SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. (By Our Australian Sporting Correspondent" Warrior.") Melbourne, September 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 1922, 28 September 1888, Page 24

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. (By Our Australian Sporting Correspondent" Warrior.") Melbourne, September 18.

With the Rosehill and Hawkesbury Raciug Clubs' meetings both things of the past, and the Australian Jockey Club Spring meeting on the verge of commencing, I might well state that we are now right in the thick of the racing season. As to the Rosehill fixture, I will merely note en passant that Mr J. Mayo won the Cup with the aid of First Flaneur, a son of that unbeaten wonder Grand Flaneur and Fair Duchess. The latter is by Blair Athol from Miss Roland, by Fitzroland from Miss Bowzer, the dam of that well-known two-year-old Miss Elizabeth, who, when the property of the Marquis of Hastings, was backed for " tons " of money for the English Derby and finished "nowhere." Mr Mayo followed up that victory by running' the Queen with 8.12 in the City and Suburban Handicap the s%me afternooD, in which 1 , the daughter of Black Swan was beaten by Faith (6.8), a daughter of Vespasian and Hope, by four lengths. The mile was covered in lmin 43aec, Melos, a three-year-old brother to The Broker, included one of the field, but with 7.0 he wasn.ever dangerous. Teddy Yuille started in the Rosehill Cup, but with 6.8 the son of Anteros was never prominent ; nor was Krupp with a similar impost. In the Sapling Stakes Parthenia, by Idalium from Young Zoe, ran second to Little Lady; and Teddy Yuille carried 810 into second place in the Olympic Prize, one mile, won by Pirate (10.9). CAULFIELD CUP. In choosing those horses whose names appeared in my letter of the 7th inst. I did not give you the performances of the following, owing to the want of space at my disposal.' I will now pick up the thread and proceed to give you the best races xun by the undermentioned candidates. I will start with The Nun, a five-year-old mare, who is handicapped at 8.5. This daughter of First King and Pilgrimage is in a very peculiar stable — that of J. Wilson, jun. — and one that the principals thereof do not hesitate to scratch their horses, yea, even at the eleventh hour. Well, to give just one instance of their amenableness to their wishes and non-consideration for the public I may state that on one occasioa Ringmaster was made a very hot favourite for the Metropolitan Stakes, and justly so, for the little son of Yardley encompassed the very best two-mile, gallop ever done at Flemington prior to going across the border. One metallician in Sydney got wind of the gallop, and backed Ringmaster for some thousands of pounds. In a few days the horse and his trainer arrived at Randwick safe and sound, and the said race was voted a moral. Now the trainer was naturally anxious. to get a "bit" about his horse at a long price, so he went to the bookie who had supported the favourite and asked him to lay £1000 at the same price as that at which 'the penciller had got on. " Qh, no," said the wielder of the black lead ; " you must take the market odds." " Now," said the trainer, " if you don't lay me a thousaud at a long price I will scratch the horse." " You are not game," retorted the bookie. Master Wilson reflected a moment, and said, "No, I am not game." But what did he do ? Why, he immediately walked off to the A J.C. office and caused the pen to be put through Ringmaster's name, and that within a very short time of the race being decided. Returning to one of the large hotels Wilson met the bookie, who met him with smiles, and goi <g up to him said, "I am not game, but I Lav 3 scratched my horse." The metallician was dumbfoundered, as he had not the ghost of a show of hedging a copper, and so lost a nice little sum by his avariciousnesß. All this goes to show that such trainers are kittle cattle; but I do jiot think such a thing will occur in ihe case of The Nun, who ran very respectably as a two-year-old. As a three her best