Australian Turf News.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 312, 16 July 1896, Page 7

Australian Turf News.

[Own Correspondent.;]

The surprise tap was turned on in connection with the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, and, •metaphorically speaking, the public got a healthy wetting. Never in the history of the race has •the unexpected happened in such a marked fashion —not even Ellerslie’s year excepted. People will remember, or perhaps they have for•gotten, that Ellerslie was a “had been” whose chance wasn’t seriously discussed. He underwent 'a strong private preparation, turned up smiling _for..thtf'fray, and just got home by a neck from Maorilander, Donald, who had hard luck in getting two seconds at that meeting. Last Saturday’s winner, Buzzi, is by The Plunger out of Burrati, and carried the lowest weight ever borne ■- to victory. On June 13 he ran second in a good •field to Black Flag in a two mile hurdle race at Flemington, but the little incident was forgotten, and even if it hadn’t been Buzzi didn t look a G.N. horse. . Bight up to starting time Dungan held the position of favourite, going out at 3 to 1, Morago and Artist being next fancied. The Miller stable reckoned on almost a certainty with The Artist, but when he fell it was all over. Laverty, on Buzzi, rode a cunning race. He led going out of the straight and over the first hurdle, but at . the bridge he fell back fifth. The uncertain Bischoff and Collingwood paced the field alternately at a particular smart pace, Leap Year taking a hand later, Collingwood pulling up. It was soon seen that the top weights had allowed the light division to get too faraway, and though they jumped faultlessly they had a big task set, especially when Buzzi and Zouroff went to the front and made matters hotter Ths pair bid good-bye to the field in the straight, and there wasn’t a sound from the public when Buzzi won by two and a half lengths. Morago, a fine horse, was a good third, and last year’s winner, Emmalea, fourth. The favourite pulled up eighth. The books haven’t had such a look-in for many a day. They banked thousands, Buzzi, whose , nominal price was 33 to 1, not being dreamt of. He wtesn’t backed either straight-out or in . doubles. It would be interesting to know what a totalisator would have paid on the winner had it been working. Buzzi is trained by Mark WhiHy. It was Laverty’s eleventh winning ride this season. , Zouroff, who ran second, hails from Frew s stable, whieh had three representatives. Zouroff was reckoned the worst, and was scratched for the Grand National Steeplechase. He would have been eliminated from the Hurdles also only for the interference of the trio who drew him in S Tatt’s sweep; j Buzzi was No. 13 on the card, there were 13 starters, and he was the 13th bay to win. He only won a couple of small races up country last season, and none this until he won the National. Ponder on that, ye followers of form ! The stable, not fancying his chance, didn’t back him worth mentioning, and Whitty’s face when he came home was a study in course photographs. The trainer, by the way, has a Caulfield Cup neddy named jubilant. This word sums up his feelings at present. The Hurdle victor was named after Signor Buzzi, an Italian singer. He is a well bred ’un, having Mirror (by Sir Hercules) in his pedigree. Mirror is the maternal ancestor of Nelson and others. The Maiden Hurdles looked soft goods for Veronica at the finish, but the Brandon horse, Hirundo, pipped her on the post by half a head. ... . ■. Culzean, who ran third, surprised his party, becruse he hadn’t been well. All Right, the Sydney horse, was favourite, and shaped well enough to get’fifth. Whernside (Glorious—Mildura) put up a fast run in the Maiden Steeple of two miles, the

