SPORTING.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 875, 14 April 1877, Page 3

SPORTING.

A.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

First Day—Easter Monday.

The Melbourne Ar/jns publishes the following account of the first day’s racing at the Randvvick course :

The Autumn Meeting of the Australian Jockey Club was commenced to-day on the Raudwick course. The weather was beautifully tine, and the attendance, which was the grandest of any Leger day, was estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000 people, the crowd extending all along the fence on each side of the straight running up to the Derby turn, while the grand stand, as well as the Derby and Leger stands, were full. His Excel lency the Governor arrived early, and remained during the day. The programme opened with The Hurdle Race, a handicap sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, with 100 sovs added. About two miles and a half. Goulhnrn, Ost Olbs ... ... ... ... 1

Quicksilver, lOst 41bs

Gaffer Grey, list 3 Rainbow, Warrior, Beacon, and Baron, also started.

Latest betting—(> to 4 Quicksilver. Baron jumped away with the lead, Quicksilver fourth, and Gaffer last After going once round, Quicksilver and Coulburn came out and raced together. Passing the trainers’ stand Gaffer was third, and the rest out of it Goulburn led into the straight, and won, affcc-r a good race, by two lengths. Time—omin Ssecs.

The Autumn Stakes. Distance, one mile

and a half

Mr R, T. Reid’s hr c Pride of the Hills, by Talk of the Hill, 3 yrs 1 Hon. James White’s Democrat, 3 yrs ... 2 Mr A. Bowman’s ch h Sunlight, aged ... 3 Yalentia and Lady Mary iilly aso started. Betting—s to 2on Pride of the Hills. There was a good start, aud Democrat led to the back of the course, followed by Sunlight, Pride of the Hills, and Yalentia. At the trainers’ stand Pride took the lead, aud won easily. Time—2min 53. Gees. The Champagne Stakes, A sweepstakes of 20 sovs, each. For two-year-olds. Five furlongs. Hon. E, K. Cox’s b c Chester, by Yat-

tenden ... ... ... _ ••• ••• I Mr J, F. Smith’s b f Expectation ... 2 Mr 0. Edwards’s ch c Royalty ... ... 3 Deau, Black Eagle, Cap-a-pie, Athlete, Tarquin, Woodlands, Amendment, Viscount, Lorton, Lord of Lynne colt, My Fancy, The Fawn, Formosa, aud Habeua also started.

Betting 2to 1 Chester, 4to 1 Habeua, 5 to 1 Athlete.

There was a little difficulty in getting the lot away, owing to the fraetiouaness of Tarquin and Amendment. A beautiful start was then made, Royalty leading, but soon gave way to Athlete, followed by Chester, Expectation, and the Pawn filly. Chester led round the turn in front of Expectation, and into the straight, winning easily by six lengths in front of Expectation; Royalty, Lorton, Habena, aud Formosa following in the order named. Time—lmiu. 5 1-lOsecs. St, Leger Stakes —A sweepstakes of 30 sovs. each. For three-year-olds, One mile and three-quarters. Mr O, B. Fisher’s br c Robinson Crusoe, by Angler—Chrysolite 1 Mr Tait’s b f Adelaide 2

