Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle (NSW : 1860 - 1870), Saturday 24 August 1867, page 4


The Port Phillip Stakes, 1868.

This race, which has closed with an entry "of six-teen horses, promises to bo crery bit as interesting as its predecessor-tho Champion Hace-which, aftor being in oxistenco for two years, has been abolùhod, and tho pre-sent raco instituted in its etoud. Although it has lost its titlo of Champion Race, it may still bo regarded as ono -tho conditions, distance, eec., being nearly tho same. Tho most noteworthy difference is, that tho three-yearolds uro dobarred from running in this race, and tho added monoy lins been reduced from £1000 to ¿600, tho sweepstakes also being reduced from £50 to £25. Tho now race, so fnr, appears to bo n success, and I doubt not, will bo moro successful next year, when it will be better known among our horso owners. Tho two Cham-pion Races, it is well known, wero won by Tarragon and Tho Barb-Now South Wales in .each race securing first and second honours in tho two quickest three miles that wero over run iu Australia. Although New South Wolcc was so fortunato ns to pull off tho two ovents, still they must bo regarded as dearly bought victories, so many of our best horses having been put liors ile combat through thom. For the first raco Now South Wales was represented by Tarragon, Volunteer, Clove, and O.K. Since that race, old Tarragon, tho best aged horso in New South Wales ¡ O.K., another good aged horso ; and Clove, tho best filly of her year-havo never beon fit to run for straws j ' ns for Clove, sho hus never appeared' in public since. Tho Inst Champion Race has, I firmly boliovo, cost us tho loss of Tho Barb, who was, in my opinion, tho best horse ever foaled in Australia ; and, in tho opinion of many good judges, was good enough to win the Blue Riband at Epsom. It ia to bo hoped that Now South Wales will maintain the prestige sho lias gained in.Victoria by adding this race to tho long Hst of victories gained every time our horses havo put in an appearance on tho Flemington Course. I almost forgot to mention that good and gamo old Volunteer is not entered in this race, and I supposo will never bo entered in nnothcr Champion Race. Turrngon, too, hus disappeared from the list ; and although Volunteer is ont oreel in tho Randwick Pluto, it is very probable that these two old horses will never again appear in public.

As the weights that aro to bo carried in this raco may not bo gonernlly known, I append tho list of horses entered, with their respectivo weights.

n st lb Mr E. K. Cox's bril Yattendon. .. 0 U 13

A. Loder'« bril Tamworth.U 0 13 AV. Field's b g Strop.0 I) 10 O'Mnllov's h g Baroliones .. .. .. .. ii 1) 10 IV. Craig's b li Thu Whittler .. '.5 II 1) A. Thompson's ch Ii Cossack... 5 ll I) U. B. Fisher's br li Smuggler. .. 5 I) I) A. Lodcr's br h Tho l'ltsfonl.5 1)- I) .E. M. llagot'8 gr m Cowra .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 V. Ilobson's b m I'ootoss .. ...... .. 5 0 0 J. Eales jun's b h Old England .4 0 0 E. Lee's ch li Bylong.4 0 0 J. Tait's bl li Tho Barb .4 1) 0 C. B. Fisher's b h Fishhook.4 0 0 W. Craig's b g Nlmblofoot.4 S ll C. B. Fisher's ro m Seagull ..i .4 S ll

Seagull concludes tho lot, and I can safely assert that thcro never was such a lino lot of four and five-year olds cntorcd in any weight-for-ngo race that has taken placo in tlio colonies, in fact, taking all tho horres entered as a lot, they arc the best animals Australia over saw. The first horse, Yattendon, is a particular favourito of mine, and I think that ho will bc our best horso on tho day. Yattendon has only gono the distance: once, viz., in the Queen's Pinto nt tho last Randwick Meeting, when ho was defeated by Fishhook. Ile, however, gnvo Fishhook forty (IO) pounds, and in this raco ho only gives him thirteen (13) pounds, which will make a slight cliliorcncc in his favour; and if there had been only 13lb ilitfcrenco botweon them in tho Plate, any unprejudiced person will admit that he would havo beaton him. Another thing must not bo lost sight of, Fishhook curried 7st 21b in the Plato, and in tho P. P. Stakes Ost, which is another item in Yattondon's favour. I havo heard somo in«

pcoplo say that us they took six minutes running thc three milos in tho Plate, he is no good at that distance; but they overlook tho fact that it was a waiting race, and that they went nt no paco for tho first two miles. Tak-

ing all this into consideration, I bcliovo that Yattendon is.. We horso for this race, mid that it will not bo tho^if'j'^ Fishhook as somo pcoplo imagine. TnmworMijP^r|¡0Jo uag never gono 3 miles in public, so I ean.nnMjeji jlow j)0 w¡j| shape this time. Uis pcrformuiirjfj hove all been very good, but ho has been defeatotiVoy Yattoudon evory time they met. Ho is, however^ no unworthy representative of this! colony, and will, I hope, keep up his reputation. As ho has had a long spell ho ought to como out iu raro

