SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 47

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Bt Eavtxswohth.

MELBOURNE, February 25. V.A.T.C AUTUMN MEETING—CONCLUD-

IXG DAY.

The autumn meeting of the Yictona Amateur Turf Ciub was concluded at Cauifield on Sa.turday. A few showers fell, but the sport was not seriously interfered with The attendance on each of the three day? of the fixture was slightly below that of last year, "but the club will not lose more than they did in 1902— about £1500. Foi one thing, expenses were not so heavy. Then was no Vice-regal party present on either lay, and this saved the club a fan - amount. The lunching of these distinguished ■* isitors is often a large item The racing on Saturday was first class, the Futurity Stakes causing no end of inierest. Victorians thought they had a lien on the race with Wakeful t«' represent them; hut the finish was icucht oat to; two Sidney Worses. Sir licc-uurd

and Chantress, and Wakeful only got third place because Emir stumbled and got rid o* his riclsr at the half-distance. Emir, Chantress and Sir Leonard (the latter on the outside) were running in a line at the time, and Emir v-ss knocked on to the Tails. When Sir Leonard beat Chantress by a neck there was a piciest against him for interfering with Chanti ess, but it was dismissed. Emir was seriously interfered with, but Chaniress was not hampered in any way.

Sir Leonard really won the race easily, as the Melbourne jockey R Lewis, who rode him, was sitting still in the last hundred yards. Sir Leonard is by imported Impetus (son of Salisbury), and is better now tihan he has been

for a considerable time. He has had several tric-s to beat Wakeful, but this is the first t'me he has succeeded m doing so. Wakeful was, however, carrying 9.13 to his 9.0. Chantress is by Bill of Portland, and is trained by Earnshaw, who won the Tace last year with Sir Foote. She is a three-year-old filly, and is very smart. Emir would, however, I think, have beaten her but for his accident. He is the two-year-old, in James Scobie's stable, and Mr Ernest Clarke (a relative of Sir Rupert Clarke) gave lOOOgs as a yearling for him. Emir, as a maiden two-year-old, had an allowance of lS'.b, and was only carrying 5.6. He is » fine strapping colt, and would, have shaped better, I daresay, with a heavier weight. He is not a boy's horse. Emir is a full brother to Beauba, by WaH&ce from Emmie, by Robinson Crusoe, and is a likely winner of the next V.B.C. Derby. Wakeful appears to have lost some of her brilliancy. She fell back at the turn through Sir Leonard interfering with her, but was finishing well. ' She is now better over than under a mile. Of course 9.13 is a great weight lor her to carry at her top over seven furlongs against the best horses in the land meeting her on advantageous terms.

Mr J. IT. M'Arthur won the Orrong Two-yeaT-old with Le Portel 7.1, a colt of his own breeding, by Bill of Portland from Camooaa, by -Gang Fcrwaid. The favourite Corroboree 8.4. a stable companion of Dulcimer, was second, but he ran an erratic course, and was badly beaten. The jumping races went to outsxleis, Austerlitz 9.5 taking the Hurdle Race, and Sir Hairy 9.2 the Steeplechase. Austerlitz is by the A.J.C. Metropolitan winner The Bohemian (son of Maribyrnong), -and is ownedand trained by W. Hill, a "bookmaker, who rejoices in the business name of "The Eich-mondit-e. ' 'Sir Harry is by Cian Stuart, and is in James Scobie's stable. He was known to bs very promising, but his recent form was bad. He jumped poorly in his races on the first and. second days of the meeting, and finished a long way out of it. His jumping on Saturday was only a slight improvement, but the field was a poor one, and his pace pulled him through.

The Wooddifi Handicap, one mile and thre* furlongs, went to Bright Beauty 6.7, a promising three-year-old Pilgrim Progress filly, owned by James Wilson, sen. The stable boy who lode her nearly lost the race through paying more attention to his cap, which was nearly off, than to beating the favourite Maelgwyn 7.7, who lan second. Bright Beauty won the race for herself. There were 20 starters, including several very smart sprinters, in the Hawksburn Handicap, run over six furlongs. Careless 7.11 and Rose Petal 5.5 wore the favourites, but neither got a place. The winner was Independence 7.11, in Hickenbotham's stable, who was solidly backed at 10 to 1. She showed great pace, breaking up the field hi the first two fui longs, and winning- easily irow. Sunset BJ, and Chippy Norlon 8.2. Independence is by Wallace "from the St. Simon, mare Elsie. She is a. great track horse, but cannot always bo relied on to do her best in public. SUMMARY OF THE MEETING. Mr L. A. Cooper, as the owner of Sir Leonard, took the leading position in the list of winning ovmeis with a cheque of £1065. The fust prize in the Futurity was £1000, and Mr Cooper got an extra i3O as the nominator. Mr C. L. Macdonald, ownei of Wakeful, headed the list last year with £1375. Now he is fifth with a paltry £385. Mr J. N. M 'Arthur, with only £15 to his credit at the 1902 fixture, has jumped into second plttce, his winnings amounting to .£605. Mr M 'Arthur is n sportsman in the best sense of the term, and his success is very graiifying. He never bets. Mr J. Brennau, owner vl Pendant, takes £600, and Mr James Wilson, sen., £445. The stakes distiibutec!. at the meeting (£6300) is the same in amount as last year. The -Carbine horse Wallace had the best record at the meeting with Hires winners — Falkiit, F.J.A., and Independence. No ether pire was credited with more than one winning lace. Wallace is a descendant of Musket; and Firelock, Thunderbolt, and Treuton, who each had a winning repregentat.ve, also possess the Musket bleed. The imported hcrse Impetus (■=on of Salisbury) claimed the wmnor of the Futurity Stakes, while the following other sires were credited with one race each — viz., Grafton, Malna, Manoa, The Admiral, Homer, Far Xiente, Sinking Fund, Bill of Portland, The Bohemian, Clan Stuart, and Pilgrim's Progiess.

