THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 224, 12 November 1880, Page 4

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

The following account of the preat rnce was telegraphed to the Canterbury Sfimes : — The grand stan d and fhe lawn were a Bight to be remembered. Tbe former was a mass of people, eurpassed in density only by the sea of faces on the Hill ; while on tbe lawn the resplendent dresses of the fair sex gave ibe tncloeure the nsieot of a gigantic parterre. The ladiea surpassed themselves ; on every side was a gorgeous display of dresses in every shape and color, and of (he most tasteful descrip tion. On the flat the general public roustcrpd in preat force, find the scene as a whole will long be re-membered a? a red letter do>y in the annals of Victorian racing. The events previous to the Cup were not of an interesting.' character, bat as the preat roce approached the excitement became intense. The rbief favorites were Progress and Grand Flaneur ; then c«me Lord Burghley nnd Mata. Bosidps thesp, Richmond, Napper Tandy, »nd Auckland were much fancied, but the ring had laid co heavily on the jfavorifes that the betting wea a I roost paralyser?. Mata since hia arrival has been greatly fancied, and would have been the worst winner for the rinsr, tor b.e carried no lees tbau £70,000 of public money. After the preliminary . onler, in which Grand Flaneur, Lord Burghley, and Progress were much •°3mired, 22 horses took up tbeir posiI -DB. A start was effected punctually by Mr Watson. Mata went off wiih tho lead, accompanied by Chester, Secundus, and Auckland. Boswortb, Mar. tindaie, and Bichmond were the three last to pet away. Coming into the straight Napper Tandy showed in the front, followed by Progress, Auckland, Lolhair, Woodlands. Tolalisator, and Grand Flaneur. Passing the stand Totalisatortook thelead,Lothair,Secundus, Progress, Auckland, Woodlands, and Rivfirton followed in the order named ; Lord Burghley, Bosworth, and Richmond being last. At the river turn Tolalisator was half a length in advance of Lothair, who was well clear of Chester, Progress, and Auokland in order, Secundus dropping last, behind Riverton, Totalizator, Napper Tandy, and Lolhair. Near the bridge Riverton fhot to the front, followed by Totalisator, Napper Tandy, Lotheir, Grand Flaneur, Woodlands, Mata, Chester, Martindale, Auckland, Rivalry, Bichmond, Secundus, Banter, as named, Dariwell absolutely tailiog off. At the bridge Napper Tandy was in front, closely attended by Progress and Riverton, the three all of a heap, with Auckland conspicuous at the head of tbe rest; then came Chester, Martindale, sni Lord Burghley. Near the abattoirs Mata came up outside Grand Flaneur, Progress, and Lord Burghley, all looking dangerous. Entering tbe straight, tbe last named was leading, with Progress and Grand Flaneur close up, followed by Auckland, Richmond. Chester, Mata, Riverton, Martindale, and Wandering Jew • Rivalry and Secundus being the two last. Coming home, Grand Flaneur went lo the front aboufc two hundred yards from the winning post, and came in an easy winner by a length from Progress, who beat Lord Burghley by halt a length. The others came in in tbe loilowing order :— Lofhair, Richmond, Chester, Auckland, Martindale, Mata, Riverton, Wandering Jew, Rivalry, Totalisator, First Water, Napper Tandy, Secundus,

Rothschild, Woodlands, Elastic, Banter. Bosworth. absolutely last. Grand Flaneur was ridden by Hales, who also rode him for the Derby } Progress by St. Alban's, Lord Burghley by Pigott, and Mata by Clifford. T here was tremendous cheering over the result. The time was very good, but three seconds longer tban last year's The ring wss heavily hit, as the winner was backed for a good many doubles, but not so much as if Mata, Progress, or Lord Burghley bad won. Grand Flaneur haa never yet been beaten.