SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. By Hori Poene. MELBOURNE, December 14. THE TURF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 51

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. By Hori Poene. MELBOURNE, December 14. THE TURF.

Last Wednesday the Cran bourne fCk held a meeting with the object of reducing a longstanding liability on the course as a result of the decline in the popularity of provincial courses in the main since metropolitan race meetings became so frequent. Local interest in the gathering was, however, very insipid, and as the "special" from town was but sparsely patronised, it is to be feared that it will be very much of a case of "as you were" with t'ould club. The racing, too, was most uninteresting — save and except that a four-year-old horse named Re.iance (by Renown from Zoe) won a conple of events — a Flying Handicap, of four furlongs, and a •Jumpers' Flat Race, of eight, in succession, in such style as to suggest that he may be worth keeping in remembrance .for over-the-sticks honours by the uime "the winter of our discontent" puts in an appearance once more. On Friday the Balla.rat Turf Club held their Summer Cup meeting, in most unsumnier- j like weather, the conditions being mreatening and cold. As usual, the secretary (Mr Foley) had everything in. apple-pie order, and - -ere | was a Targe gathering (the special, train from Melbourne being liberally patronised). Amongst the local "old identities'' present were Messrs W. Bailey an-d Robert Oir, bo-Ui of whom looked remarkably well. The racing commenced somewhat mauspiciously, as in the Trial Handicap, a four-year,- , old mare named Roseboom, after opening favourite, receded somewhat in the betting quotations, being supplanted by Mr Sam Allen's aged mare Strathleen (by Strathmore, from an Off Colout mare), who started at 6 to 4 on against half a dozen others, and won from star-t to finish, by two lengths, the five furlongs being traversed in lmin ssec. Light Sleeve finished second, and Rosebloom third. The latter' s performance was so unsatisfactory that the stewards were promptly called together, and disqualified her owner (A. Fu.lerton) and jockey (W. Bailey) for 12 months for suspicious practices. Tlie Summer Cup, of a mile, went to an aged horse named Bail (by Padlock — jaarbour Trust), who. with 7.12, won after a bumping finish by half a length from Circlet 7.5, with Rhapsody 9.0 third; the time being 1.45 i. In a field of five for the Ladies' Bracelet they backed an unknown-pedigreea covey named Nigger (nominated by Mrs D. Payne) down to 6 to 4; and not without reason, for malting light of his 9.13 he stalled off Mrs J. Seobie's Heloise 11.8 by a length and a-half in lmin SJsec for the five fui'.ongs. A half-mile Flying Handicap attracted nine starters, and albeit a 7lb penalty brought Strathleen up to Bst Blb, she started at 7" to 4; only to meet her Waterloo in a 4 to 1 shot yclept Brunhild, a four-year-oldl mare by Vengeance from Trampion, owned by the Messrs C. and H. Uilson, who, with 7.2, jumped- off with the lead and finished up a long head in advance of the bookmaker's mare in the ratfj.rng good "time gOsecV The- metropolitan racing clans foregathered' at Williams-town on Saturday; but althoughthe afternoon was a glorious one, the counter attractions — notably, the Austrrl Wheel Race too strong-, and there was only a. moderate attendance. Lynch and Cohen's Jeweller — Matilda gelding Watchmaker 10.