ASSEMBLY SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2368, 4 November 1881, Page 3

ASSEMBLY SPORTING NOTES.

THE ST. ALBANS STAKES.

[By the Fbiae.]

Considerable interest has been manifested in sporting circles during the last few days, it having been definitely arranged that the preliminary spins of Tramcar and Banoo should take place on tho St. Albans course on Tuesday and Wednesday last. I thorefore went out to the Meiivalo grounds on Tuesday to tako stock of the brown horse. The stable have, I think, oxercised a wise discretion in preferring to enter him for this fixture, instead of taking him to Ashley, where it was currently rumored he would go and repeat his former victory ; but, as a horse cannot Bhow at two meetings in ono day, and his backers are sweet on this new stake, he was entered for it accordingly. At tho hour of trial be was led into the saddling paddock, and thenco into tho straight, tho mount being entrusted to the well known boy Duke, whose persuasive eloquence in equine matters is too well-known to require comment. Before vaulting into the Baddle ho keenly criticised the Yankee horse, and in the cheery tones so familiar to us all, voted him successively a plum, a cherry, and a pear. After this the trial began, end the first object to be negotiated was the big Native Fonced Water Jump, and it was taken splendidly. Then came the Education Hurdles, and the magnificent way in which they were cleared showed that Duko was no gr.'enhorn, and know how to put a horse at the sticks. He then warmed up to his work, and the Local Government post and rail fenoe was being rapidly neared. Again did tho gentle hint from the jockey exort its magio influence, and hey !ho baulks ! No ! —ho's over and away, hard as he could polt to the next obstruction, which was tho big Squattors' Gully. Thir.too, was gamely cleared. Then came tho Top House hurdles, and his jockey lifted him cloverly, and it was crossed. The Property Tax fonco and the Railway hurdles were both well negotiated, as also was the big Local Option Water jump. The Compensation hurdles were then croßßed in good style, after which he was eased off, and trotted home. There is no doubt that a vast amount of caro has been bestowed on his preparation, and he shows in vastly better form thun ho did at Ashley. As to his chances of a winning bracket, much will dopend on the jackey. If Dake is told off for the eventful day it will mako all the difference in the brown's chances, as I need ha'dly say that a great deal depends on the mount. The next day I looked in to see Banco tako hia spin. Unlike Tramcar he has no past performances to be quoted, but still his stylo of going was such as to ontitlo him to respeor. The boy up was now to the work, but still a good trial resulted. WhiUt the preliminaries were going on I heard the remark made by a bookmaker that Banoo had his beßt wisbos, because if he won it would be a chuck in for his stripe, to which tho rejoinder camo that "he looked a vory intelligent sort of a horse, such an animal," he oontinuod, " that one might toko off his hat to." But I am digressing. Returning to tho trial, he was taken for a good distance on the Platitude Flat till the Land Fence showed in tho distance. After that came the Electoral Hurdles, Taxation Gully, Publio Works Hurdles, Law Reform Dyke, Education Fence, and the big Native "Fonced Water Jump, whioh were all taken in a very creditable manner, and " it's greatly to his credit " that he never once came to grief during the spin. Still, I think the company is too good for him. Old Mawworm has such a way of piling on the pace whilst crossing the Church Flats that he will take a lot of beating on that score alone, and as the big upstanding brown shows such good form, he will want a great deal of persuasion to take a back seat, as his Tuesday's performance has put him higher up in the betting— 5 to 1 being offered and taken freely about h'm.