SPORTING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8054, 1 November 1897, Page 3

SPORTING.

THE V.R.C. SPRING MEETING. THE DERBY. Melbourne, Oct. 30. The weather for the 'opening day of the V.R.C. Spring Meeting was windy and dusty. The attendance was equal to that of the previous year. The Governor was absent, owing to the death of the Dnchess of Teck. The following are the results : — Maiden Plate : Clarion 1 , Coba 2, Pinfire 3. Five others ran. Betting : 6 to 4 on Clarion. Won easily. Time Imin 46sec. Melbourne Stakes : Battalion 1 , Coil 2, Key 3. Nine others ran. Betting : 2 to 1 against Coil, 20 to 1 Battalion. Positano refused to budge when the barrier was lifted, and was left at the post, fully twenty lengths behind, though he finished fourth. Battalion came with a great run at the finish and won by a head. Time, 2niin 9|sec. Hotham Handicap : Metford 1, Surge 2, Gaulus and Coonana (dead heat) 3. Seven others started. Betting : 20 to 1 against Metford. Won easily. Time, 2min 38|sec. V.R.C. Derby: Amberite 1, Aurum 2, Fleet Admiral 3. Others starters : Manfred, Eridisdale, and The Hypnotist. Betting : 2 to 1 on Aurum, 3 to 1 against Amberite. Manfred jumped away with the lead, and on rounding the turn into the straight for home Manfred, •Eridisdale, and Fleet Admiral were almost abreast, with Aurum coming fast and Amberite handy. Below the distance the favorite appeared to be a winner, but Amberite with a fast run cut him down and won by four lengths ; Manfred fourth. Time, 2min 39|sect Maribyrnomj Plate : Lady Mostyn 1, Essex and Vigorous (dead heat) 2. Other starters: Carnarvon, Hainanlt, Pirate King, Ormnz, Moonshee, Ranfurly, Roscommon, ■StAndisli, and Cordite. Betting: 5 to 2 against Standish, 20 to 1 Lady Mostyn. At the distance Lady Mostyn came away and won easily. Time, Imin 4Jsec. Symmetry was injured before the race through rearing on the approach of a train. After the Derby Aurum showed a cut on the leg, evidently being galloped on when attempting to get up on the inside at the home turn.

Coburg Stakes : The Grafter 1, Fitzroy 2, Interlude 3. Nineteen others ran. The Grafter was favorite, and led all the way, ■winning easily. Time, Imin 4?} sec. Oct. 31. — The takings yesterday were £200 over last year, rivaling the boom times. In the wagering last night Coil and Amberite were equal favorites for the Cup at 7 to 1. Aurum receded to 100 to 2. The bookmakers are evidently of opinion that the horse is an unlikely starter. Three hundred to 2t about Positano was token.

At Flemington this morning Dreamland galloped a mile and seven furlongs in 3min 29Jsec, moving freely. Aurum, with a bandage on the injured leg, cantered slowly. The leg. shows no symptoms of swelling. Flemington trainers are unanimously of opinion that Aurum's mishap did not influence the result of the Derby. One backer outside the stable laid in all £7500 to £5000 on Aurum. Standish ran very green in the first three furlongs of the Marihyrnong Plate.

The result of the Derby was looked forward to with a great deal of interest throughout the colony, despite the fact that the race was considered by maiiy a one-horse contest, and when we saw that all the Australian sporting scribes had voted for Aurum to do the trick, it really did seem that the son of Trenton would prevail. However, the splendid victory of Amberite in the Caulfield Cup, and the fact of Aurum having a split hoof, earned many to pin their faith to Amberite. When the result became known on Saturday evening it could hardly be credited, and the relative merits of the sons of Trenton and Carbine were discussed by many "sports" during the night. As a two-year-old Aurum was "streets" ahead of Amberite, it was admitted by the followers of the latter, but the performances of the pair this season were in favor of Amberite. Mr D. S. Wallace had the honor of breeding Amberite, who is by the expatriated Carbine, from Duenna, by Lecturer from imported Signora (dam of Cardigan and Mantilla). He was purchased along with his mother when a foal at foot by Mr John Lee at the Leederberg clearing sale in 1896 for 220 guineas. W. Duggan secured a lease of Amberite, and though the colt gave him a lot of trouble as a two-year-old in his preparation, Amberite has now •well-repaid Duggan for the skill and attention he displayed in completing his training. As a two-year-old Amberite started four times, chasing Aurum home in the A.J.C. Champagne and Easter Stakes at Randwick.

London, Oct. 31. A further test of Gray's starting machine was made at the Hurst Park race meeting, a field of thirteen horses being started in capital style, and the machine produced a most favorable impression. .Mrs Langtry's Australian-bred Merman won the Long Distance Plate at the above meeting in a canter.