SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Bt Hori Poene. MELBOURNE, November 29. MISCELLANEOUS.

I As usual after the hurly-burly of the big spring meetings, things turfy are somewhat dull, and are likely to remain so until th© Boxing Day reunions. Even the habitu*s of the training tracks are paying more attention to the English cricketers than to the geegees for the nonce; but still, even in this connection, tne force of association will obtrude itseif, and after recent developments in the matches played between Jones's lemn and elevens representing the States of Victoria and South Australia, in Melbourne and Sydney respectively, they have unanimously arrived at the conclusion that present-day cricketers sometimes move in a mysterious way some wonder to perform, and that, in the interests of "the gate," they regulate their play as the necessities of the occasion demand. In the expressive vernacular of the turf, the knight* of the bat and ball are not always "on it." i Mr E. Manifo d, who recently gave 1000 guineas for Subterranean, experienced another stroke of ill-fortune last week, when the Torpedo — Blue Water 6ix-year-old "threw in his chock*" half tui hour a-ftor ' reaching the Western District squatter's ranch at Caroperdown.

The Western Australian Fportsni'an Mr S. P. Mackay has purchased the three-year-o'.d Louis XIII — Pirouette coli Mazarin from Mr E. V. Goller for HOC guineas. Albeit engaged in the approaching Western Australian Turf Club Derby, and very favourably handioapped for the Perth Cup, Mr Mackay has determined not to send Mazarin across the great Australian Bight just yet, but will— after allowing him to enjoy his otium cum dignitate et Bervrick for a short term— place him under R. Bmdfield's oare at Flemington. I feel satisfied that Mlaxarin wil 1 yet prove himself to be "one of the few."

Mountain King and Tartan are in work at Randwick, and therefore are likely to be seen under silk at the A.J.C. and TattersaU's Club Christmias and New Year meetings at Bandwick. By the w-ay, ottr crack Victorian jockey, W. Evans, will cross the border for the more important Christmastide events on the shores of the beautiful harbour.

News comes from Sydney that Mi J. Samuel's reserve of 8000 guineas on Mooitan is likely to be planked down on behalif of an Indian purohiaser, and the son of Positano «nd Dilisk seek fresh fields and pastures new in the land of the rajahs.

Mentioning Poslteno reminds me that Mr H. E. Connolly introduced us to a very promising steeplechaser by the great son of St. Simon at Epsom last Saturday. Tartarus by name, he is a six-year-old gelding by Poeitano from Gehenna, a mare bred in the purple, seeing that she is by Neckersgat from the Newmarket Handicap winner Tyropean, an imported daughter of Vespasian. Starting with 11 others, Tartarus 9.4 scored cleverly from Storm 9.6 and Earl of Castles 11.7, covering the two miles 24 chains in 4.36.

The progeny of another Newmarket Handicap victrix — Laundrese — proved successful "down the line" on Saturday, Mr J. Lynoh's R«nfurly — Laundress colt Dbobi 7.12 running home an eight-lengths' winner from Pistole* 7.10, Boldxewood 7.10, and eight others in the Two-year-old Handicap, the four furlong of which were registered in Slsec. Senate. & two-year-old brother to Booran, started in the same event, but finished "absolutely "

Mr T. J. Hendrick's four-year-old Birkenhe*d — Eon gelding £o 8.2 led all the way in the Welter Plate (six furlongs in 1.17), and defeated Dr L. L. Smith's consistent mare Hecuba 8.5 by three lengths; Mr J. Lynch' s Fiery Star 8.2, five lengths farther back still, being the nearest of half a score of others.

Mr R. Townson's four-year-old horse Splash, by Bloodshot (who ran second; to Newhaven in the Melbourne Cup of 1896) from the PeM Mcll — Foam Bell mare Spray, evidently takes after his family connections in staying ability, as although (ridden by E. Turner) he could not get nearer than third in the opening event at Epsom — the Sprinters' Handicap (five furlongs in I.3)— tc C. T. Godby's Cobbitty— Lorraine gelding Chiss, later on in the afternoon he accounted for the Anniversary Handicap, of a mile, in 1.43. Splaeh carried 7.9 in the person of F. Harmer when he won. In the Anniversary Handicap E. Turner bestrode Banner 7.8, who suffered defeat by half a head.

Commenting on the Anniversary Handicap running, friend "Goodwood" of the Argus remarks : —"If Turner, who had the mount on Banner, had ridden in his old form the issue would never have been in doubt, but he seems to have lo&t some of hia dash. Herode Splash in the first race of the day, and, after getting him out in front, lost his position, and Splash then finished strongly, and secured third place. In the Welter Pate Turner was on Zoraya, and, though she is a smart mare cut of the barrier, and had the inside running, he allowed her to be cut out at the start."

