SPORTING NEWS. THE CANTERBURY PLATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 424, 30 November 1889, Page 6

SPORTING NEWS. THE CANTERBURY PLATE.

The " Sydney Telegraph " gives ohe following nanative of this race : — Abevcorn, Carbine, Melos and Sinecure con; prised the field for the Canterbmy Plate ot 2^ miles, and the eveiiu was generally regarded as being a match between Carbine and Abercorn, notwithstanding which, however, more interest was centied in it than was associated with any other of the day's items. Carbine, whose front plates were remo\ed met with most suppoit from backers, who laid odds of 6 to 4 on him, but Abercorn's friends \\ ere legion and supported him right liberally at 6 and 7to 4 against. A little noney went on to Melos at o to 1, while Sinecuie, who was considered to be out in Abercorn's interest, was" only dealt at 20 to 1 on the •' oft' chance "of a mistake occurring. The i*ace was a peculiar one, and for tho fiist three-quarters of a mile was inn at a funeral rate, Sinecure leading and Abeicorn being in the rear. Immediately after passing the stand, however, Sinecure stretched away and went down along the river 20 lengths clear of Melos, Carbine following four lengths from Abereorn. Along the back the order was much the same, with the exception that the three-year-old had increa-ed his advantage to 30 lengths Passing the sheds all four were racing, and at the halfmile post Abereorn went into second place, but as Sinecure led by 15 lengths into the straight it looked any odds that he would never be caught. Dunhey, who piloted him, was anxiously looking round, however, and taking matters apparently easy till well on towards the distance. There both Carbine and Melos were out of it, and Abereorn, gradually overhauling his companion, got up in tho last few strides, and won all out by a neck, Melos being 10 lengths away third ; Carbine, whose bad foot had burst, canteiing in rather lame. Abereorn was lustily cheeied on passing the judge's box, and also when he returned to the scale, but had not Dunhey taken matters so easily in the straight tho decision would have been leversed. Carbine was in difficulties half a mile from home, where his hoot burst, and it is quite possible that he has run his last race, whichrumour also credits Abereorn to have done. Notwithstanding that he was undoubtedly favoured by Sinecuie, Abercom's performance was a great one, and those who lay themselves out to time iace& in sections credited him with running the last mile in lmin 39sec. That it was very fast may be easity gathered from the fact of his being several lengths behind Melos when the distance was commenced, and the latter was unable to live with the biilliant chestnut at any part of the concluding three furlongs.