SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 34

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Hori Poene. Melbourne, April 22. AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB'S AUTUMN

MEETING. Fibst (Doncaster Handicap) Day.

The weather proving auspicious on Saturday, there was a large assemblage at Kandwick, the receipts at the saddling paddock entrance alone footing up to over j£l£oo. All told there must have besn between 15,000 and 16,000 present ; quite the biggest gathering on a L.ger day for lome years past.

The racing on the whole was of a very interesting character, the closeness of the finishes in the handicap events reflecting the veiy highest credit on Mr John Daley, who was called tipon at the eleventh hour to frame the apportionments owing to the severe illness of Mr H. A. Thompson. The finish for the Doucaster Handicap was indeed a triumph of handicapping skill, the winner only getting home by half a neck, whilst in addition to the fourth, horse heing only a head behind two others who had niide_ a dead heat of it for second place, "the man in the box" (Mr Bemon) averred after the event that theie were fully half a dozen others all heads and tails for "fifth position, and this notwithstanding the fact ttiat the mile had been traverse.! in the exceedingly fast time of lrnin 40isec, or ouly half a Eecond in advance of the Australian record for the distance. So "bunched" was the field at the finish that at least £0 horses were not separated by a greater distance than half a dozen lengths. The winner was a rank outsider in the betting, albeit hailing from the dangerous Newcastle district. Although now a four-year-old, Superb JSplendour — Canary) had never previously won a race. His owner, Sir J. Baron, purchased him at the sale of the Tocal yearlings for 220gs, and allowed him to furnish into a three-year-old before sporting silk, which he did in the Spsom Handicap, won by Hopscotch, and the Metropolitan Stakes, annexed by Nobleman, in the latter of -which he finished fifth. Last s-pricg he ran unplaced with 7.7 in the Epsom Handicap, won by Steward ; in the Metropolitan Stakes with 7.4, won by The Skipper ; and in the Suburban Handicap ■with 8.7, won by Glare— it being rAthor a significant fact, though, that he staited favourite for the last-named event at 4 to 1 against 14 other*. After the race on Saturday it was aunounced that the stable connections had not profited to wy extent by the victory — though, of course, that is simply as it may be. If such really were the case, it is rather remarkable, as the Newcastle sports are just about as keen as they make them, and seldom get hold of a real good thins; like Superb without knowing something about its calibre.

However, the bookmakers were in clover over the transaction, the only exception being Mr Alfred Joseph (the well-known Victorian ring man), who was precluded from plying his vocation through getting his foot caught in the strap of his race-glasces as he was alighting from his cab at the racei-ourse gates, the outcome being a stumble, resulting in ihe small bone of the ankle being broken. This was the more unfortiua«.e for Mr Joseph, ss during tbe afternoon the fielders had all the bast of the encounter with backers. They commenced auspiciously in the opening event— the First Huidle llace, vi about two miles and a-half, in which e^ht started. Irish Stew 10 / being favourite at 9 to 4, with C. P. 11.7 second in demand at 6's, Cornet 11.4 and Jack Ilanwell figuring at 7's. Jack Hanwell is a bay five-year-

old 1 by Goldsbrough from Fascination, the latter being an exceedingly well-bred maie, seeing that she is by Captivator ftom Syren (by Yattendon — Miss Pitsford). Like his dam, Ja >k Hanwell was bred l.y Mr P. H. Osborni , but had previously confined his talents to the country district of Bongßong in is ew South Wales, where at a, picnic meeting he had succeeded in finishing second (on the flat) on three occasions under welter weights, lie proved .himself capable of flying at and bringing down far holier game than that on Saturday, as he simply played with the opposition until the last hurdle was safely negotiated, whbii he waltzed up to the favourite, and completely smotheringhim in half a, dozen strides, won comfortably by a length and a-balf in smiu 2sec ; His Grace 9.12 being six lengths away (easing up) third. Jack Ilanwell (who, by the way, is a half brother to Bellringer) is a fine upstanding hor.se, big enough to negotiate fences ; whilst His Grace (a four-year-old .son of the Australian Pcur.and Penance's dam, Penitsnt) is likely to furnish into a first class candidate over the little sticks in time.

