SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 31

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Horn PofcNE.

Me^bovßNß, January 27. THE TURF.

We haye had some intensely hot weather of late, but the f niall attendance at Caulfield on Saturday could not be assigned to this cause, seeing that the close proximity of the classic heath to the sea is conducive to those sports who favour having a whiff or two of ozone whilst pursuing their pleasure on a broiling hot day favouring it with their presence. Nor oould any fault be found with the programme submitted, more especially as at least three of the events set down for discussion were likely to oast some bide lights (as it were) on approachiDg events of the autumn. The fact of the matter is that people haven't the money to spend on racing nowadays in Victoria, and even those who did put in an appearance limited their speculation to such a modified extent that even although the fielders experienced a rare throw-in almost along the line they did not benefit muoh thereby when

it was all, over. Two or three years back, given a series df turns-up like those of Saturday, the big men of the Victorian Ring —such as "The Count " (who is back with us once more after an enjoyable trip to England) and Alf . Joseph — would have Betted a cool "thou." each for a certainty. A field of eight youngsters contested the opening event — the Holiday Stakes, of five furlongs, Tom Hales's Lady Love 8.4 starting favourite at 3 to 1, whilst Malachite, Ishmaelite, Goldsmith, and Kea were each supported at from 4t05t0 1. The favourite and Kea 7.6 got well away and fought out the finish, Lady Love winning cleverly by half a length, whilst Ishmaolite 7.12 was three lengths away third, with Malachite fourth ; time, Imin 4sec. Lady Love is a bay filly by Neckersgat from Lady Lovelace, and is therefore full sister to Portsea. Kea is a bay colt by Glorious from The Lark, whilst Ishmaclite is a black colb by Eiridspord from Blonde. The three of them are engaged in the rich Sires' Produce Stakes at the forthcoming T.R.C. Autumn meeting. There was another young gentleman started in the Holiday Stakes who was the •• cynosure of all eyes " as the two-year-olds indulged in their preliminary canters. This was Mr S. H. Gollan's Bonnie Scotland, a full brother to Dan O'Brien's " bobbydazzler " Loyalty. He is a fine-looking colt, built on slightly bigger lin* s than Loyalty, with a beautiful, intelligent-look-ing head, stt on to a rare "roin." His prospects of success in his initial venture on Australian soil were terribly discounted through his possessing a most pronouueed " pimple" (quite aldermanic, in faob!); and getting last off the mark, he remained in that position throughout the journey. That he possesses the knack of galloping though was made manifest, and as he is entered for all tho good things as a three-year-old I shall follow hiß training track performances with much interest, I can assure you.

