V.R.C. SPRING MEETING. First Day—Saturday, November 4.

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 57

V.R.C. SPRING MEETING. First Day — Saturday, November 4.

The V R.C. spring meeting opened mauspiciouslly as far as the weather was concerned, though there was a large crowd of spectators. There were strong west winds end frequent showers during the morning, but this did not keep away the interstate visitors, of whom a large number were present. The Manbyrnong Plate attracted considerable attention, as did the Melbourne Stakes, candidates for which included such cracks as Gladsome, Marvel Loch, Torah, and Eniir, A strong Government House party, including Sir F. Bedford's and Sir Gerald Strickland's suites and ladies, was present, but Lord Northcote and Sii Reginald Talbot were absent. The Hotham Handicap, which in former years was legarded as somewhat of an index to the Melbourne Cup, has fallen from its pedestal owing to owners being afraid of incurring a penalty for the big Handicap. The railway traffic was 5 per cent, heavier than on last Derby day. Lady Wallace is the first filly to win the Derby since 1876, and she is only the third winner of the Caulfield Guineas to capture the Victorian blue riband. Tartan's price for the Melbourne Cup is now 3 to 1. The following aro the resiults: —

MAIDEN PLATE,

Of 200sovs; second horse 40sovs and third-

20sovs. One mile. Mr J. B. Whitehead's. g c Elysium, by Simmer— Bliss, 3yrs, 8.0 - . . .. 1 Mr S. Green's br c Paraloch, 3yrs, 8.0 .. 2 Mr J. Wilson's (jun.) br c Alsyke, 3yrs, 8.0 3 Two others ran.

Betting: 3 to 1 agst Elysium, who won by a nose after a great finish. Time, lmin 47eec

MARIBYRNONG PLATE, Of 1200sov«; second horse 300sovs and third 150sovs. For two-year-olds. Colts, 8.10; geidings, 8.7; fillies, 8.5. Five furlongs. Mr K. S. MacLeod's b f Oreillet, by Orzil —Infanta, 8.5 1

Mr J. Turnbull's br or blk c Ebullition, • " 9.6 [inc. 101b penalty] 2

Messrs J. and F. D. M'Master's b c Port : Arthur, 8.10 .3 Also started- Merry Monarch, Sergeant Blue, ArctuTus, Melodrama, Disaster, Barrenjcey, Orleans, The Surprise, Haut Goul, Lady Evelyn.

Betting: 2 to 1 agst Oreillet, 5 to 2 Port Arthur, 7 to 1 Ebullition.

Port Arthur and Lady. Evelyn, Jed to the" half mile. At the distance Ebullition shot to the fiont, but Oreillet challenged him inside the distance, and, coming with a great rattle, cut down the leader, and won by two It-ngths Port Arthur was three lengths further away. Time, Imin 4 3-ssec.'

HOTHAM HANDICAP,

Of 250sovs; second horse- SOsovs- and third

25sovs. One mile and a-half.

Mr J. Oatto's br h Demas, by Pilgrim'<Progress— Thebes, 4yrs. 8.2 . 1

Mr W. L. Wilcox's br h Panama, - 7.3 2 Mr D. James's br h Aurate, oyrs, 6.12 .. 3 Also started: Elvo, Proceedor, Ben Graf ton, Cluster, Scorcher, 'Fanshawe, Admirer. Betting : sto 2 agst Aurate, 3to 1 Demas. . Scorcher made the running to the river side, when he was joined by Admirer,, and this pair led to the abattoirs. 'Elvo, Adruirer, and Panama were raicng abreast as' the field turned for home, but here D'emas appeared on the scene, and, after the semblance of a race, cut down the vanguard, and won, rather easily, by a length and ahalf; half a length separated the second and third hcrses. Time, 2min 40§sec.

VICTORIA DERBY, Of lOOOsovs; second horse 200sovs and third lOOsovs. For three-year-olds. Colts and geldings, 8.10; fillies, 8.5. One mile and a-half. Mr J. East's br f Lady Wallace, by Wallace — Lady Mostyn (Hickey) . . 1 Messrs E. and V. White's b c Grama

(W. H. Smith) 2

Mr J. Grice's b f The Infanta

(W. D. Godby) 3 Also started: Thackeray, Charles Stuart, Simoda. Jargoon, colt by Musketeer — Fairy Queen, Pius, Scotland, Dantzic. Betting: 5 to 4 agst Lady Wallace, 3 to 1 Scotland, 7 to 1 Thackeray, 8 .to 1 Charles Stuart, 15 to 1 Grama.

Scotland was fractious at the post, but wljen the field was despatched the son of Wallace was the quickest on his legs, followed by The Infanta. When the field had fairly settled down into its stride Pius went to the front, but a little later on Jargoon joined Mr Wren's horse, and then Grama was seen in command. A good race to the post saw Lady "Wallace gamely respond to her rider's call, and she received the judge's verdict by half a length. The Infanta was three-quarters of a length away third. Time, 2min 40sec.

MELBOURNE STAKES, Of 700sovs ; second horse 140sovs and third

One mile and a-quarter.

