SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 48

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

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MELBOURNE, April 2. \TTith. two days of the A.J.C. Autumn meetInjj al Uandwick cast behind, the big Onkapa-i-inga nieeting, in South Australia, over, not /to mention our own Easter meetings, I have plenty to write about this week. Seeing that she fixture is the most important, I shall get work first on the A.J.O. MEETING. First Dai. i It was opened under very favourable conditions last Saturday, the attendance being first Mass and the sport all round interesting. BTou have, no doubt, heard by cable that the jyoncaater Handicap, one mile, the principal event, went to the Newmarket Handicap winner, Sir Foote, who carried 9.4, and won by a length from Purser 6.12 and T.M.S. 6.9. The JBtriking thing about Sir Foote's win this time was that it was hardly anticipated by the jstablfc who backed Beanba 8.7 in preference, Sir IPoote going back to 10 to 1 on the day, Beanba, who won the V.R.C. Oaks last jbpying, hardened to 4 to 1, and started almost Be good a favourite as the Melbourne representative, Vanity Fair 7.7. Both these horses tran badly, and so did the three-year-old Sir Evan 6.12, by Lochiel (who was a strong eleventh-hour tip), and Andorra 7.12, who was •well backed by Melbourne backers. Another Ito fail badly was the West Australian Warrior al 7.7, whose party were very confident. Barring that a racehorse won the event, the form fill round was a bit puzzling. In winning both the Doncaster Handicap and Newmarket Handicap Sir Foote equalled Wakeful's performance of last year, but he carried more weight in each event than the mare. There I* no doubt the English colt is a great horse, and it is a pity that he could not be trained aor a long distance. He looks all over a Stayer. Sir Foote has now won three good araees in succession—he first took the Oaulfield Futurity Stakes—and every credit is due to Ike Earnshaw, the skilful Sydney trainer, for winning with such a horse. There will be plenty of good mares for Sir Foote when he retires to the stud, which he will do next seaBon. He can hardly help turning out a success. Purser, who ran. Becond, is in Kelso's stable, while Mr H. Ozenham lias T.M.S. Mr Oxcnh&m'a good luck has lately deserted him. The First Hurdle Race produced a good Knish between Ireland's Eye 10.9 and Rio 9.4, »nd the former, who is by Gibraltar, and is in TV. Kelso's stable, wp.s successful. Wakeful ,went out favourite for the Autumn Stakes, a fweight-for-age event, run over a mile and afcalf, and duly won, but Blue Metal gave her » good race. The field included La Carabine, CPatronage, and Caledonia, none of whom ran »well. Caledonia's form, in particular, was ,very disappointing. He was quite expected to give Wakeful a good race, but was some distance behind the placed horses at the finish. •Blue Spec, in J. A. Mayo's stable, was successful in the Two-year-old Maiden Stakes, in 'jrhich The Caretaker, who was favourite, (jumped round when the barrier went up, and took no part in the race. That rank fraud G-ra&span ran another of his piggish races in the A.J.C. St. Leger. He was not only beaten by Sir Leonard (who is at best only a sprinter), but also by Brentwood. Sir Leonard is by imported Impetus, and was nicely ridden by 'J. Barden. The day's racing conoluded with the High Weight Handicap, six furlongs. 'An outsider in Bulli 10.13 was successful. 6ulli, who is by Invader, beat the favourite Peppercorn cleverly.