THE CAUL FIELD NATIONAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 39

THE CAUL FIELD NATIONAL.

The whole of the 17 horses en the card for the Caulfielcl Grand National Steeplechase duly faced ths barrier, but, as usual in races of this description, several of the starters might just as well have remained in their boxes for all the chance they had. So wiites tho editor of Melbourne Sportsman, and he continues thus: — Euro looked so bright and inuscubr, and his trainer — never a sanguine man — was so confident of success that the ZSlordinllbc gelding ultimately started favourite, though he was closely pressed by Mysore, whose backei's evidently ignored the piggish exhibitions recently given by the black gelding. Chelsea, about whom 6to 1 had been taken through the week, receded to 9 to 1, probably because the fact that Colonel Campbell had backed Lady Agatha for a big stake wns generally known. However, I am pleased to say. Colonel Campbell did not forget to stand his own gallant grey for a tidy amount as well, and there is nothing like having two strings to one's boy/, especially in a steeplechase, where anything may happen to the cle\erest jumper. As a matte" of fact, an unlooked-for contretemps didoccur, for early in the race — at the log lence in front of Ihc stand the first time — Mysore, who had been sulking with J. J. Allan from the firt-t. fcwerved acrors the field, and was instrumental in bringing down Lady Agatha, Carmyle, and Blucher, a performance he copped by running off the cour=e altogether after jumping the fence. M}-.«ore evidently has turned a complete rogue, and probably the Messrs SSanifold will recognise that station work is now more in his line than racing. Anyway, steeplechase riders will breathe easier when Mysore is out of the waj-. The race was a chapter of accidents from start to finish, but, strange to say, most of the falls occurred in the first two rounds. This time the pace caunot be blamed, for though the race was solidly run throughout, the rate of travelling was not unduly fast. Euro looked like winning three furlongs from home. At this point Euro and Chelsea were disputing for supremacy, their nearest opponent being Butler, who was at least a dozen lengths behind. However, the gallant grey led into the straight, a.nd, finishing in grand style, ran home a winner amidst tremendous ap-

plause. Chelsea was always in front or ■. isai the ironl the last couple of miles, v/hich ! aej considerably enhances the merit of the perr lormance. Colonel Campbell — one ot ths 1 best sportsmen in Australia — was congratulated on all sides, and it is satisfactory to 1 know that a good horse like Chelsea is in,' such excellent hands. Chelsea should be a wonderfully good horse in another year or two, probably a greater than Domino; thai? is, if the rather severe exertion — for a young horse — he has undergone does not tell its tale. However, Chelsea wll probably be eased up now, and treated kindly for a while. As I have from the day he left the turf consistently advocated the claims of Portsea as a sire, the success of his son, Chelsea, was pleasing to me, more so that I coupled the grey with Euro in my forecast of the race, it is the habit to refer to Chelsea as a badlybred one, but this is hardly correct. His dam, Elsie, was got by Moro (King Cole — Phanlasmagora) from Lucy, a mare of whose antecedents very little is known. She may have been clean bred for all that is know) to the contrary.