SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 30 October 1890, Page 24

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

(By Hobi Poene.) Melbourne, October 21. THE TURF.

The strike, whioh has now happily died a natural death, made the movements of tbe XJnion Company's steamers of such an erratio character that it has been with fear and trembling I have sat down to indite a letter to you. When they have eventually condescended to steam away it has been bo late in the week that an isßue of the Witness has baen altogether lost, aud this must be my sole excuse for not having kept you better posted with regard to matters concerning the Caulfield Cup meeting just concluded. When I last wrote my undivided fancy was Whimbrel for tbe double— Caulfield Guineas and Cup ; but at that time the discovery had not been made that by a clerical error in the published conditions of the Caulfield Cup tbe winner of any flat race of the value of 200aova after the declaration of weightfl woqld be penalised 71b for that event. These conditions read as follows :— " The Caulfield Cup, a handicap of 2000sov8 ; 1500aova of the eaid sum to go to the first horse, 350?0vs to the second horse, and 150iova to the third. Tbe winner of any handicap flat race of the value of lOOaovs (the Toorak Handicap exceptcd), after the declaration of the weights, to carry 51b extra ; of two auch flat racep, or any flat race of the value of 200sovs, 71b extra ; of any such race of the value of 50Q30V8, 141b extra. Tbe handicap weight of the winner of the A.J.C. Darby to be not less than 7 7, if handicapped below that weight. Penalties not cumulative except where expressly stated. One mile and a half." The omission of the word " handicap " or "such" between tbe words "any" and "flat" in the second sentence pavo rise to the trouble. Of courte it was argued that what was meant was that a wirmor of any handicap flit race of the value of 2Cosovb should be impoeted an extra 71b ; but as it was not so nominated in the bond the stewards of the y,A.T.C. deemed discretion the better part of judgment, and decided to let tbe thing rest as it stood — undoubted blunder though it was. The beauty of the thing is that the slip has been perpetrated year after year without anyone discovering i\, till "Augur," of the Australasian, directed attention to it. Of course, had I knewn this in time, I would never have stood Whimbrel for the double ; and as Dan O'B,rien had ostensibly baoked him to win a good stake in the Caulfield Cup, I was quite prepared to see him take a back seat in the Guineas. But, after that bad passed over all right, it was discovered that Whimbrel was doomed to add 71b to his 7 7 apportionment, for the simple reason that he bad won the Wycombe Stakes, of 350sove, at the late A.J.O. meeting. So that on Saturday Whimbrel was amongst the missing. I don't think it would have made any difference ; he couldn't have had a possible chance with either Vengeance or Loyal Stone. The latter would undoubtedly have won had be been fortunate enough to get as clear a run as the Ballarat horse did, instead of whioh he was in difficulties right through the journey till halfway up the bend leading to the home turn. Your cabled account of the race will show you Vongoance prominent right through the piece, and always amongst the leading division ; whilst Loyal Stone was never dangerous until halfway up the straight The time— 2min 38sec —completely settled tbe hash of the vast majority of the supposed " dead birds," Pyg-

malion getting into a bad position round the back of the course, and never being able to get up. Vengeance is a five year-old Bon of Newminster and Vindex, and id owned by Mr A. R. Blackwaod (of M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co.). His previous performances bavo not been up to much ; but a fow weeks back he waß brought down to Caulfield, and his exhibition in a handicap there was of Buch a high order of merit— albeit Captain Armstrong proved quite equal to the occasion— that a number of the recognised " talent ' of the Flemington training track immediately rushed back into town and backed him to win the Caulfield Cup. He was trained by Aleo Taylor at Ballarat, and his party have thrown in for a very large stake. Loyal Stone, who Buffered defeat by a head, ib a four - year - old colt by Preoious Stone from Loyal Peeresß, and was bred by Mr Samuel Gardiner, of Bundoora Park. [Memo.— ln the "Victorian Stud Book " Loyal Stone is returned as being by The Marquis or Precious Stone, but theie is little doubt but that he is by the latter, and is generally so accredited.] He was coming very fast in the Caulfield Stakes, and although Mr Gardiner is not a betting man the outßido public plunged on to him, and were rowarded by having an exceedingly good run for their money. Enuc had been bruited abroad as a real good thing for tbe Toorak Handicap, of a mile, on the first day ; and, in a field of fiveand-twenty, his price was sto 2 only. He did not Bhow up prominently therein, it was said on account of being blocked. Be this as it may, he certainly displayed great dash of foot as well as Btaying powers in the Caulfield Oup, as he too, like Loyal Stone, came out of the extreme ruck and was going faster than anything at the finish.

