SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Hori Poene.

MELBOURNE, December I. OLLA PODRIDA. Thcvgh the weather was hot and oppresrive, albeit it has been somewhat arctic in Hs rigour since, there was a numerous fathering of local turfites at Sandown Park {•st Saturday, when the Victorian Club held their annual race n.eeting. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the events; but still the fields were large and wagering fairly spirited. A three-year-eld Holbrook filly named Decima 7.7 was the popular f«ncy, against 15 more, for the five-furlong Maiden Plate; but failed to finish closer than fifth 1 ; victory Seokwiag in favcur of Mr Norman Leek's Frivolity 7.12, a four-year-old mare by the fiual Caulfield Cup winner Hymettus from, veloco, who came with a decisive run frona the distance, and defeated Mt E. B. Bell's Boldrewood by a length and a-h«lf in 1.3. A Jumpers' Flat Raceja mile and *-quarier in 2.14J), for which a field of 10 started, went to Mr G. Enisiedel's six-year-old Ibi«kon. (Devon— lbis) 8.3 by a length front Zeal >.0; Tod 9.13 being amongst the others. The itewards evidently looked upon the gyrations of a neddy named C. K. ar not being j tbe O.K. think, and haled his rider— W. j Winter— before them ; the orthodox "cflution ' being administered. I

Another half-score saddled up for the Vie- . torian Club Handicap, Pierus 9.5 being favourite. Lady Esme 8.7. Vim' 8.3, Jt*araloch 8.2 were among the starlers. After a tight finish Messrs Leek and Quinlan's six-year-old Bloodshot — Felicitus gelding Haphazard" 7.1 managed to squeeze home by a head from Pierns in 1.44 ? Lady Esme, who seemed io die away again at (he critical moment, being only a neck behind the favourite. Nine started for the two-mile steeplechase (run in 4.4J), the winner being Mr. W. Moffat's Kargaratta (Kangftree — Nana) 10.3.' J. S. Sfawbey's White Streak 9.0 was second eight lengths away, and Larboard 10.11 third. A. C. Scott's mount — Storm 9.18 — was the public fancy. Tartarus 10.5 ran off the course. ' . " There were some approved useful horses amongst tho 14 who tried conclusions in the Victorian Club Welter Plate. Dalgety 8.11, who is » five-year-old horse by Woodlark from Keturah, owned by Mr L. Hawthorn, had the assistance of E. Turner,- and he won by two lengths, Abolith euchring Honeymoon out of second money by three; the six furlongs occupying I.IBJ. For the Victorian Club Welter Purse (six furlongs in 1.18). Mr J. Kelly's five-year-old mare Flora (Destiny — Flossie) 8.5 was steered by Bobby Lewis fijist past the post by a length and a-half in advance of Kahinga 7.13; Lady Carick 8.11 and Wayside 3.9 making a "toi" of it for third place, three lengths farther astern still. y Over on the Sydney, side the Warwick Farm meeting was well attended, lars^e fields providing 1 excellent sport. Neith (Holbrook — Cleopatra)- 6.13 skipped -over the six furlongs { of the Farm Stakes in 1.15 J. and romped in bmlf a dozen lengths in front of Schooner, Hautrick being the nearest, of 14 others. Neith is owned by Mr T. A. Harris. Schooner by Mr W. E. White, and Hautrick by Mr H. J. Cornish. Mr J. M'Glynn's Bruce (Ruenalf— CLffdale M*id) 8.12 experienced but little difficulty in fettling the pretensions of Golderite 6.7. Lady > Grace 7.8, and four more in the Warwick i Handicap, whilst -covering the mile and\ ' : a-ouarter in 2.112. Pace was again the espences^f the contract in the Liverpool Mile, which was .secured by Mr J. Johnson's Reprint (Regained I—Foot,1 — Foot- , tmjvt) 7.6, but only by a head from High Lady 6.11, with Outbreak 6.7 (four lengths off) third; four others constituting the field, «nd the eight furlongs bair.g cut out in i 1.414. There were 11 saplings in th«» Nnrrery Stakes; Mr H. Brennan's Melt Queen j (Maltster — Her Majesty) was considered sc ■ favourably handicapped at 8.0 as to make the TBce a moral for her. Malt Queen duly won by four lengths from Banquo, wbo in turn held ~ a six-lengths' advantage over J. L. Brown's Queen's Medallist, -who secured third money ; the four furlongs " and a-half being negotiated in 56Js«c. i Amongst eight in the Stewards' Mile" Mr , Tv Hugo's Vada (by Nevad* — Clementine) 8.0 nosed- as favourite, and won by a length from Golderite 6.7; two lengths dividing second ' «nd third (Lady Grace 7.8); the time being 1.46. The Moonee VaHey Racing Club held a meeting at Moonee Valley on Wednesday, when a oom'paxative novice at the •game— C. T. Godbv'w aged Medallion — Happy Moments i gelding. With*n 10.13." piloted by A. Williamson — put down Arctic 9.13. Liberator 9.3. and six more in the two-mile Hurdle Race, which h£ compassed in 3.5%. His jumping certainly left something to be desired, but his superior pace enabled him to defeat -his opponents easily. Happy Momenta, the dam of Withan. io by Goldsbrough from Happy Thought (dam of Tom Brown), by The Barb. Mt O. L. Moorhouse'a South ' Australian hurdle-racer Destinist (Destiny — Molly Bawn) ■7.6 nb.owed' a clean pair of heels to Goldspeo 6.9. Paraloch 8.5, and four others in the Valley Handicap, the chronographs disclosing the jjait of l.|9£ for the eight furlongs and a-half. There were only four starters for the Two-year-old Handicap (five furlongs in 1.5), and supporters of Mr E. B. Bell's Boldrewood 7.11 were very confident. The Amherst — Brio colt rewarded them by scampering home i four lengths in advance of Delenda 8.0. Heligoland 7.8 being third. Brio, the 1 dam of Boldrewood (who, by the way, was nicely handled by his owner's son. Mister A. Bell), comes from 1 a galloping family, being closely related to Bacchus, Veloce. and Silenus. I A Trial Handicap, of five furlongs (traI versed in 1-3J), went to the six-year-old ] Preston — Eva mare lima 7.9. whw defeated i Jolly Actor 7,7 by a neck. Chiss 9.0 being third. First Foot 9.2 fourth, and Off Chance 7.13 fifth. President (Firelock — Bustle) 7.9 carried off the Welter Plate, and Decima (Holbrook — Mise Albyn) 9.2 the Welter Puree, both being six-furlong events. There was no tjme t«ken for President's event; but Mr T. J. Hendrick's three-year-old filly accomplished her winning task in 1.18. > The term "«. heart as big as a bucket" found* practical illustration when an autopsy was held last Monday in Sydney on Mr T. F. Scully's three-year-old gelding Bluegum. His heart w«s found to be of an abnormal size — as big as an ordinary bucket. Harry Rayner has taken the disappointing , Oesian in hand. "Mr Crick has also en- | trusted the veteran New South Wales trainer i with the custody of Collarit and Borodino. The Grafton — Loch Mea five-year-old horse North Head, who finished second to Pendant and Ebullition respectively in the Newmarket Handicap of 1906 end 1907. has resumed work at Randwick after a lengthened spell. There appear a to be a plentiful lack of bowling talent throughout the Commonwealth at present, and consequently the batamen are piling up tremendous scores. The daily papers are booming the forthcoming "test matches" for all they are worth; but the hoi polloi are looking somewhat askance at matters cricketa.l. They have been grilled so often in the self-same connection.