SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Bt Ravensworth.

MELBOURNE, March 4. V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. Another Newmarket Handicap has been decided at Flexnington, and a very hot favourite in Scotland has proved successful. The Tace was run on the opening day oi the V.R.C autumn meeting (last Saturday) in dull, drizzling weather, and there was a fair orowd to see the sport. There were 29 starters for the race —a six-furlong one, up the: straight, —and what appeared an absurdly short price was accepted about Scotland. However, the sequel proved that the situation h«d been pretty correotly summed up by both backers and bookmakers. After the first furlong or so Scotland went to the front, and the others never afterwards saw the way he went. He won by two lengths according to the judge, but most people reckoned that it was at least four, and it might easily have been made nine had the rider, A. Hood 1 (one of the Sydney crouch era), bo wished. The New Zealandex Grenadier (by Soult) was second', while another New Zealander in Munjeet was rua out of third place by Akira Foo in the last stride. Currandooley was fifth, and the New Zealander Dusky Morn sixth, while Collar it and Lord Carlyon were the nearest of the others. Even before the weights came out Scotland wae the Newmarket Handicap favourite, and he remained so right through the piece. Mr W. A. Menzies, who handioaps for Flemington, was warned by an anonymous correspondent—probably a bookmaker who had Laid the horse—.to be oareful of Scotland, but Mr Memies took no notice. He allotted the hor6« 8.4, whioh was quite as much aa he was entitled to on his previous form. In last year's Newmarket he did not, with 8.1 up, finish in the first dozen, but at the same meeting ran second! to I stria in the Bourke Handicap. He was afterwards put up -by hie ,then owner, Mr S. P. M-acbay, of West Australia, and subsequently purchased by Mr James Brennan, a member of the Sydney ring, who must have had a big win over the race. Formerly Scotland belonged to his breeder, Mr James Wilson, jun., who won the V.A.T.C. Debutant Stakes and other races with him. The clever Sydnew trainer, " Dick O'Connor, has charge of Scotland, and he has been wonderfully successful with his sprinters. He won the race two years ago with Pendant, also owned by Mr Brennan. The field this year was, as regards quality, one of the best on records — that is, the starter* included several very good horses, but they were not all in form. The top weight was Oollarit, who, as stated, ran fairly .well, but Ebullition and x North Head, who were first and second laat^year, were nowhere, and neither was the Gaulfield Futurity Stakes winner, Antonio, who could not begin fast enough. In addition to Antonio, there were four other imported horses in the race —viz.* Curtain Lecture, Sokinaha, Bright Steel, and Traquair,—and all shaped disappointingly. It was Traquair's first run in Australia, but he ran last. He was a great two-year-old ptfrformer in England, only being sold beoause he turned! " roarer. He is being trained here by Andy Ferguwon, who trained in England for Mbr R. H. Henning. He could not get Traquair ready m time, but will probably get a race out of him later on. ,„.,»• I forgot to mention that Scotland is a Wallace. His dam, Key (by Padlock), was a. well-known performer' some years ago, and is now in Mr Sol. Green's stud at Shipley, near Warrnambool. Two other winners by Wallace were registered during the Say— viz Mountain King and Mother Goose. The. latter is owned by Mr J. V. Smith, of the J3undoora stud. Melbourne, where W«dlace is located. So it was a very satisfactory day for him. Mountain King's race was the St. Leger, run over a mile and three-quarters, and, apparently going easily