SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 56

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Bt Ravensworth. MELBOURNE, August 17. CAULFIELD STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

The V.A.T.C. Steeplechase meeting was concluded at Caulfield last Saturday, when the four-mile event, the Australian Steeplechase, of 1500sovs, was run, and won by Confederate 10.9 fiom Bribery 13.7 and Grafnax 10.13. The only others to finish in a field of 11 were Cuach 9.11 and Snob 10.13. It was the most disappointing race of the kind ever run at Caulfield. The field, with Bribery out of the way, was just an ordinary suburban one, and horses like Billiards, Quail, and Cuach were quite out of place in it. Nighthght, the Australian Hurdle Race winner, was in at 10.13, and as the event had on many an occasion been won by a hurdle racgr, it was expected that he would go near taking the race, but, to the disappointment of the crowd, he fell at the first fence, and another prominent hurdle racer in The Sun 11.3 came down later on. The Sun was next to Bribery in the list of weights, and was in receipt of 321b, while the win-

ner, Confederate, received 3st all but "21b | from the top weight, and Billiards and ! Quail 581b each. The going was soft, and there was a particularly soft patch ut "the back of the course which Bribery got into, otherwise he would have made a closer race of it, but, as it was, he was beaten eight lengths, while Grafnax, who made the running for three miles and jumped most of the fences very big, was 20 lengths further back.

It was by no means a successful nor even an interesting race, but every credit is due to Confederate " for the style in which he won, and to "Josh* Curr for the excellent condition in which he sent him to the post. Confederate runs in the name of the owner — a Gippsland man — who has adopted the racing name of A. L. Wright. Confederate was bred in New South Wales by the one-time crack jockey, R. Yeomans, for whom he won a number of races in the Wagga district. He is by Associate (son of Chester's brother Roodee)" from The Cripple, by Bengal, and has three strains of Yattendon in his pedigree. H. J. Morgan sustained a broken collar-bone as a result of his fall with Nightlight, but the other riders escaped serious Injury. The. Sun had his leg. cut and the muscles of his neck bruised when he fell. • ' .

There were only seven runners for the Arkaringa Hurdle Race, tw<J*- miles, and Portlight 10.7, .by Portsea, was ridden to easy victory "by F. W. M'Cabe. The Chatsworth Corinthian, one mile and three furlongs, went to the Wallace gelding Blind* Harry, ridden by Mr W. Everest. A few Cup horses were seen out in the Malakoff' Staltes, riin^'oyer'a mile. - 3"*6? race was between Dhobi and Kerlie, 'who had 8.7 each, and Dhobi gained the day by a neck. R. Cameron had the mount on Kerlie. Dhobi and Kerlie are in aH the big spring events, Dhobi having the nice weight of . 7.5 in the Caulfield Cup. He is in J. Lynch's stable, and shaped much better than he did the previous Saturday, but the distance of his winning race was shorter by a quarter of a mile. He is by the Eiridspord horse Ranfurly from the Newmarket - Handicap winner Laundress. - A bad exhibition of fencing was given in the Knowsby Steeplechase, six of the 14 starters failing to get Tound. The winner was Boomerang, 10.9, by Firelock (son by Musket), with the *tpp-weight Kuala Lumpur 12.13 second Pilot 12.7 was one of those to fall, but he was not injured. The New Zealander seoms to have lost all his dash. In the two steeplechases there were 25 starters, and 12 of them failed to get round— a very big percentage. Wanrua was badly injured when he fell in the Knowsley Steeplechase, a small bone in his neck bein^ fractured. He was rejnovecl to Mr S. 0. Wood's veterinary hospital close by, and an effort is being made to save him. The steeplechaser Jack was injured in the same way some time a"o but recovered, and is still racing. Springfield stood up, but he struck .a .fence very hard, ' and cut his leg rather severely. The rider of P.M.G. (another to fall), in the same race sustained slight concussion. No fewer 'than 26 horses contested the bt. Aubin Welter, seven furlongs, _ and the Grafton gelding Orea 8.3, slipping up on the inside at the last moment, beat tfte Strongly-fancied Si-ege Moi 8.5 by a neck. Golden Cairn 8.11 was. a starter, but though prominent for a time, he took no part in the finish.

