SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 47

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Rwensworth,

MELBOURNE, APRIL 18.

Since I la&t wrote the important Easte* meetings have been held. As it was the most important fixture, I will start first with the

A.J.C. MEETING— FIRST DAY.

This took place on Saturday last, and despite the depressing influence of the plague, the opening of the fixtuie seems to ha\e been fairly successful, tb.ou.jb. tho attendance was not up to ppst years. Backers did not make a particularly good start, Bega 9.5, winner of the Trial Hurdles, being only fancied in a minor degree. Bega comes from the galloway ranks. Statesman II 9.12, Nor'-went 11.4, and Brokerage 10.7 were all better favourites; but none of these managed to get a place. I don't know whether Noi'-west was fancied by his party, but he certainly ran poorly. There were only five staiters for ihe.Autuinn Stakes, one mile and a-half, w.1.a., and backers had no hesitation in picking out Paul Pry as favoiirite. This is a Lochiel gelding owned by, Sir Rupert Clarke and trained at Ballarat by James Scobie, who has The Bride. Sir Rupert had a little difficulty with the V.R.C Committee some time ago, and since then he has not raced in Victoria. His horses are only seen at Adelaide and in Sydney. There was no great merit in Paul Pry's win, as there was not 3, weight-for-a-ge horse opposed to him. Charge is the nearest approach to one, and ho was not ready. Mr W. E. Wilson won the Two-year-old Maiden Stakes with Kinglike. This is a black gelding by Wallace from Bonnie_ Rosette (imp.), by Barcaldiue, and was backed for the Caulfield Futurity Stakes, but only ran model ately there. Mr Wilson Iras always had a good opinion of him, and he has probably taken longer to come to hand than expected. I think he will improve with age. Lord Rudolph in Tom Pay ten's stable, v>as a otter favourite than Kinglike, but ho fell, and Kinglike won very easily, with Dudu in second place. The Doncaster Handicap came next. There were 25 starters for the mile raco. and the run

on Sequence was &o pronounced that he at kst touched 3 to 1, Auld Lang Syne 8.0 being next in demand. Sequence is the three-vear-old by Far Niente (imp.) from Consequence thet failed in the Eosehill Cup the other day. The stable, judging by the way they backed him for the Doncaster, had rea--son for ignoring his Rosehill form. They were right io a certain extent, but still Sequence did not win. In the words of^ the music hall song, he was, however, " jolly near it," Parapet 7.9 only beating Jiim by a head. Parapet is a four-year-old filly by Lochiel from Paraphrase (dam of the hurdle racer Parakeet),by Chester, and is owned "by good, scojrtsinen in Messrs fl. E. A. and T. White," relatives of the late Hon. James "White. Parapet's win was a rare turn-up for the books. They, are not, however, likely to sidmrt ihat they won much. " Owing to jthe buTjonic plague scare, betting was bad," 1 fancy 1 can hear them saying. 'Ihe victories of Pf.ul .">?ry and Parapet will almost assiire" Lochiel being at the head of the list of winning sires st the end of the season. Until this time Bill of Portland looked like giving him a good rat!. Only Parthian and Merriwee ran in the St. Legsr* Parthian was the favourite, and he once more proved himself superior to his opponent or winning easily. llerriwee ■was, however, running the right-handed way the first time, and this may have accounted for his running across in the straight and finishing under' ihe judge's box. The day's racing conclude! with the High-weight Handicap, six furlongs. Alice Mcstyn was practically the only ono backed ; but she never cauie^ nigh at the finish', the rare proving a good thing for Luxury 9.10, who is by Sequence's sire— Far Nl»iiie.