itt front all the way, he won as he liked in time equal to the record for the raceviz., 3min 6J&ec. He thus to some extent compensated his owner, Mr John MiacDonald, of the Mungie Bundle stud. New South Wales, for his Futurity Stake* defeat. Mountain King only had Peru and Lady Ryletone to beat. They are both by Grafton, and neither finished well under pressure Mother Goose's race waa the Sires' Produce Stake*. Bhe had not been seen out sine* her Maribyrnong Plate victory in the spring, and the recent form of The Brewer being considered very good, the colt. who is a son of Maltster, was made a hot favourite. It wu a fine race, The Brewer, who did not run ac straight as the filly only being beaten a heed, while the Bobadal filly Kuban was a close, third;. The Hurdle Race, two miles, went to a rank outsider in Sustain- On* of the runners. Portcullis, by Padlock, broke his shoulder, and was destroyed. He was owned by a bookmaker. Apologue was seen in winning coloutrs again in the Eeaendon Stakes, • weigbt-for-age race, run 6v«r a mile and 'a-half. Over the sajne distance Tulkeroo beat him at Caulfield, but there was no pace on there. Here Apologue went to the front from the start, and gallooed the other* to a standstill, winning easily by four lengths from Tulkeroo in 2.371. Booran was third, ana shaped better than he has of late. Apologue w^ll probably go to Sydney for the A.J.C. autunm meeting, after which he will be snipped, to India to run- in the next Viceroy* Cup. The concluding event, the Brunswick Stakes, a handicap run over a mile and a-quart«r, produced a rece, Sivori. » Grafton three-year-old, trained by Tom Payten. of Sydney, lasting long enough to Deal Lady Bame by a head, While Lancasteriie, *fho je a daughter of the New Zealand-wed. Lancaster, was. third. Seddan, the favourite, ran prominently, TJ» meeting 1 "was continued yesterday (Tuesday), when xthe Aue^ahafi Cup, the longest distance handicap lfi Australia, -tyas run. Very few horaw CW gw »w* jniles, and still fewer two. miles and *nu«n«»r. *MjH§ had all along been, regarded aft a oer^intj for the race, and when he became lanle and retired several owners pricked up weir eats and "kidded" themselves that thejr had £

chance. The result was that 16 horses accepted, and a'l but Lady Diffidence went to the post. Apolcgue was, with the exception of Melodrama (who cannot be regarded as a genuine stayer), the only horse with any pretensions to class in the race, and he was favourite. Peru was next in demand, 'lhe race proved rather a good thing for Peru 7.10, with Tulkeroo 8.2 a length away second, the hurdle-racer Enchanted States 6.9 a close third, and Delaware 6.7 and Apologue 9 11 (both New Zealanders) close up next. The time, 4.0J, was much better than the average for the race. Peru is a stable companion of Melodrama, and both are owned by Mr Agar Wynne, a member of the Federal Legislature and also of the V.R.C. Committee. Peru is trained by the Sydney trainer Tom Payten. Mr Wynne had previously won the event with Great Scot. Before racing started for the day the V.R.C. Committee held an inquiry into the form of Apologue in winning the Essendon Stakes compared with that shown by him at Cftulfield. and accepted the explanation given as satisfactory. The general opinion was 1 that Apologue was ridden a bad race in the Australian Cup. His Melbourne Clip pilot Evans was up, and he allowed the field to get too far away from him at the sixfurlong post. When he made his run in the straight he was blocked. Me may do better in the Sydney Cup. Peru is one of the worst three-year-olds that ever won the Australian Cup. He is a Grafton, and had shown himself through the season about 2st below Mountain King. The Brewer re-established his reputation by easily winning the Asootvale