The Autumn Stakes, w.f.a., of a mile and I a-half, brought out six contestants, and when the betting settled down Coil was favourite at 2 to ], whilst Battalion and Vivian were each in demand at 4's, True Blue finding favour at s's. Hopseatch and Projectile were completely discarded, by the lank and file of backers, their bitter experieuca of Hopscotch in the Hawkesbury Handicap having so completely dispelled the glamour which at one time enshrouded the speedy son of Grand Flaneur and Terara that offers of 10 to 1 azainst him were allowed to pass unheeded. You can imagine the consternation depicted on the countenances of the multitude, therefore, when they saw him sailing away half a dozen lengths ahead of the field, and maintaining this advantage to within five furlongs of the winning post. Then the riders of Battalion, Coil, and True Blue tried to reduce the gap, but although, they did so to the extent of one-half by the time the entrance to the stiaight was reached, the effort appeared to paralyse them, and Hopscotch r.in homo an untroubled winner bj - eight lengths from Battalion, who held half-a length advantage over Coil, True Blue being fourth, Projects fifth, and vivian last. Time, 2min 3SJser. Tue return of Hopscotch to scale was the sign?l for a very "hostile" demonstration — very "hostile" indeed ; albeit the bettirg market would certainly not bear out the idea that a grand coup bad been effected by the Chipping Norton stable. The true state of the case was that Hopscotch had " come 1 on" after Hawkesbury, and on the rest of the field allowing him to get too big a break in on them iust after the start the chestnut's condition stood him in good stead when they attempted to make up their leeway, the time for the distauce being really excellent. Under the circumstances there can be no two opinions about the demonstration being totally uncalled for. | Punters never seem to go far astray in selecting < Maiden Stakes winners ; and although there ! were 13 starters for the two-year-old seven-furloag dash, they divided their alloaiance between Mr S. Tlordern's chestnut tilly Mirslla (by Norden- 1 feldt — Miriam) 6 13 and Air A. Trevollyan'a chest- I nut gelding Kilt (Lochiel— -11-.ntilla) 6.12, who ] started at 3to 1 each. It was a great tussle from the distance, Mirella outlasting Kilt, and winning by half a length, wi'h Rowdy (Splendour— Silence) 7.1 third, three lengths away, the time being ] lmin 29Jspc. j Then the D.incaster Handicap came on for de- j cision, Tramp be'ng the only defectSi 1 amongst the j final acceptor?, leaving a level two dozen to do battle, as follows :—: — Doncaster, Handicap, of 20sovs each, with 1000iova added ; second 200sovs, third lOOsovs. One mile. Mr J. Baron's b or br g Superb, by Splendour— Canary, 4yrs, 7.0 (D. Morgan) 1 Mr S. Hordern's b f Adoration, 3yrs, 7.4 (E. Cleal) t Mr J. Mitchell's b g Crcmorne, aged. 'J 9 <\V. Atkins) t Mr John Dines's eh h Steward, syi s-\ 8.2 (G. Durston) 4 Also started: Delaware, 6yrs, 9.7 (M. Harris); Mahee, 6yrs, 9.2 (Cox) ; Vauitas, oyis, 8. 10 (Frank T'ielder); Kallatina, syrs, 5.9 (Gallaghei) ; Fadladeen, 4yrs, 8.2 (A. Delaaoy) ; lU>yal Kos.e>, Gyrs, 8.1 (Bardtn); Aurea, syn>, S.O (Giin*ford) ; Creme dOr, 4yr?, 7.11 (H. Cook) ; Wollonmmbi, 4yrs, 7.11 (Kean); Thespian, 6yrs, 7.9 (M'Hugh); Telegraph, syrs, 7.0 (Ltadbeater) ; Rt-ka, 3yis, 7.9 (D. Cook); Loch Leigh, 4yrs, 7 8 (P. Johnson); Old Clo, 4yrs, 7 7 (H. lloran) ; Talavera. 