedly a screw loose somewhere, or why was so important a matter delayed bo long ? Ben Bolt, a Caulfield Cup winner, it appears

went to the stud when but two years old, and one of his get named Eileen recently won a race at Charters Towers. The popular theory that a season at the stud impairs a horse for racing purposes afterwards is thoroughly exploded in this case at anyrate. Mr Eli Jellett, who was the owner of that little wonder Richmond, has a son of the latter from Ruby, the dam of Sardius, named Richruby. Mr Jellett purchased the colt as a yearling, and until last week he failed to score a win with the now three-year-old. The race was at Sherwood Park. It now transpires that Richruby was a twin foal, but such a fact was not stated at the sale. Hardly fair dealing that. Mr Jellett Btates that had he known such to have been the case be would not have bought the son of Ruby. At anyrate he would not have paid so much for him as he did, Mr S. Gardiner, of Bundoora Park, had the bad fortune to lose a filly foal by Chesterfield from Ringarooma, a daughter of that grand old mare Lurline. The youngster was foaled prematurely. The Victorian Trotting Club are to be commended for a proposition made at the last meeting of the committee, which was to the effect that a race meeting be held at Elsternwick Park for the benefit of the charities. A nice little programme has been framed, but the date has not been definitely chosen.

At the Deniliquio. races held lastjweek Little Rosa, the first 'of Suwarrow's get to race, won the Maiden Plate. In the Flying Handicap the horses were started on the wrong side of the post, and the race was ordered to be run ever again, and Juba won it. Iron Hand.by Tubal Cain from Bertha, the dam of Lone Hand, was awarded a special prize at the Coonamble show last week for the sire best calculated to get weight-carrying hackneys.

Matters turfy are beginning to assume a roseate hue in Rockhampton, judging by the announcement in a local paper that the jockey club propose to include a handicap of lOOOsovs at their next annual meeting.

During the coming spring campaign the touts at Flemington will, if rumour be correct, have a very formidable string less to watch. Owing to Mr F. Mortison having leased his stabling to Mr R. Phillips, the Hon. James White's team, which have with the most unvarying regularity always " put up " at " Frank's," will probably go to Caulfield, or still further afield failing the required accommodation there. Mordialloc is spoken of as one of the likely places Tom Payten will take the blue and white representatives on their arrival in Victoria to put on the finishing touches.

On the 17th prox. the English football team will leave here by the Cuzco for the land of their birth. They will travel second-class, and the passage money, it is stated, amounts to £1400 for the return journey. Permission has been granted for them to break their journey at Adelaide, where it is intended to play a team of South Australians.

A general meeting of shareholders in the Victorian Trotting Club, Limited, was^held on Thursday afternoon, to receive the report and financial statement for the previous half-year. Mr S. Strettle presided, and there was a moderate attendance. The report showed that the affairs of the club were in a prosperous condition, and that everything was going on smoothly during the absence in Europe of the secretary, Mr Thomas Haydon. The gross receipts for the half-year had been £7712 18s sd, and the expenditure £6866 5s 2d, leaving a credit balance of £846 13s 3d. The assets were returned at £7358 13s 3d, giving a balance of £6595 12s 9d over liabilities. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman said that the club's property was in perfect order. With reference to the lease, nothing further had been done. An action had been brought against the club by Mr Coleman to test the validity of the club's right to charge fees to bookmakers, but he did not think that the result of the action would affect the finances. The report was received, and the meeting adjourned.

The balance sheet of the Victoria Racing Club has been published, and it is most satisfactory in every respect. The profit on the last Spring meeting amounted to the nice little sum of £15,599 11s Id. There was a profit on the Winter meeting of £339 5s 9d ; and the Autumn meeting, which was a four days' one this year, shows a surplus of £1257 10a 8d ; but on the Summer meeting there is a deficit of £320 6a 3d, which would have resulted in a profit had not the meeting been held on the last day of December instead of the 2nd of January, which was a public holiday. The most pleasant feature, perhaps, is the financial success of the Autumn meeting. Members will recognise the improvement made in the balance sheet by the details of "sundries" being given. The amount altogether is £6016 10s, and the new tan gallop, which is exactly one mile round and 16ft wide, cost only £645. Members' subscriptions and fees brought in £5337 10s, and I suppose the bookmakers' fees approached, if they did not exceed, £5000 ; but the latter item is not included in the balance sheet, the money derived from the members of the ring having been included in the receipts for the various meetings. The leading club is to be congratulated upon the healthy state of its finances, and if the present prosperity continues the members of committee are certain to still further increase the prize money. When the inonej added to the Melbourne Cup reaches 5000sovs, as it will most assuredly within the next 10 years, the racing men of Australia will probably be quite satisfied. Everybody will be glad to know that a box has been prepared in the saddling paddock for injured horses.

AQUATICS.

Stansbury, who was recently defeated by Searle on the Parramatta river, intends taking a 12 months' spell before engaging in any more contests. Seeing that Stansbury is only 20 years of age his resolve is a wise one.

Searle, who is only a couple of years Stansbury's senior, was matched against W. Hughes for £100 aside over a three mile course. The latter's supporters, however, forfeited their deposit last week, although the latter was to receive a lOsec handicap. Searle has been matched to row C. Neilson.

On the 6fch of October next an Intercolonial University Eight-oared Race will take place on the Lower Yarra, Adelaide and Sydney having agreed to send crews here to compete on the above date.

Kemp will shortly go into training, and he will have the assistance of Neilson on the Parramatta. Hanlan has expressed his determination of doing the most of his work on the Nepean, far from tha madding crowd. He will be attended by Flaunagan, the Sandhurst amateur, who trained him for his match with TWckett.

COURSING.

The New South Wales Waterloo Cup pales before that of the Victorian event, as but 17 dogs were nominated for the former, whilst 64 did battle on the oval at Diggers' Rest. Lady of the Lake, by Lauderdale — CallerJOu, won the (stake of £32. Nordenfeldt, by Cogent— Dinah, was the runner-up, and £15 was bjs ownef's solatium.

The New Zealand bred dog John Drumm was, along with a number of others, sold by auction yesterday. The dog named found a new owner in Mr J. Munday at 60ge,

X Horse. Weight • pd'ds - Against! I Time, • 1- I 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 Sussex ...I Great Western] Blackthorn ... Chippenham Wymlet Game Royal Oak ... Bt. lb. 13 1 11 0 10 12 11 0 10 4 11 10 10 12 ... 3tQ'l 2 to 1 10 to 1 10 to 1 6 to 1 3 to-1 6 to 1 ,7 ,9 11 12 14 12 10 7 2| 7 2 7 Hi 7 C 7 JP? 6 48 7 25

GRAND NATIONAL IIUKDLE EACH. s £ Horse. iWeight.j Odds Against 2 I CO Time. 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 Sir Peter Rhesus Dizzy Don Quixote The Agent Ocean The Yeoman at. lb. 11 4 9 12 9 4 11 13 11 6 9 3 9 8 6 tod Btol stol 4tol 4tol 20tol lOtol 13 13 8 9 10 11 8 ra. s. 5 4-i 5 41 5 ilrk 5 431 6 (if 5 3nf 0 2bi