RACING IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 56

RACING IN AUSTRALIA.

V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. FLEMINGTON, February 29. • (Received March 1, at 5.45 p.m.) Dull and showery weather prevailed for the opening day of the V.R.C. autumn meeting. For several weeks the dry weather gave the club considerable trouble in keeping the course in order. A cool south wind oam« up early this morning, and the sky was overcast. A few spots of rain fell during the morning. The ladies turned out with their autumn garb, and the crowd increased until the Newmarket Race w*# witoesed by a crowd almost as big as usual. Sir R. Talbot (State Governor) and party were present. The racing was^, excellent. The Gaming Act did not restrict the betting ring from doing extra business, because they do their betting elsewhere. The reserves looked splendid, and the course was in good order. A good field turned out for the opening race, and except for a spill at the first jump in front of the grand stand, a good race resulted. Portcullis, who fell, breaking his shoulder, had to be -shot. The St. Leger did not create much excitement, <as the result was a foregone conclusion. Mountain King was in fine fettle, ( and had business his own way from {he start. Twenty-nine horses started in the Newmarket Handicap. A sharp shower was falling as the horses came out, and the race was run in light rein. Results: — PINES HURDLES.— SusIain, 9.0, I ; Coronation, 10.3, 2; Paraloch, 10.8, 3. Ten others started. Won by six lengths. Time, 3min 47sec. ST. LEGER STAKES. Mountain King r 1 Peru .. .. 8 Lady Rylstone .. •• .. .f. f «• 3 Mountain King jumped off fromj Peru and Lady Rylstone, all pulling. Mountain King

passed the stand two lengths in front of Peru a-nd four lengths ahead of Lady Rylstone Approaching the straight Lady Rylstone spurted, but Mountain King ran away, and entered the straight unextended, and won by four lengths from Peru, who was six lengths ahead of Lady Rylstone. Time, 3min 6Jaec. NEWMARKET HANDICAP, Of lOOOsovs; second 200 and third lOOsovs. Six furlongs. Scotland, 8.4 (Hood) 1 Qjemadier, 7.12 (King) 2 Akim Foo, 6.7 (Bolton) .. .. .. 3 Also started: Collarit 9.10, Antonio 9.6, North Head 9.0, Stepout 9.0, Melodrama 8.13, Munjeet 8.13, Ebullition 8.13, True Scot 8.10, Traquair 8.8, Decolette 8.5, Knox 8.4, Tangaroa 8.4, Dusky Morn 8.3, Misa Bobby 8.3, Master Foote 8.2, Curtain Lecture 7.9, Lord Carlyon 7.8, Lord Cecil 7.4, Captain Shannon 1 7.2, Fille Fog! 7.1, Verenice 6.18, Currandooley 6.12, Bright Steel 6.12, Munus 6.11, Sokin&na 6.9, Medaglia 6.9. Scotland was firet to show out vfrom Antonio, with Dusky Morn and Tangaroa 6n the sails. After a furlong had been covered Traquair was leading from North Head, Stepout, and Fille Fogi. Passing the stand the order was Fille Foci, Dusky Morn, Currandooley, Scotland, *nd Tangaroa. Coming into the course proper Scotland led from Dusky Morn. Scotland raced across the track. The New Zealand horse then made way for Grenadier, Akim Foo, and Munjeet. Traquair was last. Scotland won by two lengths, while Grenadier* was three lengthe in front of Akim Foo. Time, lmin 14 3-ssec. SIRES PRODUCE STAKES.— Mother Goose 1, The Brewer 2, Kuban 3. Also started: Barley Brew. Kuban led to the . distance from Mother Goose and The Brewer, and then a good race along the straight ensued. Mother Goose won by a head, and a neck separated second and third horses. Time, lmin 14,, 3-4 sec. ESSENDON STAKES. Apologue, 9.3 1 Tulkeroo, 9.3 2 Booran, 9.0 8 Also started: Thackeray and Lady Diffidence. Apologue made most of the running from Tulkeroo, Diffidence, and Booran. The lastnamed was in" frontt for a few strides, but then the favourite shot to the- front, and won easily by four lengths, the same distance separating second and third. Time, 2mdn 37£ sec. The race was run in rain. BRUNSWICK STAKES.— Sivori, 7.11, 1; Lady Esnra, 7.7. 2; Lancasterite, 7.4, 3. Also started: Akim Foo, Retrencher, Seddon, Jack Smith, Duke of Clarence, Delaware, Orline, Boidol, Cashmore, Chexry Lass. Lanca*terite made the running. Sivori was next at the sheds, followed by Seddon and Akim Foo. Lancasterite led into the straight from Sivori and Seddon, but in the centre of the straight Sivori spurted, and won by half a length; one length and a-half separating second a-nd third. Time, 2min 9Jsec.