SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Bl Hoßt POEJTE.

MELBOURNE, April 10. TURF TOPICS.

Magnificent weather and the presence of vice-royalty in the-person of the State Governor (Sir Reginald Talbot) attracted a large assemblage to Flemiugton on Saturday, where, if there was nothing of special importance on the programme of half & dozen events, the racing was nevertheless < interesting in tiio main. Amongst the half-dozen starters for the two-mile April Hurdle Race was an aged Vengeance — Priscilla gelding named Grenville, owned by Mr Geo. Russell, and fic&en by thnt thorough all-iound horseman J. Chevalley at 10.7. This "sign" was so exceedingly promising that it. was no wondei Grenville was solidly supported down to 5 to 2, and although the South Australian-bred horse The Bayonet 11.0 t and"E. Page's Kent 9.10 (riddan by C. O'Neil, and figuring at 14 to 1 in the quotations) successively threatened danger, the favourite passed the post with a two-lengths' advantage over Kent, with The Bayonet only threequarters of a length behind, the time being 3min 5318ec. Priscilla, the dam of Grenville, is by the Panic horse Paris from. Prima. (by Oxford), and albeit he appeared to be somewhat of aslug during the earlier portion of the tryst he stuck to his work with a dogged perse-vera-nce which fully justifies the assumption that he will be even more at home over a longer journey. Kent is a very promising hurdler; whilst of The Bayonet, who made all the earlier running, it may be remarked that he did not receive the same handling by his rider (W. Burns) as the winner experienced at the hands of Chevailey. Had he done so the finish would have been an exceedingly interesting one indeed. Grenville is engaged in the hurdle race at Onkaparinga, a 7lb penalty uplifting his apportionment to 11.0 therefor.

From the opening of the wagering on the April Handicap, of six furlongs, for which there were nine starters, Ike Foulsham's four-year-old mare Palindrome (8.0) was a pronounced favourite, eventually finishing up at 7 to 4. Still there was *very consistent support accorded to T. Kennedy's five-year-old Padlock— Postulant mare Posco (8.0) at 6's, whilst Mereworth (7.9) likewise figured at the hind Decollete, who was in turn two lengths commanding a limited support at a. point longer. Poseo li-ad the race won after a furlong _ had been Uaversed. The favourite experienced a somewhat rough passage- and failed to get closer than third, a length behind Decollette^.who was in turn two lengths and a-half astern of Posco, the time for the threequarters of a mile being 1.16}. The V.R.C. stewards being of opinion that Mereworth in particular had been altogether too "■undue" iti his sttentions to the favourite, his rider (W Ross) was called upon for the usuel "satisfactory" explanation, which was duly tendered. What more could Palindrome's backers expect? And yet some of them were far from satisfied. Posco has been nominated for some of the minor events at the forthcoming A.J.C. Easter meeting. The April Steeplechase, of about two miles, opened out a? a comedy (with only three starterß), and finished up in tragedy (Legislator, the favourite, coming down on his head and breaking his neck). Legislator (10.7) was always favourite, opening at even money, but receding to 5 to 4 on the advance of Thespian W. Anderson's ag-ed Sir Oliver — Poddy gelding Tcouga (10.12), who was supported down to 2's towards the close of the wagering. The latter cut out the pace very merrily at the start, leading Legislator five lengths past the stand, and jumping like a stag. Barbour (on the favourite) went after him round the back of the court* where the pair clapped on the pac-o to sueff an extent that it was evident each wes trying to bring the other down. Toonga proved the more sure-footed, however, and though Legislator passed in his checks as soon as he fell Barbour fortunately escaped scatheless. Signet, who fenced very slovenly, finished over 100 yards behind Toonga. Time. 4min 19Jsec. F. Bullock's mount, Maringa (7.5) was swooped on to as the best of choice things for the- April Handicap, and started at 5 to 4 against eight others for the mile a-nd a-quart*r event. After Maringa there wasn't much difference in the quotations between Postique (aPositano — Bangle three-year-old sister to Little Toy 6.9), Oporto (7.7), and Charmant (7.12), albeit Postique had slightly the preference, at times touching 6's. It was a magnificent finish, the favourite leading up to the distance, but experiencing such a "pinching" from Oporto that he got into Queer street ; whilst a prolonged run made by W. Foulsham

