SPORTING- NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2522, 16 July 1902, Page 55

SPORTING- NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Bt Ravejtswohth. 1 j ' I ! I

MELBOURNE, July 2. MOOXEE VALLEY RACES. On the date of the departure of my last letter, June 23, a race meeting was held at Moonee Valley. The only feature of interest in connection with it was that the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase favourite Mystery was pulled out for the Steeplechase. He had 12.9 up, and won easily, but there was nc importance attached to the form, as he only beat a poor field, and hi 3 roost dangerous opponent Pay Out 10.9, fell. Hidalgo 9.6, by Giennllin, started * warm favourite, and won the Hurdle Race, while "W.A.B. 6.13, a two-year-old, by imported Tostig, beat the favourite Hasty Locks 8.0 by a head in the Trial Handicap. With 181b off his back, Hasty Locks came out later on and won the June Handicap, five furlongs. Hasty Locks is another of the useful Padlocks. He is trained by W. Filgate. Flying Fox 8.3 , had an easy win in the Welter Handicap, while J Jerry 7.9, by Ascot Vale, landed the Valley Handicap, beating a better favourite in Malva 8.9. FIVE HORS2* KILLED. The V.R.C. Coronation meeting, held last Thursday, was remarkable for the number of ! horses sacrificed, no fewer than five meeting with accidents which necessitated their being destroyed. I met the owner of Battleaxe on the course, and he asked me if it was a usual thing for so many horses to be killed in one day. He said they dad not do things in such I a wholesale fashion in New Zealand. Of course I it is exceptional for five horses to be sacrificed I in one day, but tliero is no doubt we kill more 1 horses in Victoria, than in any other part of the j v. crld. Four of the horses were killed in the Ilurdle Race, one of the most disastrous ever lun in Australia. Dutch AdmiraJ, Informer, | Lord Roberts, and The Watchdog were the horses to meet with fatal mishaps. Informer and Lord Roberts each broke a bone in his reck, Dutch Admiral fractured his leg, while The Watchdog broke his back. Commander hid his hip so badly injured that he had to be left in the locality. Coat-of-Arms and Booby, two others to come down, were badly shaken, and Booby also ricked his neck. Lord Roberts, Dutch. Admiral, and Informer were all engaged in the Grs>nd* National Hurdle Race. The former, who was by Tradition, was owned by Mr James Grice, and trained by R. H. Frew; Dutch Admiral via 3 owned and trained by J. Griffin, and was by The Admiral; while Infoi-mei (by Essex) was owned by Mr H. A. Aruiytage, and vcaa a member of P. T. Hejwooi's team. None of the trio had mneli of a public recoid to boast of, bilt both Lord Roberts and Dutch Admiral were regarded as veiy promising horses. The Watchdog, who was by Gibraltar, was owned by Mr R. Clancy, fVhd trained by P. Nolan. The Watchdog was only a new chum at the jumping business. As a flat rucei he was much better known, his performances including a win in the Newmarket Handicap in 1900, in the colours of the late Mr William Forrester. Later in the after- ] noon still another horse was killed, this being ■ Jack Tar, an aged gelding, by Skipper, who I broke his neck by falling m the Steeplechase. There appears to have been no special reason i v. hy so nicUiy falls should have taken place, a* the goir>g was really in fust-class condition foi jumping. The solid pace set in the early part of the Hurdle Race probably accounted for the numerous accidents in that event. The Hurdle Race which proved po disastrous i attracted 22 starters, v large number of them j being engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race. The winner, California 11.9, led all the way, and J. 