Stakes, a six-furlong race for two-year-olds. Mother Gooee was not in the field, but the creek Sydney filly Emita (sister to Emir) was, and she could only get third, Kuban splitting the pair. The Brewer looked a bit light after the race. He is certainly the best colt out this season. Designer, by Mana (son oi Musket), had an easy win in the three-mile Hurdle Race, while the Steeplechase went to the Adelaide representative Seymour, by Malvolio. Scotland was produced again for the Bourke Handicap, seven furlongs and made * hot favourite in a big field, but 9.7 proved too much for him, and he ran badly. The race went to the imported St. Simon horse Bright Steel, who improved considerably on his Newmarket Handicap form. Xhe Junior Handicap, for two-year-olds, waa won by Winteriga, a nice filly by the Carbine horse Pistol. YEARLING SALES. Messrs Wrm. C- tfuille and Co. held their yearling sales in Melbourne on Monday. No sensational prices were realised. The highest made was fox Scotland's brother, who went to Mr E. E. D. Clarke, owner of Emir, for 650gs. 'This colt will be trained by James Scobie. Mother Goose's sister went to Mr J. N. M'Arthur, owner of Marmont, for 500gs. She was slightly lame when led into the ring. Mr F. Moore, owner of Dusky ■ Morn, got a filly by Sir Tristram from Zarofca lor 105gs, and a filly by Pistol (son of Carbine) from Alveary for 250gs. Master Delaval'»s brother, who was amongst Mr J. V. Smith's lot, went to Mr J. Turnbull, owner" of Ebullition, for 575g5, and will be trained by Hickenbothem. The Grafton— Air Mlotor colt was passed in at 475g5, reserve being 550gs. The principal sales were: — On acount of Messrs W. L. and J. T. Field (Calstock, Tasmania) : Gs. Br f, by Sir Tristram— Zaroba ; F. Moore (Wanganui, N.Z.) 105 O» account of Mr A. Miller (Broadlands) : B c, by Harmonist — Fairland; A. J. Staughton 45 B c, by Harmonist— Pedestrienne ; W. Kennedy TO Br or blk o, by Harmonist — Yodel; J. C. H- Graves (Mt. Battery) 75 On account of Mr J. V. Smith (Bundoora) : O*S c, by Beaton Delaval— Campania ; J. Turnbull 575 Ch c, by Wallace— Moama ; H. Mallan (S.A.) 125 Br c, by Wallace— No Fear ; S. Fielder 165 Ch o, by Wallace— Flash ; J. and H. E. Brock (Tas.) 340 Ch o, by Wallace— Halo; W. Weatherley 150 Br f, by Wallace— Swarm; T. C. Wheeler (Mt. Gambier, S.A.) 110 Br f,by Wallace— dam by Seneschal; 1. Earnshaw '350 Blk i, by Wallace— Morisca; J. N. M'Arthur 500 On account of Mr J. H. Aldridge (Richmond Park, S.A.): B c, by Pistol— Limber ; J. Brook (Tas.) 290 Be, by Pistol— Gratuity ; R. Grice .. 60 8 0, by Pistol — Flanoline; H. Mawbey. . 65 8 0, by Pistol — Connection; T. Keily (8.A.) SO B f, by Pistol— Thora; J. M'Donald (Mungie -Bundie, N.S.W.) . . .... 330 B f , by Pistol— Alveary ; F. Moore (Wanganui, N.Z.) 250 •Br i, by Pistol— Olga Nethersole; 0. Yuille (Tasmania) .. .. , 80 On account of Mr W. M'Culloch (Woodlands) : Br c. by Orvieto— Queen of the Vale; J. N. M'Arthur £70 Oh o," by Ugly— Hellas; H. Harrison .. 300 Ch o, by Caiman — Ena Pilgrim; T. Fearce -. 80 On account of Mr J. C. Jfigdon: Br c, by Wallace— Hera ; S. Miller .. 320 On account of Mbr T. Uphill (Pranjip Park) : Br i, by Friar Tuck— Duenna; P. A. Connolly (W.A.) , 210 B f, by Friar Tuok— Grand Brig; G. N. Myers 100 Br f, by Friar Tuck— Perfect ; E. W. Hocking (W.A) » v, .- 105 Br f, by Friar Tuok— Butterfly ; M. Huxtable .. •-' .. ». .. „ „ „ 150 On account of Mr A. B. Pearson (Hilton) : B c, by Flagship — Lady Sneerwell} & A. Molesworth , , .. „ 60 Be, by Flagship — Argo; J. Montgomery 30 On account of Mr S. GTeen (Shipley): 8 0, by Wallace— Key; 13. E. D. Clarke 350 8 0, by Bobadil — The Parisienne; A, T. Creswick „ 300 On account of Mr G. Scholz (Waterview, N.S.W.)