E. Lewis and VS\ H. Smith, with three wins each, were the most successful jockeys at the meeting. Smith is a Sydney jockey. Three other Sydney riders were successful—A. Hood (twice), A. Richardson, and J. Barden.

EPSOM RACES

R. Lewis rode a couple of winners at Eppom last Wednesday — Santoi 8.4 in the Epsom Handicap and Presto 7.8 m the Mordialloc Handicap. The maigin at the finish was a very narrow one in each case. Santoi. as usual, played up at the post and considerably delayed the start. Eventually he had tc be led up to the barrier, and he got n good start. Odds were laid on Presto for her race, but it was not the good thing the betting indicated. She or.ly beat Kiugei by a head, with Mostynia a similar distance away third. Santoi ran in the colours of his new owner, Mi S. Green, a bookmaker who got his purchase money back in "one pop." Presto, who is by Mostyn, is ir> James Scobis's stable. Eel}' 7.0, by Richelieu, took the Trial Handicap and the V.R.C. Grand National winner Shoddy 9.8, by Trenton, started favourite, and won the Hurd'e Race easily. Dunk 8.3, by Melos, and Sparklet 7.10. hy Ma!voho, ran a iead-he.it for first plnee in the Welter Handicap. They were fiist aud second fa\ountes lespectively, and another favourite in R. Balty's Report 9.8, by Piodigal, won theJumpcih' Flat Race.

ROSEHILL RACES

The race meeting in Sydney on Saturday was at Rojclnll. The feature of the racing was the success of the progeny of the Kei\ Zealandbred Lochiel. They took three out of the bjx races — viz., Nicbel G.lO, the Grauville Stakes, Airlock 9.5 the Nurseiy Handicap, and Contest 10.10 the Paramatta Mile. Nippel was a Tank outsider, but the other two started favourites. The finish of the Puianiatta Mile must, surely, be a record in its wny, as heads only divided the first, half-dozen. A strong favourite m Idolise 7.0, by Haut Brion, from Idolatry (imp.), by Isonomy, was sueccbsfnl in the February Stakes, sfx furlongs, while Koyal King 10.10, by Nobleman, who was well backed, succeeded m the Flying Welter. The Rossini' Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, was won by J A. Mayo's Blue Spec 6.12, v. 1.0 is a thrf"--j car-old cot by True Blue 'son of Hotchkiss), and was bred by Mi A llooko, who used to race True Blue. 15. Wcoticn ran fcecond aud tlmd with Marathon and Redeemed. J. Montgomery lode three and W. Bia^m two winnerß at the meetkur

