SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2105, 28 June 1894, Page 31

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Hohi Poene.

Melbourne, June 19. THE V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. The fact that this promises to be one of the best cross-country event gatherings ever witnessed at Flemington — in fact, quite as intercolonial in character as a Melbourne Cvp — is sufficient warranty for one putting pen to paper thus early in the back end of the season. Yesterday afternoon the first acceptances fell in, and at 4 o'clock the following were found to have declared content for the principal events at the V.R.C. tryst, commencing on Saturday, July 7, and continuing the following Saturday:—

Grand National Hurdlelßace, a handicap of 750sovs ; second, f lsosovs ;"third,i7ssovs. About three miles. «Au OJM^-;;r?.'__^lilJiX3al -,u°" l: )

Grand National Steeplechase, a handicap of 750sovs ; second, 150sovs ; third, 75sovs. About three miles.

It will be seen that there are still 39 (out of the 53 handicapped) left in the Hurdle Race, the defaulters being : Kulnine 12.7, Norton 12.4, The Duke 11 7, Eclipse 10.9, Fright 10.7, Bay Ronald 10.7, Shootover 10.2, Penant 10.0, Dundee 10.0, Drouin 9.13, Uteara9.l3, Coldstream 9.7, Eureka 90, and Baritone 90. Dundee's withdrawal was caused by an accident whilst schooling at Flemington ; otherwise the son of Dunlop and Sunbeam was nicely handicapped. Were I satisfied that Captain Webb would start for the event I would as soon stand him as anything in the race ; because weight never stops a real good one until you crush him with it, and Captain Webb is a real good one. I am not over-enamoured with Tim Swiveller at 12.7, much preferring Cadet at 11.9 and Polonius at 11 6. Bill is another real good one, but Ixion has been so long under a cloud now that his form is an unknown quantity. Still Alec. Taylor has had him in hand, and if the Ballarat Yorkshireman cannot bring him fit and well to the post, then his must be a very bad case indeed. Favour and Western are both coming over from "Tassy," and bring very highjcredentials with them ; but Apsley's form recently over Warrnambool is even more to my fancy, and therefore I will pin myself down to the following half-dozen to supply at least a couple of placed horse in the Grand National Hurdle Race t — CAPTAIN WEBB BILL CADET IXION POLONIUS - APSLEY. There were 12 tout of the original 43) cried " Hold ! enough ! " for the G.N. Steeplechase ; ■ but some of thfem may possibly be holding of? for the four-mile event at Caulfield a month later. The defectors were :— Knight of the Qarter 13.2, Norton 12.12, Confidence 12.9, Polenius 11 8, Waiter 11.5, Circingle 10.12, Sardine 10.0, The Czar 9.10, Bogong 9.10, Mambrino 9.10, Rapid Bay 97, and Whalebone 9.7. This leaves Mikado II at the top of the list with 13.1 — a big weight, certainly ; but still a couple of pounds less than he carried to victory in the Open Steeplechase, of two miles, at Sandown Park on Saturday, when he won easily by two lengths from Expectation 10.4, St. Elmo 10.0, Sea Song 10.7, Marine 9.2, and Trojan 12.7. But then Mikado II started favourite at 5 to 2, whilst Trojan (who hadn't sported silk foxmonths and months before) was at "any price." Therefore I will have Trojan in preference to Mikado 11, because I am satisfied he is susceptible of much more improvement than the aged son of Apremont and Forget-me-Not, whom Joe Gardner has got justabout cherry-ripe. The Actress is a great South Australian tip ; j but I won't have her, and though I am very loth to pass by such a sterling piece of stuff as Elfie, there is metal more attractive lower down, and so I shall pass on. to Waterbury, Mutiny, Banda, and Medicine. The latter is another " Tassy," located in Alec Taylor's stable, and right up to his " work " (when fit and well), I can assure you. Banda is a Western district candidate, of whom I hear good accounts. The New South Wales contingent are hardly ever dangerous over the big jumps at Flemington ; but as Alderman Teddy Keys has accepted with Reckless, and as he has only 9.6 on his back, I will stand the dapper little New South Wales man's judgment for once, and give him a chance; my half-dozen selections for the Grand National Steeplechase therefore being TROJAN BANDA WATERBUR? MEDICINE MUTINY RECKLESS. " Scenting the battle afar," the bookmakers, feeling convinced that there will be good biz. over the " two jumps," intend reading the card "down at Bowes's TattersalFs at half-past 1 o'clock to-morrow, when one will get even a better idea as to poss ble eventualities. OLLA PODRIDA. Formerly only members of the Victorian Club (Melbourne) and Tattersall's Club (Sydney) were allowed to ply their vocation as bookmakers in the paddock at Randwick. For years the members of Bowes's Tattersall's strived to secure the same privilege, but without success until yesterday, when, owing to the .strenuous exertions of Mr Sam Grimwood, the A.J.C. folk gave way, -and their secretary (Mi»T. S. Clibborn) forwarded them an intimation that the concession had at last been granted. Needless to say this recognition of the status of Bowes's Tattersall's was received with the liveliest feelings of satisfaction by the members thereof. Dundee has been scratched for the Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Race. A little bird whispers me that Will Glasscock fancies Polonius may have a chance in the Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase, over four miles of country, and he is generally a pretty "fly" little bird, too. Polonius has been putting in a long, "strong preparation at Flemington for months past, albeit I have never noticed him negotiating the schooling fences. By the steamship Australasian, which arrived I last night, Mr W. R. Wilson's most recent purI chase, Bill of Portland, was consigned to Messra jW. C. Yuille and Co. Bill of Portland is by St. Simon from Electric Light, and landed in fairly good trim, although at times some heavy weather was experienced on the voyage out, a swollen knee resulting from the knocking about he received on one occasion. 1 ' Mr S. G. Cook has gone into his winter quarters at Sandringham again. The maroon and silver banner is only represented by a single entry in each of the Cups. Quite enough if i they both come fit and well to the post. The