HUNT .CLUB RACES. The Findon Harriers' Hunt Club held a meeting on the Moonee Valley course, Melbourne, last Wednesday. Paraloch 10.13, with F. Burn up, was- beaten in t>neHurdle Race by Bill Smith 9.1, a goodlooking sort by Dorchester, hailing from the country. His stable companion Neil Geddes 8.7. by Hatmomst, scored m the High Weight Welter. WE. Kelly, the bookmaker, once owned Bill femith, and sold him for 14gs, while another of his cast-offs, All Right 10.11, scored an easy victory in the tindon Amateur. Steeplechase for hunters All Right is a full brother to the hurdle racer Ballalaba, and was sold by Mr Kelly for 32ip. Shot Tower 79, by Shot and Shell (son of Havoc), snored an easy victory in the Kororoit Handicap five furlongs, C. Botton having the mount. Kauma 9.5, by Carbinier (son of Carbine) took the. Steeplechasers' Flat Race, while Vivacious £9, by Simile (imp.) from Vestatia, by Chester, took the Tolern Handicap, .eight and a-half furlongs. Vivacious who i Bi B »*«*; year-old, was purchased out of- J. bcobie s stable last spring for 200gs.

DEATH OF MR S. HORDERN. In Sydney last Frklay Mr S. Hordern, » wl'bown breeder of thoroughbred horses, a. one-time prominent racehorse owner, and a very entbusiatic yachtsman died Mr Hordern -had his colours hooted by a section of racegoers, and he thereupon retired as an owner. The. incident arose in connection with the running ot Mr Hordern's colt Gumbearer m the *irst Nursery Handicap, at the A.J.C. a"*"""* meeting in 1698. Gumbearer was a hot favourite, having won a race wb lattersall's meeting on the previous I\ew Year s Day. He ran badty, and then the demonstration took place. The stewards held an inquiry, which lasted two hours, into Gunbearer's running, the upshot being that the jockey, E. Cleal, was disqualified for 6ix months. The .rider's explanation was that Gunbearer hung out badly in the race, andi in trying to keep him straight •he broke a stirrup-leather. At this time I. Earnehaw, who has since done so well with Poseidon, Sir Foote, and other horses, was Mr Hcrdern's trainer^ but some time ■previously his horses were trained bj F. Day, who is now in England. He trained Realm (by Archie), who carried Mr Hordern's colours to victory in the Sydney Cup in 1893. The Skipper (by Robinson Crusoe) won Mr Hordem the A.J.C. Metropolitan in 1896. In recent years Mr Hord«rn devoted himself to breeding thoroughbred horses, with a, good deal of success. He imported from England in 1896 the St. Simon stallion. Haut Brion, who ha® sired in Australia any number of good winners, including Hautvilliers, Bee 8e.3, Ilaulette, Sweet Nell, Hautoin, and Collarit

RACING IN QUEENSLAND.

The Queensland Turf Club meeting was continued last Friday, when Togo, by Anta-res, put up a good performance by carrying 10.0 to victory in th© Exhibition Handicap, the mile and a-half being cut out in 2min 35isec. Togo has been a good performer, but Waretar has generally blocked the way for him. Topma-n 8.9, by Nobleman (imp.), was successful in the Ascot Handicap, seven furlongs, and CoJo«,=us 8 8. by the Melbourne Cup winner Gaulus, in the Qualified Welter Handicap. The Novice Handicap weat to Degtruc-

tion 10.7, and the Stand Plate,, on© mile, to Count Grafton 9.11 (Grafton— Countess), who led all the way. Bombard 9.13, who is by the New Zealand-bred Siege Gun; easily took the Welter Handicap. The meeting was concluded on Saturday, whem in the Dudley Plate, w.f.a., one mile and a furlong, Togo won easily from the Birkenhead colt Mischief, with Warstar third. My Master 10.0, by Buokmaster, was successful in the Pace Welter, seven furlongs; Prince Rupert 7.7, by Grafton, in the Open Handicap, six furlongs; and! Revival 7.7 in the Q.T.C. Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. Revival is by imported Sir Tristram, and only won by a short neck from Maoota. Foresuire 10.8, by Holbrook, took the High Weight Handicap, and My Comrade the Third Novice Handicap.

RACING IN SYDNEY.

