SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 51

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Hoki Poene

MELBOURNE, June 8 THE TURF.

The Melbourne Hunt CUib held a meeting at Moonee Valley on Saturday, the leading e'-ent of the afternoon — the Melbourne Hunt Steeplechase, for hunters, with amateur riders vp — producing a most exciting finisih. C. B. HoLsoll's aged mare "Wot Afield 11.9 was made a 7to 4 favourite against seven others , but although her owner made a very vigorous effort &z the fag end of the two miles and a-half contest he suffered defeat by a head from another aged mare named Ma,rjorie (by Acrobat — Mabs), who carried' 10.13 in. the person of her owner, Mr H. J. Gillespie. Marjorie (a 7 to 1 shot) made all the running, and after the race a large compainy assembled in tho

stewaids' loom, where Mr Frank Madden proposed the health of Mr Gillespie, warmly congratulating him on his success. E. B. Bell's mare A. M. B. (by Enfield from a Leitrim mare) 9.2 carried off the Handicap Steeplechase of two males, backers of Jim Barbour's mount securing the remunerative price of 6 to 1. The tlires-year-old Sweep Clean 9.0 annexed the Oakleigh Handicap, of a mile and n-quarter, from a weak field by three lengths in the moderate time of 2min 20\sec. There were a couple of severe fails dhiring the afteruoon. E. He-riol, the rider of Gothic in the Hunt Steeplechase, 'having a rib broken ; whilst P. Cosgrove sustained severe internal injuries (which necessitated his removal to the Melbourne Hospital) by a bad fall ofi Killarney in the Steeplechase, hi-i mount rolling completely over him.

The V.R.C. held their Birthday meeting at Flemington on Monday, when there was a very fair attendance and enjoyable racing, albeit backers found it i:o easy task to pick winners. There were 17 started for the York Hurdle Race, of two miles, A. B. Pearson's Sir Peter Teazla 10.5 starting at 4 to 1, whilst A. Herbert's Zircon 9.7 was at 9 to 2. Outside this pair edds oif 10 to 1 ware procurable, H. J. Taylor's My Mi&tabe 12.0 and J. B. Clark's Loch Tny 10.0 being bached! thereat, Greuville 10 3, The Toiler 10.8, and Adjuster 9.13 figuring at 12's. Adjuster is an aged gelding by Off Colour from Swing, aaid once ran second in an Australian Cup. He was bred by Mr James Wilson, T>ut some time back passed into the hands of Mr Septimus Miller, the chairman of the V.R.C. Tin's is the first c ent he has won for that garttleman, and condition alone secured him the victory, as ba.lf a furlong from home Sir Peter Teazle, My Mistake, and Grenville were upsides with him. He got home by a couple of lengths from Sir Peter Teazle, who was oaly half a length in advance of My Mistake, witfi Grenville a gooes fourth; the tune fcx the two miles being 3min sG|sec. My Mistake's exploit must hr.vo pleased his party, for > esterday (Tuesday) all the money in the market was secured "about him for the V.R.C. Grand Nation?,! Hurdle Race, whilst lie was coupled a goodly number of times with Goyura for the G.K. Steeplechase.

