Sport in Australia,

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 814, 12 October 1905, Page 11

Sport in Australia,

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Sydney, October 4. The first of the progeny of San Francisco who was purchased for Australia at the breaking-up sale of the Sylvia Park Stud are coming to light, and are highly spoken of. From the Mungie Bundi Station news comes that that fine-look-ang mare Hautesse has produced a colt foal to the imported sire. This colt’s career will be watched with interest by the students of breeding from the fact that he has a double cross of the St. Simon blood, inasmuch as his maternal grandsire, Haut Brion, and San Francisco are both sons of the famous English sire. The Metal mare Cast Steel has given birth to a colt by San Francisco, and this youngster is pronounced to be one of the finest colts ever seen in the North-west. Another interesting item of stud news is that Mersey’s daughter, Carbine’s three-year-old sister, has produced a colt foal to Rice by St. Serf. The little stranger, therefore, possesses the approved combination of Musket and St. Simon blood. A short time back the V.R.C. announced its intention of exercising the reserved right to refuse any entry, and the V.A.T.C. intimated its intention of falling into line with the ruling body. It is now announced by the V.R.C. committee that the nomination of Grand Rapids for the October Stakes and Stand Handicap, Pius for the Stand Handicap and Tom Moore for the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, to be run at Flemington on October 7 had been rejected. All these horses are owned by Mr. Wren, owner of Murmur, last year’s Caulfield Cup winner, and he is at a loss to know the cause which has led the V.R.C. to take such extreme action. Mr. Wren, it may be remarked, has just been in communication with the V.R.C. expressing his wish to establish a new course if the club concurred, and further stating that the prize money’ would not be less than £lOOO on each day of racing, while he would further provide for a race worth £lO,OOO every year. The R.R.C.. however, do not view proprietary clubs with favour, and the consequence is that Victoria is not so badly run over with proprietary institutions as New South Wales. That clubs should be formed with the object of making a profit out of racing is, I think, inimical to the interests of the sport. The committee of the A.J.C. has decided that the 100-guinea cup presented by Mr. G. G. Stead shall be part of the prize for the Craven Plate, to be run at the spring meeting of 1906. Mr. Wren has announced his intention of selling all his horses. These include Grand Rapids, Murmur, and Pius, engaged in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Maniopoto has been suffering from a cold since he has been in Melbourne, but latest reports concerning him are reassuring. Overdale, who is engaged in the Caulfield Cup at 8.5, was made a hot favourite for the Tramway Handicap, one mile, at Moorefield on Saturday. He was carrying 9.0, and was just beaten by Vanadium 68.0), so that Cup prospects

cannot be very seriously regarded. Vanadium is by the ex-New Zealander Russley, who has got some useful horses since he has been at the stud. The leading event at Moorefield on Saturday—the Moorefield Handicap—was won by an outsider, Cockney Boy, by St. Swithin—Liguria, who carried 6.7 and won very easily from Waikato (6.7) and Lucknow (10.5). Cockney Boy is a fine strapping four-year-old, and should be heard of again. None of the horses engaged at Moorefield on Saturday, with the exception of Overdale, are entered for the important races in Melbourne. The Eight-hour Jubilee was celebrated on Monday, when high holiday was observed, and all sorts of sports held, including a race meeting at Canterbury Park, where a record attendance for the place was recorded. The racing, which was only interesting to local people, passed off fairly well, but in the Eighthour Handicap the stewards deemed it their duty to fine T. Clayton, the rider of Isos, for crossing in the race, and it was only because the stewards were disinclined to prevent him riding in the Caulfield Cup that he was not disqualified. The principal event of the day was the Demonstration Handicap, loOsovs, one mile three furlongs, and for this ovei' 40 horses had been entered. The big entry was no doubt caused by the fact that Adams had a sweep on the race, but it was drawn so late that the holders of successful tickets had no time to deal with owners except in a few instances, and the scratching pen was freely used, only seven horses going to the post, Heracles being made a warm favourite at 5 to 2, while Chaperone, St. Leonard and Sunderland were next in demand. Cecil, by Chesterman—Claudine, 6.12, was always handy, and taking the lead in the straight won by a length from Chaperone (7.7) and Sunderland (7.2). Cecil is engaged in the Caulfield Cup with 6.7, and the Melbourne Cup 6.12, but the gelding has nothing much to beat on Monday, and I do not think that there is much fear of his setting fire to the heather on Caulfield Heath or the turf at Flemington. News from Melbourne is to the effect that Dividend has been showing decided symptoms of lameness, and there is a strong probability of the horse being scratched for his important spring engagements. Another horse that has been causing his backers a little uneasiness is Distraction, who was an early fancy for the Caulfield Cup. A horse owners’, trainers’ and jockeys’ association has been formed in Brisbane. The crack jockey, J. Barden, rode three of the six winners at Canterbury Park on Saturday. The cricket season was opened on Saturday, and there were Some good performances with bat and ball. The matches for the premiership were continued on Monday, when Glebe beat Sydney Monday, when Glebe beat Paddington, Redfern beat Cumberland, Burwood beat Sydney, University beat Manly, Middle Harbour and North Shore beat Balmain. A second deposit of £5O was to have been made in the sculling match between A. Towns and G. Ford on Saturday night, but Towns’ money was not put in. This it is said was owing to the absence of a backer who had agreed to attend to the matter. Ford claimed a forfeit of the £3O already in hand, but it is hoped that a satisfactory arrangement will be come to, so that the match may take place as originally fixed on November 11. Such at least is the wish of rowing men at present. The Great Road Race from Warrnambool to Melbourne on Saturday created a lot of interest in Melbourne, and the news of the result was anxiously awaited in Sydney. The event this year was won by W. E. Hawley, of Victoria, who had a start of 25 minutes, and put up a record of 7hr. 32min. 26sec. Hawley went steadily over the first part of the journey where the roads were not good, but he put on steam in the latter part where the

roads were good, and these tactics proved successful. On the other hand, the scratch men put on steam on the first part and were pumped out afterwards. In the local betting market yesterday Emir was well backed for the Caulfield Cup at 100 to 5, while his stable-mate Demas was supported at 100 to 3. One wager of £lOOO to £5O was taken about Emir for the Melbourne Cup. The general entries for the V.R.C. Spring Meeting total 920, as against 852 last year. There is a falling off of 35 in the total for the V.A.T.C. meeting as compared with last year. Murmur and Mahutonga were scratched on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup. Lord Grafton, a valuable thoroughbred, bioke his leg at Randwick on Tuesday and was shot.