OUR SYDNEY LETTER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 171, 2 November 1893, Page 7

OUR SYDNEY LETTER

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) October 25th. The first prize in Tattersall’s sweep would have been won by a Tasmanian, the second, _/"i,350, going to a resident of North Deniliquin, and unlucky Oxide prize, to a ganger of platelayers in Western Australia. The winning numbers were : —Tim S. 8,902, Sainfoin 9,751, Oxide 12,081. The first prize now goes to the North Deniliquinite and the second to the ganger in W.A. The third prize will be divided and added to the other monies due to ‘ starters’ ’ prizes. Last year the prizes were double the amounts of this year, and the first prize was won by a Sydney cabman. Chris Moore, who rode the Caulfield Cup winner pro tem, rode the winner, also in 1882 Little Jack, the only three-year-old ever successful in this race.

The Mudgee Guardian writes thus of Oxide’s mount: — ‘ Cecil Parker’s villa residence at Randwick is labelled Paris House. It seems only like the other day that Cecil, a tiny mite, steered Strahan and Miller’s nags to water. It was thus he got his first lessons on horse back.’

The gloom that settled over the faces of Caulfield Cup punters is being dispelled, and they are bobbing up once more in their endeavours to find the Melbourne peas. Not necessarily Portsea, Pippin, Port Admiral, Penance, Polly Mohr, Pulvil, Pounamu, Projectile, or Patron, but its a cert that one, if not more, will get a place. The downfall of the two N.S.W. cracks, Brockleigh and Jeweller, was a severe blow to the heavy punters in Sydney and Newcastle, and many if not broken, must be terribly bent. Tatt’s Club borrow £ 20,000 on the premises. Its about the only place they could borrow it in this year of stiff. Do some of the members want to put by a nest egg in case of bad weather. ‘ I’m getting sick of this chivying about,’ said a well-known King Streeter the other day, when the Boys in Blue were moving them on. 1 Why the hot shop don’t they either let us alone or send us up, we should know what to do then, but this is only playing at “ bobbies.” ’ He was about right. Blarneystone has gone to the stud in the Walcha district. By Marvellous out of La Belle, therefore own brother to Marvel, it will be strange if this good looking stallion does not get some thing above the ordinary. The Goldsborough-bred ones (Brockleigh and Whisht) are doing their sire credit, and there is every chance of it being improved upon before the middle of Novembe*'.

Brockleigh is the pet of the public at the present time. But listen to his record and then express surprise if you can. He won a six furlong race at Newcastle with 7.7 in 1 min Another Newcastle race, seven furlongs, with 10.8 in imin Won the A.J.C. Welter, seven furlong, with 9.5 in imin last summer, and also the A.J.C. Autumn Mile Welter with 10.2 in imin 4ijsec, and then cantered home for the Epsom with 8.10 in imin 4ofsec. Don’t be surprised if a sensation in the jockey world (more especially connected with N.S.W. jocks) takes place during one of the coming big meetings. Two celebrated racing ponies were stolen last week, and eventually found at a well-known Pitt-street sale yard. The language of the owner was 1 hoarse and course,’ but complications are said to be strong enough to silence an affair which had it come to light would have proved very interesting and instructive to the public. A big Sydney punter has had some heavy losses of late, and until Saturday last has been the victim to the goddess of bad luck. Good luck beamed on him on that day, and a fair haul was made ; but mark these words: As the sharp brigade readied a ‘ dead ’un’ for Jubilee Benzon in the old country a few years back so will a ‘ dead ’un’ be readied one of these days for the present juggins of the Sydney turf. W. Kelso picked up two cheap horses at Fennelly’s. Coala for 45 and Gloom for 20 guineas. William does not buy useless stuff as a rule.

A Sydney pony trainer has been fined for exercising his horses in the street. One would have thought there were softer places for training than on the hard high road. Two shearers are said to have drawn Paris in the Metropolitan sweep, and divided /'sooo between them. Not a

word is said about ‘ owners’ participation, but then everyone knows who Paris belongs to, and it is a pity we have not a great many more like ‘ her’ on the turf. The Brisbane business ought to give the public a better chance of not having to divide their money amongst owners, trainers, and jockeys when they draw a horse in a consultation.

Last year the city was ringing by this time of those who had drawn this, that, and the other in sweeps, but this year everything is as quiet as if no sweeps were about. It is to be hoped when we do get a working parliament in Mac-quarie-street they will grasp the gambling mania quickly and manfully, and place it on a basis of fairness and squareness for all, including themselves, for scores of them gamble. Sporting tipsters are getting more numerous every day, and it is evidently a paying game. If those in need of advice from these expensive ‘ luxuries ’ would only ask themselves the question, ‘ Why don’t they back their tips themselves and make a fortune ?’ it would be unnecessary to give them further advice. Experience is best bought, but in this case it is too dear.