Seven years ago the N.S.W. sportsman Mr J. Brovni imported Jolly Hampton, an Eng-lish-bred horse by Merry Hampton from Gliff (by the Hermit horee Torpedo, from Tullia, by Petrarch). His success at the stud feo far has not been in any way striking; but on Saturday a" four-year-old eon of his (from Actress) yclept Jolly Actor 8.7 scampered away (by eight lengths) from Beau 8.1, Fordyce 7.12, and 16 others in the Epsom Welter Puree (six furlongs in 1.17J): whilst on the Sydney side, at the Canterbury Park races, the concluding event — the Shorts Handicap (six furlongs in 1,17) — w«s annexed by Jolly Kate (Jolly Hampton— Semolina) 8.7 from; Maori Girl 8.7, Lady Triat 8.7, and six more. Jolly Actor scored his first victory in such 6tyle that it is safe to predict it its but the precursor of doughtier deeds yet. Mir J. M'Oann's Ganymedes (Port Admiral — Calirriioo) won the November Handicap (a mile and a-quarter in 3.11) with 9.0 and the Flying Handicap (six furlongs in 1.18) with 9.8 at South Australian Tattersall's Club r«ce9 on Saturday. He wa9 ridden by C. Weasel on. both ocasion3. The "Malmsey" disqualification appeal having been dismissed by the V.R.C., G. Wheeler (trainer), M. Wheeler (jockey), and the horse will have to peg out their twelvemonth rustication.

The bottom has evidently fallen out of the "Golden West" boom, so far as concerns some of the old-time connections with the -erstwhile "sport of kings" in G-roperlm.a_ Not 'long ago the one-time leviathan W.A. lapd-jobbsr and "consultation" promoter Joe Charles died in very indigent circumstances in Melbourne, leaving a wife and family in Perth in a truly pitiable condition; and -last week a- benefit race meeting was held <n the banks of the Swan for the vidow iitid family of the late George A. Lowton. a '<•>» years back the leading owwr and trainer in Western Australia.

Ridden by R. Lewis (8.11), eight others competing, Mr J. M'Laurin's six-year-old Haut Brion— Urana gelding Pierus nann^ed to wear S. J. Hendrick's Lady Esme 8.2 down and secure a head victory in the Sandhurst Cup on Wednesday. Mr P. A. Harrington's Virtt 8.4 was third, ar.d the zniJe and a-quarter occupied 2.12 J. Sweep considerations caused Mr M'Launn to entruet Pierus with the winning commission in preference to Tulkeroo. At the late A J.C. spring meeting at Randwick, Mr S. J. Hendrick's four-year-old mare Lady Esme ran second on two occasions i» important handicaps. On Wednesday »he again filled that unsatisfactory position in the Sandhurst Cup. and yesterday, in a field of six for the Bendigo Handicap (a mile and a distance in 1.67 i), albeit with 8.2 she appeared to have the event won at the distance, *he compounded and was defeated by Mr James Lynch's five-year-old Lochiel— Parallel hors* Pawuloch 7.2 (ridden by E. Turner), with Tortive 7.11 four lengths aw&y third. Paraloch proved successful in the same event last year. Lady Esme',<» trainer blamed her jockey, D. Gallinan, fof making too much use of her during the race, and on the stewards holding an inquiry into his riding they decided that he had ridden "too confidently." and. after censuring him for "oarele33ne<="s." mulct him in the sum of £2.

Mr W. Leonard's three-year-old colt Master Foote (Sir Foote— Wigelmar) has been diiplaying first-class form, on the Csvulfield training track of late. Last Tuesday h« defeated The Shrew by half a dozen lengths in great style, whilst skipping over five furlongs in lmin 6s€C — » trem«ndoualy good go as the sand track at Caulfield is at present. An alteration in the cinder track at Flemington i 9to bo put in hand forthwith. Heretofore that particular gointf has b^en on the inside of the tan track; but it is now to be shifted to the outside for drainage purposes.

Trafalgar, a two-year-old colt by Wallace from the Splendor mare Grand Canary (and therefore a half-brother to Corroboree, Parvo, and Mundarah), who is entered for 4U the classic events next spring, and is likely to be peen out during the autumn, is shortly to be taken in hand by Mr H. A Bellamy, of Caulfield. Trafalgar is nearly as big a colt as his relative, Mountain Kipy,