SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 52

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

By Hori Poenb.

1 MELBOURNE, August 17. THE TURF. THE LATE V.A.T.C. MEETING. Beyond the fact of the recent Grand National meeting at Caulfield accentuating the super-excellence of York and Bellis as hurdleracers and steeplechasers, it ca-nnot be said that, the proceedings cast any too much, ligh: on events to come, albeit on Saturday we were granted the privilege of seeing both Grand Rapids and Dividend under silk once more. They both started in the Malakoff Stakes, of nina furlongs; but whereas Dividend 9.7 was made favourite, at 5 to 2, in a field of 16, Grand Rapids 9 5 went out practically unbacked. The Champion Stakes winner had not been doing anything out of the ordinary routine work <m the training track to warrant him being made such a pronounced favourite, but as he presented a healthy-looking — albeit somewhat "jolly" — appearance the general were evidently of opinion that he was quite capable of downing the opposition — such as it w«s. But in that they underrated the strength of the opposition*- Once fairly in their stride Dandala 5.5 led from Aggire£3or 7.1, Grand R-apids, Demas 8.9. Sweep Clean 8.3, a-nd Dividend ; but af ter half a mJie had been traversed the order was — Aggressor, Grand Hapids, Sweep Clean, Mario up into second place roxuiding the home turn, where Demas and Grand Rapids gracefully retired, the while Distraction 7.5 came out of the iuck and began to show prominently. In the run home the pace began to tell on Dividend, and just below the distance Distraction dashed to tho front, and simply danced away from the others, winning by half-a-dozen lengths from Aggressor, who just secured second money from Sweep Clean by a head, Moami 7.S being fourth, the time for the mile and a- furlong being lmin 58J-sec. This was remarkably good, considering the somewhat heavy state of the going after the recent rainfall, and "as the four-year-old unsexed son of Destiny and Attraction had scored in isruch a Jiollow fashion attention was immediately . directed towards him as a possible factor in the forthcoming Caulfield Cup, seeing that therein he has been allotted the extremely light weight of 6.9— 101b less than he had up on Saturday, when he certainly finished as if staying was his forte. This is not the first taste Distraction has given us of his quality. He is owned by Mr W. T. Rowe, is trained by I. T. Carslake, and on Saturday was ridden by tho promising St. Sidwell lightweight, T. Davis. Dividend and Grand Rapids are bound to show to much better advantage during September at Randwick ; and~3n this) connection I may mention that J. Barden will act as "guide, philosopher, and friend" to Dividend during the A.J.C. campaign, N. D. Godby having been engaged to pilot Gladsome — whom Frank MacNamara (her trainer) informed me is in bloom • ing condition. She leaves far Sydney on * Saturday. Another two Cups' candidate — Madagascar (Hoya — Harvest Lass) — was made favourite, with 12.12, for the Chatsworth Corinthian at Caulfield on Saturday; but he was easily beaten by Sea Swell 11.1. Mr H. Hughes rode Sea Swell and Mr A. Evans Madagascar. I do not know which is the better rider of the twain, but I do know that Mr Hughes appeared Vo display the soundest judgment. Despite his defeat I am perfectly convinced that the son of Hova will yet land a big event with, only a modicum of luck. During the meeting just closed N. D. Godby rode a six-year-old Harmonist-Nerissa gelding named Harmony to victory on two occasions, and each time he appeared to win pretty comfortably. There wasn't any talent anjongst the opposition certainly on either occasion, and ihe time was but so-«o. Still, a. Neddy can't do more than win, can he? And as Harmonist is six years old, has 6.9 in the Caulfield Cup, and is trained by W. S. Hickenbcthain I thought it just as well to mention, the circumstance. The Infanta 8.3 finished up second favourit» (6 to ]),-for the Oma 'Plate, of five and a-half furlongs; Frank MaeNam'aara's Attendant (Gossoon — Dearest) 8.5 being most in deniaaid at 5 to 2. The Infanta never seemed to get properly going during the tryst (she is a rarebit of stuff, though, all the same), and Attendant got home, but only by a. head from the ' two Cups and Epsom Handicap candidate Medallist (Medallion — Vera) 8.11. Bobby Lewis was up on Attendant, whose dam (Dearest) 13 a full sister to the Caulfield Cup and Australian Cup winner, Vengeance. Medallist is a fine stamp of a horse, and oh Saturday ho, too, was "as big as bull beef," as they say in the "disthressful country." Like some other first-class crcus-countrS i horees — both in Australia and in England — i Bellis was a ■pronounced failure as a fllatracer; so much so that his breeder, Mrs H. O. White, intended submitting the son of Ifochiel and Belle of Trent at. an auction sale with a. reserve of only £25 on him. His ■ trainer, Mr J. C. Finn, however, persuaded her , to let him try and malic a jumper of him. j And what sort of a timber-topper is be! Another stons would not have stopped him on Saturday, albeit he as near as a touchav stumbled over the fallen Equity when opposile the stand the first Mnie round. He swerved out of the road, and had not P. Regan been a consummate horseman he would never have got back into tho saddle again. Tho stakes distributed, at the V.A.T.C Grand Naticraal meetire totalled £3880, of vhich sura Mr W. C. White (N.S.W.), as the owner of Bellis, scoops £1110. Mr C. I*. Moorhonso, the lucky owner of York (thoirgh they do say i\hat jockey M. Whelan has sonic ■sort of an interest vi him, whilst the pair of them are likewise credited with being in- ■ teres+ed in Isis£ carted =8900 away (as the G.N. Hurdle Race prize) io the farinaceous colony , ' vhile Mr E. J. Moran appropriated £205 through the agency of Find Out (Lochiel — Enigma), who was runner-up to Ballig, and *lm-d in lad Wilgfl.li Steeplechasers' Flat n:\ the opening day- TTie Toiler credited Mr D. Hoffdii with £200 when he ran second in the ' G.N. Hurdle Race; and the same amount was secured by tho Tasmanian sportsmen, Messrs Thivkell Brothers, by the two races on ihe flfl/i which Harmony won. So that no less than £2210 out, of the £3880 found its wav to othsr States. Ob.. 'Txjhtibod l " "Ichabodl" In faci woyse than. "Ichftbocl." Fox wa mkM

