SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 25

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

(By. Our Australian Sporting Correspondent " Warrior.")

RACING AT CAULFIELD.

The Victorian Club, the Tattersalls of Melbourne, held a very successful day's race meeting on the grounds of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club on Saturday afternoon lnst. Tbe attendance was good, the result of the races most interesting, and the weather everything that could be desired. Sir Henry Looh (Governor of Victoria), Rear-admiral Fairfax, Sir William Lambert Dobson (Chief Justice of Tasmania), and a select number of " dead heads " from Government House were present, and appeared to enjoy the sport. Backers of horses, as usual, came to grief — especially in the Two-year-old Handicap, which was won by a' rank outsider. The bs.ll was sent rolling by the saddling up for the Hurdle Race, of the value of lOOsovs, one mile and three-quarters. Ten horses left the paddock, The Victim being served up a very warm favourite at 5 and 6to 4 against. Oculist had a few followers who accepted 4's to 1. Tommy Corrigan, who had the mount on The Victim, kept his horse in good position throughout the race, the hopes of the Tasmanians beiug blasted at the first hurdle — B&llarat, the winner of the Hobart Cup, coming down a cropper. After the field had negotiated a mile and a-half Corrigan had them all beaten, passing the winning post four lengths in advance of Bonnie Chester ; Mr H. Smith's chestnut colt Summer beating Sterling for third honours. Tourbillon, a daughter of Robinson Crusoe — Cracker, was made a very warm favourite for the Two-year-old Handicap, of lOOsovs, four furlongs aud three-quarters. This was a very important event, being the last two-year-old contest of the season of 1887-88. Another rank outsider turned up the winner in Mr C. Collins' eh c John S., by Guinea (winner of the Geelong Gold Cup of 1882) out of Olga. John Sis entered for the Victorian Derby. Tourbillon ran a good second, and Mr S. Miller's brown filly Genetian third. The favourite carried Ist 31b more than John S. Among the starters were the followiug V.R.C. Derby candidates : — Quadrant, by St. Albans — Pilgrimage, Tourbillon, Prcpounder, by Neckersgat — Emily Faithful, Salisbury, by Neckersgat — Adeliza, Firelock, by Musket — Yatterina (full brother to Matchlock), Hegira, by Darriwell — Alethe, J. H., by St. Albans — Isabel, and True, by the Englishman — True Blue. The distance was covered in lmin l|sec. The following are the particulars of the two principal races on the programme, which created a great deal of speculation : — VIOI'OKIAN CLUB CUP, A handicap of 200sovs ; second horse to receive 25so vb out of the stake. One mile and a-quarter and a distance. Mr P Bolger's eh g Frolic, by Julian Avenal— Jeanette. syrs,Bsfc 511) ... ... (Bolger) 1 Mr J B Gill's b h Leroy (carried 7st 91b), syrs, 7-.t 61b ... ... ... (Michael O'Brien) 2 Mr H Hoysted's gg Vermont, syrs, Bsfc (Power) 3 Vl r J Murray's br h King of the West, sjra, 7st 111b... ... ... ... (lotnlin) 0 Mr 3 Nathan's eh m Straight Shot, Oyrs, 7st 91b (Fiddes) 0 Mr A Ohalk's b f Murmur, 3yr», 7st 71b (Howie) 0 Mr J Cnlvert'e b h Moseifaoe, syr 3, 6st 131b (carried 7st 61b, including 71b pennlbv) (Richmond) 0 Mr J B Clarke's bl o Bolingbroke, 3yrs, 6at 131b (Howard) 0 Mr D Fountain's br h Rougeefc-Noir, 4yrs, 6st 9lb (Fountain) 0 Betting : 2to 1 agst Leroy, 3to 1 Frolic, 6to 1 Vermont, 7 to 1 King of the West, 10 to 1 bar four. The flag fell to an admirable start. King of the West and Bolingbroke were the first to break line, but as the judge's box was passed Mossiface was leading from Rouge-et-Noir, with King of the West, Murmur, Boliugbroke, Verinout, and Frolic next. Rouge-et-Noir led out of the straight, with Mossiface and Bolingbroke next. Before turning into the back stretch