THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1889, 7 November 1874, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

The Melbourne Cup, the chief racing event in the Southern hemisphere, was to have been run for on Thursday last, and news of the event may bo expected in a few days. From the Amtralamn of October 24 we quote some news and gossip respecting this race. The terms of the race and the entries are as follow A sweepstakes of 20 sovs each, 10 ft, or 5 if declared, with 300 added. The winner of any handicap race of the value of 200 sovs after the declaration of the weights to carry 51b extra; of two or more such rases, 81b extra; of any such race of the value of 100 sovs, 31b extra; of two or more such races, 51b extra. The second horse to receive 50 sovs, and the third to save his stake. Two miles.— Mr E. De Mestre's b h Dagworth, 6 yrs, lOst; vi'r E. De Mestre's b h Horatio, 5 yrs, Bst 131b; Mr J. Watt's br m Lurline; 5 yrs, Ssfc lllb ; Mr J. Wilson's b g Protos, aged, Bst 91b; Mr J. Wilson's b h King of the King, 5 yrs, Bst 71b; Mr J. Tait's b h Goldsborough, 4 yrs, including 51b penalty, Bst 21 h ; Mr J.'l ait's b h The Arrow, 5 yrs, Bst 21b; Sir H. Robinson's b h Fitz-Tattea-don, 4 yrs, including 51b penalty, 7st 121b; •Mr W. Filgate's b h Lapidist, 4yrs, 7sfc lllb; Mr J. Brewer's b g> After Dark, aged, 7st 71b; Mr P. Lewis's b h Blue Peter, 5 yrs, 7st 71b; fir H. .Robinson's b h Speculation, 4 yrs, 7st 61b; Mr J. Watt's chh Papapa, 4 yrs, 7st 51b; Mr J. Wilson's br g Fugleman, 4 yrs, 7st 51b; Mr H. J. Bowler's b g Mouutaineer, 4 yrs, 7sfc 51b; Mr S. P. Winter's b h 1 ioahawk, 4 yrs, 7st 41b; Mr P. Lewis's br h King Tom, 5 yrs, 7st; Mr J. Iliffe's gr h Friendless, 5 yrs, 7st; Mr G. Dublin's brhTheDiver (lateDolphin)4yrs,6stlolb; Mr A. Chirnside's b g Haricot, 4 yrs, including 51b penalty, 6st 7sfc; Mr W. Filgate's br g Gloom, 6st 61b; Mr J. Coldham's b k Break of Day, 5 yrs, including 51b penalty, Ssfc 51b; Mr F. Leng's ch h Kettledrum, 4 yrs, 6st 4lb; Mr J. Jellett's br c The Hook, 3 yrs, 6st; Mr P. Lewis's b c iVTenindie, 3 yrs, by Boiardo, 6st; Mr A. Williamson's b ni Cleolite, 4 yrs, sst 121b.

" Augur," in his training notes, has the following While metropolitan sportsmen were celebrating the opening of the season in Dowling forest, the trainers around Flemington were endeavouring to find out the stuff of which their respective teams were composed- Principal among the gallops that took place while we were enjoying ourselves at Ballarat was that of Lapidisfc, who, so it is said, ran once round the training ground in 2m 325, and this, too, after having done a good mile and a half at a good pace. A reliable timeist has informed me that this is the correct time; and if so, it is almost equal to the great gallop once performed by The Barb when three year 3 old. For my own part I don't care to see horses achieving such wonderful time trials more than once during a preparation, as in many instances what should be brought out in the race is left upon the training ground. Lapidist, however, is one of the greatest gluttons that ever trod a racecourse, having been in almost constant work ever since he wa9 a little over 15 months old. Ihe galloping he has been subjected to is something extraordinary, and no doubt both he and Goldsbrough owe their wonderful lasting powers to their sire Fireworks, whose steel-like legs they inherit. It has been conclusively demonstrated in public that Goldsborough has improved—not pounds, but stones— since he ran as a thre& year old in the Bpring; and now, in private, his threefourths brother has satisfied his friends, that he too has made considerable advancement since he figured in public last season.

Hothing sensational transpired on Monday morning. Mr fait's horses, having worked on Sunday, were not down, but nearly all the others training in the vicinity were on the ground, and though but few very fast gallops followed, the work done was of an interesting nature. Lurline was the first of the Cup horses to perform, commencing by cantering round the tan, followed by liory O'Moro, and then twice round the outer track, accompanied by Calumny during a portion of the journey. Lurline did not go so freely as usual, as the boy had to use the whip to her upon more than one occasion. Calumny had previously cautered with Papapa. Barmaid appeared to do what she liked with Mirth, Lottie, and Merino in a gallop, and quite satisfied me that the last-named need not start for the Derby. The Diver, showing further improvement, cantered once round the tan, and was then joined by Surge,, the two going another mile at a slow pace, when they put on the steam, the mare appearing to have the foot of the horse for a mile, but he ran her down iu the next rduud, and pulled over her at the finish, although the tan does not seem to be at all suited to his action. Trainers were delighted to see a change in the weather oil Monday night. The rain that fell came just in the nick of time, as the ground was becoming harder and harder, several good horses exhibiting the effects of the adamantine style of the training course. The New Zealandera, as usual, at once cautered on the tan to take the stiiluess out of their joints. (Subsequently Lurline, acoompanied again by calumny, walked on to the turf gallop inside the course proper, where the j two mares cautered twice round the i hurdles, Calumny, palling off after tho i second rouad* while Iwtliuo woaUaotlwc

mile and' a half at a strong pace, going something in her old style, but still not so freely as when she first commenced work at Jlemington. Eory O'More and Papapa also did good work round the hurdles. Henderson sent Mirth, the Mayflower colt, and Ettrick on the tan, where they did steady exercise. The Arrow and Melbourne cantered steadily once round the outer track, and then had a mile and a half at three-quarter speed, the Cup horse fairly revelling in the dirt, and moving aa freely and well as ever he did. The Derby colt also pleased me, and this improving animal colt is certain to be dangerous for the blue ribbon contest.