SECOND DAY. 'Jhe meeting was continusd on Easter Monday. A rank outsider in Yellow ana Black 7.0 accounted ior the Frjing Handicap, only , winning by a head from Citize-i 7.13. The favourite, Auld Lang Syne 8.4 was close up. The field was a big one, no fewer than 25 go1 ing .to the 'post, leliow and Black is a lour-yeXr-old -gelding by the New Zealand sire ituseley, and is very promising, though possibly "this win was something oi a fiuke. Chatelaine, the Maiden Stakes winner, is an imported fitly. Her sire, Janissary, i& the s;ic of the English Derby winner, Jeddali. fane was favourite, and easily beat the poor nek! oppose:! to her. Then came the Champagne Stakes, the principal two-year-old race of the jneetm°\ 'ihou>. ho 'had a 101b penalty, "baskers laid a shade or odds on Malts tei, the hero ox the V.E.C. meeting. Maltster ran well, but he was easily beaten by Haulette, -who was in receipt of 121b. At Fleiningto.i Msitster had no difficulty -in boating Haulette, but the latter has improved since then, while Maltster seems to have stood still. Haulette is by Haut Brion (,&on of St. Simon;, and is, I iarcy, likely to turn out a rattling three-year-oM She ->s a very shapely filly, and seems to stay well. The Bill of Portland filly, Portland Light, ran third, so that the St. Simon 1)1 ood waa respresented- in all three places. ■ The only withdrawal of note from fne Sydney Cut) was Parthian, and the surprise oi the . betting was the move in favour of La C'tira^ | bine 8.2, which, in face of her poor/display in the Doncaster Handicap, 'was certainly puzzl- | mo and if La Carabine did not belong to suen a good sportsman as Mr W. R. Wilson, people ; would no doulit be talking. La Carabine is a nne i stayer, and coming through at the business end of the journey she won very comfortably from i the outsider- Severity 7.3], and Ace of Dia- ] jnonds 6.12. La Carabine, who is by Caioine j -F-ora Orotava' (imp.) by Barcaldine, has Jiua , added' the Sydney Cup to the Australian Cup, j and has the credit of winning the two leading events of the Autumn in Australia. She is a poor sort of. an animal to look at, but there can be doubt about her gait. Vocalist, \\ ar God, Meriwee, and Hi Hi were the others alter La Carabine mostly fancied by backers. tii ■ Hi fell, while the other three ran very toadiy. Merriwee was well up till the sfcraigm. -was reached, _ when he petered __ out. 'If he had not that .fine pcriormance in the Melbourne Cup to his ere Jit, one ivould be inclined to say that Merriwee is a non-stayer ; but the true explanation of, his ialling-off is probably that Mer/iwee, in common with other horses by Bill ot Portland, is not training on. ' Ihe New Zealand Crusado 10.8 looked like winning the Steeplechase at the back of the course, but he xan oG, stud the veteran VVhiteioot II 10.2 was successful, with Taipo (late Dunkeld) in second -olace. The day's racing k concluded with the First Nursery Handicap, six furlongs, m which the Wallace gelding Kinglike showed fine form, for with second top weight (8.10) he won quite easily from Carhne 8.4 and Isa 8.12. The fr vou-jite was Barbaros&a 8.8, a stable companion of Haulette. Barbarossa was ridden by E. Cleal, who has a fondness foi trying to get rip on the inside. He was nearly euchred in this way when riding Haulette in the Champagne Stakes, and. Barbarossa's chance was entirely spoilt by similar tactics.

MARIBYRNONG RACES

On Monday. April 9, a race meeting took place at Maribyrncng, which is the least acjessible of Melbourne's boom courses. The Trial Handicap attiacled a good field, arid -was won by a -warm favourite in Try 6.7, who is by Boolka, and, like most of hi? stock, looks like making a good jumper. Horonda 8.8., another favourite, was 'successful m the Welter Handicap. This son of Lochiel is pretty well. He is trained by J. Lynch, who prepared Forest for his Newmarket Handicap victory. The owner of Utah (R. "Wren) thought his mare had •won, and told the -judge so in strong language, the expression of opinion costing him a tenner, which amount the stewards fined him. The judge did not place ,H[Jtah at first, but afteiwards gave her third place. Ophir 9.7, by Trident, won the Hurdle .Race in a poor field. The Seagull Handicap, five and a-quarter furlongs, ended in a dead heat between Slatin 7.11 and Isola 7.5, the run off being won by the former, who is by Deerswood (son of Newnringter), and owned by Mr Albeit Miller. Mr Miller pub -sequ entry CarIjinier 7.13 iv the April Handicap, and the son of Carbine went out a strong favourite, but ran wretchedly. He certainly does not do Carbine any credit. He is one of the most erratic brutes running. The race went

