SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 51

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Bl HOKI POZNH.

MELBOURNE, July 27. THE TURF.

It was a cod, cheerless afternoon last Saturday, and as the attendance at the V.A.T.C. meeting at CauLfield was extremely sparse, proceedings were carried through with a perfunctoriness particularly depressing. The arrangements connected with the scratch-mg-board were hardly above the "bush pub" race meeting standard, Budgeree (the ultimate winner) being scratched and Diok Li 1 ley notified as a starter in the Malvina WeJter, whereas it was tho other way about with the pair of them. Then, again, in this same ■event the public were only made aware of the riders three minutes before the time for starting the race; and altogether the meeting must be looked upon as the very worst ever held on the "classic heath."

The opening event — the Leamington Hurdle, of two miles 64 yard* — proved disastrous to M. Whelan, the South Australian crosscountry horseman, who had the mount on the Destiny four-year-old gelding Destinist. There were 13 starters, R. Bradfield and E. S. Bailliere'i four-year-old Regret (by Penance — Flcetfoot) 10.7 being backed down to 7 to 4. Mr C. L. Moorhouse'a Destinist, with 10.9, evidently did not possess the confidence of his party even with the redoubtable Whelan up, as he was not honoured with a quotation on the betting bourse; but for all that he beat everything iv the event br-r Regret (who won by h«lf a dozen lengths i.i 4min OJsec), after being handled in such inartistic manner that the stewards, on being called together, immediately pronounced that Destinist had been "deliberately pulled," and disqualified the horse and his rider for the space of 12 months.

The comparative leniency of the sentence has occasioned much comment, more especially as our !ea<iaig sporting writers have "let themselves out" atout i+, comenting themselves, however, wi*h directing attention to the inadequacy of the punishment in comparison with the gravity of the stewards' finding, but not saying one word aboul thf unhealthy appearance of the whole transaction. Nearly everyone has been aware for some time that Destinist has been a veritable hurdle-racing rod in pickle, and the very fact that he started absohitely unbacked on Saturday was ''confirmation strong as proofs of Holy Writ" that he was not wanted on the voyage in the Leamington Hurdle. Why, then, were not some of the stable connections likewise carpeted, and asked a question or two? Whelau's disqualification is all the severer owing to the fact 'hat he haa just been engaged to ride Mr J. Rowen'-* Florin in all his Caulneld Grand National engagements. There was some talk early in the week of Whelan appealing to the V.R.C. against the decision of the V.A.T.C. stewards; but discretion was the better part of valour with him, and he wisely let things remain as they were, and removed himself and Destinist he trains as well as rides) back to South Australia. The Sou-wester—S wift six-year-old gelding Teretonga paid the penalty of an early moming flit at Flemington on Saturday. He was galloping "in the gloaming" on the sand track, when he shied, and, coming down in the gutter between the sand and tan tracks, fractured his shoulder. His owner. Mr W. H. Keith, was present when the accident happened, and gave orders for him to be shot. Teretonga woe engaged in the two Cups, as also the Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Sol Green, the owner of Gladsome, left for Western Australia on Thursday to ply his vocation theTe during the forthcoming goldfields meetings. H« has purchased a property of some 400 acres in extent on the Hopkins River, Warrnambool— close to +<he Warrnambool Racecourse— which he intends to convert into a stud farm, under the management of Mr John Crozier, the South Australian sportsman who purchased St. Albans from James Wilson, sen., and sold it at a much-enhanced price to the late W. R. Wilson. Rumour has )t that it is Sol's intention to purchase an English stallion, and, besides the bonny daughter of Seaton Delaval and Gladys, he will have **uch celebrities as Air Motor, Independence, and Bright Beauty (besides a. couple of Simmer fillies he recently purchased in Sjdney) to form the nucleus of a first-cl«s3 breeding establishment. | Messrs H. A Armytage. J. C. Bowden, B | Crawford, E. Manifold, and Archie tulle («» i retiring members), and Messrs H. W. Bryant, ; L K. S. MacKinnon, A. B. Pearfon, and J. ' Turnbul) (aspirants) have been duly nominated for the V.R.C. Committee. The election takes place at the annual meeting, to be held on Monday, 6th prox. _ D . „„, Out of the 63 meetings of the VBC. Com- , mittee held fiom August 8. 1905 to .Inly 20. I 1906 Mr Alec M'Gracken attended no lese than 61 M* J. C. Bowden 58, Messrs Yuille, Caeey, au'd W. H. Lennard 51, and Messrs fe. Miller (chairman) 50. „-•.» Walter S Hkkenbotham ia beginning- to , Fend Dividend along at a very Folid pace aoid the big black son of Simmer and Lady Tren- , ton fairly revels in tho exercise. Last lueeday j he negotiated the 11 furlongs of the sand . track in even time. ! The imported Carbine marc Flectwind— who , is engaged in both Cups, and is owned by Mr W. Brown, of Newcastle, N.S.W , and trained by Mark Thompson— beat a big field in the Town Plate afe Wall send (N S W ) on Saturday. The 18 placed horses at the V.A.T.C. meeting at Caulfield on Saturday were ridden by 18 different jockeys. On the Sydney side D. Calhnan rode three thirds at Warwick Farm. Jim Dorset is given as the "k'rect pea.'' for the Epsom Handicap at Randwick next month. With regard to Victorian events, the mo6t fancied candidates for the two Cups at present are— Czaroritch. LiUla Toy. and Torab. '

