SPORTING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 6 November 1907, Page 2

SPORTING.

y.R.C. Meeting. Press A ssociatiou—rOopyright. Aloblourne, November o. It was a lovely day, with bright sun tempered by a 000 l southerly breeze for Cup day. There was an immense attendance and the course was iu capital order. Results: — Cup Hurdles.—Bribery 1, Red Fly 3. Dcoring 3. Five others started. Betting: sto 4 the winner. Won by a length. Time, 0.40. Railway Handicap, (j furlongs.— True Soot 1, Barron joey 2, JSquifomr 3. Fourteen others ran, Betting: 0 to 4 Taugaroa, 7 to 1 True Scot. Wou by three-quarters of a length. Time, 1.51] : <. Nursery Handicap, 5 furlongs.— Bobby 1,” Feudil 3, Vavasor 3. Ton others started. Betting: 3 to 1 against Wai Ha, 9to 3 Bobby. Wou by three-quarters of a length. Time, LI).

AIBLBOURNE CUP. A handicap of 30 sovs. each starter, with £OOO toys added; second horse 1000 sovs, and third horse 500 sovs out of the stakes. Distance, 2 miles. Air R. Olelaud’s hr c APOLOGUE, syrs, by Phoebus Appollo—Miss Gladys, 8.0 (Evans) 1 Alooltan, 7.11 .... .... 2 Mountain King, 7.0 .... 3

Tartan, 0.0 .... .... 4 Scratched: Mazariu, Taugaroa, Oomoly, Mira, Jack Smith, Master Foote, and Socialist. Betting: 3to 1 against Apologue, 4 to 1 against Poseidon, 7 to 1 against Mooltan. Passing the stand Mountain King was in front from Bendigo, then came Spinaway, Mooltau and Melodrama.

Subsequently Lady Esme, Welcome Trist and Knox took a hand in carrying on the running, but the favourites wore never far away. Knox was leading coming round the home turn but surrendered that position to Mooltan, Apologue and Mountain King before the straight was readied. Mooltan was the first to turn into tiro home straight. Then the favourite and Mountain King came at him and a neck and neck race ensued to the distance, where the New Zealand horse asserted himself and gradually drawing out, won comfortably by three-quarters of a length.' Tartan finished fourth. Time, 3.3ihi. Evans, who rode the winner, fainted on returning to scale, and for a timo his condition was thought to be serious, but lie rallied somewhat, and was convoyed to his homo. Steeplechase.— Oanielot 10.0, 1; Barsedale, 13.9,3; Boomerang 11.7, 3. Eight others ran. Betting; sto •> against Camelot. Won py four lengths. Time, 4.134 L Thin Yean Stakes, f 1 Oharmaut 3, Torpeid 3. Eleven others ran. Betting : 5 to 3 against Seddon, Won by a length and a half. Time, 1.421 J. Encourage Stakes, 6 furlongs.— Oleis 1, Azurine 3, Tho Black Dove 3. Ten others ran. Betting : oto 1 against Oieis. Won in a canter. Time, l.S}£.

Melbourne CupReceived 6, 9.27 a.in, Melbourne, November 6. Melbourne is more intensely crowded than ever tills year, Every place of accommodation is packed with visitors. Included in the large party of vice-regal guests were Madam Melba and Madam Olara Butt. The weal her is delightfully cool after the rain. Both from the aspect of the backer of horses and sportsmen the actual racing was a success, though the starters wore not by auy means in proportion to the entries. There was not a runaway finish all day. The Gup aroused as much enthusiasm-as ever, hut the popular horse of the field was Poseidon. That was manifest as lie canterc' 1 ‘ ' I'.o starting post by the oncers trout thousands of throats which greeted him. Apologue’s victory was, however, well received. The New Zealander was a warm favourite and that alone assured him a fine reception; a mule would have got it under similar circumstances, hut tlio crowd wanted to see Poseidon win, then there would have been some cheering, but he never came nigh, probably being anchored by the weight, though it was said afterwards that ho had a bad passage. The result of the Cup re-opened the Caulfield Cup running and supporters of Apologue are more emphatic than over as to the New Zealander being terribly unlucky to lose that race, but in a measure xVpologuo