4yr<s, 7.6 (H. Liycock) ; Fucile, Syr*, 7 4 (H. Hausman); Tricolour, syrp, 7.0 (M'Curlev); The Grafter, 3yrs, 6.12 (T. Woodwaid); La Carabine, 2yrs, 6 7 [carried 6 s)], (W Redfern); Osborne, 6.7 [carried 6.8], (Bushell)Betting : 7to 2 agst Vauitftp, 7tol La Carabine, 8 to 1 lleka, 10 to 1 Cremorne, 14 10 1 each Adoration and Delaware, 1(5 to 1 each Taiaveia and Aurea, 20 to 1 each Kallatina, Creme dOr, Wollomnmbi, Fucile, and The Grafter, 25 to 1 Superb, | 30 to 1 to 50 to 1 others. i Thespian, Talavera, Vanitas, Royal Rose, ! Aurea, and Delaware were quickest away, whilst Fucile was the last to leave tho post. After a couple of furJongs had been traversed Aurea was in the vau, followed by Steward, Talavera, and Telegraph in order, with Delaware, Vanitas. and Ciemorne bunched next, and Oaborue coming fast on the outside. At the j half-mile post the last-named held ihe pride of | place, and swept on in command to the entrance to the straight, followed by Steward, Tricolour, Talavera, Reka, Cremorne, Vanitas, Adoration, and Superb in close order.' Stretching along to the distance Tricolour dashed to the front, but was immediately challenged by Superb and fell back as if beaten, whilst Cremorne and Adoration also put in sturdy claims. Sturdy as they were, however, Superb succeeded in stalling them oif till the winning post was passed, the light-weighted four-year-old securing a victory by half a i.eck from" Adoration and Cremorne, who were so closely locked together that the judge failed to separata them, with Steward fourth only a head away, followed by Vanitas, Old Clo, Tricolour, Reka, Talavera, and Fucile " al) of a heap," the last pnir being Delaware an i La Carabine. Time, lmin 40& sec. La Carabine, who is by Carbine from Orotava (Barealdine— Tullia. by Petrarch), one of the mares imported by Mr M. O'Shauassy in ISiU, was backed dowu to next door to a. certainty on the strength of some clinking good performances against Hopscotch ; but a mile handicap is a severe raca for a two-year-old against all comers, and it was small cause for wonderment that she failed to accomplish the task set her, albeit those who followed the monpy were sadly disappointed when she'fiuished " absolutely." The backers of Delaware, too, experienced bad luck, inasmuch as after going on to the course he kicked over the rails, gelting rid of his jockey and bruising himself severely inside the hock: Despite this disability Delaware ran well up to the home turn, but wfis very lame after the race. Superb's victory came as a terrible revelation after his inglorious exhibition only a fortnight previously at Moorefield, although, " strange to | siy," leniarks the A'gus, "his only backers were those who watched his form in that race." The ancient Cremorne was not handled as artistically as he might have "been, and considering that he conceded the winner 371b his performance was of the very highest older of merit. With The Officer palpably lame, and the only other opposition Resolute and Charge, the hookmakers were most considerate not; to demand longer odds than 3 to 1 about Newhaven for the St. Leger, The Officer's price being nominally 4 to 1, whilst S's were offered against Resolute and 10's against Charge. There was never the semblance of a race in it except for second money, the champion taking the lead after a quarter of a mile had been traversed, and— never being approached thereafter — winning by seven or eight I lmgtlia in 3min 22} sec, whilst a sharp set-to beI tween The Officer and Charge for about a furlong j in the stiaight eventuated in Mr S. G. Cook's colt securing second money by four lengths ; Resolute finishing a similar distance astern of Charge. Notwithstanding the fact that Newhaven had ' won so ea»ily, opinions differed widely as to his : condition at the end of the tryst, quite a number | being under the impression that there was a deal i too much '"noise" to warraut the conclusion that , the inside pipes were as clear as they ought to be • to make n certainty of downing a little glutton i like Aurnm over a mile.

