SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 24

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

THE VICTORIA RACING CLUB WINTER STEEPLECHASE MEETING. MALUA AND RUBY WIN THE GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE AND STEEPLE. (By Our Australian Sporting Correspondent " Warrior.") Melbourne, August 8. What with the Centennial Exhibition folks and the sportsmen of Australia the attendance at Flemington on Saturday must, have totalled something like 40,000. The club acted wisely in distributing for an afternoon's sport, in prizes, ■ the handsome sum of £4344. The eighth annual Winter meeting of the leading racing club in Australasia won't be veiy easily forgotten by strangers, for on Saturday lest townspeople met on the lawn, saddling paddock, hill, and flat innumerable, friends and acquaintances from New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Australian colonies, not mentioning the Old Country. I need not occupy the attention of my readers with a Melbourne Cup description of Saturday last, as I intend proceeding with the first race on the card :—: — MAIDEN HUBDLE RACE, Of ssovs each, with 250sovs added ; second 50sovs, and third 25sovb. About two miles. Mr S Miller's br h Boolka, by Glorious— Bridget, aged, 10.7 ■ ... ' ... ... (Holmaa) 1 Mr ft Howie's br g Digby Grand, syrs, 9.9 (Howie) 2 •Mr J Tompkins' eh g Bonnie Chester, aged, 10.2 ' (Watson) 3 Recall, 6yrs, 10.7 (Scobie) ; If-I-Can, 6yrs, 10.2 (Viney) ; Priscilla, syrs, 9.12 (M'Kenna) ; Resign (late Simon) syrs, 9.10 (Corrigan) ; and Midnight, 4yrs, 9.3 (Quigley), also started. Betting : 2to 1 agst Bonnie Chester, 2£ to 1 Recall, and 7 to 1 Boolka. . Boolka jumped off with the lead and was never afterwards troubled, winning in a canter by three, lengths.. Recall came down at the first hurdle, but Scobie was soon in the saddle again, but seeing that the chase was a hopleless one, pulled Hp nearly opposite the grandstand. Digby Grand ran as true as steel, beating Bonnie Chester by six lengths. Time, 4min 6see. Five horaea faced. Mv Gfeorge. Watson foe the

MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE, < r Of 530*3 each 1 , with 250sdvs added ; -second SOsovt ; third 2550v8. About two miles. Mr H G- Stansmore ns bl gSir Fyaus, by Silence . or Smuggler, aged, 11.2 ... (Neylon) 1 Mr B Clarke's b g Mylock, aged, 11.2 (Rowlands) 2 Mr H Conolly's eh g Lindin, 5yr8, 10.2 (Murphy) 3 Won as he liked from the'favoufi^es^Mylock and Lindin.' Neither Peter *(11.5) nor Beldemonia (10.2) finished in the race. Time, smin 6|sec. The spectators had considerably increased by the time the gong announced the saddling for the GRAND NATIONAL HUBDLE BADE, Of 20sov8 each, with lOOOsova added; < second 200sova ; third lOOstfrs. About three miles. Mr J O Inglis' b h Malua, by Sfc Albans— EdeUa, , aged, 11.7 ... ... ... (Owner) 1 Mr S G- Cook's eh g The Yeoman, 6yrs, 12.1 ' (Fallon) 2 Mr A Forbes' br g The Victim, 6yrs, 11.2, including 101b penalty ... ... (Gorrigan) 3 Mr I Foulsham ns b g Yarraman, aged, 11.6 (JMalone) 0 Mr J B Gill's b h Lerov, 6yrs, 11.5 (Allen) 0 Mr B Phillips' eh g Quiofcligbt, aged, 10.10 (Keating) 0 Mr S Miller's br h Eoolka, aged, 10.9 (Holman) 0 Mr J Scobie's br hSt Louis, syrs, 10.9 ■ (Scobie) 0 Mr P Bolger'B eh g Frolic, 6yrs, 10.9 ... (Bolger) 0 Mr WT 1 Jones* b h Oxford, aged, 10.5 (A Ferguson) 0 MrWMuggridgensbrg Cracksman, aged, 9.10, carried 9.11 ... ... (D O'Brien) 0 Mr S Ferry's b g Speculation, 6yrt, 9.0, carried 9.10 (Mr A Ferry) 0 Mr A Cameron's b g Lord Harry, syrs, 9.0 (Wilson) O Layers and takers of odds were very busy up to the time of the, lowering of the starter's flag,' when the market prices stood as follow :—IOO: — 100 to 35 and 30 agst Malua, 100 to 14 The Yeoman, 100 to 12 St. Louis and Frolic, 100 to 10 The Victim, Oxford, and Leroy ; 100 to 8 Yarraman, 100 to 7 each Boolka and Quicklight, 100 to 5 Cracksman. Oxford was the leader over the first hurdle, followed by The Yeoman, Yarraman, and Quicklight; but before they had