K> Carlotus 6.11, who is by Carlyon and owned by Mr A. - M'Cracken, a member of the V.R.C. Committee. TTie West AustralianSpeculation 10.10 — won the Jumpeis' Flat Race, one mile and a-quarter, which is the third successive yvm credited to him. fnsult 9.12 was a better favourite, but Speculation, who is showing some of the form he displayed out West, beat him very easily.

MENTONE RACES

Last Saturday's meeting m Melbourne was at Mentone. It was a gieat day lor backers, every winner being either first or second favourite. Inghaton' 7.5, who won the Maiden Plate, is by ila^ua, and trained by J. Leek -at Caulfield. When Leek backs one of his it is generally pretty good. Ingliston won by any number of lengths. Insult 10.13 won the Huidlf! Race m a small and indiffcient field,

•ivhile the Zalmski filly Lyddite 7.7 was successful in the Flying Handicap, Meroopi 7.10 running her to a head. The field included come smprt sprinters. The Tasmanian, Dandy Dick 8.1, was made a red-hot favourite for ilia Mentone Handicap, one mile. He is by Mc-

leor (son of St. Albans), and a member of E. Davis's string. The race was never m doubt. Sinister 11.2, ridden by Tom Hales' s brother \larxy, won the Steeplechase, and Gunbar 5.7

(by Mana) took the "Welter Handicap easily irom Detractor 8.0 a" d Dandy Dick, the latter, notwithstanding a r-s na » + y. being made fafourite, G unbar is a very promising horse. He is only three yeura eld. "tlis sire Maan, as most readers of the Witness know, ia a son of Musket.

ONKAPARINGA RACES

The big Onkaparinga Racing Club meeting in South Australia was again a success on Easter Monday. This is a wonderful meeting, the attendance being usually enormous. The Great Easter Steeplechase, three and a-quarter miles, is the leading at ti action. The stake is lOOOeovs. The course is a peculiar one, the j horses going in and out of the ground and over I roadways, while o;ie of the obstacles is a I fallen tree. The race pj;pin came to Victoria, I Exrro 11.5, ridden by the Melbourne jockey G. Brooks, winning without difficulty. Euro wps b.-ed in the Western district of Victoria, got by Kangaroo, a Tasmanian horse on whom the late Tom Corrigan won some good steeplechases. Another Melbourne horse in Bush Lad 10.5 was a better favourite, but lie fell at the first fence, and his stable comi panion Songster 10.4 came to grief later on. I Mysore 11.2, also hailing from this color.y, ! baulked, while still another Victorian in Homtr ilO 6 ran third. The Onkaparinga Cup, one mile and three furlongs, was won by Merry Pilgrim 7.3, who ran sixth in the last Melbourne Cup, but' has done very little since. He is by the Isonomy sire. Pilgrim's Progiess. Enfield, winner of the Trial Stakes, is by Nordenfeidt's brother Enfilade, and was bied in Victoria by Mr J. V. Smith. The Hurdle Race was worth JSOO, and this went to the favourite. Bcthnal 11.11, a son of Neckersgat. The Hills Railway Stakes, five furlongs, and Oiesposal Stakes came to Victoria, the former being won by Harpist 7.9, who is owned by the gentleman who races as J. M. Robeits (Mr Murphy). Harpist was sired by the imported horse Humourist, who raced hi Australia. , Sluecap II is a stable companion of Maltster, being trained at Ballarat by J. Scobie.

