THE RECORD AGAIN BEATEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2941, 4 July 1888, Page 3

THE RECORD AGAIN BEATEN.

linting's Extraordinary Periormance, Scene at Kempton. (Special Correspondent to tlio Dunedm Star.) London, May 14. It lias been my luck lo witness many great races and extraordinary performances during tholajtfivo years-first 0110 animal and then another Laving astonished us by beating the recordbut never liavo I seen, nor (I suppose) shall I again see anything at all like Minting's victory at Kemptou Park last Saturday. Is was not that the great horse won, carrying the • unprecedented weight of lOst. Bendigo's performance under 9st 71b lmd prepared us for f/iort possibility. But it was the way the victory was secured, in the first place tbero was a delay of half.an-hour, and seven false starts at the post. No joke this for an animal carrying lOst, So convinced, indeed, did many of tlio oldest and most experienced bookmakers become of the impossibility of Minting's task, under the circumstances, that they overlaid the favorite many times, A t last when tho field did get off, little Chandley, who was on Cobbler, and had given the starter most of tho trouble, managed after all to steal about three lengths. These he quickly increased to ton; in fact, so big did the gap presently becomo that most of us on'the stand thought Mr Haughton's colt would never bo Half-a-milo from homo Cobbler was still careering on ahead. Then, howovor, the favorite emerged from the ruck and essayed to catch him. This was the supremely anxiouß moment of the race. Fortunately it was only a moment, for Minting's immense strido soon began to tell its tale. Sailing along as though lOst w;re a feather, Mr Yyner'sgreat horso quickly closed up tho gap, and, heading Cobbler opposite tho stands, >von in a common canter by three lengths, which Webb could easily bavomade four or five, To realise the full significance of this performance ono requires to remember that tho nineteen runners for the second Great Jubilee Stakes represented the flower of our handicap horses. Never", I should think, wero there more genuine triors in a big race than on the. present occasion. Florentine, Tyronne, Thunderstorm, Ashplant, Diavolo, Gallinule, and Cobbler had each large parties behind them, who considered defeat impossible, .Captain Matched told his allies he had tried Florentine higher than he had ever tried any liorso of his before. "Diavolo," whispered Robert Peck to a priviledged few " represents Harpenden at Cst 101bwhile Ashplant's supporters averred boldly, that their long bottled-up one could do anything with tho Chester Cup winner Kinsky, In tho paddock Thunderstorm was pronounced overtrained, and Diavoly sweated profusely. Tho latter, I may here mention finished absolutely last, Maxim ran well, and so did Tyrone, whom tho judge erroneously placed second instead of third. With Minting out of tho way, Cobbler would have landed a very nico coup and Maxim have got a place, The public and the plungors are the biggest winners by Minting's victory, To tho former Bcndigo is always Bendigo, and Minting, Minting, without regard to the weights carried. Tho plungers, too, like hot favorites, ami generally stand by thorn. Mr Benzon won £82,000 by Minting's success, and Lord Dudloy £16,000. The raco, however, -was a capital betting one, and bookmakers who rofraiued from taking liberties with tho favorite must have got nearly round. MrVyner was in grand form at Kempton, as, in addition to the Jubilee Stakes of £B,OOO, lie won the grand prize with Crowberry, Tho cheering which greeted Minting's victory was of the heartiest description, and must liave done much to console Mat Dawson for tho 2,000 guineas disappointment of 1886. It will be remembered that prior to that, race tha popular trainer declared Minting the grandest animal he had ever hod through his hands. Then came Ormondo's easy victory over the "crack," and Mat was much upset. Later, the son of Lord Lyon won the Grand Prix do Paris without an effort

aud seomod llkoly to vindicato his reputation by carrying ofi the Eclipse i Stakes, On tho eve, however, of tho race, Lis log filled, and Bondigo was left to score a semi - bloodless victory over St. G'aticn and Oandlo. mas, Last Ascot, Minting (himself again) came out a grand looking four-year-old, aud defeated St. Mirin and' the great Boiidigo over the severe new mile, This was ovidently, such a mere exercise canter to liim that Ormonde's backers for once trembled, and even Porter for a moment hesitated whether to risk defeat in the Hardwicko Stakes, How the two equine giants met again at level weights, and how, after an Homeric straggle the Two Thousand Guineas' form was triumphantly vindicated, you all know. It remained only for Minting to win on Saturday to show what an incomparable animal Ormonde was. ■By the way, it is now clear that Bendigo's Ascot lorm was aboutright. Minting, according to Saturday's race, must have been 141bs. in front Of Beudigo, and Ormond wo know was from 51b to 71b in. front of Mintiug.