&, started at 2's for the two-mile Hurdle Ra'Be, and duly got home, but only by a neck from Jc% Toandin's mount, j- Find Out; the time being 3min 53sec. ' There were a baker's dozen contestants for the five-furlong Tritl Handicap, for which. Mr T. Kennedys four-year-old mare Posco (by Padlock — Postulant) 8.8 wa-s installed a 2 fo 1 favourite; Florist 8.11 being at 5 to 2 and King Billy- 7.9 at 4's. The betting diagnosed the race; , Posco- winning by eight; lengths from Florist m 1.3J-, whilst King- Billy was third, three lengths farther back still. Chief Kagala-'s recemt purchase, the MartiniHenry — Miss Kaipara gelding Chassepot 9.0, went out favourite (5 to 2) ior the Kbroroit Handicap, of one mile, and scored with ridiculous ease from Newmarket 7.3 and Corroboree 8.11; six others making up the field and the eight furlongs occupying lmin 45sec-. The Christmas Gift, of six furlongs, -was looked upon as a gift to Precociu® at 7.3 with only three opposers; but even •with the assistance of -C. Cooper Precocious proved to be very dilatory on the occasion, finishing " absolutely ' ; the winner , turning up in a five-yeai-cfd mare belonging to -Mr J. H. Davis — Giggles by name, Gigue — Boleyn by pedigree, w*t,b 7.8 in the pigskin, who started practically unbacked, and defeated J. Lynch's- Abbey 7.13 by half a length in I.IBJ. In a Junipers' Flat Race, of 11 furlongs, Stopwatch 11.4 was made an even-money favourite, whilst W. P. 9.11 was at 4's, and Roodoch 8.12 at s's. Amongst the seven starters an aged gelding named Short Gown (by. Tabard — Lucy Long) 9.2 was quoted at 100-'s to 5 ; and Stopwatch could only secure second money ferar lengths astern of this "despised outsider" (good old "despised outsider '), although the journey occupied 2min 30sec. M-r J. H. Davis should undoubtedly have won tha Welter Handicap, of six furlongs, with Orrong Vale 7.9, but his rider obligjngly opened wide out from the rails after rounding the home turn,, and alloweo. the aged Martini-Henry — Melanie gelding Melancthon 7.5 to secure a two lengths' victory over Florist 9.0, with Orrong Vale close up third, there being eight other starters, and the time being 1.17. The betting finished vp — 5 to 2 Florist, 7 to 2 MelanctHon, 9 to 2 Orrong Vale. The second day of the Queensland Turf Club summer meeting (last Wednesday) was ushered in with fine weather, and consequently a goodly attendance mustered at Eagle Farm, Brisbane. Unfortunately an accident happened in the principal event — the Queensland Cup, in which Buckthorn lost his rider (Hickey), and Croagh Patrick, Trade Wind, Ard^laree, and Auburn fell • J. K. Rogers — the rider of Arduaree — sustaining a fracture of the light arm and concussion of the brain ; J. Rogers, jun., (Croagh Patrick's rider), also sustained concussion of ti^e brain; J. V Arcy had his left arm and collar-bone broken ; whils-t Anderson was lucky enough to escape with a good shaking. b In the Flying Handicap, A. J. Noud's Franoesca 10.8 put up a veiy taking performance by starting at 2's in a field of 15, and winning from Tit Bits 8.7 by a length and a-half whilst covering the six furlongs in 1.16; W. J. jSToud's Botha 8.4 being third, a l?ugth beind Tit Bits. The post betting for the Queensland Cup, two miles, was as follows: — 4's Gozard 8.3, B's Forge 9-.12, and The Pointer 6.13, 10's each Buckthorn 8.7, Eseamillo 8.4, Joyance 8.3, and Sea Breeze 7.12. There were 13 starters, and. owing to the accident, Gozard and Escamillo v.-ere badly interfered with. The Painter ultimately winning from Sea Breeze by a length ana a-half, Joyance missing second money by a neck, with Forge fourth, and the favourite last; time, 3.341. • With only three starters for the Champagne Stakes, six furlongs, 5 to 1 vas laid on H. Mosman's Dalliance 9.6 who won by two lengths from Libertine 8.10. A.rdaur 8. LO being a neck away third; time, 1.18. The Hyde Plate, of a mile, had eight 'run-

ners, J. M'Gill's Chesterfield 8.0 being favourite at 5 to 4, and winning by two lengths tiom Zoz S.O in i.42£; Ihe 'lrustec 8.9 — -wiio led to the distance— being close up third. The meeting was brought to a. conclusion on Saturday, when there was another successful reunion. F. J. Poer's Zoz 7.13 the "10 to 1 others" division; never gave the other half score the ghost of a look-m for the Sandgate Handicap, of a mile aiid a-quar-ter, as he led all the way, and won from Gozard 9.5 by three-quarters of a length in 2.9; Kinboruki 8.0 being third. Gczard was favourite at 2's. Dalliance 10.0 finished third, to Volant 8.7 ana Ardour 7.13 in