time being 4min 23Jsec, which ranks next to that of Renmark, also owned by the Messrs. Miller. Whernside is named after Mr A. Miller’s Toorak house. He is a very plain-looking nag, but none of the Glorious stock are handsome. The only horse to challenge him was Tapage, who, however, wasn’t so well conditioned, and had to stand down. Tapage is a half brother to Tartuffe, and is the makings of a good ’un. Mailboat, by Postmaster, who was expected to make a big showing, came to grief through getting mixed up with some, other horse that had fallen in front of him. The Sunbeam horse, Beverley, and The Parisienne were equally fancied for the Winter Handicap, but the latter threw her hand in at the finish, and the Caulfield Cup mare smothered her ffeld. Disparity, who has been carrying great weights lately, carried 9.8, out of place. At Rosehill on Saturday, The Captain, The Parisienne’s half brother, was favourite for the Independence Handicap, but there was money flying for Newcastle (Splendour —Camelia), and be comfortably landed the stake from Loch (by Loehiel), Clive third. There was a good field, Royal Rose being top weight with 8.4. On The Captain’s running since the Birthday Cup, I reckon he has Mortimer’s chance in the Caulfield event. Locliiel’s scored three wins and two seconds at the meeting. Survivor, not yet three years old, accounted for the double, the Granville Stakes and Welter, carrying a penalty in the latter, and there was a lot of cattle behind him. Then Loch Fad, who had won a double a week or so previously, annexed the Declaration Handicap from Lieutenant, who was a point shorter in the odds than the winner. Maorilanders will remember Tooohill’s speedy Cinderella, by Javelin. She threw a good ’un in Cinder Ellen, by Trenton. This galloway, now the champion of her inches in the Colonies, carried 10.3 to victory over a mile, at Kensington the other day, in lmin 46|sec, giving weight away and beating the Caulfield Cup aspirant, Iduna. She has now raced herself into welter weights, and may be tried on Melbourne side. Coil is doing splendidly, and looks strong and lusty. Across the border, Newhaven is also said to be doing first-class. There will be something to see when this pair meets in the Spring. My private opinion at present, however, is that by the time they have done with The Officer they will be about snuffed out. Wallace has improved wonderfully since his Sydney Cup win, having filled out and grown big. Family traditions are against him winning the Melbourne Cup with lOst, but, if he starts, he’ll likely be the popular favourite. Thunder Queen has been backed for the Caulfield Cup on Adelaide side. The general impression is that Thunderbolt’s stock can’t stay, but the Queen’s owner thinks she is an exception. She is certainly a sterling filly, and may be able to live with Town-hall company over a mile and a half at any rate A man was charged with laving doubles at the Sydney Water Police Court the other day. He got Lawyer Crick, M.P., to defend him. The case was plain as a pikestaff. The defendant had publicly laid The Captain and Coo-ee. But Crick, whose horses race with The Captain and Coo-ee every other Saturday, rose and asked the Court what evidence it had before it that The Captain and Coo-ee were racehorses. The Court limply admitted it had none, and dismissed the ease. Wonderful, isn’t it. . Bookies did an unexpected stretch of business the other day when Reka was backed for the big spring events 1 He was supported in the Sydney Ring but the commission sent to Melboune was a stagerer. All the money at 100 to 4 was taken about him for the Caulfield Cup, and all available at 100 to 5. Then he was backed for £25,000 for the two Cups. This was followed up by another £25,000 for the Derby and Cup. Owner McSweeney backed Te W hiti and Rewi heavily for the double last year, but reckons he has something better this time. Reka, who has only started once, is full brother to Portsea, and Kelso thinks he will be able to gallop when he gets his spring polish on. On the day of Reka’s backing, Marusa was booked at 1,000 to 45 for the Caulfield Cup, and Hortensius and O’Trigger at 1.000 to 40. For the Melbourne Cup 2,000 to 100 was. accepted about Toreador, and 1,000 to 50 Miraculum. The Adelaide people are betting this year with a vengeance. Hurdler Emmalea goes Home in a few weeks, and ought to prove a profitable spec if she gets anything like a chance. Her part owner (T. Armfield) follows subsequently. Emmalea goes into Nightingall’s stable, where Daimio is located. The decision to send her at once was arrived at upon advice 'received from Metallician Hibbert, who races at ’Ome, and is the owner of the ’chaser Rory O’Moore. Zouroff was passed in at £2OO after he ran second in the Grand National Hurdle. Before the race Old Soul’s son could probably have been procured at half the price. Reka is now the actual favourite for the Caulfield Cup at 100 to 6.