Sport in Australia.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 820, 23 November 1905, Page 11

Sport in Australia.

(By

“Atlas.”)

Sydney, November 13. The thii’d, or Oaks Day of the V .R.C. Spring Meeting proved one of the most enjoyable days of the gathering, the weather being fine and cool, while those present could move about the enclosure with more comfort and pleasure than can be experienced on the big day of the meeting, when the Melbourne Cup is decided. Seven sported silk in the November Hurdles, for which Neglect went out favourite at 5 to 4. The next best backed was Matong at 5 to 1, while 6 to 1 was accepted about Adjuster and Destroyer. The field was soon reduced to five, as Milroy fell at the second hurdle, bringing Matong with him. Illawarra, Destroyer and Adjuster were together for the greater part of the journey, and Adjuster, 9st 121 b, won an interesting race from Illawarra 9st 71b second and Destroyer lOst 31b third. The favourite Neglect was the last to finish.

Out of the thirty-eight coloured on the ■card for the Nursery Handicap only nine were left in. Disaster, by the New Zea-land-bred Havoc, was favourite at 2 to 1, and then came The Castaway at 5 to 2, and True Scot 4 to 1. The Wallace colt, True Scot, although carrying top weight, Bst 51b, was in front nearly the whole way, and won by two and a-ha If lengths from The Castaway 7st 121 b, Scramble 7st 21b being third. True Scot’s .form at the meeting, although not so good as that of Ebullition and Oriellet. is sufficiently attractive to cause him to be worth watching as a three-year-old. The Flying Stakes, of seven furlongs, brought out a field of seven runners, and it proved one of the most exciting contests of the meeting. Oriellet, on the strength of her Maribyrnong Plate form, was a strong favourite at 6 to 4, while 5 to 1 was on offer against Gladsome, Maniapoto and Charles Stuart. The favourite led into the straight with Gladsome, and Charles Stuart next. Coming along in fine style the ex-New Zealander, Gladsome, challenged Oriellet at the half distance, where Scotland also made his effort, and a most exciting finish ended in a victory for Gladsome by a head from Scotland, with Oriellet only a head further away third. Gladsome carried Bst 111 b, Scotland Bst, and Oriellet 6st 121 b. The time was lmin 28isec, and Gladsome’s display shows that her training for the long cut distance has not seriously affected her sprinting ability. Maniapoto was the last to finish, and he seems to have had a little bit too much racing. The Carnival Stakes, a sweep of 19 sovs with 500 sovs added, one mile and a-quarter, only attracted seven. Notwithstanding his previous disappointment Boabdil Bst 51b was made favourite at 5 to 4, while 4 to 1 was taken about F.J.A., 6 to 1 Grama, 7 to 1 Paraloch. 8 to 1 Billingsgate and Jargoon. The race went to illustrate the extreme bad luck of T. Payten’s stable. Jargoon, trained by Payten, looked like a winner at the distance, but he swerved right across the course and carried Grama and F.J.A. He was straightened up and finished half-a-length in front of Grama with F.J.A. third. A protest resulted in Jargoon being deprived of the race, which was given to Grama. The interference was so palpable that the stewards could not act otherwise than they did. but the sporting public sympathised with Payten on his bad luck, for it will be remembered that his horse Scot Free fell in the Caulfield Cup when in a good position, and ran second in the Melbourne Cup, while Elvo, another in mate of the stable just failed in the Veteran Stakes.

There were only three starters in the Oaks, which was the softest of snaps for Lady Wallace, who went out at 5 to 1 on, The Infanta running second, and Bonnie Lassie, who evidently only went out for the place-money, getting third. The Veteran Stakes, won by Proceedor Bst 71b, with Elvo Bst 121 b second, and Harmony Bst 11b third closed the day’s sport. Elvo went out favourite, and was only beaten by half a head. Lady Wallace has now put up a record as the first filly to win the Caulfield Guineas, V.R.C. Derby and Oaks, and had Noctuiform and Sungod been out of the way she would have added the A.J.C. Derby to her laurel wreath. Other fillies that have distinguished themselves in Victorian classic events, but not to the extent of Lady Wallace are Seagull, My Dream, Florence and Briseis, who all sue ceeded in the V.R.C. Derby and Oaks. Prior to Lady Wallace’s victory in the V.R.C. Derby a period of twenty-nine years had elapsed since a filly was returned as winner.