Sir H, Robinson’s b f Queen’s Head ... 3 Sir H. Robinson’s bl o Tooal ... ... 0 At the stort Tocal and Robinson Crusoe were together, Adelaide and Queen’s Head running together just behind. The same order was observed into the straight, Tocal having tne inside running. At the rocks the leaders drew away from the others, and at the back of the course led by fully four lengths, Robinson Crusoe slightly leading. There was then a pretty race up the hill, the favourite and £Tocal running head and head, Adelaide and Queen’s Head closing up. Robinson Crusoe led past the trainers’ stand, Queen’s Head second. Tocal was now beaten, and Adelaide came up in the traight, and after a spendid race Robinson Crusoe won by about a length amidst considerable excitement. Time—3min. ISsecs. Doncaster Handicap —A sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, with 100 sovs. added. One mile. Mr J. S. Smith’s b h Speculation, 6 yrs, Bst 121bs ... 1 Mr W. Freeman’s b c Lac tes, 4 yrs, 6st 71b 2 Mr W. Kite’s br h Dockwoqd, 4 yrs, 7st 31bs . 3 Won easily by a length. Time —Imin. 45 8-10 secs. 1 Burwood was the favourite at 7 to 4. The other starters were Malta, Irish Stew, Meteor, Barb, Hybly, Terara, Victor, Fernhill, Deacon, Rookwood, Valetta, Maria, Tradition, Faith, Lorton, and Herschel. Trial Stakes — A sweepstakes of 5 soys, each, with 50 sovs. added. One mile and a quarter. Mr M. Bryant’s ch c Waterford, by the Marquis, 2 yrs ... .. ... ... 1 Mr J. Tait’s br f Moira, 2 yrs 2 Mr W. Kite’s b g Woolstoue, 4 yrs, Time —2min. Ifisecs. PRINCIPAL RACES DURING 1877(from the pall mall gazette.) For the Two Thousand Guineas, which will this year be run for on May 2nd, there arc 101 entries, and the only good two-year-old performers of the colts not engaged are Rob Roy, Rosbach, and Chevron. Chamant, Pellegrino, Plunger, Lady Golightly, and Rover, who occupied the lirst live places in the Middle Park Plate, are entered, and in addition to and apart from these stands Warren Hastings. It is not often that a filly takes any prominent part in the Two Thousand Guineas or the Derby; bat Lord Falmouth, if he prefers to keep Lady Golightly fin reserve |for the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks, has Silvio, who showed no mean capacities last season, to fall back upon the colts’ races, to say nothing of Fieldfare. Queen’s Herald, and King Clovis. It is of course impossible to say whether all these horses will run in the Two Thousand Guineas, but if they do the Newmarket race will be something more than a trial for the Derby, the interest of which would presumably be discounted, for, as far as can be ascertained from the running of the past season, Rob Roy, Rosbach, and Chevron, already mentioned, would be the only new-comers, unless some candidates can be found among the animals which did not run as two-year-olds, and of these “dark” horses the only one at all spoken of is Actason, who is trained in the same stable as Pellegrino, There are 246 subscribers to the Derby, which is to be run for on May

30th, or two days earlier than the Epsom Oaks, for which there are its subscribers. The One Thousand Guineas lis to the Oaks what the Two Thousand is the Derby, and the issue of the ladies’ race at Newmarket more often than not alters the aspect of the struggle for supremacy at Epsom. At present it seems as if the One Thousand Guineas would be a match between Lord Falmouth’s Lady Golightly and Capt. Machell's Palm Flower, whose running in the Premiergast Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn, when both of them were beaten by Plunger, makes them appear to be almost upon an equality. They have every claim to be considered superior to Mr Marshall’s Dee, Mr Ansley’s Lady Ronald, and Sir John Astley’s Popkins, which arc the best of the other eighty-two fillies entered ; but the winner of the One Thousand Guineas will have an awkward opponent to encounter at Epsom in Mr Pulteney’s Placida, who is not engaged in the One Thousand Guineas. It would be easy to show that this filly, who won seven out of the nine races in which she competed last season, and who beat Claimant very decisively at Lewes, was, upon her two-year-old running, the best of her age ; but then, upon the other hand, it may be argued, that if she defeated Palm Flower, Chevron, and others at Lewes, Palm Flower and Chevron beat her not less decisively at Stockbridge. However this may be, the general character of Placida’s running was quite good enough to have made her seem to have as much chance of winning the Derby as any of the present favourites, had she been engaged; and it is so much in her favour for this season that she terminated her two-year-old career by a conclusive victory. There will be so much in the running of the three-year-olds to alter any estimate which may be formed as to the race for the Ledger in the middle of September, that nothing can be said concerning the Doncaster contest except that all the prominent candidates engaged in the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby appear among the 210 nominations, with the exception of the Duke of Westminster’s Pellegrino, Mr Mackenzie's Hob Roy, and General Pearson’s Chevron. Upon the other hand, Captain Machell’s Palm Flower and Mr Marshall’s Dee, whose prospects must bo determined by their previous doings in the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks, have been engaged in this race, which has so often been won by fillies ; and Mr Bowen’s Warrior, who ran more than respectably as a two-year-old 'appears among the St. Leger entries, though omitted from those for the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby, The general conclusion to be drawn from the running of last season as it concerns the new three-year-olds is that Count de Lagrange’s Chamant is a little the superior of Mr H. Baltazzi’s (Plunger, who is in turn a shade better than the Duke of Westminster’s Pellegrino. But, upon the other hand, the running of Mr Rayncr’s Warren Hastings in the July Stakes makes him out to be the superior of Chamant, and therefore of the other pair ; while Rob Roy won both his races at Ascot in such grand style that, though no direct line of comparison can be established, he may, for all that can be known to the contrary, be the best of his year.