Walter Hickenbotham's partisans put it in handsomely cai Wingaroon 9.5 for the Royal Handicap, of six furlongs, that gelding being backed down to 3's. He was blown out by the two-year-old colt Da.^gai (by St. Swithin— Black Rose), who ran. home an easy winner by a couiple of lengths, with 7.9 up, in Imm 16s ec ; Wingaroon finishing second andl Unknewn 6.12 (who started second favourite— 7 to lin a field of 16) third. D'angai's stable companion — Killua 8.12 — opened in much batter demand than tho youngster; but towards the finish of the pencilling operations lio drifted out of the market, while Dangai w.->s in strong request at 10's, so that his pa.rty riobab'y threw in for a, pretty fair stake. His performance on Monday was ir m?.rked contrast to his peiegrination at Epsom nine clays previously, when Handicapped Bractohaw had treated him with niurih leniency in a Welter Handicap. It is alleged that one or two members of the V.R.C. Committee intend moving for an inquiry into DaEgai's performance at Epsom. These in a position to speak with authority concerning these things are vfry prcnounced a.-3 to the numerous oases of reversal of form which have recently oecui-red being likely to engage the attention of the committee of the leading Victorian turf cor1 oration. Being a court of appeal, there is some doubt as to how far tflie committee caai gs in taking the initiative in matters of this kmd, but they cea-tainly can take action when the jockeys and trainers come up for thenannual licenses the month after next; and fioni inquiries which have been made on behalf of the committee of late it is quite on the cards that there will be some surprises in connection with the issue of licenses for the season which opens on August 1. Harking back to Monday's racing at headquarters, there were only five starters for the Prince of Wales Steeplechase, of two miles and a-half, and four of them turned turtle, albeit The African was lemouiited pgain and secured .second money. The* African and Springfield 12.5 divided'favouriteship at 5 to 2 each, M'Guiiiess 9.12 beinjj at 3's, Evening Star 9.0 at 7'fs, ond Plunger 11.9 at 10's. For the greater part of the journey M'Guines3. The African, an<3 Springfield were fairly well together, the trio giving a fine exhibition of jumping. M'Gurncsp was clearing the obstacles like a blag up to the second-last fer.ee, ■when from some oau.se or othe" he came down a croppar, The African toppling over him, leaving Springfield to come in on liis own. M'Guineßs broke Ms neck when he fell, and so ended 'he cross-country care&r of as finelocking and vigorous jumping a four-yeai-okl as ever 'chased over Fleanington. Swee^y Clean had to put up a 71b penalty (bunging his impost up to 7.7) in the B'irthda.y Handicap, of a mile and a-half ; consequently ha was not in much demand therefor; Pliable — a three-year-old filly m J. Scobie's charge, and lid! den by Bobby Lewis 7.13 — being sent out a, 2 to 1 favourite r.ga'iia*- half a score others, v.hile the Valal? — Mollaih three-year-old was at 10's; Sport Royal 9.6 being- ait s's and Eklersilie 7.13 and Quo Vadis 6.12 at 7's. Sweep Glean took the head of affairs fiom barrier-rise, though, and kept it, despite a vigorous challenge on the part of the erratic MacDcnovan 8.9 inside the 1 distance, who suffered defeat by a length fincll a-quajrter, with F.lderslie two lengths farthei off third. Bilkili 7.11 fourth and Sport Royal fifth ; time, 2miai 39.isec.

There were eigiht two-year-olds saddled up for the Princess Haaidicap, a six-furlong dash, in which J. Rowen's Step Out 9.10 was called

upon to concede tv. o slo.~e .o J Cnpp='= Sand" giat (by Grafton Elfriuaj Nu.itio earned 1 8 6, Kilmarnock 8.0, Blinker 7 9, Napoleon 7.0, Kalmuck 6.9, andl Kanuinuw G. 7. Kihnarnock looked aill over a winner till a furlong from home, where Landgrai took up the mmiing, followed by Kannmiua. The latter sipped and fell at the iialf-distance. phpotuig W. Cuiiain clean over the rails. Then B. C'arslake made his effort on Step Out, lv' Landgraf rrtved too good at the concession .!-. weight, eiyl landed lus back^ii their s's to "2 cleverly by .a length, with. Blinker third thiec lengths off, the jOiurvy being traversed xl limn 17^560. On returning io sau'.e Blinker proved to be Jib short of v. ° s e-u ecrscquout'y the 20;ovs for thud r'oiip,- was ?ddea :c the -vmrei's amount. Jj'e*. . i vas r ico mere the lvain for the Cornv.Vl Handicap, cf c mile, a five-year-old named Vulca-n l>ein£ m=tjl;ed iavourite at 3to 1. It. Lev. 13 was up on a six-yes.r-old gelding named Stopwatch, a son of Jeweller and Mutilda who was \v;;y,lited at 8.7; and sharod the honours of second is^oiiriteship »uih Prospect 00 pi 5 to 1. fetopwatcL won easily enough ."'t th; !l:n*a by a length and a-quartcr 'rom Wjit-a-Bil SO. the faxouriU suffering deieat for second anoj-ov iiy three lengths.

Up as Rtmawick the Augt.p-.i.ii) Jockey Club were loyal on Satiuday and Monday, the Princess May Stakes on the first day (.for which 17 started; L* ValeMa G.lO ai;d Ibyx 9.5 Lvlng equal favourites at 5 to 1, aurl neither <>i them securing a place! being secured by J cumuei'* Kegio (Medallion — Welcome Queen. o 7.4; Withan 7.4 beirg secoi d and Low! C'io". c 7 10 third, the "-inner scamper: ig lioir.r ; j:: lengths to the good in lnun li^sec^

Agar Wynne won the i;iincipal cvect — the Kllesmere Handicap, of a mi'e aad a-qtuirter, with Praleen (a full sister to Gras-span and Br.ikpan), on whom H. Coffc-y rode a brilliant, race, wearing down The Relic (2 to 1) and mn» others in 2m in 91sec. Pralc.-ui started at 1^ to 1, «r.d won easily by two :cn<jtk=, and .i-Lalf. She ca:ried 7.0, The Reac ".3