Macken's b or br h Tartan, by

Lochie! — Colours, syrs, 9.3 Mr J. M'Master's eh ni Marvel Loch, syrs,

8.12 2 Mr S. Green's cli in Gladsome, syrs, 8.12 3

Also started: Emir, Maniapoto, Roller, "Warroo, and Torah. Betting: 6 to 4 agst Gladsome, 5 to 2 Marvel Loch, 7 to 1 Torah and Maniapoto, 8 to 1 Emir, 12 to 1 Tartan.

Gladsome was the first to move, but, being steadied before the riverside was reached, she allowed Maniapoto and Torah to go in front, and she raced at their heels. At the abattoirs Emir and Marvel Loch improved their position, and as the straight was entered Emir was in chargp, but was immediately challenged by Maivel Loch and Gladsome. This pair of brilliant mares appeared to have, the race to themselves, the victor of the Caulfield Cup being loudly proclaimed tha winner, until Tartan, who came like a shot out of a gun, caught them inside the distance, and, going on full of running, won by two lengths. Gladsome, who appeared to lack her usual dash, died away towards the finish, and was three lengths behind Marvel Loch. Time, 2min 9£sec.

COBURG STAKES, Of 250sovs; second horse 50sovs and third

25sovs. One mile. Mr W. Murray's b g Debenture, by "Wal-

lace or Eiridspord — Waterlily, aged. 8.4 1 Mr T. Conway's b or br g Newmarket,

syrs, 7.4 ... a Sir Eupert Clarke's cli c Mani States, ~

3yrs, 7.0 . . .. Fourteen others ran.

Betting:. 5 to 2 agst Circuit, G to 1 Sylvan King, 10 to 1 Debsnture. ."Won by a length. Time, lmin 44Jsec. X> - ENCOURAGE STAKES, ' Of 200sovs; second horse 50sovs and third 25sovs. For two-year-olds that have never been placed. Five furlongs and a-half. Mr J. Rowen's eh c True Scot, by Wallace —Fides, 7.10 1 ' Mr A. B. Pearson's b f Scramble, 7.5 ..2 Mr T. Pay ten's b c Baerami, 7.10 .. .. 3 Nine others ran. j - Betting: 7 to 4 agst Jack Smith, 2 to 1 J True Scot. j - Won by a length and a-ha]f. Time, lmin ! lljsec. Locally Tartan is the favourite for the Melbourne Cup at 6 to 1. Maniapoto has seceded to 7 to 1. , NOTES ON THE RACING. MELBOURNE, November 6. For Derby Day there was a mixture of wet, gunny, and windy weather, and ev«n cold at intervals. Tbsrc was not nwicli rain, but a great dust-storm raged. The Derby presented ' the biggest field, with v one exception, since 1894, but it would be incorrect to ''describe the runners as a 'high-class lot, for there was' not jreally one with claims to being a smasher. Charles' Stuart, 'Scotland,- and , Thackeray were on the outside, Dantzic.and^Pius on- the inside, with-th'e'Sivburite in the centre. 'There was some delay at the post, but eventually 'the , field dashed off in-line. After turning out of .file straight Pius assumed control, and soon , isnd three lengths' lead*: of ' -ihfcMila,- who, -was. , clear; of Scotland; the -others being strung out, '. '.with" Charles -Stuart^ last. Infanta .joined •Prns'"j at the faf'end, and 'then' began to "cut out the t pace at a great bat,- but while Charles Stuart j .:l)ogan to draw closet to the leaders Simoda - tailed away, and was already beaten. Five fur- I „ Hongs from home Lady "Wallace was last of the | suain body, and her srapporters were becoming j a bit alarmed. However, a little further on i ehe began to improve her position, and was Kandy to Infanta, Phis, Grama, and , Charles Stuart 'as the turn for home was rounded. Then almost immediately Infanta mew out with two lengths' lead, and as she held that advantage at the end of eke flavin from the nearest of the others, Grama and Lady Wallace, a-" shout from thousands oi ithroats announced -her victory. But the cry was premature, for when fairly abreast of tho distance post Lady Wallace and' Grama, who t were racing abreast, were called upon' for a final effort, and, responding gamely, they settled ' down to a grim struggle. They finished faster (than the leader, and, catc-hing her a few strides from home, Lady Wallace snatched the victory ■by half a length from Grama, who .beat Infanta i>y thaee-parts of a length The- winner' v-as Iwell received. ;

Only that Lady Wallace displayed considcrikble gameness. this year's blue riband would Slave gone to an outsider in. Grama, who -was j !but little fancied. The win is as full of merit, for if there was one horse in the race more unlucky than the others it. was Lady- Wallace, j *rho finished like a / stayer." Infanta's -prominent (position at the business end of the journey estemshed most people. ' While the placed lorses finished;- as "it were, in. a"'heag, I they j •«rere quite 1 10 lengths from< tKejaearesfc of tlxe others. The , Derby not "a fast-run .race — j it - was, , ifi ■■ fac', the "slowest .since, Malet&r'a yoar; but- the course, though in- splendid order, . iras dead and not 'favourable to fast time. !