SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 47

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Bt Ravens-worth. MELBOURNE, March 11. V R.C. AUTUMN FLEETING— THIRD DAY. The racing at Flemingtoa was continued on Thursday last, when the weather was much more favourable than on Australian Cup Day. It was, however, damp under fcot, and portion of the lawn was railed off. The great event of the day was Wakeful's victory in the Champion Stakes. She ran *s well as ever she did in her life. The judge said that she won by half a dozen lengths ; but, as a matter of fact, she was fully twice that distance in front of Great Scot as the winning post was passed, and ■was pulling up at tliat. The mare has not been feeding well since her removal from Cauifield to Flemington, and with The Victory people very connd-ent of beating her, backers of Wakeful experienced the luxury of receiving instead of giving odds. Great Scot was allowed to run his own -race, and he made a solid pace throughout, and was then able to easily stall off The Victory ; but the mare, once in the straight, left the three-year-old as if he wer« standing still. She got a great reception on passing the post, and everybody on the course appeared to be pleased" that so' successful a performer' had not on the occasion of her second try missed the leading weight-for-age event of the Commonwealth. Xiast yeas, it will no doubt be remembered, Wakeful -was beaten by La rCarßbine, after running a fine race. Wakeful's record is still a long way behind Carbine's, but we have seen nothing to equal heT for many yeaTS. Up tc date she has won 22 races, of the total value of about £14,580, has run second eight times, and third three times. Carbine won 33 races, of the total value of close on £30,000. Outside of the three placed horses there were only two other starters — St. Ambrose and Flagship—who finished a 'ong way behind. A feature of the day's racing was the success of the Ballarat stable, presided over by James Sccbie, which took the Autumn Handicap, one mile and five furlongs, with Annotate 7.10, the Select Stakes (for two-year-olds, seven furlongs, maximum weight, 9st), with Sinnang 6.12, and the River Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, with Presto 6.8. Annotate and Sinnang are Scobie's own property. Annotate improved considerably on any recent form she has shown, and the stewards, being no respecters of persons, decided to hold an inquiry into her running in the Brunswick Stakes. Scobie was, however, able to give them a satisfactory explanation. •She has been sore for some time, and the soft going suited her much better than -the going of Sa-turday. Sinnang, who is by Eiridspord (imp.) ouly won by a neck from Czarovitch 8.5, who shaped well considering that he was galloped on in the race. Sinnang is a first-class stayer, but he is not nearly as good a horse as his .stable companions, Emir, Sweet Nell, and F.J A., who are amongst the best of their year. Presto, who is by Mostyn, won the River Handicap very easily from Wairiri 9.5, ,ihe favourite. A rank outsider in Speculation 10.5 won the Hurdle Race, two miles-, by 20 lengths from the unlucky Gosport, while Finland's sister, Fishery" 9.6, took the Elms Handicap, for two and three year olds, seven furlongs.. She shaped much better in this race than she did in the Newmarket or Bourke Handicaps, and is evidently coming on. Sweat Nell ran in this race, and with 8.7 up just missed a place.