WILLIAMSTOWN RACES

ODDS AND ENDS

These races were to have been held on Easter Monday, but owing to the inclement weather, were postponed until the f olio wing_ day. There were only' four starters for the Hurdle Race, Last G-len 9.3, the favourite, winning easily. Mr J. H. Davis' s stable took a couple of racps, Kooma 7.10 being successful in the Easier Plate, five and a-half furlongs, -which attiacted a good field, and the Escutcheon gelding Palmersion in the Jumpers' Flat Race, for •which he was favourite. Dsndy Dick followed up his Mcntone victory by carrying a 7lb penalty to victory in the Beach- Handicap, one mile. Tins was the best thing of the day, Dandy Dick going out a stiong favourite, and winning easily from Yade, the second favourite, Omrah 8.2, who took the Easiei Purse, is a half sistei by Trenton to La Carabine, and is owned by Mr Albert Miller. The Zalinski filly Lyddite concluded the meeting by carrying a 7lb penalty io victory in the Federal "Stakes, six furlongs, in which Moroncy 8.0, the, favourite, missed a place. Renown, by Trenton fiorn Elsie, by St. Simon, has been sold by Mr W. R. Wilson to Messrs Kerouse and Madden, who have an order from the Indian Government to purchase suitable stallions in Australia. Mr Wilson regaided Renown as one of the fastest horsey he- ever owned, but the son of Trenton could never bo trained. Like his sire, his poo/ feel always troubled him. The proprietor of the Moouee Valley com^o has announced that in futnxe ho» less than £250 hi stakes will be given at week-day meetings, and not less than JS3OO on Saturdays on his course. She minirmun allowed by the Rules of Racing is JE2OO, and very seldom is this amount exceeded by ,tho suburban clubs. Owners have decided to take, the matter \vo, and a meeting has been called to decide what action shall be taken to induce the members of the V.R.C. at the annual meeting in August to raise the minimum. When the V.R.C. were compelled to cut down stakes they allowed the suburban clubs to follow suit, bui there is no reason now such sniall stakes should continue. Occasionally, at a suburbs n meeting, the net value of a stake to the -winner is only ;£l6 10s, and out of this train fares, shoeing, and attendance have to be paid. To win a race under these circumstances is no good to an ownei. The proprietors of the suburban clubs say that if the stakes are raised they will not bs able to live. That is not a matter to be despondent about. The sport would be much healthier if there were fewoi meetings and bigger prizes. With the stakes small, the tendency is to drive all the good man out of the game and leave it to the "guns." Eiridsdale did not go on to Sydney for the A.J.O. meeting. He contracted rheumatism— a favourite complaint of his in Victoria — Dnd was sent back to Tasmania. I don't think his trainer was anxious to go to Sydney under any circumstances. The bubonic plague in Sydney is a thing which is 2iow beyond a joke. R. Hall, the New Zealand cross-country horseman, has arrived in Sydney. Finland and Kenley, a, couple of colts that are likely to be prominent as three-year-olds, have been eased for the winter, and they will not fulfil their engagement in the V.A.T.C. Federal Stakes next month.

Lancaster is back hi work sgain, and does trotting exercise at Caulfield. Foulsham may one <?ay get a good race out of the New Zealander. r A steeplechaser named "Oakbank was killed at Penshurst last week through a fall while schooling. His rider, C. Koofs, was rather badly injured. The thoroughbred stallion Knight Templar (by Gemma-di-Vergy) has died in New South Wales. He was in the sttid of Mi H. Devlin, who owns the successful sire. Sunrise.

Carlotus, who won at the Maribyrnonj, .meeting, waa sold next day for 122igs to G. Plant, trainer of Speculation. Tho Arab stallion Dargai, a splendidly-shaped animal, imported to Victoria some weeks ago, has been sold to Mi J. Derham, and will go to the stud in Queensland. \ It has been conceded for many years that our weight-for-age scale unduly favours the three-year-old. At" their next meeting the V.R.C. Committee will consider the advisability of revising it. Oiir w.f.a. scale is identical with that in force in New South Wales, and [ dare say representations will be made to the A.J.C. Committee with the view of coming to a mutual agreement in connection with the matter.