Harvester is thickening out into a nice Derby colt, whilst I doubt if you could find a granderlooking yearling in Australia than The Merry Boy (by Trenton from Mara). j jjjWalter Hickenbotham's powerful team is getting along splendidly at headquar' ers ; Cobbitty filling out into a specially nice colt. CRICKET. The Sheffield Shield was presented to Mr J. Cresswell (the secretary of the South Australian Cricket Association) at a social gathering at the Vienna Cafe last Saturday. Mr R. W. Best made the presentation, and although he got over the difficulty fairly well, the unbiassed spectator couldn't help noticing that he exhibited some of the same sort of feeling Brabantio did when on handing his daughter Desdemona over to Othello he gave utterance to the memorable words :—: — Come hither, Moor ! I here do give thee that with all my heart Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart I would keep from thec. "* Not that Bob Best is in any way a selfish kind of a fellow, but the Sheffield Shield produced by I Messrs Blashki and Son is a very oraato piece of work, only just finished, and the president of the V.C.A after receiving it from Mr Jack Portus (of New South Wales) only tbc moment before (on behalf of Victoria, the winners in 1892-93) felt naturally a bit piqued at having to "pass it on" so quickly. However, it was a rare good idea of the old earl's, and is bound to cement fiaendship amongst the cricketers of the colonies.

The Cricket Couoc'l of Australasia met yesterday at the rooms of the Victorian Cricketers' Association, and fixed up the following list of matches for the forthcoming season :—: — . Intercolonial and International Programme, 1894-95. November 9, 10, 12, 13— England v. South Australia, at Adelaide November 16, 17, 19, 20— England v. Victoria, at Melbourne November 23, 24, 26, 27— England v. New South Wales, at Sydney November 30 and December 1, 3, 4— Victoria v. South Australia, €it Adelaide December 7, 8, 10— England v. Queensland, at Brisbane December 14, 15, 17, 18— England v. Combined Australia, at Sydney December 22, 24, 26, 27— Victoria v. New South Wales, at Melbourne December 29, 31 and January 1, 2— England v. Combined Australia, at Melbourne January 5, 7, B, 9— South Australia v. New South Wales, at Adelaide January 11, 12, 14, 15— England v. Combined Australia, at Adelaide January 25, 26, 23, 29— Victoria v. New South Wales, at Sydney February 1, 2, 4, s— England v. Combined Australia, at Sydney February 9, 11, 12, 13— New South Wales v. Queensland, at Brisbane February 15, 16, 18, 19— England v. Queensland, at Brisbane February 15, 16, 18, 19-South Australia v. Victoria, at Melbourne February 22, 23, 95, 26-South Australia v. New South Wales, at Sydney March 1, 2, 4, s— England v. Combined Australia, at Melbourne March 22, 23 ; 25, 26— England v. South Australia, at Adelaide FOOTBALL. " Essendon firs'-, the rest nowhere ! " That's my tip for the season of 1894. Another thing, there are a terrible Jot of accidents this year. Still further, there is a kind of leaven leavening the Australasian game likely ta bring it more in touch with the Rugby pastime.

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