SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3004, 11 October 1911, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Ravbnswobth.

A.J.C. SPRING MEETING. Fikst Day. MELBOURNE, October 3. The spi-ing meeting of the Australian Jockey Club was opened at Rand wick on Saturday. Rain fell overnight, but the day was line. The goin? was, however, a trifle holding, and this probably accounted for form being so upset. Backers had a very bad time. Not a single favourite won, while winners like Ennisbelle, Cisco, Volsloane, and Malthusian were all at outside prices. Both Derby and Epsom Handicap ended in " a boil-over. There were 16 starters in.the Derby, which is a record for the race, as the 14 that ran last year was up to that day. The Derby had 400060 vs added, and it may be considered'the'most important classic event ever run in Australia. The only starter of New Zealand breeding in the race was Dan. O'Brien's Multiform filly Respect, who ran badly, but New Zealanders have some interest in the breeding of the winner, as Cisco is by imported San Francisco, who was bought from his New Zealand owner by Mr John M'Denald, of the Mungie - Bundie stud. San Francisco was there for some time, but a« he was not an immediate success Mr M'Donald sold him to go back to New Zealand again. Cisco took command at the home turn, and, running the race right out, won easilv by three lengths from Jacamar (who was a hot favourite), with Ladies' Mm, five lengths away, third, and Woolerina the nearest of the * others. Mashtun wag knocked in on the rails early in the"race, and was pulled up. The foot of his jockey (P. J. Foley) was badly crushed.

Cisco ran in the Rosehill Guineas, seven furlongs, a fortnight previously, and, though he finished second, Woolerina beat him with something to spare, While Popinjay, who was kicked at the post and his stifle cut, ran Cisco to a head, with Pierene a head further back. Cisco has never been looked upon as a stayer, aaid few racing men regarded him as a likely winner of the A.J.O, Derby. He won the first race in which he started as a two-year-old, the A.J.C Breeders' Stakes, and he did not suoceed in scoring again until Saturday. He ran badly under his penalty in th© Maribyrnong Plate. He was nowhere in, the A.J.O. Sires' Produce Stakes in the autumn, and though third with 8.7 up in the A.J.C. Nurserv Handicap, one mile, Jacamar, who was,' however, carrying only 7.2, won by five lengths. His dam is the V.R.C. Derby winner, Lady Wallace, by Wallace, from Ladv Mostyn, by Neckersgat. Cisco was an expensive yearling, his present owner giving 1050 guineas for Kim. He is in the CaulfieJd Guineas, Caulfield Cup, 7.7 (including 21b penalty); V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, 7.6 (including' 51b penalty). Ladv Wallace came to V»*»r toria tiiis season on a visit to Traquair, but that horse, owing to an accident, is unequal to stud dutv this season, and Positanb has been chosen as Lady Wallace's mate.

Lady Medallist (8.13) started a hot favourite for the Epsom Handicap* but though she was always well up and finished close to the placed horses she never really looked like a winner, and Los Angelos (9.8) was not once sighted. Broadsword (9.4), who won the Doncaster Handicap last autumn, was one of the last to.finish, and strongly fancied horses like Blairgour (8.12), Full Saii (7.2), and Sunlike (7.10) all ran dieapointirigly. At best, however, the Epsom Handicap is a scrambling race, and those that fail to get away in the fust flight have no chance of winning. Lady Medallist was always in a good position, but failed to see out the race. Volsloane and Brandon Lad were both well off, and at the half-mile they were clear of the field. Volsloane (7.5) led' into the straight, and easily stalling off Didus (7.5), who finished well, won by a length, with Bandon Lad (7.6) two lengths away third. The nearest of the others were Hartfell (7.4), and Lady Medallist (8.12). Volsloane hails from the Newcastle district. He" won five races in the country last season, the last being the Barnes Handicap, six furlongs, in whicn he carried 9.4, at tho Clarence River meeting. He is by Vulpone (imported to New South Wales by Mr H. F. Smith in 1904), from Tacita, by Clan Stuart from Themis, by Anteros from Princess of Thule, by Captivator. Vulpone (or Vol•pone) is by the Galopin horse Donovan (a great performer in England) from Vulpecula, by Melton from Rad'ianoy, by Tibbhorpe. He was ridden bv the country jockey. A. Maher, while W. H. Smith was on Didus.