the Oxley Nursery Handicap, of six furlongs, traversed in 1.18. In the Stanley Plate, of mile and three furlongs, Forge 9.0, with, odds of 2 to 1 on him, went down by a^ short neck from the only other starter— Air A. C. Cooper's Joyance 8.0, who threw the 11 furlongs behind him in 2.22 J. Gozard 9.9 was again unfortunate in the Fin. I Handicap, of a mile, as Chesterfield 8.10 beat him by a neck, The Trustee 8.10 being the nearest of nine others; time, 1.42 J. On the Sydney side on Saturday Newcastle Tattersali s Ciub had an outing, the principal event — Newcastle Tattersali's Cup, a mile a£d a-quaxter — being annexed by Mr W. P. Crick's Qssian 7.13, who oame from 'way back afterentering the straight, and won under the whip by a- couple of lengths from o. .Brown's Stomoway 6.5, J. Chambers' s Lady Simmer 7.0, and 12 others, in 2.1 i. At JKosehill Lady. Brockleigh. (Srocj£-eigh — ISy) 8.7 won the Clyde Stakes, six furlongs,, fioni Graceton 8.0, m I.IGJ; May Lord (by Cranbrook — "Welcome May) 9.9 won the Corinthian Mile by fotxr lengths from Orchid 10.12 in 1.45-?; 'Bowxa (itedailion — Mielouia) 6.9 ran home three lengths i1;i 1 ; advance of Seamster 7.0 in the Gianville Stakes, six furlongs, in 1.16 a; Dinnia (Grafton— Marvelette) 7.5 euchred the fast-finishing Cushia 7.10 by two lengths, in the Nursery Handicap — five furlongs — in 1.4; Overdale (Orzil — Dutch, Cven) 9.0 beet Lovcdano 7.0 for the Rcsehill Handicap, of 11 fiuSoQgs, by two lengths in 2.24; and Lord Lovel (Oscillator — Conceit) S.B, after a dead heat with Lord Ullin'a Daughter 8.4, in the Parranratta Mile, left the l>ackers of Frank Foy s mare lamenting in the run off — the first tryst being 1.432 a £d the second 1.44 i. - > MISCELLANEA. Grand Rapids has not recovered from his soreness, and is likely to be treated to a lengthy spell at Bacchus Marsh. George Scobie (nephew of the redoubtable Jam.63 of the ilk) sustained a fracture of the collarbone through his mount — Fairy Dreamstumbling in the Summer Cup at the late meeting of the Ballarat T.C. Fairy JJream 6.12 was greatly fancied by J. Scobie for the Summer Cup, and went cut an equal favourite with the winner — Bail. I. T. Carslake, the veteran. Caulfield trainer, has been confined to his room at St. Sedweli'a for some days past, and at one time his condition caused his intimates much anxiety, albeit latest bulctinsi pronounce- him to be on the improve. A horse named Beesting xaut up ,161b over-> weight in the "Watson Plate at Bendigo re- • cently, and on Saturday, in the Welter Hand!-,' cap, a-t Williamstown, he had 18Ti> over. They say he requires the services of a, strong boy. " However, lie finished out -of a place on both occasions. T. Clayton, who won the Melbourne Cup on Acrasia, has been successful on several occasions since. On Saturday, at Rosehill, New South Wales, he won the- Clyde Stakes on Lady Brockleigh and the Rosenill Handicap on Overdale. The progeny of Oscuiator — who made such, a desperately close thing of it with Wallace for the V.R.C. Derby of 1895 (as I informed Witness readers at the time, I felt confident that the Maorilander had scored tin the judge decided, to the contrary) — have been comings out on top in "sunny New South Wales" of late. For the Kew Year's Day meeting of tha V.R.C. at Flemington. 28 entries wefs received on Monday for the Standish Handicap and 10 for the Bagot Handicap. Amongst the entrants for the Standian. are Air Motor, Baoen.i Powell, Bonnie Chiel, Bullion, Dandalla, "Killua. Marine, Purser. Reglio, and United . States; whilst Bright Beauty, Chassepot, Liexitenant Bill. Patronus, Pliable, Sinnang, . and Sport Royal figure in the Bagot. After an 18 months' sojourn in. -\ew Caledonia, the once-celebra.ted jockey "Toby" Moran has returned to Sydney. Murmur, the late Caulfieid Cup winner, is trotting about >at Studely Park, as it qtiits sound again. Handsome has been supported for the Carj, rington Stakes at 100's to 3— a price which has • also been accepted about Lord Boyne for the I' Summer Cup.