ODDS AND ENDS. Th* Musketeer, by Enfilade, died a few days ago in Gippsland. The Musketeer won a few good races for Mr E. G. Row, who had him on lease. Irwell and Kinglike are to ba offered for sale shortly. Both belong to Mr C. L. Msicdonald. The successful imported stailioii Pilgrim's Progress, together with the whole of the Woodlards stud mares, are to be offered for sale on March 6. The death is reported from Albury of the thoroughbred horses Taranaki and Abuse. Taranaki was by Albury from Axiom. His best efforts were winring the Williamstown and Wagga Cups. He was foaled in 1539. Latterly he had been doing stud duty at Wodonga. Abuse was about 20 years old, and was by Slanderer from Jointress. His best win was in the St. Kildn Cup at Cauifield. Abuse was a horse of great stamina, and won doubles from Albury to Bourke. Loyal is showing signs of lameness on the track. Chesterfield and Larissa have arrived in Mel"bourne from Tasmania, Acrasia and Velox from Sydney, and Avalon, Adjuster, Silver Manlock, Prospero, Mount Lofty, and Lord Kitchener from Adelaide. Hovis, by the Kew Zealand-bred Hova, won the principal event at the Talbot meeting (Victoria) last week. Vestal, who is by Light Artillery (son of Trenton), won a double at the same meeting. Homespun, by Lowland Chief (English), won a double at the Echuca, (Victoria) races last Wednesday. Homespun, who was a crack' hurdle-racer when he carried Mr S. Miller's colours, is now 13 years old. Tiffin, who met with fp.tal injuries in the "Hurdle Eace at Epsom last week, was an aged grey gelding_by Pell Alell from Daisy, owned by Mr J. Marshall. Tiffin wae a poor performer. Iramoo, who a few years back carried Mr S. Miller's colours, and was a crack hurdle-racer, was sold at Kirk's BazaaT last week for 30s! Iramoo is by Marvellous, from Dainty, and is a gelding. The death is announced at Adelaide of Mr Charles Pearce, who for more than 25 years was a osntral figure in South Australian coursing circles. An instance which occurred at the Serpentine sports and races in Victoria last Thursday must surely constitute the record performance in "cronk" running. In the Trot the rider of Dolly Nimble had 1 to turn hex round and trot in the opposite direction to prevent the mare winning. The owner and mare were immediately disqualified for life by the stewards. William C. Yuille and Co. hove s6ld, on account of Mr G. M'CuHooh, the well-known racehorse Lieutenant Bill, winner of the Cauifield Cup, to Mr Julius Gove. Lieutenant Bill's destination is India. Mr Gove had previously tried unsuccessfully to buy Killua. Considerable disappointment was felt hi polo 'circles in Melbourne when it was announced that -the visit of "the New Zealand polo team to Victoria had been abandoned. Suzanne has been doing very badly since her arrival in Melbourne from Sydney, and had tobe scratched for the Futurity Stakes and Newmarket Handicap. Mr John Brown's latest English purchases have reached Sydney, and are undergoing the regulation period of quarantine at Eand->vick. They consist of: Filly, by Orrac from Lady Heron; fitly, by Hartagon from St. Ursula; La Crosse, six-year-old mare, by Laclas from Long Cross; and a three-year-old colt by St Simon from Tact. J. Lynch, who went to India to train Mr B. Allen's horses, is on his way back to Melbourne. Australian trotting men are of the opinion thnt Eibboiiwood will have to be very good indeed to bsat Fiutz in the tiotting match that lias been arranged between the pair. Mr Buckland, owner of Fritz, is a rich man, whose f-ole hobby is the breeding and racing of trotteis. At the Pyrmont Swimming Club's competition in Sydney on Saturday last, E. Cavil], in the 120 yds Handicap, covered the distance in lnnn 14 l-ssec, and lowered Lane's world record by l-ssec. The plunge championship of New South Wales was won by W. M'Donald, of East Sydney, with 63£fl. Bonnie Cluel has not been doing weU of late, and cVd not start for the Futurity Stake? at Cauifield. He becomes very soie after each gallop. The stipendioxy stewards held inquiries at Eosehill on Saturday into the running of Hello and Araxes. In both instances the jockeys v.-ere .censured. This is the second time in a few weeks that they have questioned the runluug of Araxes. Famous got away from his attendant after the Cauliield races on Saturday, and knocked himself about a lot. He had to be scratched for the Newmarket Handicap, and has returned to Sydney, together with Lady Mary and Sir Eoger. The Hawksburn Handicap winner, Indcpentiencej was sold on Monday to Mr S. Green, who intends to ship her to South Africa. She remains in Hickenbotham's stable until after the running of the Newmarket Handicap. The price paid -for the daughter of Wallace was, I believe, cose on £500. The brilliant Osfcer'cy mare, Lightfoot, gave ri'Other sample of her rare trotting abilities nt Ascot on Monday by successfully conceding no Ices than 340 yds "btart tc the favourite, Ambente, m the Mile Handicap Trot. The little champion, without once blundering, was enabled to catch Amberite in the straight, and

won cleverly. A private cable har been received in Sydney announcing the safe arrival of Bengalla and the galloway Sparklet at Durban, South Africa, but the well-known Sydney galloway Carmenta, by 'Indent, died on the voyage. James Monaghan, the well-known Eandwick tramcr. has lodged a comploint with the A.J.C. against Mr John Daly in connection with the handicapping of Rejoice at the late Eandwick ir>epiin<r. There was racing at Mcntone yesterday. In a nuinr-ious field, Lady Stanhope, a full sister to Pau 1 Pry, by Lochie! from Busybody, started favounte, and easily won the Maiden Plate. Two Kewmaiket Handicap candidates were successful — Purser 9.0, talcing the Flying Handicap and Goldleaf 9.3 the Welter Handicap. Each started a stjong favourite, long-odds being luid on Purser. The Australian Cup candidate Patronus 9.0, went out favourite for the Mentone Handicap, one mile, but missed a place. The winner turuesl up iv the Carnage mare La France, a7to 1 chance. R,cport 10.2 was successful in the Jumpers' Flat Race, and Labour 9.0 in the Steeplechase — botl- 10 to 1 chances.