At the Rosehill meeting m Sydney on Saturday the leading event, the Rosehill Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, went to Flavel 7.5, who is by imported Flavus, and was ridden by J. E. Pike. FTevelonly won by a _ neck from Ore Pan, who had the 'same weight up. Cockney" Boy 9.7, who had not been seen in public for some time, scored easily in the Hurdle Race, while the Maiden Plate, six furlongs, ended, after *a good race, in Nuwara Ehya beating Patronatus by a head. Merei 7.10, by Mozart, won the Flying- . Handicap by a head from Malt Rose 7.\> whife sador 8.8 was a doss third. • The imported horse Son of the Marsh 10.7 was expected to win the High" Weight Handicap, six furlongs, but Larry 8.2, by Rue-na-k beat him by a neck. BrackenbuTg 7.10, by Brakpan, ended a splendid day's racing by winning the RydaJUnere Mile by a neck from Grey Plume 7.7.

ADELAIDE RACING. ' The Grand National meeting of the Adelaide Racing Club was concluded on Saturday, when the Grand National Steeplechase, three miles, was run. It went to the Mount Gambier representative, Vulcan 11.0, by Viator, with Seth 11.2 second. The winner was xiddem, like the big steeplechase at Caulfield, by a jockey named Ryan. There were.- 13 starters, and the race was won easily by six lengths. • Another two-year-old event ■was rum — tho Dequebtville Stakes — the second for the season. It was a handicap, and Mr R M Owen won. with All Colours 8-*, who beat Yellow Slave, 7.2 by a neck. Both youngsters were sired by the imported! Carbine horse Pistol. Golden Hill, byBroken Hill, proved best in the Mitcham Welter, and Shiver 9.4, by Sparte, took the Eastwood -Hurdle Race. The Beaumont Trial proved a good thing for Antiope 7.4, by King Edward. Two prominent S.A.J.C. Derby condidates in Sir Edwin and' The Greek ran in the Tennyson Han,<lieap, ope inile'amd a-quarter. The Greek managed to run second to Alarm 8.0, by Vengeance, but Sir Edwin shaped badly. Young Fred 9.4, by Gozo, took the Corporation Handicap. At the meeting of the committee of the, Victorian Trotting- Association! last- WecV n-e-sd-a-y «ye n ixi g- "tke r esigjin.ai;lo<n« oil £ il es&r s J. B. Zander, C. Archer, and* EV 'P.' O'Brien as members of the association were accepted. A sub-committee, .was formed to dra.w up suggestions ,to 'oe cTiscussed at the confereauDe in New Zealand, and report same for approval at a future meeting of the committee. Parsee is going nicely in his work at Randwick. and so is Golden Slipper.

The brood mares Alethea and Limber have arrived in MedbouTne from .. Adelaide on a vieit to the imported sire Traquair. Lord Hampden,, Lord Nolan, and^ Achillean will resume training at Randwjok this week. Their owner (SMt J. Maye) is likely to take up quarters permanently in Sydney. C. Quiren has sold Maltanan (Maltster— Loveloch) to Mr D. L. Yates, of King Island, where the horse will be used fo* stud purposes. At th^e Helena .Vale races, in West Australia, last Wednesday the principal event, the Vale Handicap, one- mile and a-quar-ter, went to BaeTami 9.4-, by Grafton, In the Rosehill Handicap at Sydney on Saturday Marlee andi Trenohmore lost their riders at the home turn. N. Wood, who was on Morlee, escaped with a severe shaking, but E. Tanko, the " rider of Trenchcmore, was not so fortunate, sustaining a fractured thigh a/nd arm. Asfcrolator fell in the Hwrdle Race, and P Delaney broke hie collar-bbSe.

Plunder, who ie.npw jointly owned "by F. M'Grath and a New Zealand sportsman, has again been pui into work at Randwick.

Horses whose chances for the Epson* Handicap are beinar 'discussed in Sydney, are Blue Book, Maltine. Parsee, and Irishman, and for the Metropolitan-, Bl<u« Book, Artillerie, and Monobel. Vocal Memnon (by Pistol). Edenholme (by Leeholme). and a colt by Wallace, have arrived form Tasmania. Vocal Memnon will be trained by M. Carmody, and the other two by I. Fouleham. An unauthorised person having been: found in the jockeys' room at Caulfield! on Saturday, 'he was brought before the stewards, and warned 1 not to repeat the» offence.