The Miller brothers sprang a rare surprise in the mile and a-half Hurdle Race— even on themselves. Wairua (with 12.0 up) was at 2to 1 in a field of five opposera, whilst Orpheus 9.12 was stoutly supported down to 7 to 4 ; 7 to 1 bbing on offer against The Indian 9.13 and ■ Solomon 11.12. Although it wns an open secret that The Indian possessed phenomenal pace his party did not back him, as in a trial ho had " cracked up" at a mile, from which they concluded thab he was somewhat deficient in staying ability. But they committed a terrible " bloomer " over the matter, as The Indian rushed to the front approaching the stand, and although Wairua got on terms with him at the back of the course, he came away again aud won without an effort by half a dozen lengths in 3min 1-^aec, Wairua being second and Solomon third. The Indian is a four-year-old black gelding by Glorious from Hinnomungio (the dam of Duration and Endurance), and " from information received " he is no smoucb over big fences. So that the Messrs Miller may possibly develop something approaching another Redleap come next July. The Anniversary Handicap, of a rsile and three furlongs, was the principal item in the afternoon's racing, and for thig a field of 13 sported silk. Ted Power being up on Marco 8.8 was good and sufficient reason for the sou of Martini-Henry to see a shorb price, and at the fall of the flag do better odds than 3 to 1 were forthcoming about Jem Redfearn's gelding. Paddy M'Gowan had the mount on Brotherton 8.3, and he too met with consistent support, as also did (at 6'a) a bay colt named Tellus 7.0 in Walter Hickenbotham's stable, who had the assistance of Dicky Walker, who has been remarkably successful of late, and never looked or rode better in his life. Tollus is a three-year-old son of Fell Mell and Evening Star (the dam of Commotion), and was supposed by good judged to possess an excellent chance of repeating Comedian's Bagot Handicap coup. He didn't appear to me to get any too well positioned duriDg the race, however, and although he battled along (especially towards the finish) with a determination worthy of "old Com.'* himself, he failed to finish amongst the fi/sb flight. Miraculeux 6.10, Salient 7.8, Pathfinder 6.7, Josephine 7.7, and Ayah 6,7 were first sway, and maintained their advantage foe fully a mile. Approaching the home turn » battle royal took place between Salient and Josephine, the mare holding the advantage till the last half furlong, when Salient closed with her arid succeeded in passing the post a neck ia advance ; Pathfinder being third a length andt a-half off, Josephme^ with Pastoral 1 4 fourth, Straigbtflre 8 4 fifth, and Brokherbon sixth. Time, 2min 28£aec. Salient is a brown colt, three years old, by Qudeis from Nanoy, and is the property of that thorough old sport, Boh Howie 1 formerly of Ballarafc, but now of Mordidlloc. Last spring he won the South Australian Jockey Club Derby, and doubtless a remembrance of that fact caused his reputed owner, Harry Goddard, of South Australia, to stand him to win a very nice stake, a fact which was emphasised by thafc : gentleman with a bouud (that wouldn't have I disgraced one of Fennimore Cooper's "noble ; red men ") from the grand stand as soon as the j crimson jacket with white star and black cap j had passed the post. Salients starting pricei was 7to 1. In consequence of his victory (the ; stake being $115) Salient came under Mr F. F. I Dakin's purview, or sphere of authority, with | regard to the Australian €up, for which he ha» been penalised an extra 31b, bringing his apportionment up to 7.5. i A l(?i to, \ shot got home in th.o t Steeplechase! Paddy Bxilger piloting Macduff : 10.9. to victory- liy four lengths over Elfia 12.9, ; Glenview 11.3;. an.d 1:1, others, in 4min 10£ see. ■ Macduff is an agecfc gelding,, by Hamlet from Judo, and bad oaly feeen under the care of Willie Qiasfccock for- about 10 weeks, previously.. Jupiter feSS at the last obstacle and broke hia neck, whilst Bob H.owie'B Elphinatone collided with him as he lay prostrate,, sending yoWiPg Howie out of tha saddle,. Unfortunately one of his feet oaught W the stirrup-iron, and he was dragged along for nearly a furlong. Those who witnessed the contretemps felt certain that Howie was fatally injured ; but on being conveyed to the casualty room it was found that he had escaped with nothiDg more severe than a shock to the system. It was the mosb miraculous escape you could possibly conceive ; and luckily it occurred at the lasb fenoe. Happy Jack (by Welcome Jack — Viotorine) won the Selling Race ior Harry Goddard from The Larboard Watch, Submission, and four others, covering the five furlongs in Imin 3^sec ; but had not Sam Cook's cast-off (The Larboard Watcb) executed a preliminary •• once round " on " his own " prior to the starb he might have reversed positions with him, seeing that he was only defeated by half a length. Happy Jack was bought in for £95, a very low figure feeiDg that he is only a four-year old and entire too at that. Then came the concluding event of the afternoon's sport, which fairly "banged Barmagher," so to speak.

There was a marked difference in the number of neddies coloured on the card for" the Tooronga Handicap and those who deployed to scamper over the six furlongs of ground, the original 30 being whittled down to 12. There were five or six pretty fair peegcen amongst these dozen, however, such as Fortunatus 9 10, Lord Hopetonn 9.8, Labour in Vain 8 11, Bwordbearer 8.9, and Brownlight 8.5 j but foj

some inscrutable reason or other Rudolph 8 2 was installed firsb favourite, 5 to 2 being the best price obbainable aboub him as the contestants were despatched on their journey. Whether it was a bad starb or whether it wasn't (nud at CaulCeld the angles aro very drceiviug), sweeping along the railway side Wellington 7 10, Brownlight, and Rudolph appeared to have matters pretty well to themselves, mid halfway up the straighb the victory of Wallington (who started second favourite at 4 to 1) was loudly proclaimed. But just at this point the brown jacket and blue cap of Fortunatus weie discerned flashing through the main body, and iv the twinkling of a sheep's tail the nuggetty son of Fryiugpan and Fraulein was upsides with Ike Carslake's gelding, and fairly romping away from him as if he were a hack, be won by two lengths with ridiculous ease (positively a slack rein the lasb furlong !) in lmin 16sec ; Brownlight finishing half a length behind Wellington, with Prior fourth. Fortuuatus started ab 10 to 1 freely offered, his party not even entrusting him with a few pounds on the off-chance. And although he won 80 easily, the gallant little fellow was by no means strung up to concert pitch (rather t'other way about, in fact !), and therefore we must expect to witness him displaying a very bold front towards the finith of the Newmarket Handicap, provided everything is favourable. He will only be called upon to carry lib more on March 3 than he did on Saturday, aud I incline to the belief that the gallop will put fully 71b more condition on him. Of course he will bavo a much better field to contend against down the straight at Flemington to what he had at Caulfield ; bub there wasn't a man Jack of them had Buckley's chance against him when Cowan dropped the reins on his neck ; so thab ib is mere waste of time to speculate what Fortunatus really could have done had ho been called upon to gallop right throughout the race ; and, talk about stayiDg !—! — if he doesn'b turn out as good a stayer as his dad then my ejetigbt must have played me terribly falae on Saturday afternoon, that's all.

