REVIEW OF THE MELBOURNE CUP WEIGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 25

REVIEW OF THE MELBOURNE CUP WEIGHTS.

In my last letter dealing with the handicap and probable starters I left off my article with the past performances of Bravo, and now come to one of the most likely winners of the Melbourne Cup of Centennial Exhibition year. Silver Prince, syrs, 8.6, by' Anteros out of Sylvia, the property of the squire of Kilmany Park, the Hon. William Pearson. The doings of the chestnut at Auckland and Dunedin as a two-year-old no doubt are still fresh in the minds of New Zealaud sportsmen, and don't require repeating. List year the- Hon. William Robinson, from your side, brought over Enfilade, Disowned, Thunderbolt, and Silver Prince. These horses remained at Randwick until they nearly ran their legs off. Ib wasn't Cutts' fault, for he is an excellent trainer. No. He had to follow orders, and if required had to gallop four miles. These horses received such "a doing" on the training tracks at Randwick that I often thought one of the Hon. William Robinson', horses would have to be carted off to the zoo jnd there devoured by the hungry weasels. Thanks to two of our leading Victorian horseowners, Enfilade and Silver Prince are still in the land of the living, besides possessing four sound "pins." Taking these facts into consideration, the running ot Silver Prince in last year's Cup was certainly creditable, if not astonishing. Clipped from the Australasian : — "A capital start, Silver Prince, en the rails, being quickest on the move. . . . Silver Prince came along to the distance, attended by Tranter, &c. . . . Leaving the straight Silver Prince was in command. . . . Along the river bank and up to the bridge Silver Prince and Algerian were still the two leaders, whilst Recall had gone into shird place. . . . Af tbr passing the bridge Algerian joined Silver Prince, and at the five-furlong po3t the latter had a bit the advantage. . . . Half a mile from horne — [the horses had now travelled a mile and a-he'f of their jouraey]— Algerian was barely in front of Silver Prince. . . . Rounding the bend for the turn into the straight, Silver Prince, from his insido position, once more showed in front. . . . Silver Prince and Algerian raced to the home turn, and they wheel: 1 into the straight on very even terms, Cranbrook and Dunlop coming next. . . . Below the distance Silver Prince aud Algerian were in trouble, and ere they had gone many strides further retired in favour of Dunlop and Silvermine." Here we have the son of Anteros' doings in Australia set forth very explicitly. During the last three months no horse on the Fieinington tracks appears to have enjoyed better health than Silver Prince. Mr F. Dakin deserves to win a Melbourne Cup, for he is a most attentive trainer. His manner is most gentlemanly, and a stranger on his first introduction to him] finds that he is in conversation with a horsey man, who, I am glad to say, is a cut above the " common herd." On Monday morning last Silver Prince was interviewed, and he could bo put down as Al at Lloyd's. Tim Whiffler with 8.11, Calamai 8.2, Malua 9.9, and Dunlop 8.8, each having iv their turn won a Melbourne Cup at syrs old,, why shouldn't Silver Prince with 8.5 up? Should this New Zealand bred horse find the task impossible, perhaps Mr S. G. Cook's six-year-old bay horse Cyclops may be able to do so, for he has been very lightly treated, being cJlcd upon to carry 8.3. Although this fine son of St. Albans — Jewess made his appearance twice as a two-year-old and ran several times as a three, it was not until the V.R.C. Autumn meeting of 1886 that he came prominently before the racing public. On that occasiou he ran second to Matchlock in the Champion Race, defeating Malua and First Prince. Started four times as a four-year-old, securing third place to Trident in the V.R.C. Canterbury Plate. Last season he ran third with 9.2 in Essendon Stakes, won by Carlyon (8.4), and second in Loch Plate, two miles, carrying 31b more than the winner Carlyon. I now come to the New Zealand favourite, Spade Guinea, who I have written about innumerable times since she came over to Australia. Many and many an unfortunate has gone right " stone broke "in sticking to.the chestnut j daughter of King of Clubs — Rupee when she " wasn't on the job." Word comes from her present owner's stable that she is not so well as I they would like her to be — a M little off colour." I don't think I would be doing justice to the sporting readers of the Witness if I was to speak favourably of her chance in the Melbourne Cup. My advice is certainly to keep off for all her Spring engagements ; but should they be in an anxious mood to back aw oatsider, they needn't go any further than Charley Roberts' stable, wherein will be found comfortably quartered the chestnut colt Matador, 4yrs, by Newmaster, out of Constellation, engaged in the Melbourne Cup at 7.10. This horse has always been a great favourite in Sydney, where he wound up a brilliant two-year-old performance by running the New Zealaud racehorse Nelson a dead heat in the A.J.C. All-aged Stakes, one mile, winning easily the run-off. Nelson gave him 2»t. Perfume third. Time, lmin 50sec; run-off, lmin 49|8ec. Mitrailleuse, Kingfish, and Lady Lovell also started. Matador, the property of Mr T. Sampson, on his first appearance iv public appropriated Tattersall's Two-year-old Stakes, beating Zelman and Moorhouse. After this he ran second with 8.12 to Zelman (8 5) in the Richmond Stakes. Matador faced Mr George Watson but twice, running second ia the V.R.C. Nursery Handicap, Moorhouse proving too much for him. Returning homewards Mr Sampson's colt romped home in frout of Stanjey and Honeycomb in the Hawkesbury Rowley Mile, a fortnight from this event I fiud him gaining winning honours at Randwick. In the Champagne Stakes, of 20sovs each, with 300sovs added, six furlongs, Matador easily disposed of the favourite, Abercorn, who left the paddock at 5 to 4 on him. Tha Ohnrmer was third, followed by Bowmont, Boz, Sumatra, and Lord Carrington's brown filly Esperauce. Matador went crooked as a ilj,ree-year-old, but is at present in the pink of condition, with every hope, so Charley Roberts says, of keeping so, At all events, if any of ''Warrior's" friends should have a surplus of cash by them, a guinea wouldn't be thrown away on old Bohemian, who is now an aged horse, having to carry 7.10 in the Melbourne Cup. As regards breeding he ranks among the best of our racehorses, being by Maribyrnong (son of Fisherman — Rose de Florence) out of Nina (daughter of the imported Kingston, out of Ghiva). Bohemian possesses the Bay Middleton, Sir Hercules, and Touchstone strains of blood, Bohemian has not been a success on the turf ; perhaps not his fault, for Captain Armstrong, no doubt, has had the majority of mounts; if not, the horse would have ruined any mar, for I find that out of six and thirty races he has saddled up for he has only won five, running second and third on three different occasions. The greatest feats accomplished by him were his second to The Broker in the Normanby Stakes and his meritorious victory over The Jewel, Lord William, Cerise and Blue, Monte Christo, Keith, Lancer, Bravo, Folly, Highland Mary, and 10 others in , the A. J.C. Great Metropolitan Stakes of 1886. ' The two miles was covered in -3min 31Jsee. In my next DickSwiveller, Invader, Whakawai, Monte

