THE WATERLOO CUP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4938, 30 April 1894, Page 1

THE WATERLOO CUP.

[FEOM OUB OWN COBRESPONDENT.J London, March 2. Few strangers who attended the draw dinner for the Waterloo Cap at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, laßt Wednesday evening, would believe that at the same function twenty years ago a dog could, without any difficulty, have been backed to win -260,000 to £70,000. Most cf the big " bookies" have now given up " bowwows." The three successive victories of Fullerton practically settled heavy betting on the coursing blue riband • There is still plenty of wagering on individual courses but long odds offers against the right-out winner are few, On Tuesday evening Mr Fletcher's Falconer was favourite at ICO to 15, 100 to 9 being offered against hi. stable companion Jree Kick, lOOto _ Mr Fawcett's Follow Faster, and 1000 to 50 the Irish War Lad. That the public were not far off the saent was apparent on Saturday morning, when Falconer, Follow Faster, Texture, and Ivan the Great were the last four dogs left iv the Stake. Follow Faster had had dreadful gruellings 'n the earlier rounds of the Cup or else she might have won. Aa things were, the favourite, after an undecided (3 to 1 on Falconer), beat Mr Fawcett's bitch pointless ; Texture (100 to 30 on Texture) disposing of Ivan the Great equally easily. The victory of Falconer now seemed a foregone conclusion, and 9 to 4 was freely laid on bim for the final. Falconer and Texture were eventually slippedto a strong hare along the grand stretch known as the Withins, and a roar of excitement arose as the non-favourite drew out and led. She cleared herself in the first 150 yds, and then .lightly increased 'her advantage before the hare was reached. Moving on tbe scut in grand style, she scored the second and third points hefore giving the .lightest opening. Immediately the hate came half round Falconer took posaea3ion, and keeping his plaoe under difficulties, for a moment raieed tho hopeß of his friend., but Texture, not io be denied, again drew to the front as puss broke clear, shooting past the white as ho faltered ata drain, and wrenching twice before ilecH-ig her hare for Falconer to floor. Texture's victory was clear enough before the white flag proclaimed it. Texture, by Hcrschel out of Tinsel, was bred by Messrs Tkompson, and purchased l_st Christmas by Count Stroganoff for 110 guineas. M a poppy she ran into the

i last eight for the Waterloo Cup, being put out by Fitz Fife, runner-up to Fuller ton. Last year she reached the semi-final or , last four, and again the runner-up (_->?* ton , Park) put her out. This year her new owner backed her straight out at 1000 to 30, though it was scarcely anticipated the bitch would beat Falconer or Follow Faster. Texture's half-sister, Mr Thompson's Tasmania (by Restorer — Tinsel), repeated her laßt year's performance of dividing the Plate, the Cup favourite, Free Kick, sharing honours with her. Mr Hales' Happy Relic and Mr Pilkington's Pennegaut likewise divided the Purse. Texture, Jalconer, Happy Relic, and Free Kick are all by Herschel.