SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Br Ravsnsworth.

MELBOURNE, January 16. RACING IN MELBOURNE.

Fields were large at the Aspenclale Park meeting last Saturday, there being 101 starters for six events. The chief event, the Aspenclale Park Handicap, of 12550 v, one mile, wont to the New Zealand-bn'd gelding. ’ William 7.11. by Conqueror, who was ridden by F. Clarke, and got up in time to beat T rag as 6.12 by three-quarters of a length, with Chesterrniss 6.13, the favourite, in third place. William was supposed to have been sold to go to Adelaide recently, but he ran in this race in the name of “bou” Robertson, the trotting man, who trains him. Shackle-ton 8.1, by Andria (imp.), scored a narrow win from Studding Sail 6.9 in the First Division Handicap; and tiro Steeplechase went to a hot favourite in Jack Windsor 10-9, with the Tasmanian Leeburn 9.0 in second place. The Pistol filly Duel 7.0 won the Second Division Handicap by a head from Pimento 7.9 There w J as another close finish in the Third Division Handicap. Daisy Tell 8 1, by Straightfire, getting home a nook in front of the favourite, Broomleaf. Dyed Garments’s half brother, Bursa 9.7, started favourite, and clasily Avon the Jumper's Flat Race RACING IN SYDNEY. The Warwick Farm Club held a meeting last Saturday. The chief event was the Warwick Handicap, one mile‘and a-quarter. King Bee 8.13 started favourite, but missed a place, the winner turning up in the wellbacked Crown Thistle 9.5, by imported Riding Master from Thistle. Ho is a half brother fa Thistlebrook, a disappointing horse in Melbourne that was recently sold to go to Tasmania. The Juvenile Handioap, four furlongs, proved a good thing for the Messrs W. B. and C. L. Thompson’s colt. WWman 7.12, who was ridden by W. H. M’Laohlan. Warman is related to Alawa, being by bis sire Maltster from Warfare, by Grand Flaneur from Ordinance, by Splendor from Alawa’s dam. Crossfire. The other winners were Golden Eight (by Duke of Melton), Pride of Murillo (by Murillo), Corallina (by Bnnclook), find Milfaco (by Lancaster). TROTTING. The Melbourne Trotting Club held a successful meeting on the Fitzroy course last week. The Trial Trot, one mile, attracted a field of 12, and solid support was accorded Nigger Thelma. Bell Patch, and Glenda. Not one of this quarter managed to secure a place, Und the limit mare, Miss Harold, by Rhvs-llarold. won easily from two other outsiders, Marie Direct and Kathleen. The winner, who has been eucc< ssful in bracelet events at Richmond, was allowed to start at a long price. Half a dozen sm,art horses contested the Flying Handicap, seven furlongs, and the American mars Lady Mazy again started favourite, only lo trot poorly and miss a place. The third favourite, Ruby M., who is a young daughter of Mauritius, scored cleverly from The Whip and Little Dot. A field of 15 contested the Ladies’ Bracelet event. The first and second favourites, Amy M. and Nigger, had the finish to themselves. Nigger winning comfortably from the favourite. who sec oral blunders during the nine furlongs. The winner, who is owned by a resident of Wagga. started favourite in the opening Trial Trot, hut missed f.i place. The Tradesmen’s Trot went to Spangle, by Cannoneer There were 15 starters. Vera Kendall was made a warm favourite for the 2-40 Class Trot, hut she began in slovenly fashion, and never after-

wards threatened the leaders. The mixed* gaited mare Amy M. led all the way, and won easily from Ruby M., who was penalised 10 yards for her success in the Flying Handicap. Amy M. htd previously finished second in the Bracelet event. Lady Mazy reappeared for the £IOO Trot, and was sent out favourite. Sho went splendidly over the first mile, but in the last quarter Wriggles, by Honesty, caught her and beat her home by half p dozen yards. Wriggles started 75 yards behind scratch. In Melbourne last Wednesday the follow)ng trotters were sold by auction : —A], by Emulator, to L. Raphael, for 31gs; Alma, by Bentwood, to S J. Rowe, for 28gs; and tihp, to G. Allardyce, for 39gs. AUTUMN ENTRIES. Last week entries closed for two of the leading events of tiie V.R.G. autumn mecthig— tae Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup,—and also for tiie V.A.T.Q. Oakieigh Riate. The most striking feature*} of tiio Newmarket Handicap and .Australian Cup are the entry ot Traialgar for both, tne absence of last year’s winner, Mala, from tlie Newmarket, and the absence of Comedy King and Prince hcote from the Australian Cup. The entries lor the Newmarket number 93, as against 104 last year, and for „the Australian Gup 57, as against bi hurt year. liicr© are entries for tiie Uakieign Plate, as against 110 last year. M IfcCEbLAN EC U S. At auction m Melbourne last week Glorify, by Valala, was sold to W. Laid--law for 2lA)gs; Madchen, by George Frederick, to H. A. Connolly, lor 2logs; Bobby Lock, by Bobadil, to ii. Howie lor 96gs; Praise, by Andriu, to T. Waghoru for 60gs; Wyndian, by lan, to T. Conway for 105 gs; Royal Fleet and Kieixseise and Madden tor 70gs; and N’atako, by Hova, to T. Painter, for 35gs The Selection Committee of the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association (Messrs E. F. Lind, Taylor, and F. G. Richardson) have selected L. Blunt as the only swimmer to represent the State in the Australian championships, which commence in South Australia thus month. Blunt is an excellent breast-stroke swimmer, and, as Alex Wickham (N.S.W.) has decided to visit Now Zealand shortly, and will not take part in the breast-stroke championships of Australia, Blunt’s chances of success are regarded as extremely bright. The committee considered it inadvisable to send more than one swimmer on this occasion. At the deferred conclusion of the cycle and pedestrian events in connection with the six days’ bicycle race, jA. H. Shepherd succeeded in lowering the motor-paced bicycle record for one mile, Imin 25seo, held by A. E. Pye. Ho broke the record by 3scc. Results: —Colonial Mile: B. P. Kctt, 1; E. L. Bestel, 2; L. Hammond, 3. Lyric Wheel Race, two miles; E. Pore, 1; C. A. Piercey, 2; R. E. Mutton, 3. Fivomilo Invitation Scratch: A. J. Davies, 1; B. Spears, 2; 0. A. Piercey. 3. Foot Race: 150 yards: J. Donaldson (Vic.) won from scratch in 12 3-10 sec.

The principal event at the Canning Park meeting on Saturday was won by James 111 (by Scottish King), with the New Zea-land-bred Juba B. in second place. After winning the Newmarket Handicap last year Mr A. S Chirnside sold Queen o’ Soots, but the name of her new owner was not disclosed at the time. She was entered for the Newmarket Handicap and Oakleigh Plate last week in the name of Mr K. S. MacLeod. She is still in Wheeler’s stable.

The well-known Sydney performer, Crown Grant, has been sold to go to Singapore. The price paid was, it is said, IOOOgs.

Baw Bee has been sold to Mr F. Merton and Meringue to Mr Whitworth, of New Zealand 1 .

At a polo tournament on the Kooyong Ground in Melbourne last Saturday, a team captained by lord Denman, the Governorgeneral. was successful. There were four teams in the tournament. Lord Denman’s team beat one team by eight goals to nil. and the second by four goals to one. The Half-mile "Swimming Championship of Victoria was decided at the Brighton Baths on Saturday, and was won by T. W. Mason, of the Melbourne Club, in 13min 16s eo.