Sport in Australia.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 773, 29 December 1904, Page 9

Sport in Australia.

(By

"Atlas.”)

Sydney, December 21. Sporting matters, so far as the turf is concerned, have been very dull, and although we are on the eve of such important events as the Y’illier’s Handicap, Summers .Cup, Carrington Stakes, and Tattersail’s Cup, all of which will be decided during the Christmas and the New Year’s holidays, very little public interest has been evinced in them so far as operations in the betting market are concerned. The city, however, is filling with holiday-makers, and there is no doubt that horse racing will, as usual, play the leading part in our festivities. The only meeting in the metropolis on Saturday was on the proprietary course at Moorefield, but its success w r as in a measure interfered with by rain, but that fact was not regretted, inasmuch as the much-needed rain in this thirsty land was n ore desirable than racing, which we have ahvays with us. It was a day for the moderates, as nearly all of our first-class horses were held in reserve for the forthcoming meetings at Rand wick. The principal event of the dav, the Moorefield Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, was won by Lord Boyne, by Nobleman out of Patty, but he had only a light weight to carry, and was not opposed by anything of note. Still, the w’ay iiv which he won showed that he is probably capable of doing something better. The ancient Russley gelding, Lucknow, came into notice once more. He has been a good performer in his time; 1 but it is so long since he won a race that people began to think that he was one of the has-beens, but the decisive way in which he beat his field on Saturday in the Flying Handicap, carrying the respectable weight of Bst 31b, suggests the idea that he has entered into a new lease of life, and will win more races yet. Thirteen youngsters sported silk in the Tw r o-Year-01d Handicap. Yamagata was made favourite, 'but could get no nearer than fourth. The race was won by the second favourite, Aloft, vho is rather a smart fillv, but she had a close call from Relish, who was only beaten bv a neck. As Relish carried 9.5, and Aloft only 7.9, the honours belong to the first-named filly. (For continuation of letter see page 13)