performances were running third to Isonomy in ''the V.A.T.C. Caulfifild Stakes and carrying off the V.R C. Oaks, Maddelina and Tamarisk being behind her. As a four-year-old she won the Geelong Handicap with 7.5, running the mile and a-half in 2min 42£ sec, Gardenia (9.5) and Crown Brand (7.1) being second and third. At the same meeting' she won the Stewards' Purse, one mile, with 7.11, in Ijnin 48see. and afterwards annexed the Brighton Cup at Elstemwick Park with 8.8, the mile and a furlong and a half being left behind in 2tnin 9sec, Menotti (7.2) and Childe Harrold (7.13) filling the places. At the A.J.C. Autumn meeting The Nun appropriated the City Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 8.2, in 2min 42§sec, Dainty, who subsequently won the V.R.C. Oaks, being second .with 7.9. Cairo (7.10) and Lava (7.9) making a dead heat of it for third honours. Those' are her best performances, and without a doubt "when the money is 1 on" — by the right parties, mark you—this daughter of Pilgrimage will be worth an investment, not till then. It was generally thought here that she would have started in the Hawkesbury Handicap, but she did not. If there is one horse in the race more than another whose backers will have a good ran for their money it is ' ;:' J , Mentor, a foar-year-old son of Swiyeller and Nightmare, a sister to no less an illustrious horse than old Commotion. This'- beautiful horse is owned by one of our straightiest goers, Mr Donald Wallace, and trained by Walter Hickenbotham, a very painstaking man, who steered Swrreller on several occasions when tbe

gon of Snowden won. With 8.5 Mentor should render a first-class account of himself, as he has proved that he is made of the stuff from which Cup winners come. His first win was with 6 7 in the V.R.C. Spring! Handicap, the 10 furlongs being traversed iv 2min 9£sec ; The Levite (8.7) was second »ad Ragman (6.10) third. Then he just suffered defeat in the Geelong Gold Cup, one mile and three-quarters, by Gardenia (8.11), he- having 72, the distance being covered in 3min llsec. Mentor then wou the Foal Stakes at the same meeting, defeating Boz, which he followed up by annexing the V.R.C. Brunswick Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, with 7.1, in 2mhi BJsec. The Yeoman (7.7) was second and Escutcheon (7 5) third. A second to Remus in the Free Handicap, and a third in the Place Handicap, won by Ben Bolt at the same meeting saw the last of him in public. That he will be a very hard horse to dispose of I am very confident, the more especially when I take into consideration the excellent preparation he has done at Flemington along with Enfilade, who is also coming on grandly. Whilst on the topic of Flemington I might as well unburden myself with regard to the prospects of Whakawai. — This magnificent specimen of the thoroughbred is a coal black horse by Leolinus from an own sister to the famous mare Luiline, named Lure. In the great mile and a-half handicap, to be decided on the 20th prox. this New Zealander will be called upon to carry 7.11. That he i.s well able to bear that burden there can be no gainsaying, yet the son of Lure is very harshly treated compared to several others whom I might name, notably Meteor, Chicago, Lamond, and Worcester. Whakawai won the V.R.C. Maiden Plate, covering a mile and a-quarter, with 7.12, in 2min 16|sec, Pakeha and Jebusite filling the places. Against the slowness of the time it may be urged that the ground was exceaßively heavy owing to several days' rain, but then he won "by a parish." In the Glen Huntly Handicap, at Caulfield, Whakawai (8 2) was badly interfered with by Dividend (7.12), and yet he was only beaten a neck. As Dividend since then has won the Mentone Cup with 8.3, the black horse must not be|despised. No one would be more pleased to see Mr W. E. Dakin lead in the winner of the j Caulfield Cup than myself, and with ordinary luck there are more unlikely things come to pass. The Rosehill Cup served to throw a little light on the capabilities of Touchstone, who is weighted at 7.6 at Caulfield. With 