Victorian R.C. Spring Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4935, 3 November 1884, Page 3

Victorian R.C. Spring Meeting.

Melbourne, Saturday.

The Victoiian Racing Club beld the j first day's racing of their Spring Meeting at Flemington to-day. The wether was ftU that could be desired. There was a great atteadance of spectators, among those present being their Excellencies Sir JEL B. locke (Governor of Victoria,) Sir 8. Strachan (Grorevaor of Tasmania), and Sir M. F. 0. Eobinson (Governor of South Australia). The following are the principal events of the day:— Mabibybnong Plate, five furlocge. Newstead, 1; Monte Christo, 2; Burrella, 3. Those placed were f ollowerr dby Uralla and Cracker colt. Time, limn. 3secs. Newstead won by several lengths. VICTORIAN DERBY.—Distance H MIIE3. Mr M. Jacobs' b c Rufua ... 1 Mr«G< Davids'b c David ... 2 Hon. J. White's b c Bargo ... 3 Time, 2mins 41fsec^. Blucber was icratched at the po^t, leaving the following eleven horses to face the starter, viz.: Hippogriff, David, Seahorse, Mozart, Leporello, Rufus, Merrimu, Bargo, Tre> mando, Gratitude, and Sandal. Gratitude was the first to show to the front at the start, with Tremando, Mozart, and Seahorse next, and Leporello, Bargo, and Hippogriff last. On passing the stand Merrimu assumrd command, half a length in advance of Gratitude, and maintained his advantage round to the turn, and along the river about a length from Gratitude, who was just clear of Tremando and Bargo. The relative places were unchanged except as regards Bargo, who had improved his position. At the abattoirs Gratitude resnmfd the lead, with Merrimu at her heels; Tremando, Seahorse, and Bargo following in the order indicated, up to the home turn. Gratitude continued to lead, and was the first to enter the straight with Tremando, who had come forward, running in second place. Bargo was on the outside, and now made an effort, and succeeded in paising Tremando and joined issue with the leader, but only too quickly to relinquish the position in favor of David, who took the lead below the distance. At this point Rufus, who had held a position in the body of the ruck throughout, came with a rush, and quickly overhauling the leaders, tackled David, and won a good race by half a length. The betting at the post was—Bargo, 5 to 4; Seahorse, 8 to 1; and the others, 10 to 1. Rufus is a three-year-old colt, owned by Mr M. Jacobs, and ia by King of-the-Ring— Princess Alice. His only previous performance of any note was the winning of the three-qaarter-mile Nursery Handicap at the Victoria Racing Club's summer meeting of last year. The present victory lias quite taken the betting circles by surprise, the horse not having been mentioned in the bookmaker's recent quotations. Melboubse Stakes.—Malua, 1; Plun« ger, 2; Commotion, 3. Won by a neck. Time, 2mins. 10|secs. Hotham Handicap.—Favo, 1; Hastings, 2; Anglesey, 3. Eighteen started ; won easily by a length. Time, 2mins. 54cecs. Semjng Bace. —Tristrum, 1; Stafford, 2; Northern Light, 3. Cobubg Stakes.—Josephine, 1; Duration, 2; Flying Jib, 3. Twenty seven started, Josephine winning by half a length. Time, lmin. 47secs.