Tuttle; but tho atablo'is so out of Torin that I have my doubts about him. Strop is a 'Tasmanian representative, and is tho winner of tho Launceston Champion Cup in iSfjß, defeating old Volunteer and a moderato Hold. In tho last Cup raoo ho was nowlioro, being defeated easily by Fishhook, Volunteer and Warwick. By that running ho would appear to have no ohanco for this raco ; but as Ito was not in llrst-olass condition then, Mr, Field might be more fortunate this timo. Bombónos is a Sydney representativo, and I supposo is entered to assist his stable companion, Yattendon, os, although his performanees liavo been very good at cl ¡fl«rout country race meetings, they have nover been good enough to moke a porsan imagine ho will havo a chanco for this race. Mr. ¡ Craig's Tim Whinier is another horse that has never gono i tho distance, but from tte manner in which ho finished

, in tho Australian Cup, I think that he can stay the dis-

tance. Ho must, howover, improve on that performance beforo ho will hare a chance for this race.. Mr. Thomp-son's Cossack is another Sydney representative, and a very good ono he is,'too. The last time ho appeared in publio was at the Randwick Autumn in 1866, when he created quito a sensation by winning the Maiden Plate, and- on the last day winning tho Rous Handicap and Queen's Plato. His victory in tho Queen's Plate, I do not attach much importance to. Tarragon being admit-tedly unfit at tile timo and Cossack receiving forty-Jour pounds from him ; it, howover, proved that Cossack , possesses both speed and bottom. He has been carefully

"bottled up" over since, and ought to do something; but I fancy ho is not as good as his friends ranko him ont to be. Smugglor has always porformed very well at every distance, and if ho is meant for this race will provo very dangerous. It is not known, of courso, what horse Mr.' Fisher will send, but if Smuggler is the intended one ho is not a bad ono to fall back upon. The Pitsford, from his lato running, would appear to have lost his three-year-old form, at any rate I think 'three'miles is rathol too far for him, and it is most likely that Tamworth will represent tho stable for this event.. Cowra hails from Adelaide, and is about tho best five-year-old in that colony. Sho has won tho Adelaide Cup twico and ran third in tho laBt Champion Race, beating Seagull and Fishhook, besides winning numerous other races in Adelaide at various distances. From her numerous good perform-ances she appears to have a great chance for this race ; but I think Fishhook will turn tho tables ou her notwithstand-

ing. Poetess, although she won two races at the last Launceston Meeting, has not quality enough' to pull oil this event, and 1 think tho worthy Commissioner will not gain much .by entering lier in races of this descrip-tion. Nimblofoot, from his previous good performances,

has an excellent chanco for thia race. Ho ran Volun-teer to a head in tho Queen's Plate, and ran a dosporato race witli Fishhook for tho St. Leger at tho last Launceston Meeting. After winning tho Trini Stakes at tho Melbourne Autumn Meeting, ho was brought to Sydney and put in training for Homebush 'and Randwick ; but shortly after Iiis arrival ho went wrong, and was scratched for his diueront engagements and brought back to Melbourne; sinco then ho lias never.appeared in public, and I think ho will make'his 'first appearance in 'tlio P.P. Stakes. Old England is a Syd-ney representative, and has porformed very creditably. I havo an idea that ho is not speedy enough for this raco ; but after next Randwick wo will bb bettor nblo to judge of his capabilities. Bylong hus performed vory well at different timos at Randwick, although he has never travelled over two miles. At the last Randwick Meeting ho -was in vory bad form, and only started twice at tho Meeting. He came in third in tho Leger, und from tho manner in which ho answered tho whip, and tho game way ho struggled homo in that raco, 1 have a great opinion of him, and think he will bo ono of our best representatives in this ono. Tho Barb, I am afraid, will never soo Flemington-Courso again, os /rom all accounts ho scorns to bo broken-winded. Tho ¡meeting of Tho Barb and Fishhook in this event was ¡looked forward to with groat interest, as it would have 'settled tho much disputed question ns to which is really

¡tho best horse. Tho loss of n horse liko Tho Barb must .bo regrotted by all our sporting men, and every porsou ,must sympnthiso with Mr. Tait in tho u.isfortuno ho has sustained by tho breaking down of Tho Barb. Fishhook, from his previous good performances, may bo justly looked upon ns very dangerous in'this race. Hi» performances have bien so good that I am afraid there is only ono Sydney horso who cnn copo with him, and if Yattendon trains on it will bo most a most exciting struggle between them ; but I havo a strong opinion that Fishhook will bo compelled to strike his colours. Seagull also looks very dangerous ; but I think, on tho Champion Raco running, Cosvrn is bound to beat her, and tho probabilities aro that she will go to assist Fish-hook, who will, it ii almost certain, be tho stnblo horse.

This concludes thc lot, and tho raco at present seems to lay between Yuttcndon, Fishhook, Smuggler, Cossack, and Cowra, but after tho. Randwick and Mclboumo Meetings a little moro light will bo thrown upon the

subject.