The afternoon's sport was brought to a conclusion with a High-weight Handicap, of six furlongs, for which nineteen stalled, Mr W R. Wilson's siy-year-old gelding Pilatus (Chester— Etna) 9.12 dividing favouriteship with Mr H. C. White's fiV'j,j ear-old gelding "Cranbourue 9.0 at 5 to 1,

whilst Astronomer 11.0 and Warwe 9 7 found favour at 7's, Skylark 9 0 at S's, and Sabretache 10.0, and San Mmco 9.9 at 10's. Cranbourne was interfered with when making his run in the straight, despite which he finished a good third, Pilutus getcing home half a length in front of Sabretache, who came very fast towards the finish. Time lmin 16Jsec.

Second (Sydney Cup) Day.

There are too many couuter attractions round about Sydney at Mister) ide to admit of an attendance at Randwick on Easter Monday any way approaching a Melbourne Cup gathering; but for all that theie must hove been quite 20,000 present, notwithstanding the fact that rain fell during tbe early morning, mid though ib cleared off afterwards the weather was close and oppressive. As on the opening day, the racing was of a first-class character, and otic?, moie did the handicappcr succeed in completely nonplussing backers in the principal event, the placed horses all starting at outside prices for the Sydney Cup. And there was no fluke about it either. It was a fair, honest-run race, the three horses filling the positions being undoubtedly the best in it at the weights as the race was iuu. Still, there was nothing in any of Tricolour's previous performances to warrant the assumption that he could st.iy even a mile, the style iv which hs appeared to collipso in the Doncaster Handicap on Saturday a furlong from home being anything but reassuring in such a. connection. Physically Tricolour is a nice-looking gelding, whilst he loses uothiug on the score ot breeding, his sire being tho celebrated Trident and his dnni Modesty," by Karibyrnong from imported Eti<luette(Oaractacus—Kleganoe) Tricolour was bred by Mr M. Capias, of New South Wales, and subsequently paased into the possession of Mr W. E. Rovd, the breeder of Bravo. Only once before had Mr Koyd tasted the sweets ot victory with him, on the 4th of February last, .at Murrumburrah, whan he won tho Baiden Handicap, of 20sovs, once round, his pilot on that occasion (9.0) being the same jockey who bestrode him on Saturday, when be had only 0 10 in the saddle ; in fact, in nearly every event he ha 3nm he has been cilled upon to carry many pounds of rlead weight in order to allow ot M'Cniley steeiiug hfiu.