2lb less this son of Vespasian and Grey Esperance ran a very respectable second to First Flaneur (8.0) in the Rosehill Cup, the mile and a-half baing left behind in 2min 42£ sec. Had it not been for being twice disappointed Mr Gannon would have had the satisfaction of getting his purchase money back at almost the first time of asking. Prior to coming to Sydney the Queensland-owned horse performed fairly well as a two-year-old, but on the three occaBiona he met Lord Headington, a son of Melbourne, he had bad luck. Touchstone's best performance is without a doubt his win in the Queensland Cup with 7.4, wheu he is credited with negotiating the dozen furlongs in 2min 40aec, which, if correct, makes his Cup chance a very rosy one indeed. Under the fostering care of Harry Raynor every justice will be done this four-year-old. At the present time the son of The Drummer and Corisande-^ CnicAflO— is first favourite with 7.4. This five-year-old horse is most favourably handicapped. Up to the present, however, he has not shone over a distance, his best performance being undoubtedly his victory at Elsternwick Park, where he won the concluding 'handicap over a mile and a furlong and a-half in the most hollow fashion, and in good time. With the difference in his weight Chicago should be able to encompass the Caulfield Cup journey in about 2min4oaec, which should, I venture to say, win. I will deal with the others in my next, and then probably go right out for one. SPORT IN BRIEF. On Saturday morning, when Ted Power was riding The Australian Peer in a gallop at Randwick, with Arsenal as a companion, the latter made a grab at Power's leg. Fortunately the horse also grabbed the stirrup leather. The jockey's leg was badly bruised. Ringmaster, by First King — Yardley, is now in England under the charge of Mr J. E. Savill, of The Assyrian fame. Last week Dunlop broke down badly, and will not be further persevered with. Silver Prince is hardly doing the work at Flemiugton I like to see a Melbourne Cup candidate performing, nor is Tranter, although now very well, doing anything out of the ordinary ruu. At the Mordialloc races on Tharsday last a pony— unbacked, mark you — got home in front of the favourite in a pony handicap. Someone in the crowd told the lad on the first animal, Bickio, to dismount, which he did. The owner of Grievous, the second pony, entered a protest which was sustained. Now, as the boy was apparently justified by extraordinary circumstances in dismounting, I think the stewards erred in their decision. Mr Martin Loughlin, the well-known Ballaratian horseowner, who has been laid up with inflammation of the lungs, is now slowly recovering Andy Ferguson, about whom vague rumours were afloat last week owing to his suffering a relapse, is coming around slowly. It will be remembered that Ferguson met with an accident iv the V.R C. Grand National Steeplechase. I notice by one of the New Zealand papers that Mr Henry Redwood, the father of the turf in that colony, stated^that he was an older racing man than the late'Mr John Tait. Granted ; but what will Mr Redwood say to the following, which appeared in the Tasmanian last week: — " I think we may claim for Tasmania the honour of possessing the oldest racing man of the colonies in Mr William Field. He commenced his racing career over half a century ago. One of the first racehorses he owned was a brown gelding, Will-If-I-Can, by Buffalo, who won a sweepstakes at the Launceston meeting of 1836, defeating Miss Portley and Theresa. Will-IM-Can was subsequently matched by Mr j Field and the late Mr William O'Cotfnor against one of the champions of the day— Mr Bayntons Liberty. The match took place at Ross, and ended in a triumph for the youngsters." Reports having been circulated that the horses bred at Duckenfield Park were predisposed to nasal disease, the Hon. John Eales has had his stud examined by that eminent authority, Mr F. ™ • Day, and the following is his report thereon :— " Randwick, September 9, 1888. This is w certify that on the fifth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, at we request of the Hon. John Eales, of Duckenf 1( * Park> I made a most careful examination or the following thoroughbred stallions— viz , Grandmaster, Henchman, Crown Prince, Glenw«, and New Holland, specially for the purpose "L^feining if either or any of them were affected with any form of hereditary disease "seiy to affect their progeny ; and more especially with reference to the existence of the malady known as 'nasal disease'; and I am of opinion that the above-mentioned horses are constitutionally sound and free from any here««ary or contagious disease, t also carefully 1!?,. 