VICTORIA RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 136, 2 March 1893, Page 7

VICTORIA RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

We now stand on the eve of the Newmarket Handicap, and, strange to say, not a single defection except St. Hippo since the date when the final forfeits were due —Feb. r6th. With the New Zealander eliminated, under circumstances mentioned below, 44 are left in the big sprint event of the V.R.C.’s programme, so that there is plenty of scope for speculation, a privilege which Aucklanders have not so far been backward in availing themselves of. A good deal of spirit though has been knocked out of them by the scratching of St.Hippo.who was for the Australian Cup very freely backed in doubles with the “ good goods ” in the Newmarket Handicap, though I doubt if many pounds were invested on him for the short distance race. The Newmarket Handicap is still headed by Bungebah, with jo.i, and as I have always had a good word for this horse, in spite of his big weight, I am glad to see that he has come up in the market the last few days, and is now a better favourite than his stable-mate Buccleugh. After this horse’s easy win in the Challenge Stakes at the Sydney Turf Club’s Anniversary Meeting, he came with a bound into the position of first favourite. Granted that his performance on that occasion was a good one, I declined at the time and still decline to believe the “ fairy tales” that were in circulation at the time and still find credence that he is as good as Bungebah was when he won the Newmarket two years ago with 9.3 up.. That tale won’t wash with me, and if Mr “Northern” sends Bungebah to the post in the same form as when he won before, the son of Grandmaster will, I opine, take a lot of beating. Weight doesn’t stop real good horses over six furlongs, and that Bungebah is a really good one over this distance we have had ocular demonstration. I would sooner, taking everything into consideration, stand him than Buccleugh. Ascot Vale, 9.8, is another horse that I have always had something to urge in favour of ever since the weights apppeared, and I shall be much disappointed if he does not finish in the first flight. I cannot say I care for Fortunatus with 9.2 or 231 b more than he carried into second place behind Wild Rose last year; neither do I think Wild Rose, 9.1, will repeat her coup of 1892. I’ve no fancy for Chatham, 9.0. I would have respected Lord Hopetoun’s chance had he not incurred a penalty by winning at Caulfield on Saturday. This brings his weight up to 9.11, which surely puts him entirely out of court. Neither Linburn, 8.1 1, nor Antaeus, 8.8, are to my fancy. Sainfoin, 8.8, showed some form as a two and three-year-old, especially at the latter age, when he won the Windsor Stakes, 6 furlongs, at the V.A.T.C. Spring Meeting carrying 7.8, and cutting out the three-quarters of a mile in imin i6Jsec. However, he has done nothing of note since (except to run second to Strathmore in the V.R.C. Foal Stakes when that colt was giving him lolb) so I put him on one side. Gladstone, as a two-year-old, won the Normanby Stakes, but as he is now an aged horse this is a long time to look back to. He now has 8.7. Two pounds less than this he carried into second place behind Lord Hopetoun in the Oakleigh Plate last Saturday, which shows that he has some pretensions to returning form, but he will

next Saturday have another half furlong to go, and I cannot say I like his chance. I pointed out when I reviewed the hancap originally that though there was a great demonstration in favour of Prime Minister I could not see on what form he was entitled to respect. I reiterate this statement, added to which I may say that the horse has not been travelling at all well in the market lately. The Swell, 8.4, was one of my original selections, and as he has lately passed into the Hon. W. A. Long’s hands I intend to stick to him. The 141 b penalty incurred by Omaha for winning last Saturday, brings her weight also up to 8.4, which desposes of her chance. Steadfast, Malolo and Ravenswing are not to my liking, but Magic Circle, 8.3, I will continue to keep on my side. Travelling further down the list I stop at Warpaint, who was one of my original selections, and therefore I will not desert him, but I must say that I prefer him for the Australian Cup. Passing on I again stop at the names of The Harbour Light, 7.10, and The Seine, 7.8, but I am not enamoured of the chances of any of the lighter division. I mentioned last week that out of my original selection of a dozen, Bungebah, Ascot Vale, The Swell, Magic Circle, Warpaint, The Harbour Light and The Seine, were left to do battle for me, and that at that stage if I were compelled to pick it in three I should choose Ascot Vale, Magic Circle and The Harbour Light. I’m now going to be presumptuous enough to narrow it down to a couple, and I select Harbour Light and Magic Circle to fight out the final struggle, with Ascot Vale, The Swell, and Bungebah close handy, Ascot Vale for choice of this trio. With St. Hippo out, exactly a score are left in the Australian Cup of l,soosovs, two miles and a quarter, which will be decided next Tuesday. St. Hippo, my readers will know, was one I stuck firmly to since the weights appeared, and I am convinced that through his elimination New Zealand has lost quite as excellent a chance, if not more excellent one, of annexing the Australian Cup as when Nelson succumbed by but a head to Trident. The running in the Essendon Stakes on the first day may give us some further clue to the Australian Cup than we now possess, but I stick to my last week’s selections of Malvolio and Hopetoun. Of Mr “ Clark’s ” trio I like Warpaint best, and though The Admiral has a big impost in 9.10, I will not entirely desert him,because he is a proved stayer. Sternchaser’s weight is still 8.1 despite his win at Caulfield on Saturday, but I do not like him, and the only one of the lightly weighted crowd I care for is Gaillardia. This young lady may effeet a surprise, but I will split my vote between Malvolio and Hopetoun, with a prejudice for the 1891 Melbourne Cup winner, and the pair may find The Admiral and Warpaint close behind them. Now that St. Hippo is out of the way the “J. B. Clark ” syndicate seem to have tne Leger at their mercy, unless young James Wilson can win it with Ducrow. From this “joker” danger may be apprehended.