OLLA PODRIDA.

The Fortunatua episode in the Tcoronga Handicap was one of the funniest things in the wido world. His party never had the faiutest conception ho could possibly flop up. They had been very kind to him in the way of preparation — hadn't debarred him from ealiug and drinking' quite as much as was good for him ; had put the tyro of the stable up, and feltuoquilnaß of conscience about the matter. Everything was fair nnd nbovcboard ; if he could win he was to win ; bub as they didti'b imagine he could win under the circumstances, they didn't back him. Bub duriug hi-i sojourn in the saddling paddock the gay Fortuuabus had indulged ia a gentle prance about, and by the time the race came on for decision he felt pretty right, and as it was only a six-furlong brush he simply pi oved to demonstration what a thundering good horse he really is. By the way, I have been given to understand that James Hayes, the jockey who piloted him to victory in the Newmat ket Handicap, but who has been refused a license by the V.R C, put a few pounds on him ab the odds. Haj a U credited with having put in a lot of hard graft lately, under the impression that he may be granted leave to ride by the time the Autumn meeting comes on ; and no doubt strenuous t fforts will be pub forth on his-- behalf. Albeib I do nob fancy they will prove successful.

Over tho walnuts and wine on Saturday the committee of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club decided to remove the embargo then resbing en Robert Sevior, who, on January 21, 1893, was "rubbed out" for two years for *' malpractice " with regard to the grey steeplechaser Islander. Bob would never have been disqualified had he acknowledged thab there had been any " barneying " over the sale of the wary wobbler. '" From a privabe source — and a really excellenb one — I learn bhat Loyalty is doing good work at Randwick.

Light Artillery, The Sailor Piince, Patron, Portsea, Teniple&towe, and Target aro doing splendidly at Fiemingbon. If "Mazeppa" •were only to witness the fetyle in which Light Artillery gets through his business of a morning he would ba more enamoured of him than ever.

Tfae three-year-old Bruin is a great " sbreet•tjorner " tip for the Newmarket Handicap, and iis progressing very favourably in the Gippsland (district. Chatting about his prospects in last week's Aubtralasian "Terlinga" remarks: — »« The Morphetteville-brcd Bruin will b? talked of iv connection with the Newmarket By from Ursula, by Gang Forward from Hebe, by Lucifer from Z: no'oia, by Kingsbon, 'he runs back to the mare from which such horses .'as Nevtfltcid, Portsea, Annesley, Moorite, Consequence, _>£'.c., have sprung, and but lor Lor {beastly temper Ursula herself lMgbt almost jhave won the Newmarket Handicap. Bruin -■was a cheap yearling, and he belongs to a sportloving young drover in the Gippsland district, liasb year he beat Capstan aud Parramatta in a race at BairnEdale, and at Epsom last month he won a. race very easily. On this occasion Drifiielil was the runner up, conceding 271b, so that on the handicap Bruin has nothing in hand of Mr Reuneson's terse ; but those who know most of the Gippsls.nd calt speak very highly of him."

With regard to the South Australian candi.date iv tho Newmarket Handicap yclepb The ,Arab, a compttent authority advises as follows : ■" Personally 1 don't thick The Arab party are -surprised at gett : ug 80 ; bub ib is more than jporbabla the mission of the sjn of Miss Tray nor will nob be this raco. The half furlcng less of rthe Oakleigh Plato will suib the black fellow unuch better than the straight six-furlong dash \up the Flemington straight."

JSlswick (by Nordenfeldt from Albatros-) is a favourite wind-up in the double-event wagering. The five-year-old brother to Merganser is aiic ly handicapped iv the Auetralian Cup ab S.I. He is in Alec Taylor's sbable at Ballarat.

Dreamland has filled out like a dray horse, and is nob likely to take part in any of the autumn " manccuvreß."

Cannon's per/orm.ince in runnirjg second to Gloria in the Challenge Stakes, of six furlongs, at the Sydney Turf Club meeting at Randwick yesterday, emphasises the fact that the son of Nordeufeldt and Sister Agnes must be reckoned on as " one of the few " in the Newmarket Handicap. He will have to carry identically the same weight as he did yesterday (7.4), and although Gloria svept round the home turn five lengths in advance of him, he was catching her hand-ovc-fiat ab tho finish, being only defeated by half a length in the excellent time of lmiu 14isec.

Games tn London Parks. — Duriug the seascn which has just closed no fewer than 39,000 games of lawn tennis have been played in the London parks under the control of the London County Council, 5000 gamts of cricket, and 430 games of quoits. Golf aDd other games were Jess extensively played. The Canadian game of lacrosse was played 120 times. Besides the games for which p ; tches are allotted by ballot, there is some indiscriminate playing on uuclaimed territory.