The V.R.C. Spring Meeting was brought to a successful close on Saturday, when

there was a large attendance, despite the hot, muggy weather, and it is pretty certain the meeting will be a substantial

financial success.. In the field of seven that started for the Spring Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, Scotland Bst 51b went out an even money favourite, and he ran up to the expectations of his backers, winning easily at the finish from Elysium 7st 51b and Roy croft 7st 101 b. Scotland is by Wallace, whose stock have been very successful at the meeting. The Flemington Stakes, live furlongs, for two-year-olds, brought out a field of six, Yillah being favourite, but the outsider, Haut Gout 7st went to the front early and was not headed afterwards, Melodrama 7st 121 b being second, and Benbow 7st 51b third. True Scot was a starter in the race, but the weight, 9st 51b, stopped him, although he ran wen up. The well-endowed V.R.C. Handicap, one mile and three-quarters, attracted a field of nine, including Blue Spec and several other horses that had been seen out in the Cup. Notwithstanding that he was loaded with 9st 21b Blue Spec, who had the advantage of the services of N. Godby, was made favourite at 7 to 4. Bullock, who rode Blue Spec in the Cup, had the mount of Boabdil, who, notwitnstanding his failures at the meeting, was second favourite at 4 to 1, but neither first nor second favourite got a place. An exciting finish was fought out between Aurate Gst 101 b and Proceedor Bst 121 b, the first-named winning by a neck, with Panama 7st 41b third. The New Zealandbred Canteen has evidently seen his best day, as he ran last. The old grey has been a dear horse to his owner, Sir Rupert Clarke. 'len started for the Cup Steeplechase, Sweeper being favourite at 5 to 2, while The General was quoted at 7 to 2. The New Zealander Dingo was among the starters, but he was not mentioned in the betting, and he ran better than anything else in the race except the winner, Rear Guard, who had the easy weight of 9st 51b and beat Dingo for place at the finish, Abdallah list lib being four lengths behind Dingo third. The C. B. Fisher Plate, weight-for-age, one mile and a-half, attracted only three, Tartan, Gladsome and Torah, and they finished in that order. The betting on this event correctly foreshadowed the result, as Tartan was at 6 to 4 on, Gladsome 2 to 1 against, and Torah 6 to 1. Tartan- won by two lengths, while Torah was three lengths behind the New Zealand-bred mare. Contra 7st had a tolerably easy win in the Aidful Stakes for two-year-olds that have never won 40 sovs. Friend 7st 111 b was second, and Barrenjoey Bst 41b third All three placed horses are by Grafton. The meeting was brought to a close by the appropriately-named Final Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. Ten sported silk. Wallace’s son F.J.A. being elected favourite at 7 to 4, and he ran up to expectationsl, beating Harmony and Overdale, who filled the places. The sportingbaronet has been quite out of luck of late, but F.J.A.’s victory may be the turn of the tide. There was only a small attendance at the Warwick Farm races on Saturday. Only three started for the principal event, the Warwick Handicap. St. Modan Bst was quoted at 5 to 4, The Mite 6st 111 b 7 to 3, and Ithona 6st 71b 5 to 2. The result proved that the betting was upside down, as Ithona won, with The Mite second, and the uncertain St. Modan last. Six sweeps filled up in the Melbourne Cup. The first prize in the 10s sweep, £11,400, was won by Chas. Stilwell, a resident of Annandale, Sydney. Tn the fourth 5s sweep Jas. Davidson, of Timaru, won £lOOO for Tartan’s position. This was the only big money prize to go to New Zealand. The New Zealand mare Levant started in the Jumpers’ Flat Race, at Warwick Farm on Saturday, but had to be content with second place to Benevenuto. The long-talked-of sculling race for £2OO a-side between Artie Towns, brother of the ex-champion, and George Ford, a protege of the Champion Stanbury, was rowed on the Hunter River on Saturday. The match has created a lot of interest,

and both men were very lit on the day of the race, Towns starting favourite. All the conditions were favourable to the contect. Ford started well, and was half-

a-length in front at the end of 200 yards, but at three-quarters of a mile Towns took the lead, and this he increased, the race being virtually over at half-way. Ford stuck gamely to his task, but he was clearly out-classed, and Towns won by seven lengths, which he evidently could have increased had he felt so disposed. Artie Towns is evidently a great sculler, and it may be that he will have a smack at Stanbury.