On Monday Vanadium (Ru- «!<■_. — Civstalline) 7.7 (starting at 5 to 2' put down Jfiota M'Donald 7.7, Lady Agnes 6.12, ard four others in the Nursery Handicap (six furlongs iii Imii 16£ sec), whilst Myall (Lochiel— Crystal) 9.2— ihe best price against whom w.\s C to 4 — lefi half-a-dozen lengths between himself. Cordon 9.0, Perfect 8.0, and eight more hi the Exetet Handicap of a mile, which he arctii^.ted ior

ill lmin 42lsec,

T. Driscoll's Driscoil (byaSaiuoi-a. from an Express maie annexed both Steeplechases — {he two miles and a-half one with 10.5 in smin 43} see, and ths tbree-miler with 11.6 in 7min 10\sec. Skylark was second each time, and although I notice they are both entered for the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase it will take a lot of poundage to place them on an equality, as Driscoil conceded Skylark a bit of weight on each occasion, and beat him decisively in pace.

The Relic (owned by old Tom Brown, and the progeny of Grand Flaneur and Little Widow) with the luxury of 7.7, fairly smothered Sir Leonard 9.7, Refuge Bay 6.8 and nine others in the Prince of Wales Stakes, the 11. furlongs of which only occupied 2min SS^sec The Relic was favourite at 7 to 2, and won na canter by four lengths.

THE TWO CUPS

There were 22 nominations less yesterday (147 as against 109) for the Melbourne Cup than there were la3t year ; whereas the Caulfield Cup secured 177 in contradistinction to 163 m 1903 The most gratifying feature in the nominations yesterday was the splendid support given by owners to the races for youngsters. For the Manbyrnong Plate" there is an increase of 19, whilst 27' more have Tjeen nominated foi the Ascot Vale Stakes, 38 more for the Derby. 23 more for tihe Oaks, and 30 more for the St. Leger.

As far as the Melbourne Cup nominations are concerned, several more are expected from Western Australia, and should they turn up the total will be even more gratifying. As usual Victona has the strongest representation. The Miner's Rest establishment, over which James Scobie presides, has no less than 13 engaged' — including Sweet Nell, F.J.A., Demas, and Emir. Walter Hiekenbotham has fi.-e; so has J. N. M'AiHiur — amongst the litter's "little lot' 1 being Marniont. Fd'kirk, and Merriop. Maa-mont has already been suppriied to wiu both Cups, aoid with anything iii/c^r 9.0 he must prove a hard horset to bean ever two miles on the ftist Tuesday in N&venib:i if fit and well Jamos Wilson, jim., has mno in his B.xmev- Vale stable, a.id Mr C. L. Jjfacdonald's team includes EldersJio a^d Bullion. Gladsome appears amongst Mr Sol. Gieen's nominations. The mtar-State responses have been veiy feivent — quality ad well as qvantitv being included aincng3t them. The Now South Walts contingent includes Ihe two hi. If-brclhers. Loid Caidigan arid Dn icle-nji, Koopan, Chcicon. Abundaace, Long Torn, Atiasia, lionmould Sn Lconaid, Rtgio, Belah, Patronage, l.oid Fuzioy and The Relic. The chsuvipion Ihree-year-o.d of Queensland — FitzGi'nftoii — dvd lus tvio-jcu-old brother Tiiioe poo iin:ong°t the elect, vrhi'^i: tbt- names ot tlie bril'iant Xesv Zc-.ilandors Wcin-iki ar.d Canteen ni^ke the nonunalio is Uioroughly Austialasian.

TH" GRAND TATIOXALS

There ■nas an all-ronnd laUmg-off in the entries receivedi for the Y.RC pad V.A.T.C. Giand National races: the discrepancy m fa>r as tfie V.A.T.C. Grar.d National Stcenleehasa is concerned being 21 below that ci last year — a very considerable deficiency. An-.ov.gsii the lioifss engaged m tho V.U 0. t'oub c is jour Now Zealand celebrity Haydn (b^ Sou'wester). Aloimnston m the U.N. LLaiiHes is

X)« sole represent ativo of Mr J. N". M 'Arthur, who last year swept the boards with Marniont; and the Redlcap stable, which is usually dangCfcus in the winter, is depending upon Adiirster and Colonel Shilinski, Scobie has Kiota and Royal Mail in the Steeplechase, and JEJnor, Ajnciior, Colon'cll Shilinski, and The African have, been engaged on behalf of the JMegsra Miller. The V.A.T.O. Hurdle Race field includes My Mistake, Mornington, Acrobat, Colonel ShiKnski, Rawdon, Rhapsody, Quo Vadie, Pierrot, and Zircon. Amongst the Steeplechase list are My Mistake, Goyura, iM&rnington, Sir Harry, Colonel Shilinski, Robgill, Syringa, Grenville, and Sintbhia.