12 thoroughbred yearling, colts and nme fillies, as well as a large stud of brood mares, J

and other thoroughbred stock, and I did not { detect any one of them showing the slightest symptom of hereditary or contagious disease. — (Signed) Fbedejbic William Day, member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons." I notice that St. Leger and Nordenfelt have been nominated for the V.R.C. Sires' Produce Stakes of 1892. Last Saturday there w^as a race meeting held at Elsternwick Park, which was remarkably well attended. As the whole of the proceeds, including the caterer's profits, were to go to the charities of this city they should receive very handsome donations. For the principal event, the Blsternwick Park Handicap, Sorella (who has 6.12 in the Caulfield Cup) was made favourite, but she was beaten by Crown Brand (6 13). The mare had 7.8. She was very badly ridden, however, by Ettridge, and should have won. Lord Headington, the Qjueenslander, in the same stable as the favourite, also started. The son of Melbourne" was, of course, only out for an airing. He is a very handsome and racinglike chestnut, and " when ready " will take no end of beating in whatever company he starts in. Mayhap it will be the Caulfield Cup. He is the leased property of Mr W. Moffatt, who held a similar lien over Ben Bolt when the son of Newbold won the big mile and a-half event. In the Mordialloc Handicap, run at Mordialloc on Thursday last, St. John, who quite recently ran a dead heat at Moonee Valley with Richruby, and wad beaten in the run off, and Elti were adjudged to have ran a dead heat. In the run off St. John beat the son of Robinson Crusoe. Mr George Davis, one of oar straightest of straight horseowners, was elected last week to represent the North Gippsland Province in the Upper House. The sporting folk in South Australiaa are in ecstaciea over the passing of the Totalisator Bill by the Legislative Council, THE BETTING MARKET. On Saturday night the following were the ruling quotations : — CAULFIELD CUP. 100 to 7 agst Chicago (tk) 100 — 6 Dick Swiveller (off). 100 — 6 Mentor (off) 100 — 4 The Charmer (tk) 100 — 4 — Lamond (off, 1000 to 35 tk) 100 — 3 Gardenia (tk) 100 — 3 Remus (tk) 100 - 3 Pakeha (off) 100 — 3 Stanley (off) 100 — 3 Enfilade (off) 100 — 2 Botliwell (off) 100 — 2 Meteor (off) 100 — 2 Tourbillon (off) 100 — 2 Honejdeiv (off) 100 — 1 Sorella (tk) 100 — 1 Dividend (tk andwd) V.X.C. DERBY. 5 to 2 agst Volley (off) 5 — 1 Lonsdale (wd) MELBOURNE CUP. 100 to 7 agst Carlyon (off) 100 — 4 Malua (off, 200 9 tk) 100 — 4 Dick Swiveller (off) In Sydney on Monday night a notable move was made in favour of Carbine for the V.R.C. Derby, and the son of Musket and Mersey was backed from 10 to 1 down to 4 to 1, which caused Volley to ease down to 3 to 1, ffbich was taken to the amount of several hundreds. For the Caulfield Cup 5000 to 50 was taken about Mentor, 1000 to 5Q about Whakawai, 2000 to 60 about Dick Swiveller. For the Melbourne Cup, Carlyon, Australian Peer, Matador, Malua, and Bravo were most fancied, but little business was done. COURSING. Dick Banner, after 15 years' service as slipper to all our principal coursing clubs, has resigned that position. It is proposed to make him a handsome present. Next Saturday the season of 1880 will be brought to a conclusion. Mr Cox has already issued the full programme for two great stakes to be run next season on the Moonee Valley Plumpton. The first is the ValleyjCup, for 128 all-aged