was lucky to win the Melbourne Cup. ; Evaus who rode him was so weak on dismounting that he reeled and fainted while carrying his trappings to the weigh-in, and had to bo assisted on to the scales, after which a doctor’s assistance is as necessary in the jockey’s room. The [thousands of people who collected their winnings after tho race and tho thousands of others who will receive them to-day hucw not how close a shave they had of losing tlioiv money. Had faintness seized Evaus a minute earlier the race would have gone in another quarter. It was a great Melbourne Cup tor Sydney trained horses, tho first tour having had their preparations ongiueerod at Baudwick, Though | Apologue is Now Zealand bred and owned, there arc several good winners over Apologue, but none larger perhaps than AY. Lyons who had the management. Ho is understood to have thrown in for some thousands, having hacked Apologue both' right out arid in the doubles with the Caulfield Cup winner. Tho time for the Cup has never been beaten and only once equalled by Blue Spec a couple of years ago. Since 1887 there has not been a smaller field for the Cup. Tho race was fairly easy to follow. Lady Esme was responsible for most of the early running and when she dropped out at tho back of tho course Knox took the field along at a groat bat and he dropped out at tho turn. Mountain King, who had never been far from the front was loft in charge, with Mooltau and -Apologue handy. The three lastnamed had tho finish to themselves. Mountain King struggled on to the distance where it was seen that he was a beaten horse, and the final lay between Mooltau and Apologue. It was the Metropolitan 'Stakes battle over again. Eor a few strides it ap-

peareu um ii. xuuunan but Apologue without much assistance from his rider assorted himself iu strouous fashion laud gained the judge’s verdict by throe-quarters; ot a length. It was an interesting finish and there was a scene of great excitement as the pair the post. ' Mountain King was three lengths behind the second horse. Iho others wore altogether out of it. Considering the pull Apologue had

iu the weights over Mooltau it u'as rather surprising to seo Mooltau hacked iu such a confident fashion by the stable. But Mooltau was believed to have come ou siuco the A. JO. Meeting, while mauy people had doubt as to Apologue's behaviour if tightly pinched. Mooltau’s rider stated after the race that pie had Apologue _ beaten for a few strides at the distance, where Evans, weak from riding,

momentarily left off riding. Apologue, however, took it upon h, Uisclt to : settle : the [question; and that ho did iu decisive fashion. Mr Rarnshaw is no great believer iu and Evans was without them in the race. Ho carried a whip, .but did not once use it. . , Poseidon and Welcome Inst, thopgh much fancied, were never dangerous, their running being a disappointment to a great number of their admirers. ' ■ B. Clolaud, of Auckland, owner ot 4-pologne, stated that ;he was more than ever certain now that he ought |to have won the Caulfield Cup as Apologue was a better horse than Poseidon at the weights. course he was j iav j u g -won the ''-'.Co but says ho has not made much out of it, except tho stake, as lie did ! not i .■ u i muuii money pu Apologue, hut ho is pleased for'the sake of New Zealand. He is the first horse bred and owned in New Zealand that lias won the big race and ho added 1 they will be much- pleased over there. ” Ho concluded “I am not going to take Apologue back again as I am going to sell him by auction next week, and it is very doubtful if bo will start again before then. ’ ’

Elierslie Training Note?

Per Press Association. November 0. There was no work of importance at Ellcrslic this morning, steady pacing being the order. Oloehotte was scratched for the Guineas at 9 a. in,

GJG Meeting

Second Day. Per Press Association. Christchurch, November C. Tlie weather is fine and the attendance good. Results: Suburban. Hurdles, once round.— Black Reynard, i; Le Beau, 2 ; Jolly Roger, 3. Scratched: Sen Sim. Won easily. Time, 3miu 0 25th. Dividend, £2 4s. Spring Nursery, four furlongs: Sweet Angelas 1, Diamond Star 3, Koutukn 3. All started. Won easily Time, 49sec. Dividends, £1 18s Gd and £1 Os Cd.

Avon Welter, seven furlongs : Paragon 1, Moriarifcv 3, Petrovna 3. Scratched : Notus, Won by a nock. Timo, Imiu Slsec. Dividends, £2O 3s Od and £3 3s Cd.

Canterbury Oup, 3JJ-miles ; Eolvation 1, Bonny Glen 3, Master Delaval 3. Time, 4min 11 1-osec.

Owing to uufoiseeu circumstances Ashhur.st-Pohaugina Racing Club has found it necessary to alter the date for closing nominations to December sth. Guineas payments (1907 and 1908) will also have to be made on this date,