BY "ACHILLES."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11709, 8 November 1905, Page 7

BY "ACHILLES."

Blue Spec,, the winner of the Melbourne Cup, is a six-year-old, brown horse, and was got by True Blue-^-Specula. He has done a lot of racing,,. and has travelled muchly. He was bred in New South Wales, where he raced tas a two and three year-old» As a two y-gar-old h© won one race at Randwick, and vthe nest year he was often seen out ' without ' getting a place. He was unlucky, too, in running into places without qifit-3 being able tc win. His record for instance, included ?

second to Kinglqck in Warwick Farm Stewards Handicap; second to Clochettc in A.J.C.' Kensington Handicap; third tr PostilJion A.J.C. Members' Handicap: third in Slimmer Handicap won by Aurantia; third in Tattersall's Cup, 2 miles., when Postillion won; but he won a Rosehill Handicap, 1 mile 3 furlongs, carrying 6st 121 b. He was sold ( for Western Aus-_ tralia, and tbera raced 'as a four and five year-old. His successes include the Boulder City Handicap, 1£ mile, Bst: Goldfield Stakes, 6 furlongs. Bst 121 b; an<* ho was second in the Kalgoorlie Cup,- 8s 4 51b, won by Orphan Boy, 9st ]2lb. Las! season he won tho Kalgoorlio • Spring Stakce, 1J mi'e, 9st 41b. beating May Kinp and, the Persian; the Kalgoorlie Cup, V mile, Bst 21b; and was-second in tho Grandstand Handicap. —At the 1 W.A.T.C. meeting he ran second to Fifeness in the Perth Stakes, and won the Perth Cup, 2 miles, carrying 9st 21b, beating Fifeness, Bst 101 b, Avalon, 9st 2lb". ancb the rest. In the Autumn he was at Flemington, but he ran without success. Then he journeyed to Handwick, where he was heavily backed to win the Sydney Ciip, t but failed to show prominently, Tartan being the winner. He' has been through a very solid sort of preparation with a view the Melbcmrnr. Cup, and has had some racing recently. He was unplaced in the r Coongy Handicap, and was beaten by Overdale easily at Sandown Park, but won the Moonee Valley Cup, 1 nrPe 3 furlongs, carrying 7st 9lb, on the. 28tti October. From a- time point of view Blue Spec's performanc in the Melbourne Cup yester<Jay was a- first-class one, as he cut out the two miles in 3 min.27i sees, the fastest time on record for the race. When Tartan won the last Sydney Cup he registered 3 mm 27 sees, which is the record for the colonies for the distance and the only other occasion on which Blue Spec's time has been beaten in Australasia was when Canteen won the N.Z. Cup in 3 mm 27 1-5 sees. Scot Free, who finished second, is a 4 year-old son of Lochie! —Scotch Mary, and 'is therefore a brother-to Great Scot. At the recent A.J.C. "Meeting Scot Free won the Waverley Handicap, 1£ mile, and on the second day of the V.A.T.C. Meeting he. placed th© CoongY Handicap to his credit. In the Caulfield Cup, he ran well, but fell in the straight when he looked like beating Torah for third place. Blue Spec, the Melbourne Cup winner, was trained by Carbine's old mentor, W. S. Hickenbotham, while Tom Payten has charge of the runner-up, Scot Free. The Taratahi-Carterton R.C. Meeting will be commenced to-morrow and con-, eluded on Friday. The following may run prominently to-morrow. —Hack Flying. —Sir Percival and Dulcinea. Bailway Handicap —Gold Seal and Tikirawa. Wairarapa Hack Guineas. —Lady White and Flower Girl. Hack Hurdles.—Wild Cat and Moetoropuku. Wairarapa County Cup. —Eapids, Royal Blue and Kuroki. King Edward, Handicap. —Silverlene and Operetta. Trial Plate.—Rosegrove and Probability. Hack Welter.—The Ruler and Pemmican.