Bolingbroke was at the head of affairs, with Rouge-et-Noir close up. As they stretched along the back Bolingbroke was clear of Rouge-et-Noir, tha pair being followed after a gap by Mossiface, King of the West, Murmur, Frolic, and Vermont. Frolic improved his position coming round the far turn, and at tbe side was in the van with Bolingbroke, King of the West, Straight Shot, Leroy, and Vermont next, all well together, and Mossiface dropping back. Frolio was first into the straight, being attended by Bolingbroke, King of the West, Leroy, Vermont,'and Straight Shot. Frolic continuing in front was joined at the distance by Vermont in the centre, and Leroy on the outside. An exciting finish resulted in a win for Frolic by a head from Leroy, with Vermont a head away, third. Then, after a gap, came King of the West, Bolingbroke, Murmur, Straight Shot, and Rouge-et-Noir, with Mossiface pulling up last. Time, 2min 31f sec. . # STEEPLECHASE, A handicap of 150sovs ; second horae to receive 25sovs out of the stake. About two miles. Mr O Krushka's eh g Mineral, 4yrs, 9st 121b (Masters) 1 Mr T Corrigan'a b g Kildare, aged, 12st 131b (Corrigan) 2

Mr W Glasscock nschm Maude, aged, lOst 21b (Newlands) 3 Mr S Miller's g g The Irishman, aged, )2st 81b (Watson) 0 Mr W Menzie's r g Curiosity, aged, 103t 121b (Gardiner) 0 Mr H Walters' b g Marksman, aged, lOst 101b (D O'Brien) 0 Mr J Malone's br g Beadsman, aged, lOsfc 61b (B Malone) 0 Mr J Richards' br g Coolart, 6yrs, lOst (Burke) 0 Mr T Watson's b g Banker, aged, 9st 121b (T Williams) 0 Mr J G M'Le&n ns r g Roulette, aged, 9st 101b (carried IQtt) ... ... . (M'Lean) 0 Mr S Ferry's eh a Dandy, aged, 9s 71b (carried 9stßlb) ... ... ...(Mr A Ferry) 0 Betting: 5 to 4 agst Kildare, 5 to 1 Bfarksraan or The Irishman, 6 to 1 Dandy or Mineral, 8 to 1 Coolart. Marksman and Curiosity alternately- led over the first two fences, and then Dandy went to the front and showed the way over the sod wall, attended by Roulette, Beadsman, and Curiosity* Marksman rau off at the aod wall. As the stand was passed Curiosity was at the head of affairs, with Coolart, Dandy, Beadsman, Mineral, Banker, Maude, Kildare, and The Irishman following in the order named. Curiosity and Coolart were leading after going out of the straight, with Mineral close up. The latter took a run co the front at the back of the course, where he was followed by Curiosity, Coolart, Roulette, Beadsman, Dandy, Kildare, and Maude. Mineral and Coolart were together at the far turn, Roulette, Curiosity, Kildare, and Maude being the handiest of fche others. Mineral showed the way to Curiosity over the sod wall, having a dozen lengths lead, while Kildare had run up into third position. Mineral had a good lead of Kildare into the straight. The favourite, however, .could never catch the Tasmanian horse Mineral, who won comfortably by four lengths. Maude was third, four lengths behind Kildare; Dandy was fourth, then followed The Iricihtnan, Roulette, Banker, Beadsman, and Curiosity. Time, 4min 12aec. NEWS IN BRIEF. The New Zealand-bred horses Tranter, Whakawai, Enfilado, Niagara, and Silver Prince are doing work on the training tracks. Word comes from Sydney that poor old ' Charley Br&ckenreg, the owner of Tom Brown and for years starter of the Northern Jockey Club, has passed in his cheques at the age of 60 years. Notwithstanding that the Victoria Racing Club failed to notify to the public that they would issue no more bookmakers' liceuscs for the present, last week refused to add to the list a well-known sporting journalist and two others of the same business. Card-sharpers, bootblacks, welshers, vendors of orang«a, fishbawkers, and bullies have hitherto gained admission to the magic circle, but tbe officers of the V.R.C. can't stand members of the fourth estate. • The Warwick farm estate has been sold for £23,000. Cranbrook has gone amiss, and doubts are