MELBOURNE NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 June 1894, Page 10

MELBOURNE NOTES

(from our correspondent). Melbourne, June 20. The appearance of the Grand National awards has infused some life into sporting ’’ matters, and as usual all one s friends are making attempts to pick the double. Considering the number of outside horses engaged in the two events, Mr Dakin s adjustments seem to have given general satisfaction. Although the field in the National Hurdles is an exceptionally good one, the public fancy seems to lean to Tim Swiveller, who no doubt is a great horse, but I question whether, with a ' stone and a half more to carry, he can repeat his previous year’s victory. In bracketing the Mabrilander Kulnine with - Tim Swiveller at 12.7 Mr Dakin seems to have been much afraid of the new aspirant for National honours proving too hot a pickle for local jumpers. Likewise Norton must be an unusually good one to deserve 12.4. Of the top weight division I am, however, inclined to fancy Captain Webb with 12.2, and of the others ! consider The Lawyer, an Adelaide horSe, with 11.0, Mirabilis at 10.0, and Apslev at 9.9, as the best. I see that both itulnine and Norton will not be starters. , Looking down the Grand National Steeplechase list one cannot get away from the fact that Trojan at 12.7 has an excellent chance.of scoring another win, seeing that he is only asked to carry 121 b more than he did when he scored his previous victory. Since he was last seen in public Trojan has considerably improved, and his party has, I believe, already taken a bit of money about him. The Maorilanders, Waterbury and Mutiny, are not expected to have a show, their recent failures at Randwick putting the critics against them. The South Australians intend to send over a clinker in The Actress, who has 12.6 However, to make a selection, I fancy that the winner should turn up in Trojan, The Actress, Tayforth or Corangamite, a Western District candidate., Here’s the most fashionable double—Tim Swiveller and Trojan. The champion suspension screen will be tried at the V.R.C. Grand National Meeting.'- I believe'that the screen will be used for starting the Two-year-old Handicap* ‘ K Owing to the'large profits derived from the .totalisator receipts, the Adelaide Racing Club has raised the Grand National Steeplechase from joo to 400 sovs, and Grand National Hurdle Race to 35OSOVS. Long odds 1 Oxenham, the wellknown Sydney fiblder, is laying from 50 to 500 to 1 straight out for Caulfield Cup 1 and the Melbourne Cup from 25 to 1. He evidently means business. Mr Cox, the owner of the Moonee Valley course, has been successful in his £20,000 action against the Essendon Town Council for injury done to the course by defective drainage and escape of storm water. Judgment to assess the damages was reserved, but an injunction was granted restraining the council from continuing the damage. Mr Joseph Solomon, a well - known bookmaker, died on Sunday. He was a brother to “ Mish ” Solomon, the man who is always standing at the door of his tobacco shop in Swanston-street smoking Manillas. The Hova stable wish “ it to be notified ” that they have not yet backed that horse for the Caulfield Cup. - ~Umph ! While trotting at Rand wick on Friday morning last Pulvil broke his shoulder bone. Tom Payten loses a good colt. At Kensington Park (Sydney) races F. Parkes (trainer), J. Smith (jockey), and mare Bronzewing were disqualified for six months for suspicious practices in a pony handicap. The sprinting match between J. J. McGarrigal, the N.S.W. champion; and P. J. Breen, of Victoria, for did not come off on Monday. The distances were 75yds, 1 ooyds, and 120yds. Early in the afternoon McGarrigal was arrested on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences. Directly he was released on bail he proceeded to the running ground and challenged Breen to run, but as it was past the stipulated time the latter declined. The match was therefore awarded to McGarrigal. At the Cumberland Hall oh Saturday night Jim Quigley, of Sydney, beat W. Bell, the Wimmera champion, in two rounds for a purse of The South Australian bookmakers are endeavouring to influence Parliament to pass a measure granting licenses to bet by racing clubs who now use the totalisator.

Amongst the recent sales recorded are Penance, by Grand Flaneur-—Penitent, to Mr H. Ricketson, for sogns ; Spokesman, to Mr G. Dell, for sogns; and Dexter, a Robert the Devil gelding, who recently won the high jump, clearing 6ft 2in at the Hay Show, for signs. Mr S. Griffiths, the Caulfield trainer, a painstaking worker who deserves success, has been experiencing a run of luck lately. At the Moonee Valley and Mentone Meetings his horses Mirabilis, Eumarrah and Sweep pulled off the double on each occasion, the latter steeplechaser being Credited with two wins. Mr Crooke’s homestead at Aspendale Park has been destroyed by fire. Mr Robertson, the owner of the champion trotter Osterley, has intimated his intention of sending him to England. At the last Moonee Valley races'Osterley, 550yds behind, got third to Beauty (scratch) in the Distance Handicap Trot of two miles. The distance was covered in smin 46|sec. Long distance cycling seems to be all the rage in Adelaide. The other day F. S. Toms, who some time ago endeavoured to lower the record between Adelaide and Melbourne, tried to break the 100 mile road record of Australia. He failed in his attempt, his time, 6hrs gmins, being five minutes behind the record at present held by a. Victorian rider. .In a 50-mile open road race A. E. Davies got home first in jhrs from a 24mm start.