have stood the "glory" departing; but the "boodle" — nev-er. TTTRF TOPICS. Of the 39 horses lefc in the A.J.C. Epsom Handicap 2a •s* Monday, James Scobie's stable is still represented by three — F.J .A., Sylvan Kmg, and Caiiteen. The Ballarat trainer has left the same trio, along with Class., m the Metropolitan Stakes. Boabdil (James Wil3on, jun.) lias not yet dec.-ared — ''Hold! Enough!" for either the Epsom 8.4 or the Metrop. 8.0. In the Caultield Cup (101 first acceptors) Scobie is still strongiy represented by Sweet Nell, Sylvamte, Sylvan King, F.J.A., Deinas, Charles Stuart, and Class. J. Wilson, jun., has left BoabrlJl in the CaxilfieJd Cup, and don't you forget it. The Bonny Vale trainer can further select between Vibrato, Scorcher, Bluegrass, Circvit, and Scotland for the Melbourne Cup. J. Scobie's ''little lot" for the Melbourne Cup- — Canteen, Charles Stuart, Class, Deinas, Emir, F.J.A., Sylvanite, Silver King, and Sweet Nell After first acceptances were declared there was virtually no betting straight out on the | Caulfield Cup, albeit good business was done ' in doubles for the two Cups — Distraction and Harvest Home being the favourite selections for the- mile and a-half event, and Charles Stuart, Dividend, Tartan, and Revenue (who is said to be standing his preparation all right) for the two miles. The following yet remain in the A.J.C. Derby f— Refrain (Prsitano — Chorus), Dantzic (Haut Brion— Dearest), Lady Wallace (Wallace — Lady Mostyn), Roycroft (Graf ton — Etra>veenie), Jaigon (Positano — Jacinth), Binnia (Grafton— Marvelette), North Head (Grafton— Lodo Mea), E.L.C. (Medallion — Muta), Lc-eh-ino (Lochiel — Seliua), Picturesque (Mostyn — Picture), Grama (Grafton — Drama), Sun God (Multiform — Ottenden), Noctuiform (Multiform — La Notte), Musketeer — Fairy Queen colt, Pius (Positano — Morisca), Vibrate (Wallace — Swing), and Charles Stuart (Wallace — Sweet Alice). It is now stated that Mr C. L. Moorhouse is the sol© owner of York, that gentleman having givem 185gs for his last March; J. Butlin has been engaged to ride Mr A. S. Chirnside'e horses during the spring meetings in Melbourne. At the annual meeting of the Australian Jockey Club, held last Tuesday, the report showed that the revenue (irrespective of forfeits and sweeps) wa-9 £47,827, and the surplus on the 12 months' operations £726. At the A.J.C. meeting the Hon. W. A. Long was very severe on the chairman of the V.R.C.'s proposal to constitute a "Federal" Derby and "Federal" St. Leger, to be run alternately at Bandwick and Flemington. He characterised the proposal as "unsporism.anlike," and unfair to owners, pointing out that last racing season the V.R.C. gave £1292 to their Derby and £724 to their St. Leger Stakes, whilst the A.J.C. gave £1275 to their Derby and £686 tq their St. Leger, making a gross tota-l of £3977, as against Mr Sept. Miller's proposal of only £3000. The veteran New South Wales sportsman caused much enthusiasm when, after directing tha attention of the A.J.C. members to the fact that their racing corporation had met the V.R.C. at several "conferences, " all of ■which hacf* /proved abortive,, he voiced the opinion Chat as the affairs of the Australian Jockey Club were proceeding so satisfactorily "theyi should be content to manage them as heretofore, free from interference or of coalition with any other- club. Let them do the best for racing here, and let those in the other States do the sain-e." On Rand wick training trackis on Tuesday morning Marvel Loch traversed a mile in taking style in luiin 45§see, albeit she- had not much apparent weight in the saddle. Handsome cut out the last five furlongs of six in lmin ssec. Binnia. caused a very favourable impression by the style in which he swept over a mile in lmin 48Jsec ; -whilst Truce finished well in front of his elder brother, Fitz-Grafton, at the termination of a ninefurlong bout, the concluding mile of -which was accountd for in lmin 48seo. Truce must be a real good colt, one that is sure to repay following. Tartati and Waroo did what was required of them exceedingly well, finishing up with seven furlongs in lmin 34sec. The gallop of your A.J.C. Derby candidates. Sun God and Noctuiform, was spoiled through the ridar of the latter losing his stirrups, necessitating his being; pulled up. Sun God was eased off when the mishap occurred, and although he got under way again his mila occupied lmin 50sec. Isoli, going in a very pleasing manlier, cot inside that by a quarter of a second without any apparent effort, whilst Mademoiselle Nightfall kept up her swallowcatching reputation by skipping over eight furlonge in lmin 46i«.ec. I