The sfalces distributed during- the two days of the V.A.T.C. meeting amounted to £4450, for A. L. Wright heading the list with £1236. all won by Confederate. Mr E. Manifold is second, witfi £1035, all but £35 won by NisrhtJight. No other owner than £200.

won more

F. Clark© rode three winnera during the two days of <t,he V.A.T.C. meeting. No other rider succeeded in riding more than one. J. Ryan finished second in two races on the first day— on The Sun in the Australian Hurdle Race, and on Confederate in the Steeplechasers' Flat Race,— while he won the Australian Steeplechase on Confederate on the eeoond day. Two Wallaces won at the V.A.T.C. meet" ing— Aberdeen on. i'fce first day, and Blind 1 Harry on the second day. Certificates of identity in regard to the following New Zealand-bred homes, owned by Mr G. P. Payne, were last -week accepted as satisfactory by the V.Ra:— CH h Goldbeater, 1904, by Olanranald— Gol*' leaf; 6r f, 1907, by St. Ambrose— SmSsees ;l br c, 1907, by Kilcheran— Spun Gold (anoel named Gold Cord) 5 br o, 1907, by Step* niaik— Gipsy Countess (since named TorjieaJli and b e, 1907, by Advance— Brunette (sine* named Advance Guard). The balance sheet of the WiUiainrtowtt Racing Club for the past season shows tpa* after all expenses had been met, including: Government and otter taxes (£339), tod *'

large sum paid on. acooun-t of improvements, the club is better off by £1565 than at the corresponding period last year. The assets now exJtxed the liabilities "by £6205. A few years ago the club xrae heavily in debf. -It has of kite -prospered wonderfully After winning a race at WaJWend last week, Alias, -who is an Epsom Handicap candidate, showed signs ol Lameness. Valour, by Telcsum (son of Musket), won the Hurdle Race at the Burrumbeet (Vie.) meeting last week. t

H. Farmer has purchased from G. P. -Payne the New Zealand-bred filly, two years, by Soult or Gluten from Helen M'Sregor, by Captivator. The filly will in future be trained at Caulfield.

There were 225 entries for the Melbourne Cup this yWr, and when the time for declaring first forfeits expired last- Tuesday there were_only*'s4 malcontents, leaving- 171 still in the race. The _ next acceptance - (which is also the final) falls due on the Tuesday before the race.

Originally 203 horses •were entered for tihe Coalfield Cup. and up to ihe time of declaration of the -first forfeits last Tuesday 65 had been withdrawn, leaving 138 in the race. The second; (and .final) acceptance w due on the Monday before the, running of the .race. Mr Harvey Pat-tereon's' filly Tinker- kill, who recently injured her shoulder, has been destroyed:

The lig-hb- weight jockey, S. Ferguson, ■who Broke his leg at Moonee Valley some weeks .ago, will, be able to ride agaia in a few- days' ' time.' v The ninth volume of the Australian Stud Book was published "this week by Mr A. Yuifle. GDa Maid, a eh f, four years, imported

from New Zealand, and by Benzoin, was sold at auction in Melbourne on Monday for 55ge, Mr E. Garner being the pur-

chaser. ■«- Following his recent successes at- the Queensland Royal show, Dan Patch, at the Turf Club's races held at Eagle Farm on Saturday, made a. record of 2min 10 4-sseo for one mile. He was-driven by "Lou" Robertson.

The jockey E. Courtney, at one time associated with R. Wooiton's stable in Sydney, • recently died as a result of injuries he received while riding on the Morven course, in Queensland. Cockney Boy, who won the Hurdle Race at Bosehill on. Saturday, did stud duty in the Hawkesbury district last season, serving about 50 mares. He is by St. Swithin, sire of a number of useful horses.. Fleetwing, who unexpectedly won the 14.1 Handicap- at the Richmond Racing Club fixture on Monday, was bred in New Zealand, and is. by Benzoin from Lapwing. Messrs Chisholm and Co,, of Sydney, have sold at a bi^ figure to an Eastern 6porisman the colt Moldavia, "by Moolian from a .Prime Minister mare. The colt will be left in charge of M. A. Burke, who will train him 'for his Australian engagements. The aniount paid for Moldavia is eaid to be 1500gs. TJive ; veteran K.S.W. racing man,. Mr Thomson Ivory, who had been blind for some yeaTS, died to-day.