SPORTING NOTES

[fhoji the tress.]

r J'hc nominations and acceptances published on M outlay last augur well for the success for the coming meeting. The Leger field will as usual be a very limited one. Should Mr Redwood elect to start Puriri for it, I shall look no further for the winner, even if Danebury represent Ray. The latter will have to improve a good deal on his Dunedin form to meet the son of Waimea with any chance of success. Middleton’s West Coast performances would seem to, indicate that he cannot be in anything like form, and both Puriri and Danebury there can be little doubt hold Dead Heat quite safe. The Champagne has not brought out quite so many youngsters as I anticipated, but it will lie a grand race. Mr Mallock’s pair I have not yet seen, but if Tres Deuce be as good as her sister Calumny, and her condition anything iike the mark, she ought to win. Mr Webb’s pair, Trump Card and dangler, are very fit, and the chosen one will, I think, be first or second. Mireille too has done a lot of work, and with her owner up will run a great race. (Jberon, I fancy, will be found not forward enough; which remark also applies to Mr Redwood’s pair; and the handsome Tell Talc, who is certainly fast, will, I think, find the weight too much for her. I shall expect to see Tres Deuce and Mr Webb’s selected one first and second. Eighteen have accepted for the Great Autumn Handicap, and of these I quite expect to see Mr Fitzroy marshal a dozen, if not more, to the post. Templeton’s lately incurred penalty puts him out of the race, and Guy I think is getting stale. I do not fancy the Dunedin Cup winner at the weight. If Puriri do not start for the Roger, he will bo about at the finish, though his stable companion, Bribery, is a groat pot. The mare’s Derby performance in Dunedin, where she made her first and only public appearance, was not sufficiently good to make one believe her the mare she is cracked up to be. Danebury’s chance I don’t care much for, as 1 think that Puriri is able to concede him the 21bs and beat him over the distance. The company will be a bit too good for Tattler, and of Eclat 1 know nothing except that he lias been recently imported by Mr Shudbolt from the other side. Of Mr Delamam’s nominations, I prefer Titania; though, if it be her day out and her owner elects to win with her, I consider Punga one of the most dangerous horses in the race, Elfin King, Isaac Walton, Maritaua, Jasper, and Mangle are scarcely fast enough, but Fallacy and Cloth of Gold must be -numbered amongst those likely to bo in front at the finish. Lara is a chestnut colt by Towtou out of Fairy, and except that he won the Marlborough Cup in a canter, 1 know nothing of him. Owing to some irregularity in his entry, there is some doubt of his starting. At present I think the winner will he found amongst the following Titania, Cloth of G old, Fallacy, or Puriri, and of the four I rather fancy Fallacy. For the Steeplechase I should select Eclipse. The Oamaru meeting came off very successfully. The course is certainly the most picturesque in New Zealand, but the running ground was very rough, and will, I should say, require laying down again, and while the committee are about it, if an inside gallop were ploughed for training purposes, would do away with the necessity of allowing the local horses to work on the course proper. The straight run requires .alteration, but the committee intend doing

this; while a new grand stand and an enlarged saddling paddock are I believe included in their proposed improvements. The Maiden Plate was only an exercise canter for Titania, and after a Selling Race, in which the veterans Malabar and Lyndon were unsuccessful competitors, Templeton carried the blue and white stripes to victory in the N. 0. T. C Handicap. Fishhook being scratched, Guy Fawkes was his only opponent, and Guy being rather stale after his severe season, did not run up to his Dunedin form. When lie was pulled out again for the Tradesman’s Handicap, Titania beat him pretty easily; the rest of the starters were only moderate. The Hurdle Race was won by Eclipse with a bit in hand. Four others started, but of these only Theodore ever showed prominently in the race. The Publican’s Handicap was a grand race between Guy, Templeton, and Fishhook. Why the haudicapper should have taken weight off the Hook (over a distance which suited the horse better than the N. 0. T. C, H.) is one of those things which, as Lord Dundreary says, no fellah can understand. The two old horses wore in front the greater part of the road, but Fishhook went up to them at the last turn, and gradually improving his position as they passed up the straight, came with a rush on the post, and won. In the Flying Handicap Mr I lelamain scored another win with Titania, but the stewards considered the running of Fishhook suspicious and disqualil ed the horse from over running on the Oamaru course again. The Consolation, won easily by Pungawerewere, brought the meeting to a close. While at Oamaru I had a look at Endymion, the two-year-old colt recently imported from Victoria by Mr Curran, of Dunedin. Endymion is by Manuka out of Electra, by King Alfred, and is a very compact, good-looking colt. He has rather a plain head, and his hocks are not quite perfection ; but he has capital quarters and middle piece, and good legs. “Augur,” in the Anstra la Rian, says he resemble Horatio, but he reminds one a good deal of old Tamburini about the quarters. Ho is altogether a very promising colt, and one I should like to see in Canterbury, Pertobc is also in Oamaru, but my inspection of him was a very hurried one. He is a short-legged horse, with rare hocks and gaskins, very powerful quarters, and shows plenty of quality. In consequence of Mr Yeend being about to leave Dunedin for a time, King Philip is in the market.

