SPORTING NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 3634, 15 October 1874, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

{By our Sporting Contributor.) Melbourne papers to hand by the Otago are full of talk about the approaching Victorian race meeting. Writing of the horses en gaged in the Melbourne Cup “Augur” says “ Lurline pleases me immensely going in fine form, and sneaking along with such beautiful action that one can not kelp admiring her. Mr Filgate’s team did cood work on the 26th ult., and The Diver rand Presto had a nice striding gallop twice round the outer track, Mr De Mestre had Da* wortji and his five two-year-olds on the course, &ut they did nothing beyond walking exercise. The olfj. horse was as fresh as a fatten. The Diver, with She sweaters on? Bt T ldln K gallop twice round the 3T per Poet attendant. The Cup horse went in fine form, and pulled up without evincing the slightest signs of distress, a sure proof that hiamnes are pretty clear. Then Newboldhad a center of a couple -of miles round the hurdles, inovmg nicely, and pleasing well does he look. The Ace was going quite in his old form, and Cleolite had good work round the hurdles. Triton looktoj

belter, but did nothing but walking exercise. Training operations at blemington are now (Bth instant) becoming tnore than ever interesting, as the intending ormp titora are do : ng their fast work. Rory O’More ©n Saturday commenced his duties under his new trainer with on-? of the New Zc-i!audcra The most interesting set-to was tint between Lurline and The Di\er, who went together twice round, the first time steadily, and the second at an increased pace ; the New Zealand mare, who came l about the same weight as the The i.'iver, running over the * The colt was all abroad at the finish, while the mare was going well within herself. Cleolite did good work on the outer track, where the veteran Dagworth, who seemed desirous to go, had a nice easy canter. The Ace worked steadily on the outer track, as aUo did Horatio. Lapidist, with clothes on, cantered once round, and was then joined by Dolphin, who took hi™ along at a better pace for ?a mile and a-ha!f, both finishing well. On the following Monday Lurline was moving along in her ewn beautiful style. There were other Cup nags besides Lurline at work, notably LapiGist, who was sent once round the hurdles by himself, and was then joined by Dolphin, who led him with ease, and seemed to do as she liked with him when the steam was got up, though it must not be forgotten that the mare had a long way the best of the weights. Dagworth and Horatio did nothing but steady work, and Newhold had a sweat. The Ace awo performed steadily on the same course. Ine Diver, being in physic, was not down, inis horse did not please me on Saturday, for though he moved in fine form when he was going at three quarter speed, he seemed to be all abrpad when Lurline took him along, Certainly, he was carrying as pauch weight as the mare, and may not have been quite so fit ; but unless he improves considerably upon this exhibition, X m afraid the Cup will be far beyond his tether. Plenty of fast work, however, may make a wondeiful alteration in him. On Tuesday, Newhold did the strongest wprk. -The Ace weit nicely a couple of times round the outer track, and Horatio pnd Dagworth cantered a similar distance, both horses looking much better than they aid before, Lapidist sweated on the tan—this being necessary, I suppose, after the poor show he made with Dolphin on the previous day ; but it must be remembered that Lapidist is never a brilliant horse in private, and last year the same fault was found with him yet he came out and won the Derby rather easily. He still looks Uig, but his peculiar round conformation favors this appearance. On the arrival of the Sydney contingent, it struck me that Goldshorough looked a trifle lighter ; but Speculation and Fitx-Yattenden both look hearty and well.” In the betting market Goldsbrough maintains the pride of place for the Cup, and whenever 5 to 1 is offered it is snapped up ; but now that he has arrived safe and sound it is difficult to obtain 4 to 1 about him. Horatio’s friends are numerous, and take 10 to I, and Lapidist meets with steady support, one bet of 2,000 to 140 having been recorded, Lurliio has been backed for plenty of money, but, strangely enough, though 500 to 40 was taken last week, 500 to 25 has been laid more than once during the present week. The Diver (who had been receiving the most genuine jupport, being consistently backed down to 100 to 7) owing to a bad .gallop on the 3rd and his- non-appearance upon the -trainingground for a few days after, made a retrograde movement, and . ff-rs of 100 to 5 were as plentiful as blackberries, but there wore no takers, even at more extended odds, fqgjeman, ging of the King, and Break of Day are backed separately at 100 to 6 and 7 J and since his arrival from Sydney there has been a run upon Speculation, commencing at 500 to 15, and finishing at 500 to 25, Mountaineer has received support at 100 to 6 and 6, and Friendless hag friends at 100 to 3 and 4, 1,000 to 25 also being booked about Gloom. Small sums go on to Protos at 100 to 4, the later, so report says, being m great form, and likely to play an important part in the Melbourne Cup. The latest odds are as follows

Melboubne Cup. 100 to 20 agst Goldaborough (tk) 100 to 30 (off) 100-10 Horatio (tk?) ' 1 ' 100 8 Fitzyattendon (off.) 100 — — King pf the King (tk.) IQO p —=-=• Mountaineer {tk. and - off.) 100— (tk.) 100 - Break of Day (tk.) 100 — — The Diver (off.) 100 - Cleolite (off.) 100 S -«=• Rory Q ? Mpre (tfc and off.) 100 iOO - Liirline (Sf.fr.) 100 100 100— 4 — 7- The Ace (off.) 100— 4 ——Friendless (tk.) 100 100 100 100 The following have been scratched for the Cpp Viva and Lord Lyon, on October 3 ; Esneo, on October 8 : and Bose d’Amour, oil October 7. •= Mr E. T. Barnard tells “Augur” that he has disposed of Rory O’More to Mr Ward, of New Zealand, at a very satisfactory figure. It is believed Rory will regain in Melbourne until after the Y.fi.C. Spring