SPORTING NOTES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1868, 31 July 1874, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

[colonist.] The s.s. Phoebe, which arrived on Sunday evening from the South, brought Lurline and Papapa from Canterbury, on their way to Melbourne. It was the intention of Messrs Redwood and Watt that the horses Bhonld have gone to Auckland three weeks since in the Wellington, and missing her, in the Taranaki, the next vessel, but owing to a telegram sent from Blenheim to Dick Mason, who had charge of the horses in Canterbury, not reaching him, more than a fortnight of valuable time has been lost. It is however fortunate that the horses were not shipped by the Taranaki, as her passage to Auckland was one of the worst Captain Wheeler ever experienced, and, in his belief, roust have killed them, had they been on board. As no steamer leaves Auckland for Sydney for some days, Mr Redwood has determined in sending the horses to Melbourne by the steamer Otago, which will leave here this evening, and then if there be time, send Lurline through to Sydney ; and if not, keep her in Melbourne for the meeting in November. It is doubtful whether Calumny will be fit to send to Australia, as the mare has been out of health all the winter, and it will be remembered, was amiss when she ran in Nelson at the end of April. She is now better, and may, perhaps, be got ready for Fleraington, but will scarcely be ablo to run at Ranwick. Lurline and Papapa were safely lauded immediately after the arrival of the Phosbe on Sunday evening, and taken to Powell's stables, at the Coach and Horses, where we yesterday paid them a visit, and found both looking uncommonly well and in no way the worse for their sea trip. If they bear the passage to Melbourne equally well, and are landed safely, a good deal of New Zealand money will be invested on them. Lurline, who we never before had a quiet look over in the stable, in no way disappointed us. The last time we saw her, was when she was led out in the stableyard at Riccarton, and the sportsmen of Canterbury committed the grand mistake of suffering such, an animal to pass out of their hands to thereafter win their big stakes for sportsmen in other Provinces. The mare has wintered well, and will be fit to go into strong work immediately on reaching Melbourne. Her magnificent shoulders, splendid back, and noble quarters, must satisfy the most fastidious of judges, and if all goes well, it will take a good horse to beat her, even at the weight given her in the Melbourne Cup. Papapa look equally well, and has grown considerably since he ran at Christchurch laßt spring. He is a different type of animal to the mare, but is every inch a racehorse. Any person who remem bera Teddington, will see a great resemblance between that horse and Papapa, both being grandsons, of Touchstone. He is an exceedingly handseme colt, and his action is superb. His performances at Christchurch make him, in onr opinion, equal to the mare, and with his favorable weight in the Melbourne Cup, and luck, he will be there or thereabouts at the finish. The horses go up in charge of Cutts, well known as Mr Redwood's head groom, and they could not be in better hands. It is doubtful whether their owner will be able to follow them, as the meeting at Christchurch takes place at the same as that at Melbourne, and he has his hands full in preparing a lot of young horses for the New Zealand meetings.