Sporting

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 54, 3 November 1891, Page 2

Sporting

+ (I'KR. UNITED PKKSS ASSOCIATION.) Melbourne, October 3L. The V.E.C. Spring Meeting opened today. Tug ball was opened with the Maiden Stakes, but Mr W. B. Wilson's colt Steadfast, by Nordeufeldt — Nelly Moore, was never asked to gallop, and won with ridiculous ease. After Steadfast's victory in the Maiden Plate, Strathmore immediately shortened to even money for the Blue liiband, and the sun shining out brilliantly the scene was truly magnificent. Sternchaser collided with Swordbearer just inside the two furlong post, and the latter fell, but the rider (Power) escaped without injury. The following are the results : — Maiden Plate. — Steadfast, 1 ; Havilah, 2 ; Norbert, 3. Twelve started. Time, lmin 47sec. Melbourne Stakes. — Marvel, 1 ; Bungebah, 2 ; Whimbrel, 3. King Olaf, Sir William, Tirailleur, Annesley, Malvolio, Megaphone, Correze, Muriel, The Tyler, and Paris also started. Time, 2min 17$secs. Hotham Handicap. — Pigeontoe, 1 ; Portsea, 2 ; Bendigo, 3. Twelve started. Time, 2min 58fsecs. V.E.C. Derby. — Strathmore, 1 ; Stromboli, 2 ; Oxide, 3. Other starters were The Bebel, St Albans, Swordbearer, Yarran, Albemarle, Penance and Sternchaser. Time, 2min 41£secs. Maribyrnong Plate. — Extravagance, 1 ; The Captain, 2 ; Nobody, 3. Twelve started. Time, lmin 7£secs. Coburg Stakes. — Cardoness, 1 ; La Tosca, 2 ; Ascot Vale, 3. Twenty-six horses started. Time, lmin 57£secs, Tirailleur finished last in the Melbourne Stakes. The win of Mr "Wilson's Strathmore in the Derby -was very popular, and the stable threw in for a big stake, whilst the son of Nordenfeldt and Oiiida is taken many times in doubles. At the rooms last night Pigeontoe and Strathmore were backed dojvn to 5 to 1 each. . Whimbrel and Highborn did good work at Flemington this morning. The Sydney division who backed Oxide down to short odds for the Victoria Blue Ribbon are very wroth at Huxley, the jockey, boring him on the rails, and thus preventing him getting up just as he was making vigorous efforts inside the distance post. Oxide finished like a stayer. November 2. Pigeontoe has been heavily backed for the Cup down to four to oue, while Strathmore is sturdily supported at five to one, which price is still on offer. Oxide has provoked medium good business, several thousands being taken about him at 100 to 4. Stromboli is scratched for the Cup. Sydney, November 2. Since Strathmore's victories Mr THordern has been pestered with ofters to purchase Nordenfeldt. He recently received an offer of £12,000 from Melbourne, but replied that he had already refused twenty proposals. The following are some of the best known New Zealand sporting writers' tips for the Melbourne Cup : — ' Buff and Black ' (Napier Telegraph) — Tirailleur, with Correze as next best. 1 Sir Launcelet ' (The Beferee) — Correze to win. He thinks the best four in it are Correze, Paris, Muriel, and Strathmore. The Canterbury Times — Paris, with Mr W. E. Wilson's best next.