..... THE WIZARD.

Mu SUTTON'S RETIREMENT.-There'seems to bo'somo misconception ns to the approaching salo of Mr Sutton's horses. Lord Lyon, it is perhaps not generally known, is tho property of Colonel Pearson, who let him on leaso for a term of years to the gontlemen in whoso nnmo and colours tho horso ;hus always run. Tho famous son of Stockwell, therefore, as well as Achievement, will still romain to bo trained by James Dover, at Ilsley, on tho same premises. Dover has lately declined thc hand-some ofTer of £1,000 per annum, with other advantages, to net as private trainer abroad, ns ho has tho offer of several noblemen and gcntlcmon's animals at home, as soon ns tho stables aro vacated by .Mr Sutton's team. Custnnco, it will fae seen, did not ride Lord Lyon nt Ascot, and his connection with tho " black and red" may bo said to havo terminated. Colonel Pearson, it may bo mentioned, only entrusted Clmllonor with tho mounts on Achievement nt Ascot, from tho inference that Custanco will bo certain to bo required for Hermit in tho St. Leger, and that it was dcsirablo that Challonor should ucquiro ns much knowledge of Achievement as possible by tho time he rides hor for her Doncaster engagement.

HERMIT.-It appears that for somo weeks prior to tho Derby it wns suspected that Hermit- was suffering from a process of Blow poisoning, and detectives woro employed to find out tho culprits. It will bo recollected that about a fortnight before tho Derby two of tho lads who had chargo of tho horso ran away, and this gives somo. colour to tho report.

After tho salo of tho Hampton Court yonrlings a vory ludicrous incident occurred. Mr Jackson, feeling thirsty, applied for ndmission to tho luncheon tent in* order to pnrtnko of a gloss of champagne, but wns peremptorily refused admis-sion by tho Cerberus who guarded tho goto, ot whiuh tho Fairfield squire got into n furious rogo. "I tell you," ho eaid, *' I'm Mr Jackson, and I want to get a glass of champagne" " But I cannot admit you," said tho policeman. " I'm Mr Jackson of Fairfield," urgod "tho Squire." " It doesn't signify, I can't ndmit you," responded tho oflicer. "Fetch Colonel Maudo, thon," gasped tho lovinthan. "I mustn't leave tho gate," added thc meek-looking janitor. Mr Jackson, catching a glimpse of Mr Blonkiron through tho bars ot tho gate shouted " Here, Mr Blonkiron, como and admit mo, I want a glass of ohainpogno." Tho Cerberus replied, '. Mr Blonkiron hus no power to admit you, nor can I do so without a ticket. You'must go and find Colonel Mundo and get a ticket, and then I'll pnss you." " You be d-=d, and Colonel Maudo too," scornfully re-torted tho Squire of Fairfield ; " This n Royal paddock ! It's tho shabbiest plnco on earth. Tell Colonel Maudo, if ho comes to Fairfield J will givo him enough cham-pagne to swim in, nnd T will drown you und your stud in it also. Go to h-1 with you and (nppcaling to us) put this in tho papers, and show up tho stingy meannoss of Colonel Maudo nnd "his Royal Stud. I'vo in'my time spent thousands of pounds in purchasing yearlings nt this damned placo, and am now refused to get a glass of chummy 'without I get n ticket.

Melt's Life in London says :-" Fisherman, as a siro, is still tho song sung by tho Australian journals und paper war seems to rugo furiously about tho son of Haron-

as it hus dono with us over tho dovoted bodies of Volti-geur und others. Tho supporters of Mr Purr's old i'nvourito have at present recent results in their fnvour, 113 Fisherman's three year olds have dono amazingly well, and another big liuuilicnp, «Uh 600 sovs added monoy, hus been recently curried off by n four year old daughter of his called Cowra. Thcro is batting (heavy und plenty of it) on tho Melbourno Cup ..md oilier im-portant races to come, and wo still udlicro tj our repeatedly-expressed opinion that Australia will even-tually stund next to tho Old Country nlono in tho zeal and success with which tho twin pursuits, horso breed-ing nnd horse racing, will bo followed up."

I SOMETHING LIKE AN -EPITAPH.-A fombstono has

recently been placed in Bowenstlo churchyard, which,

Lflfïr;'" " 'IS ''lo 1m"10 a"c' nß° °^ '° whoso memory

uer GLVLWVM|iis stuns up his virtues :-"Dceensed was it is erected, iWv..ootcra j" tho North of England. He ono oftho best sn^Vo^fErouso nt seven double shots."

killed fifty-mno licnd 0»*^u-Thia celebrated jockey,

ACCIDENT TO J GKIMSL i,-0rtiino now frowns, while on whom the ficklo |»odtless\le> on Saturday, wns thrown driving in a trap at Lumbour^bovo tho mikle. Ho is, out and broke Ins log a little ..progressing favourably, howovcr, wo mo glad to learn, - a