THE VICTORY OF BRAVO.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 419, 13 November 1889, Page 3

THE VICTORY OF BRAVO.

Among the many surprises in connection with the Melbourne Cup, there has neve*" previously been one more unpalatable to Auckland turfites than that of Bravo "s win. Time after time the horse had been persistently supported for big races, but just as frequently he proved a disappointment, his defeats being attributed to either bad riding or being in_ terfered with by other horses. After his running in the Caulfield Cup the other week it was agreed by eye- witnesses that his show of annexing the Melbourne Cup must be second to none, but it was publicly stated that the horse had met \\ ith a mishap while being put on the train to Ballarat, and his chance of winning was looked on as hopeless. This, of course, was sufficient to put tho horse out of favour with lotal speculators. Bearing out the supposition that Bravo was amiss, I clip the following paragraphs from various Australian papers of last week, which speak for themselves : — Melbourne " Standard ' :— A Ballaiat correspondent writing expresses a very confident opinion that Bravo will not, be seen at the post for the Melbourne Cup. The injuries received by the hon?e at Caulfield weie more severe than was at first imagined, and if Mr Wilson succeeds in getting him down to FJeminiiton for this day week's Melbourne Stakes, he will be very fortunate. "Augur," in the '•Australasian," cays : — "I learn that Bravo's injury is in the uear forefoot, and it is believed that it whs caused by a piece of broken bottle at Caulfield. Directlj' Mr Wilson got him home he put the injured foot in poultices, and there has since been a sliyhtdisehaige from the injured part. There was an impro\emenfc yesterday, and it i« quito possible that the horse will be able to have a canter or two next week. Should he then be sound his backeis may have a run for their money, and a good one too, for he was so fit in the Caulfield Cup that he could afford to stand idle tor a week, anri then be pretty well on the Melbourne Cup day." One thousand to 1 ha& been offered about Bravo'? chance, and from a leliable source wo hear Lonsdale beat him badly by five lengths in a trial over the Cup distance. Special reporter " Sydney Telegraph '': - " Some excitement was caused at the Vie torian Club (in Melbourne) by a very strong and significant demonstration being made against Bravo for the Melbourne Cup, and though he was all through the week &e,t down as an unlikely runner this last move places his withdrawal beyond all doubt. At 9 o'clock offers were made to take thousands to 20, but in less thnn half an hour a prominent member of the Victorian ring laid about £20,000 against him, 10,000 to 50 btsing in one hand, atid concluded by writing a 1,000 to 1. Under these circum stances there is not much chance of this particularly unlucky horse, uhois said to be lame, going to the post.' It is said on the best authority that the ringman who was thought to have buried Bravo on Saturday night has had com missioners at work ever sines getting the money back, and the mistake he made will cost him at least £500. Bravo was sired by the unbeaten (irand Flaneur from The Orphan, and Mr W. T. Jones, hw owner, who is in England, paid l,ooosovs for him. Soon after his purchase, the hoi.se picked up a nail, which rendered him hon de combat for a whole season, and his subsequent defeat p mu&t have cost Mr Jones a nice penny, but yesterday's win willfully compensate him with interest. Of all the horses that ran in the tace the palm must be given to Carbne, who, with the tremendous weight of lOst, fought out the finish with Bravo. The performancp stamps the son of Musket as a veritable wonder, and he can be stamped as the best hor?e that has run in Australia. Carbine has started in 21 races, over all distances, and in each he has gained a place, which is a great record. So far as Aucklanders are concerned, the only winner of note over Bmvo is one of the bookmakers, who laid a very small sura against the horse, and backed him to win two or three hundred. Had Carbine got home the " ring "' would have had to face a severe settling, as ever since the weights appeared Mr Wallace's grand horse had been persistently supported. The following is a full list of Brnvo's past performance? :—: — At 2yrs— Braid wood, December: Won Flying Handicap, $ mile, Sst 71b, ltnin 20sec ; Byrnes, 7st 101b, s-eond ; Palmer. 8?t 51b, third Won Ladies' Mile, ltnin 52* e c; Wombein, second : Glenduart, third. Braid wood, February : Second in Town Plato, won by Com us. Cooma : Won Trial Stakes, 1^ mile; Duchess, second. Walked over for Produce Slakes. Won Nursery Handicap ; Braekle\ second. Second in Publicans' Furse, but was awarded the stakes, in consequence of Julien being disqualified. Rosehill. April : Third in Wycombe Stakes, 1 mile 1 furlony, 6st 111b ; won by Lord William, 6st 81b. Randwick. Autumn: Third in Trial Stakes, li mile, 6sr 111b; won by Gentility, 6st 91b. Nowhere in Nursery Handicap 6 furlongs, 7st 81b. won by Hoodwink, 7st 4lb. Sydney T.C. Amateur: Won Ladies' Race, 7 furlonge. 9st 21b, lmin 34£seo ; Fernandez. Bst 1 Ib. second ; Gefahr, lOst Sib, third. Tattersah's, June: Third in Winter Stakes, lj mile. 6st 41b ; won by Dunlop, Sst 81b. At?.yrs — Tattersall's August: Ihird in Spring Handicap, 1} mile. 7st 31b, won by Rosebud, 6st 21b. Randwick Spring: Nowhere in Soring Stakes, 1J mile, 7at bib, won by Lord William, 7st 51b; nowhere in Metropolitan Stakes, 2 railea. 6st 41b. won by Bohemian, 7stllb ; won Members' Handicap. 1 mile 1 futloner, Bst 51b, Imin 56Jsec, My Lord, Bst. 71b, second ; Neophyte, 7st 21b, third. Fleminerton Spring: Third in Mellourne Stakes, 1} mile, 7at 111b, won by Isonomy,9st ; nowhere in Melbourne Cup, 2 miles, 6st6lb, won by Arsenal, 7stslb; third in Spring Handicap, 1} mile, 7at 51b. won by Lord Wilton, Sst: won V.R.C Handicap. 1? mile, 6st 101b, 3min 7Jsec ; Britisher. Bst4lb, second ; Brown and Rose. 7st 131b, third. At 4yrs — Did not run. At 5 years— Caul field October. Third in Caulfleld Cup, li mile, Bat 71b, won by Chicago. 7st 41b. Flemington Spring- Nowhere in Melbourne Stakes, li mile, 9st 31b. won by Ausli'alian Peer, 9st; nowhere in Melbourne Cup, 2 miles. Bst 51b, won by Mentor, Bst 31b : won V.R.C. Handicap, 1? mile, 9st, 3min 7jscc ; The Yeoman, 9st, becond ; Chicago, Bst 101b, third. Flemington Summer: Nowhere in Standish Handicap, §mile. 9st 61b, won by Boz, Bst. Flemington Autumn: Nowhere in Australian Cup, 2\ mile, Sst 121b. won by Lcchiel, Bst 71b. At6yeirs— Caulfield October: Dead heat >9st 41b) with I mnkeld <7st 111b) in Caulfield StakfS, 1 mile 1 furlong ; won by Dreadnought, 7st 111b ; third in Caulfield Cup. 1£ mile, Bst 121b. won by Boz, 7st 71b. Flemington Spring: Won Melbourne Cup, 2 miles. Bat 71b, 3min 32sec: Carbine. lOst, second : Melos, Bat 121b. third.