A well-contested boxing match was witnessed at the Gaiety on Saturday night, when Ted Green, of Balmain, and Jack Ladbury, of London, met. The men were pretty equal in weight, Ladbury turning the scale at Bst while Green was Bst. For seven rounds the contest was pretty equal, but in the eighth round Ladbury found the floor three times, and

then Green got in a heavy punch on the stomach and then on the jaw, which caused the Londoner to quit. Green, therefore, continues to hold the bantam championship. The November’ Cycling Carnival was continued at the Cricket Ground on Saturday night. The final heat of the Orient Plate, a one mile scratch race, was won by 0. H. Brook (N.S.W.) 1, F. Macfarland (U.S.A.) 2, D. J. Walker (Vic.) 3, and E. A. Pye (Vic.) 4. The Lawson Five Mile Scratch Race was won by the American M’Farland, who beat R. Arnst (N.Z.), A. J. Clark (Victoria) gettingthird.

The Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting was started on Saturday in the Cricket Ground. Representatives of all the States and New Zealand took part, and the sport was most interesting. The final of the 120Yds Handicap resulted in a dead heat between four, Waddtll (N.S.W.), Westwood (N.S.W.), Roe (N.S.W.), and Campbell (Queensland). In the run off Waddell and Westwood again dead-heated, while Roe was third. Time, 12 l-ssec. The final of the IOOYds Championship was won by two yards by the University crack Nigel Barker, Gastley (Tasmania) second, and French (N.S.W.) third. Time, 10 2-ssec. In the One Mile Walk L.. F. Pomeroy won by 30yds. B. E. Harrop finished second, but was disqualified. H. Sanneman (Vic.) was placed second, and F. Ross (N.Z.) third. In the Running High Jump Frawley, of Queensland, and St. Vincent Welsh, of New South Wales, tied at sft 6£in. Frawley severed an artery in the left arm, and the contest was postponed until the final day of the meeting. The One Mile Race resulted in a most exciting contest between G. A. Wheatley (Vic.) and H. G. (Burk (N.Z.). Burk led for most of the way, but was tackled in the* last 100yds by Wheatley, and a great struggle home resulted in favour of the Victorian by a few inches. The time, 4min 23sec, is a record for New South Wales. The previous best, 4min 25sec, was credited to J. F. Dalrymple. Putting' the weight was won by W. O’Reilly (N.S.W.) 40ft loin, W. G. Rouse (Vic.) 39ft Biin second, and P. J. S. Carew (N.S.W.) 38ft 11? in third. The 440Yds Championship resulted in a marvellous exhibition by Nigel Barker. Wheatley led for more than three parts of the journey, when Barker put in a wonderful spurt and beat Wheatley by 18yds, B. R. French (N.S.W.) being third. The time, 48|-sec. is a new Australasian record.

Stanley N. Doust, of New South Wales, on Saturday won the Lawn r ennis Championship of Western Australia. In the inter-state cricket match between New South Wales .and Queensland, on Saturday, the representatives of the former gave their opponents a leather hunting, losing only five wickets tor 465 runs. J. R. Mackay made another of his big scores 203), while C. Gregory contributed 102. Tn the match South Australia v. Victoria, commenced on Saturday, the South Australians lost nine wickets for 244. The top score, 87, was made by Pellew. Three members of the Australian Eleven, Hill, Darling and Newland, played for South Australia, while Armstrong appeared on the Victorian side. J. R. Mackay has put up a wonderful record this season. For three completed innings he has scored 743 runs. This works out an average of 246.66 runs per innings. If he continues on this way he will knock the world’s record end ways. The New Zealand pony Vulpine beat a o-ood field in the 14.3 Handicap at Rosebery Park last week. The spell she was recently treated to has evidently done her Sydney, Nov. 16. Monday was observed as a high holiday in honour of the noble and illustrious Albert Edward. It was not exactly his birthday, but it was a glorious excuse for more sport, and so business was again suspended, while race meetings, cycle carnivals, picnics, etc., etc., were held all over the Commonwealth. Bad times, or good times, seem to be the same in Australia, where the people always have money to spend in sport every day in the week. It has always been the privilege of the Rosehill Racing Club to entertain the lovers of racing on King’s Birthday (formerly Prince of Wales Birthday), and the gathering this year was eminently successful, although a number of Sydney sportsmen had not had time to return from the V.R.C. Carnival. The feature of the racing was the form displayed by Forest Light, a five-year-old gelding by Churchill. He started by winning the Birthday Handicap with Bst 21b from the favourite Combine 7st 51b, and after an interval he won the Royal Stakes with 9st 121 b, being followed home by Benevenuto Bst 131 b and Cryde 7st lOlb. The principal event of the afternoon, the King’s Birthday Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, was won by the favourite Sagamore 6st 121 b, he romping home seven lengths in front of Red Flag Bst 61b and Ithona Bst 21b.