Btr-infcss startaa at half-past 12 wit h the Flying Handicap, a six-furlong da&h, which atti acted a field of two-and-twonty to the po3t. Backers were not loner in establishing a fhst favourite, Mr "Sam" Tlordern producing this iv the four-year-old bay gelding Muudiva (by Welcome Jack— Hignora), who had the "luxury" of 7.0 on his back, and who eventually started at 4 to J ; Creme dOr 7.11 being well backed by his party down to s's, whilst Ct-Anbourne (5 11 figured az 7's and Pilatus 7.12 and Aurea S.lO at B's. It was a slashing good race, half a Aoxin of them battling it out at the half distance, where MuMdiv* forged to the front and mannged to struggle home three parts of a length in advance of Athlone 7.0, who defeated b'eu dft Joie 7.5 by a Jieck for secopd money, Aurea being fourth ami Akarini liftU. Time, lmin Iwjoec. In <omesort of fashion— though not perbapi quite bar sinister or heraldi j over-ths-lelt— Ntw Zealand is entitled to prestige in connection with Mundiva's victory, seeiDg that her sire (Welcome Jack) was a son <~f Traducer ; but in tho succeeding event— the Maiden Slakes, of a mile and a-quarter — the Laud of the Moa. was far more strikingly in evidence, sis old Bill For;e3ter's brown Belding Tbo Grafter 7.L', who put down Kilb 6.11, the English importation Pos-itano SO, and seven others in 2min KJsec, is a three-year-old son (by Oozi) nf that rattling go>>d performer industry— a Maori from nostril to fiag, seeing that she was by Hie mighty Musket fiom the Now Zealand Stud Company's importation Pearlash (by Lord Clifden). The Grafter (who, by the way, is about one of the most "ornery" looking horses you would find on any raccou'se) is full brother to Gaulus, and though a ruin 'mi to look is nevertheless a gond'un to go. The Lcchisl two-year-old Kill started favourite at 9 to 4, The Grafter's price being 3 to 1. • Although the punting division -were nothing loth to Hy odds of 3 to 1 on AuruniO.C (including a 101!) penalty) against his fivo opponents in the CUaTr»paf;ne Stakes, of t<ix fuilong^, they experienced a very unsettled feeling as Ambcrite 8.10 kept hanging on to him h"Mf-wny up the sttaight. At tbe distance there v<a.s baiely a ha id separatiuK the two; but on Morris m calling on the favourite for a supreme effort he rf&ponded g^llautly, and won by a length in train 17^ec, El Noita .S.lO finishing third two lengths behind Ambeiifce, witli The Hypnotist S.lO fourth, Phidias 8.10 fifth, aml-Metford 9.3 (71b penalty) last. The last-named, who is by Cranbrookfioni Mirzipore, started second favourite at 6 to 1, Amberite being at 7*3 anil The Hypnot-st friendless at 10's. Amberite is a sou of Carbine and Duenna (the dam of Yarmon and Dryden) and, being under the fostering care of Mr W. Dujrgan, is certain to bs heard favourably of anon. There were not wanting those who averred th'-tt Aurum was really "pinched" by the good-looking .son of Old Jack ; but eveu if that wore so, the style in which he carried his 9 6 to victory stamped the son of Trenton and Aura as 1 eing a thorough bulldog. The withdrawal of The Officer, Vivian, Delaware, Resolute, and Right Honourable on the course left 23 in the great event of the day, the dttailed running for which was as follows :— Sydney Cup, of 20sovs each, with 2f'oosovs added ; hecond 2' ! osovf=, third 100.-ovs. Two miles. Mr W. ff. Royd's br c. Tricolour, by Trident — Modesty, syrs, 6.10 (M'Curley) 1 MrE. Keys's bl m Kallatina, syrj, 7.11 (Gallagher) 2 Mr C. Lincoln's b c Loch Leigh, 4yr.-!, 7 0 (Sixsmith) 3 The other starters were : True Blue, 4yrs, 9.7 (A. Delauey) ; Cremorne, aged, 9 2 (Atkins) ; Hopscotch, 6yrd, 8.12 (Farrell): Battalion, a?el, 812 TNerriker) ; Coil, 3yrs, 8.9 (Luckman) ; Projectile, 6yrs, 8.4 (T. Johnson); Charge, 3vrs, 8 2 (M. Harris); Fadladeen, 4yrs, 7.13 (Lamb); iMmien, 4yrs, 7.13 (H. Dawes) ; Valutas, syrs, T.Vi (Frank Fielder) ; Sam, syrs. 7.12 (W. Delauey) ; Tom, oy.s or 6yrs, 7.9 (11. Cook) ; The Meddler, 6vr*. 7.8 (P. Harris) ; Gl^ndennon, Syrs, 7 7 (P. M'Carthy) ,• Reki, 3yrs, 7.5 (D. Ceok) ; WaiMne, 4yrs, 7.5 ( W Redfearri) ; Gozoreina, uyiv, 7.2(Dur 0 ton) ; l''ucile, 3yrs, 7.0 (IS. Cleal); Old Clo, 4yre, 7.0 (Bu°lieU) ; Superb, 4yrs, 7.6 [including 101b "pen alts'] (Morgan). Betting : 0 to 1 each asrsfc Vanitas and Tom, 10 to 1 each Hopscotch, Cremorne, Battalion, and Coil, 14 to 1 each Superb and D-imien, 15 to 1 ]?adladeen, 20 to 1 each Saru and Vucile, 33 to 1 each Tricolour, Old Clo, and Kallatina. The volume of wagering was extremely large Tom and Vanitas being in great demand, whilst the respective partisans of Battalion, Cremorne, Coil, Damien, Hopscotch, atul Superb were c >nrV!enfc of tbe nbilitv of each to do the trick. Prom a capital start Old Clo (L-.chiel— Tatters) was the first to break the line on the outride, her more immediate attendants being Gl- ndennon, Projectile, and Hopscotch, with Coil the absolute last toleive the mark. "Once fairly settled in their stride Hop- : scotch took up the running, and turning into the i straight aftpr going about half a mile was three | lengths in advance of Cremorne, Vanitas, Charge, aid Damien, who were i mining in couples. Up Ihe straight Hopscotch inrpioved bis advantage to five lengths, and passing the stand Vanitas ran up [ into second place, just in advance of a cluster I consisting of True Blue, Glendennon, Charge, Torn, Loch Leigh, Damieu, Oremorne, and Fucile ; the Tear division being brought. I up by Coil, Sam, and Superb. Going out of j the straight Orernorne went after the leader, I and at the mils post was within three lengths of 1 him ; but, failing to sustain the pressure, fell I back beaten, Hopacot-ch sailing past the six-fur-long post five lengths in front of G'endennon and Sam, who were racing neck and neck just in advance of Tom and Battalion, with Loch Leiffb, Old Clo, Kallatina, aud Coil adjacent, whilst Tricolour's jacket was for the first time observable closing rip with the leading horses. A furlong further on The Meddler made a forward move whi 'h brought him into second place, but at the half-mile Tricolour had deposed him, and i swept infc.i the straight almost abreast ot Wop- ! scotch, who retired immediately afterwards, \ leaving Tricolour in the van, followed- by Kallatina, Loch. Lsigh, The Medd'er, Sam, Damien, and Coil. At the distance Kallatina led, and appeared to have the event at her mercy ; but a brilliant concluding run on the part of Tricolour upset all such calculations, and he galloped home a clever, if not comfortable, winner by two lengths, Loch Leigh being a length away from Kallatina, then succeeding Tom and Old Clo (heals and tails), atteu 'ed by Coil and Superb, tbe whipperH-in being Hopscotch, True Blue, • Charge, and Cremorne. Time, 3min 31£aee,