'fouilin, v.ho does rot often ride a. winner, lardod a 15 to 1 chance. California v-^as only purchased a few days ago by Barney Allen, ithe bookmaker, who is proverbially lucky. Nansen 10.0 fiuiahed very fast, and. he I mttde a lot of friends for the Grand National Hurdle Race, and so did R-awdon 10.0, who was fourth. Lowland Chi if 11.9, the favourite, cut \ up badly,"and so did the well-backed Mornington 10.5", but Regalia II 11.2 was always well up, and might have made a better fight of it but for sinking a hurdle and cutting his fetlock slightly. Tangiers 10.5 won the Steeplechase for Mr All»ert TWiller. who lather fancied his second strmg, Mailboat 9.12, who, however, fell. There were- tlnee fiat rar-e? on the V.R C. piogruiuru*, Use principal of wiiicli wni 1h? King's Handicap, one mile and u-quarter. The K.A.J.C. Goodnood Har<Ticap winner Footbolt 9.5 v. ent out a stiong favourite lor this race, and he won m the holloweot possible fashion from Omrnh 7.11 (who bolted a mile bsfore the j and Jeriy 7.1. Omrah was not m the ! batting, fij.d considering +hat the Culn>ld Cup vr-glits were to be declared the fol'owing Mn.iua-.. I farcy her owner muat have been dii- j ' i-tol (o <?€c her run into such a forward place. I IJ':i,iiymedc G 12, v j-table companion to Footboll, easily accounted for ilie Quern's Slakes v., ii Killua 9.1 in s-erond place Runnyniede i-i hy WalUce froai Meadow Queen, dam of The i Mu~kctee;, ai.d is owned by Mi Archie Yuille, j n c of the ve'l-kuovn horse salesmen, and a litruiViM p! tlie VKC Committee. A raiik r il-iclcr n\ Munlch-vka fi C v-s .=i:<-re-s fi'' in ; i!.? Welter Ha-.heap TT- i- by Wc'imrton, a'c\ i- t a-n.-d along w.t'i Holkai and con-jjam 1a H. na-ri=or The well backed ai.d unlucky I": dori^d 9.1 wa> only IwjUn a head. A J C RACES. Tl'e Coronation mrrtir," of lli» Australian .To kfv C'.u' v,a., held at RanJwck on Thurs<U' ia--t 'lh? leading event, the Cororahon Hindiop. (vie mile and (lire- furlongs, went to Faiiy Punce 7 12, by Stockdale, who wert out &<?oord fa\iuri»e The favourite, Rabato 82. wai iii-.'er piominent. Two of the winners, Maiton 11 10 in he Hurdle Race and Skein Dim 810 in tlie Weltci H*r.dicap, were sired by Loflncl Ir Marlon's race T?io, the rider, J. Hurlf\, and trainei, R .J. Hector, were disqualified for 12 niorths for suspicious practices. Tno ot''fr New 7eatanc!-bred sires were sne-c-^iul, T»!is=lev rlaiining Bother 7 10, winner of the F'jiriK llandieap. and Escutcheon sired l)'ii wp 0 12, wii'iiei of the Appren.tico=>' Handicap TI-rMP was a good field for Bother's race, a-vl i-tjp eliarprl 'avour'ticm with Ambulance 712 si sto 1 Bother o'i'.y beat Gentleman Jim Sll I>\ a lieck .Spoit»man 9.7 easily beat Bif-hiO 9.0 hi« on!> opponent, in the Steeplechase A. L'ic hardson. whn is attached to T. l'avtci.'s stib'?, rclc two winners durmg the WILLIAMSTOWN RACES. The meeting r{ thr> Wilhamstown Club on fiaturdiv last would liave attracted more at-

| tention had not the V.S.C. knocked the winel out of the fixture by holdmg a Coronation j meeting two days previously. Still, there was some fair racing at the seaside course. The prominent Grand National Steeplechase candidate Sindbia was seen out in the Steeplechase. She carried 11.7 and was, of course, made a strong favourite. How she would have fared had ail gone right can only be conjectured. She ran inside a post during the race. The . finish was between Deingomar 9.12 and Kai- .» mate 12.8, both Grand National Steeplechase candidates, and Deingomar won easily. He is by Kangaroo, and won the last Bendigo Steeplechase. Pathos 9.3, who is engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race at 9.0, won the Hurdle Race, starting at 12 to 1, in a field of nine. The Mentone winner The Waster 10.9 was favourite, but ran badly. Another outsider in Slatin 9.1, by Deerswood, was successful in the Winter Handicap, five furlongs. He is owned by Mr Albert Miller, and Epitoma 8.1 