eventuated in Postique defeating the pair of ] them cleverly by a length and a-half. Oporto securing second money Jay a head; the mile I and a-quarter being traversed in 2min lOJsec." j Postique is tie joint property of E. Fountain and 12. Kelly at present, and if she does not furnish into a tip-top stayer yotir old scribe "Hori Pcene" will write himself down as a very bad judge — a very bad judge indeed The Ten ace Handicap, of six furlongs, brought out a- field of eight starters, Sergeant Brue (7.7) being favourite at 2's, with Booran (8.5) at 3's, and Merry Monarch (7.3) at 4's, I Whilst Yillah (9.0), who opened out favourite ! at 6 to 2, receded to o's. As a. test of the abilyitie9 of the two-year-olds the event was | not of the slightest importance, as, owing to Yillah being interfered with and Sergeant Brue being somewhat inartistically handled, Bookmaker W Murray's Grafton — Nulema colt, Booran, scored his second consecutive victory by a, length and a-quarter from Sergeant Biue, who beat Yillah out of second money by three-quarters of a length ; time, lmin ISsec. Keeper Hill (10.1) and Sardine (10.12) divided favouriteship lor the Corinthian Handicap (amateur riders) at 3 to 1, Game Metal (10.5^ being at 4's, and Australian (11.3) at 6's. The latter is an aged son of The Australian Peer and Ophelia, and before being relegated to the "illegitimate" game over tlie battens (at which, by-the-way, he has been fairly successful) he placed a Perth Cup to his credit. He i.s still owned by the Westralian pporlsruan Jlr R. Silver, and, being artistically stesrea by Mr E. Heriot, he fairly romped over the field, winning in hollow fashion by two lengths in 1.45J for the mile, his nearest attendants at the finish being Sapir (9.7) and Betrayer (11.9), six others constituting " tiie field. The value of the stakes on "Saturday looted up to £908, of whish three of R. H. Frew's charges — Grenville, Toonga, and Australian — accounted -for £358. Needless to say, the followers of the Ascot Vale trainer had a real good time of it. and as he hag a. lot more piomising neddies under his fostering care R.H.F. threatens to be extiemerV dangerous I about Grand National time. I The Hawkesbury Race Club held their a-utunin mee'dnp at Rosehil! on Saturday mii stead of on the Clarendon course, owing to the ! Ascot Racing Club (vmder the support of the ' Pony and Galloway Association) holding their I first meeting at North Botany. Despite the counter attraction"! the Rosehill function was well attended, the weather beiner delightful. Fitz-Grafton's younger brother Truce (Grafton — Olive Brandi) 8.4 won the Flying Haudicap (six fui longs in 1.16J) from Handsome (8.4), Epic (6.8). and five others; and Deutscher (Orzil — Dutch Oven) 7.7 secured the Park Slakes, of a mile from nine opposers in ! 1.43|. j W. Kelso's Heracles (Simmer— Choir Girl) I 6.10 accounted for the Hawkesbti/y Handicap, I Tatterdemalion (S.B; and Nbreen (7.12) being f the nearest of the other half score (which included Lucknow 10.0, St. Modan 8.0, and , Kaffirpan 7.0). The finish was most exciting, [ Heracles just getting xuere by a head, tlie mile and -540 yards being traversed in 2.16. Noreen started a? 6 to 4, Tatterdemalion at 7's. and the winner «,t B*s. First Foot (Sir Foote— Kelvin Grove) 6.9 won the Clarendon Handicap (six furlongs in 1.16) very easily frv.rn a moderate field; and V.S. (Simmer — Violet) 8.12 held a slight advantage over Cairngorm 8.4. JDromedary 9.12, Sir Leonard 9.12, Joyance 8.12. and four others at the conclusion of the Welter Handicap, th« sight furlongs -of which vre-re skipped over in lmin 43s*>c. It has transpired thaf Mr H. Byrnn Moore, the secretary of the V.R.C, having noticed thf disability in connection with Janits Scobie's unsigned oheque for his Randwick nominations, has rectified matters by sending,, his own cheque along in time to tfix things up ; so that the A.J.C. people have now 'declaie:! the entries \ r alid. As usual as Eastertide, there are important racing events all over our island continent, and (as Hope springs eternal in the racing breast) the punters are each and all morally convinced that for 012 c© they are going- to smite the bookies bag and pocket. 'Twas ever thus — despite our previous "education as to the fact that— As fairest wine with foulest dregs Is sometimes saddled, So even the choicest Easter eggs Jlay turn out aSd!ed