rounded the turn Quicklight had assumed the lead. Along, the river bank Boolka and The Victim were attendants of Quicklight, Cracksman running second to the leader at the next hurdle, at, which Malua had improved his position very materially. The succeeding obstacle arrested the progress of Cracksman, a-3 he came down. Oxford and Quicklight were in company along the far side of the course. Nearing the abattoirs, Quicklight and Oxford were well in advance of Leroy, Malua, and Boolka, but streaming past the scraping sheds the first-named had drawn half a dozen lengths away from Mr Jones' horse, next to whom at the same interval was the favourite, go ; ng as stroug t& a lion, then St. Louis, Boolka, . and Lcrd Harry j whilst The Yeoman had dropped to the rear, owing to Quicklight having swerved on to him when jumping a hurdle! Half way to the turn Frolic also nearly camel, down, but he was neatly recovered. Quicklight meanwhile held his own into the straight, and' was followed by Lord Harry, St. Louis, Boolka, and The Victim, this being pretty much the order in which they landed over- the fir3t of the two, hurdles, Malua now being amongst the next division. Quicklight led out of the straight and along the river three lengths in front of Lord Harry; Speculation now joined at the toil end by Yarraman, who had ruptured an artery. Meanwhile, at the turn out of the straight, the favourite had run on to the rails, whereby Mr Inglls narrowly escaped being thrown. At the bridge Lord Harry had gone up to Quicklight, and here the backers of the favourite became uneasy when they saw his colours drop further behind. In the centre of the back stretch QuickligtuVs bolt had been shot, and Lord Harry then became the leader, whilst The Yeoman was here sent into second place, with Oxford on this girths, and then The Victim, Leroy being placed hors de comhat at the hurdle near this point. At the abattoirs Lord Harry held a two lengths' lead over The Yeoman and Oxford, The Victim, Frolic, St. Louis, and Quicklight lying next, with Malua in close attendance, and, to all appearances, well in hand, for* ho ran into the fifth place as they raced past 'the sheds, the quaalette in front of him comprising The Victim, Lord Harry, The Yeoman, and Frolic in that 07der. At the bend The Victim wps just in front of the Yeoman, Oxford, Lord Harry, and St. Lcuis, the favourite lying at the head of the next division. The Victim and The Yeoman jumped the last hurdle before entering the straight together, aud they rounded the turn for home with Lord Harry and St. Louis at their heels. Mr Inglis at this juncture bringing Malua along on the raiJs, thuß securing the Inside berth in the run to the 1 last hurdle, approaching which he was on pretty even terms with The Yeoman and The Victim, for the trio breasted the obstacle almost in a line. Landing over for tho.run home The Yeoman momentarily showed in front, and his victory was boisterously procl imed, but the cry was only premature, inasmuch as when Mr Inglis called on the favourite he shot to the front, cut The Yecman down, and, coming alongj won easily by a length end a-half,'The Victim finishing third at the same interval. A score of lengths away came St. Louis, with Lord Harry fifth, Boolka tixth, Frol'c geyentb, Oxford and Quicklight next, and Speculation, who came in very lame, la--t of all. Time, 6min 7sec. Net value of the stake, 1067sovs. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, Of 2030V8 c eh, with lOOOsovs added ; second horse, 200SOV8 ; third, lOOsovs. About three miles. Mr W V Bryant's br m Ruby, by Lapidist—Mincepie, aged, 12.7 ... ... ... (Scobie) 1 Hon W Person's b g Boyal Oak, aged, 12.0 (Cupitt) 2 Mr S Miller's bg Mernder, aged, 12.2 (WatsoD) 3 Mr E Phillips' b g Blerslle, aged, 11.9 (Keating) 0 Mr S Miller's b g Studley, aged, 11.9 (Bourke) 0 Mr O Krushka's b g Beadsman II (late Beadsman), aged, 11.5 ... ... (Masters) 0 Mr S Miller's br m Heny, a^ed, 10.12, (Holman) 0 Mr T Corrigan ns eh g Flashlight, aged, 10.10 (Corrigan) 0 Mr E T Moore's br m Adeline, aged, 10.8 (M'Gregor) 0 Mr J B Gill's g g Wooloongoon, aged, 9.12 (A Ferguson) 0 Dr Cortis' eh g Graf ton, aged, 9.12 (D O'Brien) 0 Mr C Francis' b h Wessex, 6yrs, 9.10 (Carey) 0 Mr J Clarke's b g Peter Hat, aged. 9.7 (Law) 0 Mr F Stansmore ns bl g Saxon, syrs, 9.7, carried 9.9 ... ... ... ... (Edge) 0 Betting : 100 to 33 agst Flashlight, 100 to 18 EUerslie, 100 to 16 each Ruby and Wessex (stable companions), 100 to 14 and 12 Royal Oak, 100 to 11 Beadsman 11, 100 to 10 Mernder, 100 to 5 each Studley and Wooloongoon. Wessex was the first to move, and led past the judge's box, attended by Studley and Royal Oak, Ruby bringing up the rear. Leaving the straight the leader was followed by Beadsman 11, Mernder, Studley, and Peter Flat, and be piloted his horses over the initial fence, Beads* man II following him, then the stable companions Mernder and Studley, Peter Fiat ( EUerslie, Flashlight, and . Adeline. Ruby and Saxon being iv the extreme rear. Wessex took his field along the river bank to the next jninp» at which Wooloongoon fell heavily, seriously in* juring Ferguson. The next obstacle stopped Flashlight. Along the far side of the coarse Wessex drew out quite 100 yds, and as he cleared the stone wall the nearest to him was Mernder, then Beadsman II and Studley, the last lot being made up of Ellerslie, Royal Oak, Grafton, and Saxon. Passing ,the sheds, Wessex was still » long way in front, and he led down to the tarn into the ufcraight, followed by Mernder, Beny» geadß'man 11, Studley,' Royal Oak, Peter. Vfh

and Adeline, in which order'they went over the fence near the turn. Wessex came along to the first of the treble, at which he stopped, and Beadsman II then heading him, landed over well clear of Mernder, Reny, Royal Oak, Studley, Peter Flat, and Adeline, the lot successively taking the wall and logs in fine style. Rounding the bend out of the straight, Mernder was 6light!y in advance of Beadsman 11, Studiey, Royal Oak, Reny, Peter Flat, and Adeline coming next, on even terms. Racing along the river for the second time the pace improved, Beadsman II now being the leader, attended by Mernder, Studley, Royal Oak, Reny, Peter Flat, and Ruby, who at this juncture improved her position. At the bridge the positions were the same as regards the leaders, Ruby now, however, lying fourth, and going well, whilst Ellerslie here fell, but was remounted and set sail again in a vain pursuit. At the far side Mernder was three lengths in front of Beadsman 11, Royal Oak ' and Reny coming next, then Peter Flat and Ruby. Flying the stove wail Mernder held but a slight advantage over Beadsman 11, next to whom were Eoyal Oak, Reny, Ruby, and Studley. Racing past the sheds Mernder was still attended by the Tasmanian horse, Royal Oak and Ruby occupyiag the next positions eight or ten lengths in advance of anything else. At the bend the order was precisely the same, and the last jump saw Royal Oak run into second place, with Beadsman II next, and Ruby, going strongly, close up, with Adeline and Studloy at the head of the remainder. Royal Oak and Mernder made a great struggle of it down to the turn for home, and were closely pressed by Ruby, whom Scobie judiciously took on the outside berth as they headed up the straight, Mernder and Royal Oak oamo along together to the distance post, and momentarily appeared likely to fight it out ; but Ruby had any amount in hand, and the instant Scobie called upon her she responded gamely, was very Boon on even terms with the two in front of her, headed them 50 yards from home, aud then, having them beaten, won with a bit in hand by a length from Royal Oak, who defeated Mernder by a head only for a< cond place. Three lengths behind Mernder the Tasmanian Beadsman II was fourth, aud nearly double that distance was Adeline fifth, with Saxon sixth, Studley seventh, Weisex eighth, and Ellerslie ninth, Flashlight pulling up, being the last to pass the post. Time, 6min 53sec. Net value of the stake, 1030sovs.