The Auckland Racing Club hold their Autumn meeting on 24th and 25th May. The Birthday Handicap of 100 sovs, Autumn of 80 sovs, and Steeplechase of 70 sovs, are, with the Leger and Champagne, the principal features of the programme. The latter, a correspondent informs me, is likely to be a good race. Among the probable starters are Venus Transit (Peeress’ first foal) Queen Mab, half-sister to Ariel and Longlands, a very nice colt belonging to Mr AVatt.

The Ashburton fixture comes off on 3rd and 4th May. Nominations for the Handicap Hurdle Race, Ashburton Cup, and Publicans’ Purse must bo made to the seoretaxy, Mr C. Fooks, before 5 p.m. April 17th. The D, J. C. have issued a nice little programme for the Queen’s birthday. Among the items aro a Handicap Hurdle Race of 40 sovs, a Maiden Plate of 35, Birthday Handicap (1 miles) of 120 sovs, and Tradesmen’s Handicap (Ij- miles). Nominations for all the handicaps to be made to Mr James today. General entry days 17th May, Nominations for the Dunedin Leger 1870, a sweepstakes of 10 sovs, with 250 added, must be made either to Mr James in Dunedin, or Mr Digby, secretary 0.J.C., before 8 p.m. Thursday, 19th inst, I was out at the course on Tuesday last, when Ray’s two, Danebury and Mireille, were the first to work. The colt led the Champagne filly, with Ray up, at an easy galop for the first half mile, when they increased the pace very strongly to the last turn, when Mireille, who went well, was pulled off, the colt finishing by himself. Puriri and Bribery went once round by themselves, stripped at a good pace, Opposite the stand the two-year-old filly, Tadybird, joined them, and wont once round at a good pace. All pulled up sound and well. Guy Fawkes’ did four miles at a good pace, leading Don Juan, the steeplechase horse, and Faugh-a-Ballagh and Ids stable companion did about tho same distance at a moderate place. Eclat, Mr Shadbolt’s G. A. Handicap representative, did not appear till after I left the course. Waieti, tho two-year-old filly from Waimea by Towton, went once round the outer gallop by herself, and moves easily and well. The two-year-old half sister to Ivakapo worked by herself, but she is evidently suffering from sore shins, and went very gingerly. The brother to Moro.ro, the largest two-year-old on the ground, and a fine strapping colt, did only walking excrciso. In addition to the above, Mr Redwood has a hue hay colt from Raupo by Dead Shot, and also a chestnut colt by Dead Shot out of Queen of the South, These last two are not wanted for the coming meeting, and work only in tho afternoon. Chancellor aud'Eglautiue, the Middle Park pair, were jumped off together, and went a clinking gallop three parts of the way round ; they wore cased off at the finish, but went well. Fallacy did a nice striding gallop once round. The mare looks very fresh and well. Webb’s team were out, but only cantered, M.ororo, who it may bo remembered dislocated lbs patella while running in the Dunedin Cup, has been sold by Mr Redwood to Mr Sam Powell, of Nelson, for stud purposes only. I hear it is Mr Powell s intention to scud Mororo to Nelson, and bring Totara to Canterbury for the coming season.

I see the daily Press quotes a paragraph from the New Zealand Timex, which states Mr Ballanoe was the breeder of Fishhook. This is an error. He was certainly bred by Mr John Walker, of Wanganui, and was sold by him to Mr O’Brien after he had won the Maiden Plate at Wellington. Tamburini lias been killed and lamented over by a Southern contemporary of yours, I am glad to say that the old horse is not dead yet, though I’m afraid never recover sufficiently to be trained again. Daniel O’Rourke lv>. returned to Middle Park from Spring Creek, looking much thickened and improved. He was used by Mr Redwood for his best mares. This is a rare chance for the handsome little sou of Brunette. i At Mr Stndholmc’s sale at Oainyu last ! Saturday, Mr o”Brien purchased the oh f : Luna, by Traducer out of Flying Fish, for : £1.30 ; also, a two-ycar-qld bay filly Xantippe, iby Detractor out of Miranda, £IOO. Both | fillies are entered for the Canterbury Chamj pagne Stakes and Leger, and for the Dunedin | Derby. j SIKBAD.