entertained about his spring prospects, THE MELBOURNE CUP HANDICAP.. The Witness of July 18 contained a table of the probable starters for the Rosehill Cup, Metropolitan, C&ulfield, and Melbourne Cups, commencing with Cranbrook, who, I believe, has now got a "leg." Since then I havo-had no reason to alter my opinion. In reviewing the weights for the Melbourne Cup I must erase the names of Cranbrook and Carlyen from the list, and commence my task with Arsenal, 6yrs, by Goldsbrough — Powder.' Since Mr Gannon's horse won the Melbourne Cup with 7.5 he has appeared in public on five occasions, runbing second to Carlyon in the Austraiian Cup with 8.10 up (4lb less than he is called upon to carry next November). At the late A.J.C. meeting Arsenal ran third to Carlyon, Australian Peer, and Abercorn in they Autumn Stakes, Cumberlaud Stakes, and Jockey Club Plate. The latest' news from Rnndwick has it thab this worthy sou of Goldsbrough is in tiptop condition, and performs excellent work of a morning on the training track. The next Cup cindi.iate I come to is the five-year-old Aristocrat, a grey gelding, by Wilberforce out of Secret, the property of Mr T. Sampson, and trained at Rand wick by Charley Roberts. This horse I have had a sneaking regard for for months past, and consider him " thrown in " for the Melbourne Cup with 8.0. This horse ma ie his debut at Mudgee as a two-year-old, when he ran nowhere in the Ladies' Bracelet. His next appearance was at Coonambie, when he scored a victory in the Mares' Produce Stakes, following it up by winning the Flutter (six furlongs), and the Sires' Produce Stakes. Aristocrat only made his appearance in public a few times as a three-year-old, and then without success. The season just closed witnessed the son of Wilberforce in public no less than on 10 occasious, when he ran to victory in the Rookwood Handicap, Welter Handicap (1J mile, 8.4), Tattersall's Winter Stakes (1| mile, 8.0, 2min llsec), and Rosehill Bookmakers' Purse (1 mile 3 furlongs). Aristocrat has been backed pretty freely in doubles with V.R.C. Derby candidates, I need not go into the merits of the New Zaaland-bred horse Niagara, who is called upon to carry 8.12 in the Melbourne Cup. The son of Anteros — Frailty has never been himself since he came over here, and considering this fact and his running a dead hent with Aberuopn in fhe Australian Jockey Club Second Foal Scrips wid the Victorian Derby stamps Niagara as^a racehorse of the first water. Well and fit next November Mr Cooper's four -year-old should play a prominent part in the big handicap. Ben Bolt, aged, by Newbold, out of Lady Baldwin, 8.9. This horse has been a very consistent performer since he left Queensland. At four years he ran third in the A J.C. Summer Cup, won by Tempe; second to Temps in Tattersall's Club Cup (2 miles) ; and the following day won the Carrrington Stakes (1 mile 3 furlongs) from Tempe. This event was followed up by Ben Bolt winning' the Caulfield Cup from Silvermiue, Boolka, Rimus, The Levite, Burrilda, Recall, and 10 others, in 2min 42sec. After this race Ben Bolt got stale, and notwithstanding he faced the starter in 10 different races he couldn't rise a gallop. At the Rosehill January meeting the son of Newbold began to Bhow signs of returning form, as he won the Parramatta Handicap (1 mile 1 furlong) with 8.9, in the commonest" of canters, the chronometers registering lmin 55|sec. After running nowhere in the last Australian Cup hn ran second to The Yeoman (7.7) in the" Autumn Handicap, carrying 161b more than the winner. Next day the backers of Ben Bolt had the satisfaction of pulling their money back, as j he won the Place Handicap (8.13), one mile aud a-quarrer) from The Yeoman (8 5), Mentor (8.10), third. List March Ben Bolt eclipsed previous performances by humping 9.6 to victory in the S". Hilda Cup, one mile and a-quarter and a distance, in 2min 30sec. Journeying over to Randwick he started first favouritefor the Daneaster Handicap, one mile, (9.5) which he won from start to finish in lmin 43£>ec, beating Lonsdale (7.9), The Queen (710), and others. With 8.11 the Queensland-bred horse ran brilliantly for 'a mile and three-quarters in the last Sydney Cup, and had it been required of him could have gained a place. On several occasions J have