The Hurdle Race was won by an outsider in Ennkbelle (12.4), by Ennistymon, and he only beat another outsider in Kairoma (9.13) by a head, with the favourite Fiddlestring (10.0) third. T. Paytcn supplied first and second in the Trial Stakes with Mr A. Knox's g Crown Gran.t, and Mr A,ga Wynne's Ecuador. Crown Grant, who is by Grafton from Lady Lochiel, won only by half a length, while the favou.vite, Duke (Foote, ran badly, and 1 Midnight Sun, who was well backed, made no show. The most disappointing display of the day to Victorians was that, by Comedy King in the Spring Stakes, weight-for-age, one mile and a-hnlf. The imported horse was regarded as almost unbeatable. He ran third, but Aurofodina won by half a _ length from Malt King, while Comedy King was four lengths away. W. H. Smith, who had 1 earler in the day ridden Crown Grant had the mount on Aurofodina, who is owned by the lucky Mr F. Morton ■ He owns Flavinius. who won the last Caulfield Cup. Mr Merton i«s a heavy bettor, and he supported Aurofodina very spiritedly, the colt going out second favourite. Prince Foote and Trafalerar were among l the other starters, and neither received much attention from backers. Trafalgar and Prince Foote both ran disappointingly. Probably the form will be proved all 'wrong before the meeting is_ over, but there is nevertheless no gainsaying the fact that Aurofodina is a greatly imnroved colt, and his chance in the CaulfioklCnp . with 8.7 looks particularly good. He is in the Melbourne Cun at 8.5, and in that event also he reads well. Since he won that notable Hack Race at Kyneton (for which he was entered as " pedigree unknown "), Aurofodina has improved out of all knowledge.

His trainer, J. Siely, appears t ohave the knack of getting his horses well. W. H. M'Liaehlan landed the Maltster colt, Malthusian (8.6), winner of the Kensington Handicap, seven furlongs, 'but only after a desperate" finish, Hot Air (9.8) being beaten by a head. Second Day.

The meeting was continued yesterday, when the rich Metropolitan was the chief attraction. The added money to this event is 3500sovs, and the distance one mile and a-half. One of the largest crowds ever seen' it Randwick witnessed the race. There was a field of 20, including Los Angelos 9.5, Malt King 9.1, Oadonia 8.12, Lady Medallist 8.9, Bridge 8.8, Lady Lucy 8.0, Vice-admiral 7.8, Hartfell 7.0, and Didus 7.2. After his second to Volsloane in the Epsom Handicap Didus looked a good thing in the race, but he ran disappointingly. The Spring Stakes form proved more reliable, as Malt King, who had run second to Aurofodina in that event, was the winner, and Lady Medallist and Hart-, fell, "- who had been easily beaten in the Epsom by Didus, followed Malt King home. Vice-admiral was responsible for a good deal of the running, but he failed to see it out. Malt King oame on the outside at the distance, and, running past Lady Medallist, won brilliantly by two lengths. Hartfell just beat Piastre, with Didus next. The time (2min 35i-sec) was not fast considering the going, which probably suited both the first and second. Oadonia, Woad, and Flava ran fairly well, and the winner's form makes Aurofodina look better than ever.