Christo, Pakeha, Southerly Buster, and Meteor will be dealt with. ' ; NEWS IN BRIEF. Betting on the Melbourne Cup was freely commenced at the Victoria Club room 3on Monday evening. Two thousand to 80 was booked about Australian Peer, and 1000 to 30 Malua. The Hon. James White's pair— Volley and Carlyon — came into the market for the V.R.C. Derby aud Melbourne Cup, takers accepting 1000 to 6. Mr F. M'Evoy carried off Dr Beaney's valuable trophy, worth lOOgs, being the winner of the annual billiard tournament at the Victorian : club. The Native team of footballers arrived by the Manapouri from your side on Monday night, and were met at the Queen's Wharf by the vicepresident and committee of the Melbourne Rugby Union. They were greeted by their own football cry of " Ake, ake, ake, kea, kaha." Backers of Maxim met with a surprise when it became known that he was knocked .out of the Melbourne Cup, the son of Musket — Realisation having been backed last week to win over £1000 at 100 to 3$ and 4. The widow and,jfamily of the late Mr Fred Johnson, clerk of the course, was, voted a sura of £100 by the Victoria Racing Club. : Messrs W. Shiels, M.L.A., E. M. Bond, G. B. Lewis, Basil Gray, S. V. Winter, J. E. Rigby, and W. E. Johnson opposed the increase of £20 entrance fee to membership of the V.R.C. Messrs E. V. Browne, Samuel Gardiner, J. Whittinghara, and W. Leonard spoke in favour of the increase. ; Mr Francis F. Dakin, writing to the Argus complaining of the report of the Grand National Steeplechase, states : — " The extent to which a horse perspires depends very much on constitution and temperament ; that some horses like some men sweat more freely than others after severe exertion. People accustomed to horses decide whether they are fit or not by ob'-ervin? how they struggle in a close finish, and if they pull up clear in the wind afterwards." The Melbourne Gun Club intends distributing £10C0 in the following manner: — First prize, 50030V5, and a, trophy, value 5030v5 ; second, 200soV8 : third, 1C o ovs ; and fourth, 50sovs. The" Melbourne Cup Handicap will be shot for on W( dne day, the 7th November, and this rich even}; will be open to all-comers, apd the handicap will r n nge from 30yds to 21yd 3. The following amounts were paid over at the offices of the V.R.C., the result of their late meeting: — MrJ. O Inglis: First; Grand National Hurdle Racr, £1087. Mr W. Y. Bryant : First, Grand National Steeplechase, £1050. Mr R. Orr: First, Flat Race, £596. Mr 8. Miller: First, Maiden Hurdles, £254; third, Grand National Steeplechase, £100 ;— £354. Mr S. G. Cook : Second, Grand National Hurdle Race, £200 ; third, Flat Race, £50 ;— £2so. Mr W. Bailey : First, Selling Hurdle Race, £232. Mr H. G. Stansmore : First, Maiden Steeplechase, £222. Hon. W. Pearson: Second, Grand National Steeplechase, £200. Sir W. J. Clarke : Second, Flat Race, £100. Mr A. Forbes : Third, Grand National Hurdle. Race, £100. Mr R. Howie : Second, Maiden Hurdle Race, £50 ; ! second, Selling Hurdle Race, £3;—£53.3 ;— £s3. Mr R. Clarke : Second, Maiden Steeplechase, £50. Mr J. Tomkins : Third, Maiden Hurdle Race, £25. Mr H. Connolly: Third, Maiden "Steeplechase, £25. Grand total, £4344. Bowes' Tattersall's Race meeting at Elsternwick, this day (Wednesday) week, was well attended, notwithstanding the opening of the Centennial Exhibition and the dreadful state of the weather experienced during the running off !of the several events on the card. The Exhibition Handicap was won by a daughter of Maribyrnong — Needle (Winnie), and the Centennial Steeplechase by Curiosity. The race of the day — Bowes' Tattersall's Cvp — brought to the post seven horses. The winner turned up in Leroy, by Sussex, Ambition second, and Rouge-ol-Noir third. The indefatigable squire of Moonee Valley, Mr Cox, intends next season outbidding the Victorian Coursing Club. • He intends holding at Moonee Valley Plumpton an Australian Champion Stakes, for 64 all-ages, at 25sovs each, with 500.^ovs added. The stakes will be run about the first week in August. Altogether Mr Cox intends offering £1000 for two coursing events.