THE CHAMPION STAKES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 457, 26 March 1890, Page 6

THE CHAMPION STAKES.

From’an exchange to hand we clip the ’following account of the race for the Champion Stakes:—“When thetimecameforthe Champion race, the change which had come over the surroundings through the rain was shown in the betting markob, and there was a stronger disposition than ever to support the crack three-year-old Dreadnought;. The people who thought about Melos were tempted by the odds against him, and he was supported fairly well by the general public and those immediately associated with him. As the time for starting drew near Dreadnought eased slightly in the betting, and even money was obtainable about his chance. With the exception of Rudolph, all the horses looked fit for anything, and when taking the preliminary canter Melos in particular appeared very gay. The race was run at a fairly fast pace, Rudolph showing the way for two miles and a half. Then Melos, who had .been in the second place, took command, and Dreadnought, who came on the outside, joined him. Melos, next the rails, had a slight advantage as they turned into the straight, where he swung out nearer to the centre of the course, with Dreadnought hard upon him, and soon afterwards the son of Chester took charge of affairs, while Carbine, who was next, tried to get up on the inside. As they struggled on towards the winning post the victory of the favourite was loudly proclaimed. Mr Gannon’s horse came on in the gamest- possible manner, and as Dreadnought was all out, Melos beat him by a length and a quarter, after a splendid and exciting finish, such as is seldom seen in three-mile races. Dreadnought and Carbine were much distressed at the finish, bub Melos did not seem much the worse for his long gallop.” Anent the race “Vigilant” writes :—“All sorts of excuses have been made for Dreadnought’s defeat in the Champion. For my own parb, I fancy Rudolph and the mud killed, the chestnut colt. Strange to say no one seems to be satisfied with the result of the Champion, Carbine’s followers swear the Musket horse should have won, all the Dreadnoughtites declare that the three-year-old would have won if the going had been right, and no Rudolph in the race, Melos, of course, proved by bis Melbourne Cup third, and Australian Gup second, that he is a racehorse, but I shall be surprised if both Carbine and Dreadnought do nob down him at weightrfor-age at next rnonth.” ;