greyhounds, atssovs each, with 500sovs added ; the winner to receive 600aovs, the runner-up 200sovs, and other prizes in proportion. The dates of the meeting are May 30, 31, June 3 and 4. The Australian Champion Stakes, to be run on June 26, 27, and 28, is for 64 all ages at 25sovs each, with 500aovs added ; the winner to receive lOOOsovs, the second 340sovs, and the third and fourth lOOsovs each, four dogs 50sovs each, and eight dogs 25sovs each. This is by far the most valuable stake ever announced iv Australia, and it is expected that two or three first-class greyhounds will be sent over from the Old Country. Two other meetings are also notified for next season — viz., the Derby and Oaks, on May 1, 2, and 3, and the Ladies' Bracelet on August 29 and 30. AQUATICS. On Friday last Searle and Neilson met on the Parramatta river in their inatchfor £200 a side. After a splendid race Searle asserted his superiority and won by five lengths in 21min 34|sec over the championship course. Searli-, who, it will be remembered I ventured to hazard an opinion, after he defeated Stausbury would prove to be our future champion, would find ready backers to match him against Hanlan j^tn fact on the return journey from the scene of the match in the steamer Searle was backed to row the Canadian for £200 a-side, and Mr Lees took a wager of £1000 to £800 from Mr Spencer that Hanlan beat Searle. Should Hanlan agree to row the Clarence sculler articles will be drawn up during the week. The International Regatta to be held in Port Phillip Bay in November next promises to be a great success. The Government have promised a subsidy of £1000 towards prizes. CYCLING. The Centennial championship meeting of the Cyclists' Union on the Association ground was attended by from 8000 to 10,000 spectators. The principal event was the 10-mile championship of Australia, which was contested by T. W. Busst (of Victoria) H. Black (of South Australia), T. P. Jenkins, E. M'Donald, H. A. Mutton, and G. W. Whatmore (of New South Wales). Mutton made the pace until the last few laps, when he had to retire, and a grand struggle between Busst and Jenkins resulted in favour of the Victorian by about 10yds. Black was the only other competitor who completed the distance, and he was about 50yds behind at the finish. ' The time was 32min 56|sec. The onemile amateur championship of New South Wales was won by Jenkins, Whatmore being second, and Mutton third; while the one-mile invitation scratch race was also won by Jenkins, Busst being second, Whatmore third, and Black fourth. The time for the championship was 3min ssec, and the invitation race 3min 14 3-ssec. ATHLETICS. By the last Orient boat there arrived here Woolf Bendoff, a London - pugilist. He has issued a cartel to meet any man in Australia, any style, for from £200 t» £1000 a-side. Slavin, who has been touring the inland town's of Victoria and also Tasmania, will arrive to-morrow, so that the probability is that a match will be arranged. . ■ ■ There is every likelihood of Slavin and Dooley meeting, but if a match is agreed upon it will most probably be " discussed" in private, owing to the " sport " having incurred the displeasure of Inspector Pewtress of (jhig city. „ . ;

Names. SB s" I ■ HonJ White N.S.W. Mr W Gannon, N.S.W. Hou W A Long, N.S.W. ... Mr X Donovan, V Mr J Chambers, N.S.W. „. Mr II Oxenlmm, N.S.W. ... Mr W C Cooper, N.S.W. ... Mr M loughlln, V Mr John Mayo N.S.W. Mr W Kelso, N.S.W. Mr S IMelder, N.S.W. Mr WY Bryant, V Mr S Nathan, V Mr DS Wallace, V MrCKrushka.V Mr WM. House, N.S.W. ... Mr C Wilson, V Mr J Wilson, junr., V. MrSGCook.V VTr T Eorrigan, V Mr J Cox, N.S.W Mr S Miller, V MrJCripps, V Mr R Phillips, V Mr A E Cornwell. N.S.W. ... Mr W Miller, N.S.W. Mr M SM'KRnzie, V. Mr H Sfcri kland, V Mr J Scobie, V 11 2 6 1 1 6 3 2 2 8 9 1 5 3 6 3 3 1 4 3 5 9 6 3 5 6 3 1 3 as 6 13 2 6 15 ? 7 14 17 6 22 tf 18 5 10 1 6 6 13 14 9 11 11 19 6 4 10 £1,Q728 3750 3495 3372 3028 2715 2633 2106 1987. . 1750, 3668. 164&, 1547, 1480 1365 1350 1329 1 1300 • 1283 1255 1239 1170. 1141 1121 1115 1089 103» 1039 1007