(Sixsmith) 3

If Su pern's Doncaster Handicap win came as a big surprise, this was a greater ; the dual victories of rank outsiders in the principal handicaps of a big meeting causing the veterans of the Australian turf to put on their considering caps to try and furnish a parallel, which, it may be observed, they utterly failed to do. And, again, there was no fluke about the transaction. Ridden a nice waiting race Tricolour had responded whenever his rider called upon him f >r an effort, and on cutting Hopscotch down it is doubtful whether the winner ever experiencsd any real danger aftei wards, the fact of Kallatina heading him at the distance bsing possibly more on sufferance than aught else.

The great excitement over, people settled themselves ilowu to enjoy the First Steeplechase (about two mile 3 and a-half), for which seven started, Whitafoet II 11.12 and Mignon 11.10 beins in equal demand at 3 to 1 each. Whitefoot II had too much pace for Mignoti at the finish, however, and won easily by four lengths, an aged gelding named Booties 11 0 (whose efforts over the big sticks are not likely to ba altogether "bootless" when he cets more seasoned) filling third position. Time, smin 42sec. One would haye thought that the First Nnr-ery Handicap, a five-furlong flutter, with it 1 ; 3S contestants, would have taken a bit of picking; but it didn't, backers giving a slight preference (5 to 2) to Mr S. Hordern's gelding Nor'Eist (by Nordeufeldt— Mis3 Wcstbourne) 7.9 over Mr Herbert Power's filly (3 to 1) La Carabine (by Carbine— Orotava) 7.7. They had it between the pair, too, La Carabine coming with a wet sail just as the Corustalk3 were congratulating themselves on Nos'-Kist's win aud securing a victory for the Gum^uckers by a neck, lufiuenzx 7.5 being close up third, Cm (j.ll fouith, followed by Clan Alpine 77, Weulo3k 7.5, and The Tola U.S. Time, lmin

OLLA PODRIDA.,

Mr Alf. Joseph is progressing favourably towards recovery, albeit ho is not expected to be able to got about for some five or six weeks yet. At the terminati-m of the second day's racing at RnuUwick on Monday Mr Tom L<amoiid, on behalf of the licensed trainers, presented Mr Thomas L. Olibboru, the A. J.C aecretaiy (who is about to visit England on leave of absence), with an address expressive of r.hat gentleman's manly and generous treatment of them and the sense of duty displayed by him. In returning thank* therefor Mr Clibborn stated it, was neaespary with an institution-like the A.J.O. that it should be sui'led with strictness and fairness to all men. The licensed tiainers of New South Wales wore as honourable a set of men as any other ; but although wh-jn he came to Sydney they had but a single stand at Kandwick the racing was better then than to-day, as the horses were nm for tha .sake of sport-. The present-day evil was LUafc there was too much raciog, and personally he hoped the day would come when it vould bcniinimifod, and the sport placed under belter control. With rarard to the financial position of the Australian Jockey Club, he said it was one of the most solvent racing institutions in Australia, and if evcrv .structure were burned down, it could still piy 50 per cant. Mr H. C Dangar, who responded to the toast of the A. J.C, endorsed what air Clibborn said as to the sport being much more enjoyable when the appointments were of a more primitive character. "Jn the old limes." remarked Mr Daugar, "a man could go to Randwick and not bother whether a horse wa3 on the job.' That condition of thing?, hovrover.^dio not pxist now ; though the morale of the turf was no doubt as good-iu New South Wale 3as anywnere else." Rather a humiliating sort of a sentence, that Hst — is it not, my master- ? „ At the sale of thoroughbred yearling in Randwick saddling paddock on Tuesday, 82iots realised 65fllcs. Tom Payten (representing Mr W Bailey, 1 f A 7 ietoria) secured the ohe&tnut colt Cocoa (halfbrother to Camoola and full brother to Cobbitty, C.iolalfco, and Coil) for 115i)«s. The next highest price waa 700gti, given by Mr W. Leonard, of Viclorio, for Cards mon, a half-brother to Ab&rcorn, by Gossoon from Cinnamon. A half-sister to Marvel (by Niagara from La Belle) was knocked down to Tom Btown ot Ssoa;s ; whilst Mr John Mayo secured a splendid lonki ug brother to P.itron (Granrl Flaneur— O!k-i) for 220,2 d. Ike itinrnshaw gavo 200»s for a colt by Niagir-* from Welome (by Dutch Skater), the °an c figure beiiur paid by Tom Payten for the chestnut colt, Atboll, by Absrcorn from Atnlanta ; and by Mr J 11. O^hourne, a West Australian sportsman, for a chestnut colfc named Mural (brother to Metford), by Carbine from Marchesa.