Pharamond has been blistered, and is having a well earned rest. With care this somewhat peacocky chestnut will turn out a clinker, and shake one of the best handicaps in the colonies. Moss Rose, who won the mile Mentone Handicap in a canter, shows the mare is in form. Tridentate ran very disappointingly in the same race. Loyalty and Launceston are doing good training work at Melbourne, and the latter is of the improving sort, and can make St. George’s smart son stretch himself to his present best to keep with him. «

Trenchant, in company with that fraud Uabba, is pleasing everyone who sees Trenton’s rather small son gallop. The stables are very sanguine of winning the V.R.C. Blue Ribbon, and whatever beats him will most likely win. J. Allsopp’s stable has soon been replenished by three two-year-olds belonging to Mr H. C. White. Antaeus is going away, and will be replaced by a half-brother, and Paris’ place will also be taken up by a half-sister. Something startling is often happening at Lillie Bridge. The latest was Wootton, who won every event with his ponies. ‘ Verax ’ says, ‘ When Mat Harris does his best few jockeys can beat him.’ Doesn’t Mat always do his best ? You can’t make a purse out of a sow’s ear, and Mat cannot make a Cup horse out of a hack.

J 5 has gone so lame that he has been struck out of all his Victoria engagements, including the two. Cups. Many of the public fancied this horse’s chance for the Caulfield Cup, and he has been the ‘ hottest cinder’ to them up to the present. Dick O’Connor managed to get The Crown home in the Flying Handicap from Queen of the Forest and Ivy ; and Ina went one better than last week by winning the 13.3 Handicap.

Ike Earnshaw had Cromwell in the pink of condition, and won the 14. 1 Handicap, five furlongs, in imin 4£sec. A very good go. Black Jack won the 13.2, being well fancied, and Little Sister, ridden by Midget Kuhn (not the Whistling Coon) won the Kensington 14.2 Handicap, furlongs, in imin 41 sec. It was most amusing to see the • legs and wings’ finish of little Kuhn (who only weighed 4st 21b) in this last race, and the bookies could well afford to do most of the laughing, as it was the only turn up for them during the afternoon. The death of Mr Theodore Sampson cast quite a gloom over the sporting fraternity, as he was a man so well known, and being of a genial character he was well liked. He was only one of the many suffering from the bad times, but few thought his end was so near. ‘ Poor old Teddy !’ Jim Stan bury is back with us, and our muscular young champion was playing in a cricket match on Wednesday. First Trenton has been re-named Sunnyside before entering for a pony race. He will have to improve on his form among the horses to beat the little ’uns. Teddy Keys scratched E.K. for the Caulfield Cup. When this horse beat Marvel it was hoped he would blossom into a real good gee, but his form of late has been very poor. Some horses win races about the same date every year. E.K. won the Williamstown Cup last year, and has only one win to his name since.

Oxide was the great favourite among the general public all last week, and had he won a more popular result could not have been anticipated. The news of the Caulfield Cup protest being upheld arrived in Sydney about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and became the topic of the hour. It makes a vast difference to our bookies, as it was only a case of paying out a few hundreds, and in some places ‘ nix,’ whereas now. it means thousands in more than one inThe tote shops which did a very big business, made up their cards on Saturday after the telegram arrived from Caulfield ‘protest dismissed,’ and paid out on Tim Swiveller I, Sainfoin 2, Oxide 3. The fortunate backers of the winner (pro temJ on the totes received on some tickets £5, but in many nearly £3O for ss, and drew their money out on Saturday night, as did the Sainfoin and Oxide backers, except in a few cases. . The straight-out betting was, of course, in abeyance until Monday, owing to the tote business being so big it required all the time. Then followed the news of the appeal, and no more was paid over until the decision arrived yesterday. After his running here it is wonderful what a lot of followers Sainfoin had, and undoubtedly the clever division to whom he belongs have made a haul which should set them up for some time to come. His name was freely used about town on Saturday morning, and a commission or two were neatly worked. Oxide was the horse that carried the silver betting, for he is a great favourite with the public, but he, unfortunately being interfered with, once more went under to his bad luck.

There is sure to be a heap of controversy over the decision,. Splendide requires careful watching in the Melbourne Cup. With her weight she is reported ‘ very dangerous.’