pinned my faith on Ben Bolt to successfully cover two miles, but past performances leads mo to believe that he cannot ,go the distance. The same argument was used agaiosfc Dunlop last year, and still his owner and stable followers " scooped the pool." At all events I prefer Ben Bolt's chance to that of Abercorn, Australian Peer, C&rlyon, or Cranbrook. To my mind one of the best treated . horses in the Melbourne Cup handicap is • Caedigan, a chestnut, six years old, by Goldsbrough out of Signora, the property of Mr Chambers, and trained by Mr James Mayo, at Maitland, New South Wales. This horse ran but once as a three and four-year-old. He opened^ the season just closed by running nowhere in the Newcastle Opening Handicap, six furlongs (8.12), but made amends by appropriating the Newcastle Flying Handicap, seven furlough (7.8), and the Jubilee Handicap, one mile three furlongs (7 6), in loiin 30sec,ftiid;2tniu 28$seo. 'After the lastnamed race the Newcastle and Maitland people freely backed Cardigan for the Hawkesbury Handicap and Great Metropolitan, both of which he won easily. His last achievement wag- in the. Sydney Turf Club j Anniversary Handicap, when he carried 8.0 to I the front, covering a mile and three furlongs in ■ 2min 24aec, Centaur second and Acme third. Cardigan is of the Silver Prince cut and style. He possesses any amount of pace, and his legs are sound enough to carry a house. ' Should Me Chambers vote him a starter for the Melbourne Cup, he may pcore ft second win for his worthy sire Goldsbrough. Enfilade, the ideal of a racehorse, has been called upon to carry 8.6. No horse in training looks better. Last season all good judges of horseflesh were of one opinion, that with age the full brother to Nordenfeldt would prove himself a gentleman. Like his native friend Niagara, Mr Wallace's horso has never been what you may properly call fit. The only time Enfilade appeared well was when he showed his heels to Mozart, Escutcheon, and company in the Caulfield Anniversary Handicap, one mile three furlongs, carrying 7.8, the distance being covered in 2rnin 27|sec. Yesterday morning I had a good look at Enfilade, who, I am pleased to say, is in the pink of condition. When knocking about a few days ago who should I come across but the five-year-old Bravo, a worthy representative of the neverbeaten Grand Flaneur. Mr Barnard allotted ; this horse 8.5 in the Melbourne Cup, and judging by his performances as a two and three-year-old, has not been harshly treated. On referring to back files of the Australasian I fiud Bravo running 12 times as a two-year-old, out of which he ran six times first, one second, and three thirds. The bay son of the Orphan, after his defeat of Britisher, and Brown and Rose in the V.R.C. Handicap, one mile and threequarters, met with an accident, which at one time was thought would ruin his future prospects on the racecourse proper. Since then he has been treated to a long spell. From what I could see of him he looks well. enough, but scarcely up to the Melbourne Cup standard. At all events should his owner accept for him on Monday next, and he continues to improve as he has done during the last four months, Bravo may be reckoned a probable starter for the leviathan handicap to be competed for on the , afternoon of the 6th of November next. In my next article I propose dealing with oue of the likely winners of the Melbourne Cup of Centennial Exhibition year, Silver Peince. (To be continued. )