The Admiral's win in the Caulfield Stakes was a very meritorious one, and his admirers were enabled to get on at a very remunerative price, for although the mwepaper men quote him at 8 to 1 there were any quantity of 10' a and 12's knocking about. It is not often one sees Tom Halea' mount go out at auch long odds as that. The fact is that the bookmakera had set it down as the " Megaphone Stakes " ; so they placed a prohibitive price on the Queensland colt, and only fielded against tbe others, the consequence being that they were considerably on the wrong side of the ledger when the tail broke. Tho Admiral had given Sam Oook a great deal of trouble with his teeth, and owing to that the Pytchley Lodge stable allowed him to run comparatively unbacked. Titan's overthrow in the Caulfield Guineas was another severe facer to " punter?," as bis gallops on the training track were good enough to lobb a fortune on, The moßt remarkable thing about the affair was that the more money was put on the chestnut son of Chester and Tempe the louder became tho fielders' clamour against him. " 111 lay Titan ! " " Even money Titan ! " " Five to four Titan 1 " " Six to four Titan ! " could be held all over the place : and when, induced by the lengthened odds, his friends would rally round him and plank their stuff on him, though they would drive him back again to even money, there was always tons of that forthcoming. They do say— and the " they " are people who are pretty generally accredited with knowing what's what— that " bookies " with only £50 books had always a " century " to lay against Titan, and the whole transaction had a very ancient and fish- like aroma. His own particular party are divided in their opinions as to whether he is not an arrant cur or whether he had not undergone a severe enough preparation. Megaphone s late owner, Mr (J. Brown, of Queensland, waß very pronounced in bis assertion that the son of Newbold and Sound would not be able to race unless he had tbe life nearly punched out of him on the training track, ana flatly refused to stand him for a shilling when he saw him. W. Hickenbotham had been giving Titan and Megaphone fairly strong work— flutters of a mile and a furlong and bo forth ; aud now it is maintained that he" waß too lenient with them, and the manner in which Tom Payten was wont to bußtle Titan along as a two-year-old is cited as proof positive on the point.

Talking about Tom Payten reminds me that he has not started bo well for the syndicate ib be was wont to do when he had charge of Mr James White's two-year-olds. He brought five of these over with him — namely, Pie Crust (sister to Rudolph), Corvette (half sister to Volley), Medina, Thirlmere, and Algerine (half sister to Gibraltar) ; but up to the present, albeit Medina and Corvette both started first favourites in their events, they have - performed very indifferently. Sooth to say, we Beem to have a very fast set of two-year-olds out this season, Lord Hopetoun (who won ftbe Foal Stakee) being a regular bobby- dazzler. She (by Nordenfeldt out of Steppe) who was beaten (unplaced) in the Nursery Handicap on Saturday, had been recently injured on the hock, bo that you must not pay any attention to her defeat. Mr S. Gardiner was again in evidence in that event, his brown filly Submission (by The Hook from Loyal Lady), who had ran a great race in the Foal Stakes after getting badly away, securing an excellent meritorious victory. Submission is not in the Maribyrnong PKte, but Hartington (by Guesswork from Wellington's dam Frou Frou), who ran her to a bead, is } and don't you forget it. There are a fow clinking good two-year-olda I wot of did not disport at the Caulfiold trysts ; and amongst them The Libel (by Slanderer — Waitress) in W. Filgato's stable. He can both gallop fast and stay. So cm Sadim, under Frank M'Naniara'a care. The latter is a full brother to Midae, who is by your old New Zealand identity Oucbis from Countess. We haven't seen many of tho Oudeiu Btock as yet ; but what we have eeen aio true chips off the old block. By the wny, Oudeis has turned a fearful "Ravage." Ho was al way a bit that way inclined, washo not? FrarkM'Namara was one of the "talent" that spotted t'-o^'Ven-gcanco shunt," and ho took £500 to 20 about him aB soon as over he got b<?ck into town.

