SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3303, 20 September 1873, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE SYDNEY METROPOLITAN. As the time approached for the decision of the great handicap of the meeting, the excitement increased, and each of the favorites held large levies, the two that headed the poll being the top weights, Dagworth and The Ace, who, despite the state of the ground, still retained the confidence of their friends, Mr De Mestre being for a few days previously under the impression that Dagworth was the fitter of his two, and therefore the most reliable to depend upon, though Hamlet’s brother had gone so well in his early morning spurt as to cause him partially to alter this opinion, and as the eventful hour approached, he told us that if anything was to beat The Ace it would in all probability be the son of Maribyrnong. No fault could be found with the condition q! either of the two great guns, albeit t^ er o were not a few who viewed Tfce Ace’s chance with doubt, owing to the severe amount of work that he had gone through during the previous ten days ; and there can be no doubt that the wonderfully fast gallop that he had Been treated to a few mornings before must have taken some of the steel out of him. Horatio was not quite sq fit a,s he could have been raac|e, the eight or ten days that he had had in the stable having had its effect; yet, though a trifle above himself, he displayed plenty of muscle, and looked as fresh as a daisy as his owner prepared him for the fray. The fact of Mark Thompson not wearing spurs caused some of his friends to take alarm, and odds of 6 and 7 to 1 were to be had without difficulty, and Priam, who never stripped so fit as he did to-day, was backed at similar figures. The Ace, of course, attracted the lion’s share of gapeseed, and as Tothill stripped him he appeared to be as lively as a kitten, and full of muscle. Never did we look forward io the result of a race with more confidence than we did when the brilliant South Australian was mounted by Brown ; but, as the sequel ? roved, we were doomed to disappointment, lamlet we cared not to linger over, as it was quite evident he was top much on the big side to hope for success, the praoh only startpig, wp presume, to serve his stable companion j and 100 to 5 went begging. The same remarks will apply to Little Dick, who ran in bandages, and had not undergone the strong preparation so essential to success in a fast run two-miles race. Mr Tait’s pair were in capital form, The Arrow, apparently, having a slight advantage in the matter of condition, but neither took the fancy of the public, nor did Kxile create a favorable impression ; but King Tom bad a large number of admirers. Of the extreme outside division nothing had been backed with so much freedom as the little mare Myrtle, whose morning gallops bad always been got through in a satisfactory manuer ; but her running in the Epsom on the Saturday stalled off many of her friends. The pen having been put through the names of Benvolio and Kingfisher at half-past two p.m., the field was reduced to fourteen runners, and just before the appointed time for starting they all left the paddock to indulge in a preliminary. The Ace, as is his custom, went very short, and Brown very judiciously warmed him up previous to going to the post. Myrtle got through the heavy ground as well as anything, but it did not appear to suit King Tom and M‘Galium Mohr, two of the longstriding division, though The Arrow sailed along in fine style.' The excitement increased to fever heat when Mr Gannon marshalled his forces at the post, and after two or three false attempts, he gave the word to a capital start, the Marchioness filly being the last to get away, and the Chances of Mr De Mestre’s pair being interfered with by a cannon' which knocked them both to the rear. Horatio, however, was soon among the front division, consisting of Priam, Hamlet, Myrtle, The Arrow, and ’M'Callum Mohr. Not so Dugworth, as Donnelly was hard upon him in the 1 first quarter of a mile. Priam was made a

deal of during the first part of the journey, and retired after going a little over a mile and a quarter, at which point Myrtle raised the hopes of the bookmakers, and entering the straight with a clear lead, she still further gave rise to anxious expectancy, but Horatio, who had been going well within himself throughout, came on the outside, and a crack from the whip sent him three or four lengths in advance. At the distance Thompson slightly eased him, and. patting him on the neck, took him past the post an easy winner by four lengths ; this being the third Metropolitan victory gained by the black jacket of Torrara, It was a popular triumph for the public, for though the horse had been thrown back in his work, and was not quite up to concert pitch, his good looks, fine breeding, and style of going created favorable opinions among backers of horses. Mr De Mestre was warmly congratulated upon all sides at his success, and received the good wishes of his friends in his usual quiet manner. THE GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES. A handicap sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, with 300 sovs. added. For all horses. Second horse 40 sovs., third horso 20 sovs, from the prize. Two miles. Mr K. do Mestre’s b hj Horatio, by Maribyrnong —Rose of Denmark, 4yrs, 7st 31b 1 Mr J. D. Little’s b m Myrtle, syrs. 6st 61b 2 Mr J. Tait’s bhj The Arrow, 4 yrs, 7st 91b 3 The following also started :—Hamlet, Dagworth, The Ace, Priam, Little Dick, Exile, M ‘Galium Mohr, King Tom, King, Gamos, and Marchioness.

When the flag was lowered all got away weir except Marchioness and King Tom, who were left in the rear. M‘Galium Mohr made the running for a short distance with The Ace, but passing up the hill King Tom was second, and at the bend of the course went to the front, with Priam next, and The Arrow third. The Ace at this time, having fallen back, was running last. In the straight Gamos was seen to the fore, with Myrtle and Priam in close company, and The Ace again coming. At Cutts’s stand, Myrtle was leading by two lengths, with Priam and King Tom next, but at the hillside the mare once more gave way to Gamos, who continued to lead for sbrne distance. At this time Horatio was third, King Tom fourth, and Priam a good fifth ; the rest in a cluster, with the exception of Marchioness, who was all behind. Gamos and Myrtle still held the pride of place upon coming round the bend, but it was at this point that Horatio, who was running third, and lying well alongside, came up with a rush, passed the leading horses, and won by four lengths, with Myrtle second, Arrow third, M'Callum Mohr, Dagworth, Gamos, Priam, the Ace, King Tom, Little Dick, and Hamlet, finishing in the order named, the rest pulling off. Time, 3m. 42£s. CANTERBURY METROPOLITAN RACES. The following are the weights for the C. J.C. Handicap, as by Mr Hustler ; C. J. C, Handicap of 150 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 10 sovs. each, hj ft for acceptors. Entrance, 5 sovs., to go the fund. Acceptance, ■with sovs., on the day of general entry, and 5 sovs. at post. Distance, two miles. Mr E. Ray’s b g Tambourini, 9st 81bs. Mr Redwood’s Malvino, Bst 61bs. Mr Mallock’s ch m Gossip, Bst 41bn. Oapt Hutchison’s ch m Mabel, 7st 121bg, Mr Mallock’s b m Fancy, 7sb 71bs. Mr R. Morten’s br c Barbarian, 7st 41bs. Mr R. Ray’s b g Banjo, late Mystery, 7st 21bs. Mr J. H. Dunn’s gr m Alice Grey, 7st. Capt. Hutchison’s ch g Malabar, 6st lOlbs. Mr Nosworthy’s b c, by Traducer, dam Emmeline, 6st 5 lbs. Mr Nosworthy’s b c, by Traducer, dam Deception, 6st 51bs. Mr Redwood’s Kakapo, 6st 51bs. Mr Redwood’s Taringa, 6st, Mr Brabazon’s b g Muscatel, by Golden Grape, dam Betty Martin, 6st.