! Br o, by George Frederick— Neugier ; W> T. Roiwe .. „ 55 B f, by George Frederick — Emma; R» Roberts H , 47fc Br f, by George Frederick — Trilock; D. James (S.A.) „ „ 375 On acocunt of Mr E. H. Miller: Ch c, by Footbolt— Hautaine } A. T. Creswick 115 MISCELLANEOUS. Tartan, who looked a paper certainty for, th* Australian Cup, strained the suspensory jl^tntent of his ijißd! left la^'t week, knd lug! to be. takflta out of the race. ■phd well-known rgoeWrsd Sport Royal, by Malvajio, Qiea fci \Ve»t Australi*. recently. i jockey i& tettfs \e the latesj front" a countfy too? meeting in yiotork, Hia riding -was called ano question, and Wq ■tears eVKtentlir had tyefr «a«cs ** fo got I off^itk * ft* flj & i«£fex€ear xidi**. J

At the Mentone meeting last week Munjeet easily won the Newmarket Trial in lmin lSJsec — a record for six furlongs in Victoria. With only 4lb more to oarry Munjeet missed a place in the Newmarket Handicap, won by Scotland in lmin 143 sec. Different courses, diffejent times. Dusky Morn ran in the Menione race, and was boaten by Munjeet by quite 15 lengths, yet Dusky Morn was only a couple of lengths behind him in the Newmarket Handicap. The principal event at the meeting — the Mentone Handicap, one mile and a-quarter — proved a good 1 thing for ■the South Australian Ganymedes, by Port Admiral. Lady Hova, by Hova, won a small race. C. Foon, at one time a well-known jockey, committed suicide on the beach at Aspendale, near Melbourne, last week by blowing out his brains with a revolver. A sensational incident occurred at the annual race meeting of the Barnawartha Turf Club, Victoria, last Wednesday. At halfpast 3 o'clock, just before the chief event wa3 run, a man wearing a mask and false beard went to the gatekeepers, Frederick Richardson and James Daly, and, pointing a revolver at them, demanded the takings. Richardson malutely declined to comply, and Daly at once grappled wi-th the would-be robber. They struggled and fell, and the assailant, rising first to his feet, fired deliberately at xlichardson, and then made off. A man named John Charles Robinson has since been arrested, and he has made a confession. Mr S. Green, of the Shipley stud, Warrnambool, owns Key, dam of Wallace. He bought her at Newmarket last March, along with hex Wallace colt foal, for 420gs. The colt (now a yearling) is a full brother to Scotland, and on Monday realised 650gs. H. Munro, who has been well and favour--ably known for some years as Mr C. L. Maodonald's private trainei, is setting up as a public trainer at Caulfleld. He already has Conge d'Eslire and Dame Wallace in hand. The Queensland performer, Forge, is now at Oaulfield under the care of W. Swailes. Mountain King has now won nine races — all this season. His only defeats as a thxee-year-old have been in the Melbourne Cup (third) and Caulfield Futurity Stakes (second). It has transpired since the Newmarket Handicap that the trainer of Scotland had a vexy anxious time with the horse. When he first arrived from Sydney he suffered with his feet, and 10 days or so ago the tendon of the near foreleg swelled, and subsequently the other foreleg was similarly affected. For several days Mr S. O. Wood, V.S., had Scotland's legs in ice. Ale, by Maltster, won the Nursery Handicap at Warwick Farm, in Sydney, last Saturday. The Warwick Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, went to Orange, by Ennistymon. At the West Australian - Turf Club racers at Perth list Saturday the Febdhury Handioap, one mile and three furlongs, was taken by The Snail (by Albatross), and the two-year-old event by Durham Court, who i« a son of Havoc. Munjeet was walked up to the start for the Newmarket Handicap enveloped in * big white rug. As one paper remarked, the get-upjtoras suggestive of an equine ghost. Mr J. Brennan, owner of Scotland, is shortly going for a trip to England.