for the Cauleld Cup, and Lord" TTllin's Daugkter, Scot Free, and Collarit for the Melbourne Cup. Abdallah wag disposed of for Hogs at the sale of Mr Sept. Miller's horses 12 months ago, since when he has carried off no less than four steeplechases, his latest victory being in the Steeplechase at Caulfield last Saturday. Up to two miles there is probably no safer "conveyance'" over the big sticks to-day I in Victoria than -the son of Abydos. { A three-year-old colt named Misty Mom (by ' Coil from a Town Talk mare) 7.5 won the Murrumbeena Handicap (11 furlongs, in 2.26J) at Caulfield on Saturday from Sweet Bird 6.9, Haphazard 7.6, and nine others. Prior to coming to Melbourne (he is located in Walter Hickenbotham's establishment) Misty Morn— who is owned by Mx "Joe" Whitehead, of Dividend renown— annexed a double at Mount Gambier. He treated the Murrumbeena Hanj dicap field a« if ihey were a lots of hacks, wiai ning "anyhow" by eight lengths. ! On Saturday, the Positano — Valenoia five- ! year-old mare Lady Doris 8.7 in securing ih>e I Kamhrook Handicap (five furlongs, in 1.5) I achieved her fourth consecutive win. I During the season 1905-6 the V.R.C. gave in added money £35,473 and paid over in stakes £46,068. Sir RupeTt Clark has expressed his intea-

tion of withdrawing Sweet Nell from the turf and relegating her to the stud. She is to be mated with Dreamland. The Taamanian-bred Larissp- (The Assyrian — Nexissa) likewise leaves the pojt for the paddock, and is to be mated with the imported horse Caiman. M. Cars lake only recovered consciousness yesterday (in the Melbourne Hospital) after sustaining concussion of tie brain owing to a> fall off Hairpin in the Hurdle Race at Sandown Park on Wednesday, 18th inst. Owing -to having severely cut his fetlock during the progress of a hurdle race at Moonee Valley, it is improbable that the South Australian horse The Bayonet will.be able to race again. Through -the disqualification of M. Whelan, Florin will be ridden in tire Oaulfield G.N, Hurdle by F. Burn.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Owing to the magnicent weather during the V.R.C. Grand National meeting, a profit of £1200 was realised over the recent reunion. Last year the profit was £584 10s Id. There is likely to be a boxing contest betwen the. Ed. Williams and Mike Williams'. The former has announced: — "With referenoe to Mr Wren' 8 offer to back Mike William* against me — viz., £200 even that he stops me in eight rounds, or £500 to £250 that he beats me absolutely, I have not got a patron like Mr Wren behind me, but will bet the following amount of my own hard-earned money — £50 — that Mike Williams cannot stop me in eight rounds, or I will take £100 to £50 that I beat Mike Wi'.liams." For the league football premiership Carliou are leading by 40 points out of a possible 44- then coming Essendon (36), Fitzroy (32), Collingwood (24). South Melbourne (20), St. Kiida (16), Geelong (,12), Melbourne (4).