The s^les were continue'! yesterday, when 63 lots realised 3USp;s. Tup pvicd was realised by Rtarbine, by Carbinn from Twinkle (by Slanderer from Evening Ktir, <he dam of Commotion), for whom Mr Frank Fielder g.ive (wo^?. Carbelle, a lilly by Carbine from Tourbillon (Iljbinson Crusoe— Cracker), was secured by .Taraes Monaghan for a client at ?M*i. Tom Lamond purchased a half-brother to Delaware, by The Australian Peer from Gene-sta, for I4og* ; whilst; Dan O'Brien got a colt by The Australian Peer from Naomi for 35g^ less. Mark Thompson sUyed lovigcst over a chestnut filly by llnssley from Queen's Head (Yattendon— -Gazstte) which Ml to his bid at Uo&<\ Subsequently D,\n O'Brien accepted 30fts nn his bargain from, Mr Reeves. Mr G. A. Towton, the West Australian sportsman, who purchased Cartridge (Carbine— S'. OiHille) for 200gs at the las*; March salts', had the misfortune to lose him through inflammation a few days after he lauded at Perth. Yesterday, too, the news reached hera that th** s'x-year-old horse Warfare (by Nordenfeldt— Pearlash) w^s fonnd dead in a paddock by his owner, Mr J. B. Wil*on, the preceding morniujf. Th* loss of two well-bred animals like thess is a serious one for ■wpßtern breeders.

W.»s . ife not Dan O'Connell who slated his belief that it was posbible to drive a coach-and-fiur thr.'iugh any British act of Parliament ? Well, then, it is small cause for wonderment that, the new., rule with regard to the payment of jockeys'. £<?es at soalo has been "saiviim vented" already. It has been discovered that, to evade the rule, gnme owners pay the nmount at scale on condition that the jockey rpfnnds the money afterwards, the understanding bei"g that payment is only to be enforced in the event of the hor;e winning. Yesterday, at Moonee Valley, two- jockeys stood down rather than comply with tbis " very convenient " plan, and in one instance the owner was unable to secure a substitute, and was compelled to scratch his horse. Warpaint pulled up very lama after a strong galbp atFleraineton yesterday morning. A yearling half-brother to Auraria and Aururo, by Robin?on Crusoe— bred at Sfc. Albans— has been name.l Auriferous.

The committee of the Victoria Racing Club have decided on the conditions of the races for which entries will be received on the fh'3t Monday in June. The added money to the Maribyrnong Plate has been increased to lOQOsovs, whilst the prize for the Champion Stakes will be a similar amount.

Under favourable weather conditions, but with the disability of very uneven pacing, Lesna, the French cyclist, essayed the task of lowering all Australi-iU records from 10 miles to 100 miles on the Sydney Cricket ground yesterday. Hs cut out the first five miles in lOmin 57j3ec, and spun over 10 mile-i iv 22tnin +see, 20 miles in 44min 471 sec, and 25 mile? in "Cfirnin 17 4-ssec. From this out. Lesna got inside previous Australian records. 30 miles being left behind in Ihr7min 50sec, 50 miles in Ibr 54uiin sSsec, and the 100 miles in 3hr 54mia 54sec. The last lap was traversed in 36*ec.

At Dandenong yesterday, whilst batting at cricket, a bump ball struck a lad named John Lippett under the ear, killing him instantly.