THE BALLARAT CUP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 36

THE BALLARAT CUP.

Melbourne Sportsman's special commissioner writes of this race: — Despite a report that she was oft her feed, Carevie started in most demand, with Acton a good second favourite. Mr M. Newton got the dozen starters away on excellent terms, Carevie holding a good position on the inside. After leaving the straight there is no railing for a furlong or two, and then, on a bend, there is another couple of hundred yards of railing. B/ some means Carevie got put inside the second piece of railing, a mishap which escapted the notice of many of the spectators, who evinced surprise at what they thought the feeble efforts of little Gymer in the run home. As a matter of fact,, Carevie was practically pulled up several time 6 durincr the race. .Her rider appeared to be between two minds whether to pull the mare up altogether or go on. She was running well in the straight, but finally deciding on the first course, Gymer took a pull at -the Carbine mare a furlong or so from home. Even then she finished fourth, and could scarcely have lost with ordinary luck. Carevie waß made favourite for the Ballara^ Handicap on the next clay, but her backers could hardly have been aware of the fact that fche had been knocked about on the Tfriday. The chestnut mare was so sore that she could scarcely raise a canter, and she finished in the renr, Orla winning from Model, who appeared to be unlucky to lose the Cup the previous day, after Carevie had been put out of court. Reverting to the Cup, it has been Eaid that the winner, The Missing Link, was backed for the merest trifle. Even the second horse, Austerlitz (who was only beaten v head), would have taken more money out of the Ring than the winner, for Mr W. Hill backed his gelding to win between £600 and £700 at long prices. The Missing Link has been a frequent winner in the country. Last season he won 11 races out of 17 start?, and to the end of January he had accounted for eight out of 16, making 19 victories out, of 33 starts the last 12 months. The Missing Link is an ordinary-looking brown gelding, by Dick Swiveller from Gambler Maiu, whose name does not appear in the Stud Book. He evidently inherits his sire's resolution and stamina, and, on appearances, Fhould make a first-class hurdle-racer. In fact, the gelding has already been introduced to tho battens.