Your representatives did not appear in flying colours on the classic heath of Caulfield. Leopold was reported to bave pulled up rather " dickoy " after a gallop during the week ; but tbe cocky little chestnut looked as gay as a ripe peach whou he was stripped for the fray. The pace proved a bit too " superior " fcr him though, added to which he was another of the unfortunates who were compelled to make heavy weatbor of it during various stagaß of the voyage. Anothor Maorilander was unfortunate enough to make a late run in the Toorak Handicap on the first day— l do not for one moment imagine with any idea of scooping tho pool, but just aB a sort of feeler like. That was all nome of the " not wantod on the voyage" division wanted, and a** he played right into their bands, he ?ot left third. His name is Alcinous, and on referring to my "Turf Regieter" I discovered that he was a very far cry from being unknown to fame on your side of the water. I shall await further developments in thia connection with some interest. U'tto repeato a nag named Investigator, who simply smothered his field in the October Handicap, of five furlongs and a half, at Els'ernwick Park last Thursday ;his weight in tl at event being 6.11, They had him firßt favourite f< v the last event of the day, the Windsor Handicap, on Saturday, his handicap weight being 6,8 in, addition,

to which he had to put up a 51b penalty. Bat he ran up against a snag in Newton, an animal in Redfeam'B stable, who was once upon a time passed round as good goods for the Caul--: field Cup, Newton is a six- year-old by Newminster from Benzine. And now, I suppose, I had better give you my ideaß respecting the V.R.O. Derby and Melbourne Cup. Gibralter, who has been under a cloud ever since his arrival at Flemington, has been an absentee from the training track i yesterday (Monday) and this morning, and rumour hath it that in consequence of naving sustained a bruised heel he is to be sent back to Sydney forthwith, in company with Banjo. Notts verrons. However, we will dismiss him from consideration, The Admiral is undoubtedly a great colt, but to my mind Annesley is a better. Gatling is looking remarkably well at present, and may show up prominently. To sum up I think either Annesley or Whimbrel will win, with The Admiral next best. Enuc finished so much like a Btayer in the Caulfield Cup (in which he had very bad luck throughout; George Anwin, his rider, shedding bitter tears of mortification on his return to the weighing room, as he was certain he must have won had he been able to get out of the ruok in time) that I must give him a big say in the decision of the ten thousand pound event. So I must Loyal Stone, upon whom J. Hayes finished none too well, as he was a good three-quarters of a length in front of Vengeance at the carriage paddock, when he attempted to put the "mop" on to his prad, and instead Btruck Vengeance on the head, and, leaving Loyal Stone's head go, allowed him to get all abroad. I believe Mr S. Gardiner is bo disgusted with the way in which his horse was bandied that he intends putting up a first-class man (probably Ted Power) in the Melbourne Cup, even if he has to carry 41b overweight. Carbine is doing wonderfully well ; but then it ia common chatter at Flemington that Walter Hickonbotham prefers the chances of Tantallon. I grant that the trainer should be the beat judge, but I am satisfied that Carbine will beat Tantallon wherever they finish. Malos, if all is true we bear about him (an 3 he certainly looks one mass of muscle at present), must be very difficult to beat; and so also must The Queen, after her running in the late Metropolitan Stakes with 61b more on her back. From Enuo, Loyal Stone, Carbine, Melos, and The Queen I am morally convinced the winner will come, and if it is a fine day, with the course hard and dry, I shall stand them Cabbine, Melos, and The Queen; but if the atmosphere is at all heavy, and the ground holding, then shall I go for Enuc, Loyal Stone, and Melos, Whatever beats Willy Filgate'a colt The Libel in the Maribyrnon? Plate will win. The Libel iB by Slanderer from Waitress. Megaphone showed symptoms of returning to form in a gallop with Carbine this morning. From appearances I do not think that the " mighty Marvel " will blazon his deeds on the scroll of racing fame during the meeting ; but Jimmy Monagban's other pair— Wilprn, and her two-year-old brother Yarran— will ; bo also will Epi ("another of the EpigramNellie family).