THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1918, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

. HOW NIfiHTWATCH-WON. : KNOCKED BACK THIRD INrLAST FURLONG; . RECOVERY UNDER WHIP.

The correspondent of The Sydney Daily Telegraph, wiring from Melbourne on Tuesday, sayc of the Melbourne Cup:—

About three fnrlosgn from hono iMghtwatch forged to flhe front He almost collided with Gadabout when a little over a furlong from the post, and dropped back third, leaving Kennaqjiliair and Gadabout in front. "I pulled the whip out, and Nightwateh responded finely in Uh e Jast run." William Duncan, the apprentice who rode the winner of tho eoveted trophy to victory at the V.R.C. carnival, thus summarises all that matters much to most people in connection with the Cup of 1918. Niglatwatch had a good passage of over a mile, and—then the occurrence which might easily have given the sister State the victory.

One Melbourne Cup h much like another when i', comes to dealing witihi the massed humanity which is accustomed to make its annual pilgrimage to Fleinington. Ti to-day's crowd was not a record one, certainly it exceeded in proportions any ieec on the course during the war at a Ot>p meeting, or any other prominent racing event.

Our French visitors were amazed at the spectacle. Derby Day had assured tiiicm that Australians were as keen in tho field of sport as on the field of battle. Tho Cup crowd confirmed the impression.

i Fleinmgton course, like Randwick, is fashioned by Nature for great equine events. The immense amphitheatre was corralled by the crowd. The stands and lawns were packed; 'The Hill" was a teeming mass; tfoe Footscray slopes wore populated by many tnoiretums, for the most part picnickers; and all other eminences looking down on the course were crowned with onlookers.

The Flat, aj the Cup candidates were scut on their journey, afforded a sight to be remembered. The barriers dividing the great paddock from flic racing green was thickly linca inmost from end to end. Thousands had hunched at the starting-post. The moment the barrier was raised these battalions right about faced and stampeded for other points of vantage to view tilie subsequent stages of the great race. It is worth the energy—worth all the discomfort which accompanied the comings and the goings of the race crowdseven worth losing money on—so superb was One race and its finish. At 3.15 General Pan and his staff entered tho Governor's box with the chairman, of the club, and memorable cheering greeted the party. Fifteen miautco later the starter was out on the course, and he was quickly followed by Racl Locin and Calais. Then came Ashview, Daius, and Desert Gold, the appearance of the great mare from New Zealand being greeted with cneers. The last two to emerge were King Oil'a and Lingle Bullock did not givelving o,'Ta a preliminary, but cantered him to ine post. Lingle, however, was turned and stretched out. THE RACE.

At tii'e post. King OIT.i, Prince Viridis, Desert Gold, a.nd Calais were on the rails. On the outside were Democracy, Damn, Gadabout, Court Jester, Eusebiui;, and Nightwateh, the others being it; the centre of the course.

The horses were not a moment at the post, and a well-niglii perfect line swept ori.vard. Suddenly Finniark broke it, shooting to tin front from Dams, Calais, Democracy and Colbert. As they swept ppst tho distance Daius had cut down th'j New Zealand colt, and, swinging to the front, led Democracy, who was running on his girths.

At this stage King OiTa could be seen running on lllie rails eight from last. He was getting a good run as far as the eye could tell, and was stretching out well. They turned out of the straight with the same pair leading the field, but Prince Baidolph was now clear of Finniark.

King Oll'a wa; going well, still on the fence, but he Lad 11 horses in front of him, one of which was Nightwatch ; then came in close company the New Zealand pair, Finmark and Desert Gold. The field was row well stretched out. As they swung round the far turn the littlc-thought-of Daius tvas still in command. His immediate followers were Prince ISanlolph, Democracy, and Court Jester, which John Brewer did not fancy, because he did not consider him class enough to run out two miles. Here, too, could distinctly for the first time, be seen the prettv colors or. Mr C. L. McDonald an Nightwateh, which was running in the centre of the field, and showing <: bold front. As they ran to the' Cialf-ilirte pist, the race began to take shape. Some of the horses were commencirg to drop, bade, and Nightwateh, well served by his light weight, made a vim to fjhe front. So well was he that people already acclaimed him the winner. Fast in his flying tracks came Gadabout and Kcnnaqiihuir, with Nigfciwatch, which had been pulled to the outside, coming fast.

Exactly at the distance Koniiaquhair cut Gadabout down, but no sooner had people cried his victory than little Duncan brought Nightwatdl* tip with'' a tremendous run. In a truce Night- • watch had headed Keimaquliajr,'aild he .raii.honie an easy winner, bat- all out, by half aleiig'tii, while Gadabout lost second place 'by a neck only. VICTOR AND VANQUISHED. Nightwateh. was bred by his owner, ifr McDonald, who managed for Mr W. I?. Wilson's racing establishment at St. Albans years ago. 'He is from Wakeful, who. ranks with Desert Gold as one of the great stakes winners on the Australian. turf. Bradfield, wlho trains the winner, always held that lie would run well, and when he ran in the Hotham Handicap on Saturday, that was really his trial for the Melbourne Cup. He was out to win, and would have beaten Court Jester 'had he not met with interference more than once during the race. He had to be taken to the outside where he had to' cover more ground than anything,else in the race. Both Keimaquhair and Gadabout, the latter of which stood at 100 to 2 on the eve of the Cup, ran well. The favorite was hemmed in on the rails, and though he did not ges out coinIn" into K:e straight, he was interfered with, and died at the distance. If he had a clei.v run. such as he got at Caulfield, he probably would have added to--1 day's event to bis lift of successes.