Sir Launcelot, ridden by Scobie, having disposed of Coliban and Laudseer in the Selling Hurdle Race, a first-class afternoon's programme was completed with the FLAT RACE, Of lObovb each, with 500sovs added ; second, lOOsovb ; third, 50bovb. One mile and a-quavter. Mr B Orr's b h Becall, by The Drummer — Crochette. 6yrs, 8.4 ... ... (Ramage) 1 Sir W J Clarke's br h Menotti, syrs, 6.12 (Morrison) 2 Mr S G Cook's br h Dividend, syrs 8.2 ... (Eales) 3 Other starters s Dunlop (9 12), Ben Bolt (9.7), The Nun (8.8), The Levite (8.4), Lara (7.12), Lord Allen (7.12), Morok (7.12), The Tinman (7.11), Sumatra (7.11), Vermont (7.10), St. John (7.7), Murmur (7 3), Raoul (7.2), Ambition (6.11 ), Rouge-et-Noir (6.9). and Precedence (6.8). Betting : In consequence of Hales having the mount on Sumatra she left the paddock very firm at 4 to 1 agst, 5 to 1 each Dividend and Lara, 6 to 1 Raoul, 7 to 1 Morok, 10 to 1 each Recall, St. John, and Menotti, 12 to 1 Lord Allen and The Levite, 20 to 1 Ambition. At the distance Dividend was the leader, almost even with him being Menotti, Vermont, and Paikakariki, whilst Recall, in the attempt to get through his horses, was here shut in. Dividend and Menotti fought it out to within a score yards of home, whon Recall, with at last a clear run, shot to the front, caught, the leaders in the last stride, and made a dead heat of it with Menotti, Dividend taking third plane only a neck behind. Paikakariki was a good fourth, Vermont fifth, Murmur sixfcb, Lord Allen seventh, and Precedence eighth, the two last being The Nun and Dunlop. Time, 2min 14|sec. Deciding Heat. — BetHng : 6 to 4 on Recall. The favourite cut out the running into the straight, when he drew away, and won in a canter by a dozen lengths. Time 2miu 20Jsec. THE MELBOURNE CUP ACCEPTANCES. On Monday afternoon last;, the 6th August, the first forfeit was declared for the Cup. Looking through the list of acceptors will be found a large number of really first-class absen- . tees who have cried " euough, " prominent among them — Cranbrook, Maxim, Kohai, Little John, and Silver Kiag. In my sporting notes from Australia in the Witness of the 6th July last I chose 20 horses from the 139 handicapped to win the Melbourne Cup, and the following still remain in the list of candidates : — Enfilade, Silver Prince, Spade Guinea, Aristocrat, Volley, Dick Swiveller, Lonsdale, Recall, Whakawai, L^ichardt, Frisco, Yellow Jacket, Southerly Buster, Moute Christo, Pearl Shell, Mentor, Lord Allen, aud Meteor. I wasn't at all surprised at the scratching of Cranbrook, for in my last letter it was stated that ho had gone " off." After Malua's performance on Saturday last he holds perfectly safe Abercorn, Australian Peer, Dunlop, and Carlyon. The acceptances for the Cup must be very gratifying to the Victorian haudicapper, Mr Barnard. Notwithstanding Recall will be called upon to carry a 101b penalty for his win at the V.R.C. Winter meeting, " Warrior" is still of the same mind as the 6th July last ; Shyer Pbinck or Recall.

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