This is the first occasion on which Malt King has successfully got a mile and a-half. He had not previously won over a longer, journey than nine furlongs, and on the few occasions on which he tried he failed. In the A.J.C. Derby, one mile and a-half, the season before last (won by Prince Foote), he missed a place, though he won at a mil© at Rosehill a fortnight previously, and over the same distance at Cauifield (the Guineas) a, week subsequently. He had 7.7 in the Cauifield Cup the. same season, but, with W. H. Smith, finished in the rear division. He was tried over a mile and three furlongs in the A.<LC. Rous Handicap, and again failed badlv. and ■ last season, in the A.JV-. Graven Plate, one mile and a-quarter, missed a place. Before his victory yesterday Malt King had run this season two seconds to Aurofodina —in the Spring Stakes, nine furlongs, at Rosehill, and in the Spring Stakes, one mile and a-half, at Randwick. If for no other reason, Malt King will always be remembered for his defeats of Prince Foote at a time when Prince Foote was considered almost unbeatable. He is one of the most brilliant horses seen for many a long day, but even a victory in the Metropolitan does not establish bis claim to be considered a stayer. The Metropolitan is an easy mile and a-half, as it has been frequently won by a horse not remarkable for stamina. Malt King is not likely to start in the Cauifield Cup, as a 141 b penalty brings his weight up to 10.5. He is -owned by Mr J. E. O'Brien, who trains the colt himself. He gave 310 guineas for him as a yearling. Ma.lt King is very well bred, being by the successful sire Maltster (son of Bill of Portland) from Patrona (sister to the Melbourne Cup winner Patron), by the unbeaten. Grand Flaneur from Olga (dam of Ruenalf, Patreness, and Patronage, as well, as Patron), by Piscator from Beatrice, hy Stocfeowner from Lady Heron, by Fisher man from imported Omen, by Melbourne. As Mr F. Merton's stable appeared to be in foam, his representative Kuringai (8.9) was made a warm favourite for the Shorts (six furlongs). She ran a bad race. The winner was Hot Air, 8.10 (Ayr Laddie— Miss Grafton), but it was only by a head that he beat Volsloane, who proved l that his Eusom Handicap victory was no. fluke by carrying 8.9 in this event. Malttousian (7.12) was a close third. Jaoamar to some extent retrieved his reputation by winning the Clifford Stakes, a nine-furlong race for three-year-olds. special weights, with penalties. He had a 71b penalty, and, going out a hot favourite, won by a head only from the Positano oplt-Pontano, who also carried a 71b penalty. Woolerina was third. Cisco was engaged, but as he h«d incurred a 101 b penalty he. was not started. The Victorian representative Leah Kleshna .(10.6), who was unlucky enough to run • second in both the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase and Australian SteepJechase, won from the old New Zealand gelding Hautapu (10.4) the First Steeplechase, run ovter two miles and a-half. Hautapu was nearly a furlong in front at one time, and had a lead of 100 yards at the last fence, but stopped to nothing in the run home. Only the three placed horses finished. There were eightstarter*. The first two-year-old event of the seaerwi in New South Wales went to Ventura, owned by Mr E. J. Watt, of New Zealand. The race was the Breeders' Plate, five furlongs, the added money being 150Qboys. Ventura is by Mr J. E. Stanley's imported horse Traquair. Ventura was the first of Traquair's stock to run, so he has made a very conspicuous start at the stud. It is very unfortunate for Mr J. O'Keefe (owner of Traquair) that Traquair should have been, owing to an accident, temporarily incapacitated from stud duty, but his services will no doubt be in great request next season. Ventura's dam is Sonoma, who is by the Newmarket Handicap winner Cranbrook, from Undine, by Kellpie. Ventura was bred by Mr Hunter White at Havilah, New South, Wales, and he sold the filly as a yeiarlinjT to Mr E. J. Watt. The racing concluded with the Squatters' Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, which proved a good thing for the favourite. Flaxen (8.9). by Flavus. J. E. Pike rode Flaxen, and this mode has third win for the day, as he had previously ridden Hot Air and Jaea.mav. W. Kelso, who is laid up, owns and trains Flaxen.