and Kingston 9.3, both well backed, followed him home. Grenadier 8.3 was successful in the Jumpers' Flat Race, and Rhapsody 7.2, the only favourite to get home curing the afternoon, was returned- the winner of the Point Cook Handicap, in which there was a rjretty good field. RACING IN ADELAIDE. The Coronation meeting of the Sonth Australian Jockey Club, postponed from the previous Thursday, was held on Saturday last. • The V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle- Race can- * didate Isis 11.5, by Leroy (himself a good hurdle-racer), had an easy win in the Windsor Hurdle Race, but the victory by Princess ' Louise 8.7, by Clonard, in the Royal Walter. ■ Handicap, one mile, was a near thing, Albani - 9.7 only being beaten by half a head. The leading event, the Coronation Handicap, of 200sovs, one mile and a-half, went to the Prince Consorf mare Phillippa 8.2, with Lome 7A only a head * away and The Tailor 9.5 third. Convoy 11.0, by Pacific, had an easy win in the Empire Steeplechase. The well-bred Sojournei 7.5, who only cost C. Quinn 30gs as a yearling in Melbourne, accounted for the Sandringham Stakes for two-year-olds, seven furlongs. Sojourner is by Pilgrim's Progress from Winifred (dam of Benvolio, Mercutio, and Maharam), by Goldsbrough. Fortune Teller carried 11.7 to victory in the Sovereign Handicap, six furlongs. Two of the starters, Try Again and Unley Park, who failed to finish in the first four, had but 6.7 each to carry. MOOREFIELD RACES. The feature of the Moorefield races in Sydnej on Saturday last was the form of Lady Graf ton, a filly by Grafton (imp) from Lady Roodee. She won the Stewards' Mile, carrying 8.5, and the Welter Handicap, six furlongs, with 9.7 up. Lady Grafton is owned by Mr A. Gollan, whe had Australian Star before Mr S. H. Gollan became his owner. Another Grafton to win. was Famous, who took the Two-year-old Handicap with 8.5 up. Contest, a good-looking colt by Lochiel, was successful in the Kogarah. Stakes, six furlongs, while Kitty Sharp G. 7, a filly by Trenchant (son of Trenton) got a 20 to 1 chance home in the Flying Handicap, six furlongs. Winolinc, who was beaten a head by Kitty Sharp, subsequently carried 8.12 to victory in the Moorefield Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. Winoline, who is by Blairgowrie, has been a good performer in the country. In this race The Corporal and Merlins fell. A. Richardson, rider of The Corporal, had his collar bone broken. THE CUP WEIGHTS. There was a flutter of excitement in racing circles on Monday last, when weights for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup were declared. Mr E. K. Maitland, the new Caulfield handicapper, and Mr F. F. Dakin, the V.8.0. ; handicapper, are not on friendly terms, and •there wa9 no possible chance of the men comparing notes, yet, ou the whole, the two handicaps are very much alike. Both handicaprjeis start with Wakeful and San Fran at 10.5 each. A list of the leading differences in th« handicaps is appended — Caulfield Melbourne 1 I [

To my nund the pick of the Caulfield Cup is The Idler fit 5.4, whirh 13 only Gib over the weight he carried to victory m the Adplaide Cup, where he beat The Victory 7.12, Flagship • 7 12, and Kootbolt 9.4. Since then the excellence of The Idler's form has been confirmed by Flagship, The Victoiy, :md Foot'oolt all wr.miug good races. Even at 10.5 I would not put Wakeful out of it over tins distance, a-id oth-i.» I like at this stage arc Bonnie Chiel. Fcolbo'.t, Flagship, Felicitous, Kilt, Purser, Lieutenant Bill, Great Scot, Lady Grafton, Bliiiidfrei, Dodona, Wink, Orrrah. and Lowlaud C'h.cf If called upon to name two agamsi the field, I should ccrlaiuly pick 1 lit Idler and Lientenaut Bill. If both San Fran and Wakeful 10.5 were to come to the post fit and well, I think they would iail under thece weights ovci two miles. Xonette at 9.J has also plenty of weight. She is handicapped up to her best New Zcalaucl form. Kuigiike 8.13 v a very likely horse, and I like Haymaker 8.12, Bonnie Chiel 8.7, Patronage 8.2. ' Combat 7.12, Lowland Chief G 10, and the thiee-yesr-oltls Brakpan. Loyal, Abundunce, and Strata Florida have <tll good chances. Ihe two I like against the field ure Patronage and Kmglike. A.J.C. WEIGHTS Weights were also issued on Monday for the A.J C. Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan. I like Barragunda and Lady Grafton for the Epsom Handicap, and for the Metropoli tan my liking m for Purser and Man-o'-War. ODDS AND ENDS. James Scobie won the principal event, tin Coronation Handicap, one mile and 75yds, al the Bullarat Miners' Turf Club meeting on Thursday last with Mr J. Catto'a Presto 9.0, who is by Mostyn. At the Ballarat Turf Club meeting on the following day Scobie sent out Annotate 9.7, an even-money favourite, for the June Handicap, one mile, but she could get no neater than third, Verrcs 7.1, by Vengeance, winning for the veteran trainer T. Wilson, with the uniancied Presto 9.0 in second place • Scobie won the Robertson Bracf-let .Stakes wii'i 1 th* W«Jlaci fill? Silk Lace who hi-", """-u. 4,

great disappointment, whi'e Alec . Taylor took ♦he Jumpers' Plat Race -with, his Grand •National Hurdle Race candidate, Colonel Shifljjuski, by Zalinski. The Tasmanian juniper, Young Creswick, is flow being trained at Flemington by W. Glasscopk. Z At the winter meeting of th© Stawell (Vie.) fencing Clnb last Thursday, M. Coghlan and S. Thomas, riders of Blunderer and Surge in the (Plying Handicap, were respectively fined £5 knd £1 for flogging one another with their whips flrhen approaching the winning-pc3t. t On the Ascot course (one of Melbourne's unregistered courses) last Friday Emulator atacked his previous Australian stallion trotting record over a mile of 2mrn 20 4-sscc. In his irst effort he took 2min 23 l-ssoc, but on making v second try he broke his record by putting lip 2min 20 2-ssec. ' At the Kalgoorlie races on June 18, Ireland s Eye {who was recently running in Sydney) and his rider, O'Reilly, were disqualified for 12 Diooths for suspicious practices. Holkar, who has ruled as the Grand Isational •Hurdle Race favourite, pxilled up lame after EE loping at Flemington last Saturday mornIng. Nausen is also said to be slightly lame. The "West Australians, Kilt and. Lucky Dog, liave arrived at Flenungton. They have retently been Tacing in LAdeliade. 1 Blunderer, who used to be in M. P. Whitty s Stable at Flemington, won a coupjo of races at jfcho Charters Tower 3 meeting in Queensland la=t we-elc. , \ Battleaxe, in a school with four other horses at Caulfield last -Monday, jumpsd very glovciily. | Dr Spooner Hart, of Calcutta, who has been in Sir Thomas Fitzgerald's private hospital, hi JMelbourae, for some weeks, is about again. He (has had a successful operation performed for '«n injury to his leg, sustained while playmg [polo in India. I Seaman, who has been an absentee from the tracks pmce he was galloped on in the V.A.T.C. Hurdle Rice on June 21, made his reappearance on the Caulfield tracks on Monday, antt eantersd twice round.

Hyruetlus .. .. Sequence Sir Leonard Bonnie Chiel .. Limber Milliades The Idler Combat Felicitous .. .. Flagship Research Horace PurseT Industrious .. Fighting Mac Simile .... .. Galtee More .. Gazelle An Motor Merton Steel .. .. Ossiau Cadenas Verne Viator Vino Strata Florida ITompward Bound . Philibeg . "\Tir.k Clip. Bt. lb. 9 9 9 9 9 7 8 13 8 12 8 7 8 4 8 4 8 3 8 1 7 12 7 11 7 ID 7 9 7 8 7 7 7 8 7 3 6 13 7 4 7 3 7 3 " 6 IS 7 3 7 3 *- r 7 0 7 0 G 13 Clip. St. lb. 9 5 9 4 9 2 8 7 8 8 8 2 8 7 7 12 8 8 8 5 7 6 8 (> 7 5 7 2 7 12 8' 0 7 10 7 6 7 3 0 11 G 12 7 S 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 12 6 7 7 7 7 2