EXCITING FINISH FOR MELBOURNE CUP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14448, 7 November 1917, Page 5

EXCITING FINISH FOR MELBOURNE CUP.

► '(Elec. Trf,*jßey«"S ht — Uhited Press A^n.K .. I. ,'„'-■< .iLrMOUßN^. November; 6. v ' 'Anticipation* bf ' the "^biggest Cup" ! crowd on record were, undoubtedly realised. The weather was bright and. cool, •alhd every corner of the oourse was -crowded, while thousands viewed the races from Footscray, across the river. On the strength of- the English horse Laiftus's only two appearances m public Abe was selected as the public fancy, and promised to become as great a favorite as was Revenue when he won the Cup at 7. to 4 iii 1901. He never receded, but became a firmer favorite to-day. The English horse, however, never threatened much trouble. Turning for home, Lingle and :Westcbnrt clearly had the race to settle between them, and they provided the most exciting finish ; ever seen at the-. Cup •• j

Old Obi's hurdle tvin was very popular, while Outlook, ,m the Nursery, made hacks of his opponents m the last furlong. Follbwing are the results:— Hurdles: Obi 1, Demacles 2, Westendalb 3. Ten started. Obi was always handy and won by 2^ lengths. Time, 3.454-. . . Railway High-weight: Quesara 1, Red Rock 2, Belgian Waif 3. Eighteen started.; Red Rock was always prominent and was being proclaimed the winner when Quesara cut down on- the outside and won by a length. Time, 1.13£. - Nursery Handicap : Outlook 1, Red Dotne 2, 'Lomali and Verdun (dead heat) 3. Twenty-two starters. Red Dome was first across the ■ tan. . Ben and Lomali beat Outlook, but the latter made a fast, clear run on the outside and won easily by three lengths. Time, 1:8.

; MELBOURNE CITP, 2 miles. D. -U. Seatqn's br h Westcourt, syrs,

;■ 8.5 (McLauchlan) -•• ••••" 1 J. Devon's blk h Lingle, by Linacre —Lady Pamela, syrs, 8.9 (Brown) 2 J. Baron's eh h Wallace Isinglass, by .'; Wallace-V-Glass Queen, syi*s, 8.11 ' (Conneli) -. ... .... ••• 3 S. AD. Brunton's blk g Chrome, by : Bright., Steel— Cisneros. 4yrs, 6.7 4 ' Layendo,.. Wishing. Cup, and Cosmos were scratched. „ , . ..;,.. Cagou led. the field past the judge's) box and round the turn . from Rael Loein, Thana? King's... Bounty, . Broken Glass, Sir Amyas, Semi-Blue, ..Westcourt, Chrome, 'Almo,. and . Kilflinn. After' & mile Cagoii, Rael Locin, Broken Glass, Sir Amyas, and Laniu&.were the centre of .attention,. .. Almo led round' the far turn from Broken Glass," Westcourt, Rael Locin, Sir Amyas, Laniys, Lingle, and Chrome. Almo led into the straight, and then Westcourt held Lingle fast,, and forging through at the half distance Westcourt and Lingle fought out the finish. Chrome arid ; Lamps were also contesting, places. -Amid great excitement Westcourt the -y'erdict .by half a head, two .lengths .Vbe'tween second ancl thi'rdrV -; Time,, 3;26"f. Chrome was fourth, and Marculfjus- last. ;,v "V Steeplechase,: Highland "Clkril, 800 li r ga! 2, Coradjil 3.- Thirteen r, started. Mu'rrangong was leading, by ten lengths arid looked a .certainty when he . fell Won by three lengths. Time,, 4.9^.

Van. Yean Stakes: Paeaii . 1, ? Modesto 2, : ''Burnley ,3.. Fifteen started- Pah King and Mistico made most of #ie running and the latter led ..injto -the straight. Burnley led at the distance, .but Paean came with a fast run and won by a short neck. Time, 1.39 J. ■■■>■