MELBOURNE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 200, 24 May 1894, Page 3

MELBOURNE NOTES.

(from our own correspondent). Melbourne, May 7. The healthy condition of the turf in South Australia is strongly evident by the success which has attended the recent S.A.J.C. Autumn meeting. When this club framed a programme of reduced stakes the-local critics were loud in their condemnation of the act, and that fact, in addition to the abolition of the bookmaker from the course was sufficient to damp the spirits

of the executive. Fortunately, however, the attendance was exceptionally good on the various days of the meeting, and as the percentage on the totalisator receipts, which amounted to nearly provided the whole stake money, the Club will come out on the right side of the ledger with a substantial balance. So as to checkmate the authorities the fielders converted themselves into 11 walking totalisators ” and did a small business in laying machine odds. The racing on the whole was very good. In winning the Adelaide Cup Mr W. Blacker’s Port Admiral, by Richmond out of Footstep, showed excellent form. He made his own running from the jump and was never headed, his rider, C. Quinn, preferring to drive him along, especially in the straight, to testing his courage in a struggle with Lady Rose and Quality. Lady Rose ran a splendid mare, and had it not been for getting a bad start she would undoubtedly have made the finish a more exciting one. At the mile post she was at the tail, but she had improved her position so much at the distance that her victory was announced, but the son of, Richmond had a better run in him. This is Quality’s third defeat in the Adelaide Cup race, and it is quite evident from her running that her distance is limited to a mile and a couple of furlongs. Much: to Mr Cook’s chagrin the Sailor Prince cut a sorry figure in this race, and signs were not wanting that he has gone very stale. Mr Eli Jellett’s Royal Master ran a good fourth, and showed that his owner had not miscalculated his form when he said if 2min 53sec was not broken his colt would not be far out at the finish. The distance was covered in 2min 52isec. Broken Hill’s performance was much below his previous exhibitions ; while Hortensius failed to display the galloping powers Mr Crozier was confident he possessed. On the concluding day Port Admiral won the Fisher Stakes of a mile and a quarter, in 2min i3secs. The other places were filled by Royal Master and Broken Hill. Mr P. T. Haywood’s Foxtail annexed the S.A.J.C. Handicap, Quality running second, and Principle third. The three mile Steeplechase fell to Mr B. McDonald’s Sardine, his nearest attendants being Expectation and Speciliast. In the Selling Race Orpheus, who was the favourite, had the misfortune to fall at the last hurdle, when he looked to have the race well in hand. He broke his neck, but his rider, Brewer, escaped unhurt, although he received a good shaking. The event accordingly went to Gladness, with Inferno and Jack Spratt second and third respecttively. The Goodwood Handicap furnished a nice win for Mr Green’s black colt The Arab. In this event Selim ran very badly, and shortly afterwards went out and easily won the Baker Handicap. This reversal of form was so astonishing that the Club called on Brewer, the rider, for an explanation. However, there was no evidence to show that Selim did not run upon his merits, and the matter dropped. Mr Eli Jellett, at the sale of the Fulham Park yearlings in Adelaide last week purchased a two-year-old brother to Broken Hill for 510 gns. A Thunderbolt colt out of Repose was transferred to Mr J. Crozier for 150 gns. Amongst the recent deaths reported is that of the sire Hughenden, who came to Victoria in 1875. The best of his stock were Duration, Dizzy and Coningsby, who at one time was reported to be superior to Darebin. The pony clubs are at present at variance, with the result that the Ascot and Fitzroy proprietors are making a big attempt to squelch the Richmond Club. The pony owners, however, have resolved to stand by the latter organisation. An attempt is being made to form a trotting association amongst the Melbourne registered clubs. The Adelaide sports intend to arrange a complimentary meeting for Mr Wm. Filgate and Mr T. Jordon, two wellknown racing men whom fortune has not smiled upon in their aid age. At the recent Caulfield Meeting the Two-year-old Handicap was easily won by Mr S. Miller’s gelding Relgar, one of Malua’s get. Tommy Hales’ Historian, who is not a likely looking colt, finished second and Mr Punche’s Goldsmith third. The Mill Park stable also had another win in the Handicap Hurdle Race, in which Titanic beat Shandon home by two lengths, Brownie filling the other position. Orestes, one of Mr Uphill’s late purchases, carried off the Glenhuntly Handicap, The Friend and Woorage filling the minor positions. The Handicap Steeplechase introduced the public to a lovely fencer in Gillie Cruabh, who hails from Mount Gambier.

Barbour had the mount on Gillie, who caught the judge’s eye with a two lengths’ advantage over Broker and Tayforth, the second and third horses. In this event Mikado 11. was called upon to carry 13.10, but even with the assistance of Corrigan the old fellow could not make any headway with such a thumper. The gelding Lord Hastings carrying a hood and blinkers won the Welter Handicap without an effort, Eumarrah running second and Trio third.

A great deal of interest was manifested in the inter-colonial eight-oared race on Saturday. Crews representing Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland competed, but after a short distance had been traversed the race settled into a battle between the two first named teams, who are old rivals. Eventually the home team winning, N.S.W. second, but the Queenslanders were nowhere. Apparently a trivial accident has been the death of a young footballer named Alexander Stuart. He was playing at Cheltenham on Saturday, when he accidentally received a blow on the right temple from the elbow of another player. He did not attach much importance to the knock, simply complaining oL a headache. Shortly after the game was finished he collapsed and died early the next morning.