SPORTING NEWS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 280, 30 March 1889, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

The Auckland Herald has the following extracts from a letter by an Aucklander :—

the AUSTRALIAN CUT. In the Australian Cup Clifford rode a splendid waiting race on Lochiel, and never gave hie opponents a show to block him. He fairly “ kidded ” the cracks that they were going fast, and the first part of the race was done at little better than a working gallop. When Clifford got to the turn forborne, he increased the pace, and when O’Brien came at him with Carbine below the distance he was going quite as fast as the three-year-old. A couple of eats with the whip to Lochiel woke him fairly up, and shaking off his opponent, he ran home an easy winner by two clear lengths, amid enthusiastic cheers. THX CHAMPION STAKES. In the Champion Stakes Carbine was cantered along in front, all the other jockies reefing and pulling their horses about. At last Hales on Abercorn got sick of it, and went to the front, trying to induce Bammage on Cyclops to go off with the lead and make a pace ; but in this he was unsuccessful, so he had to perform that task himself, as Huxley on Volley had orders to wait. Cyclops and Abercorn soon began to make a pace, Carbine lying about three lengths off from the leading pair. Once O’Brien asked the son of Musket to go up, which was at the distance post, he was soon alongside of Abercorn, and Hales had to draw his whip. *’ Mick ” sat down and rode Carbine with hands and heels, and the manner in which he left last year’s champion winner was a treat to witness. Of course the time for the three miles (5'56) was miserably slow, but it was only over the last portion that a fair head of steam was on, and that there was no loitering on the road may bo gathered from the fact Carbine stepped over the last mile and a-half in 2.37. THE LOCH PLATE. In the race between Carbine, Lochiel, and ■brlyon in the Loch Plate the excitement was Wary great. I got a seat as nearly opposite the judge’s box as possible, where I was joined by Mr D. O’Brien, who, I need scarcely say, had backed Carbine, although he seemed to think it was too much to ask a three-year.old to give 141 b over weight-for age to an aged horse of the calibre of Lochiel. The horses started up the Maribyrnong straight from the Melbourne Cup post, and directly the flag went down Clifford set out to make the pace a docker with Lochiel, I took Carbine who was lying two lengths behind the son of Prince Charlie, as they passed the mile and a-half post, which, I may remark, is nearly opposite the Maribyrnong Stand. A little further on Carlyon was alongside of Carbine, and they ran in this position round the abattoirs, where Carbine dropped back, while at the same time Hales moved upon Carlyon, "Dan” O’Brien exclaimed, " Ob, the colt’s licked I ” I had my glasses on him, however, and could see that "Mick” was only moving his hands, and was biding his time. As they swept into the straight the pace was terrific. Carlyon Was soon done with, and Hales pulled his horse out to let Carbine up. As I saw O’Brien shake ths son of Musket up I exclaimed, « Now you’ll see the big fellow come 1 ” And so be did. As Carbine crept up inch by inch, I saw Clifford on Lochiel take a look, and then draw his whip. Whack 1 whack I Inch by inch the bay son of Musket disputed the battle and responding in the most generous manner to O’Brien’s calls he got past the favorite, and as they flashed past the post appeared to win by a good neck, but the judge declared »• a short half head.” The race throughout was run at a great pace, the two miles being out out in 8'33, while Carbine got over the last mile and a half in the splendid time of 9’37,

“ THE CHAMPIOS COLT.” Carbine has got the most terrific run I ever MW a horse have, without any apparent effort, except a great big stride. From the manner in which he swerved both in the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, it would seem that he has not forgotten the stroke Derritt administered to him over the sheath, when fighting out the Derby with Ensign, for he swerves from the whip directly it is raised. Yesterday, when talking to Mick O’Brien about it, he said he believed that that was the true explanation of the oolt’s swerving ; for, otherwise, he is as game as a pebble. In the Champion O'Brien rode him without spurs, and never hit him once. Carbine is one of the worst walkers imaginable ; does not bend his hocks, upright pasterns, points his toes as they strike the ground ; bur, how can he gallop ! He is light below the knee, where I always said he'd crack ; but he hasn’t yet; and I suspose and hope, he never will; for, if any man deserves to own a great horse, that man is Mr. D. S. Wallace. cliffobd’s riding. I have nearly got into hot water on several occasions because people do talk such rot. ” They would not give Clifford any credit when he won the Ausralian Cup, and Autumn Handicap, and after riding a magnificent finish in the Loch Plate, in which his horse was fair in trouble for the last furlong, some of these “ wiseacres ” could be heard remarking, “Oh, if Hales had been there, he'd have won.’’ Clifford has ridden splendidly on each occasion he has been, in the saddle here, and those whose opinion is worth having consider him a worthy foeman to either Hales or O’Brien.

“Mr Hepburn and Mr Harrison (the trainer) returned from Napier yesterday, with Anda dacity and Turihau. Every sportsman in the district will be glad of Mr Hepburn’s partial suoeess, and nothing would have pleased them more than for him to nave carried off a few more of tbe prizes. Mr Harrison is to be Complimented on tbe way in which he brings hj- Tses out. .e Moor and Bit of Blue coma through