SPORTING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 666, 1 October 1891, Page 2

SPORTING.

THE A.J.O. DERBY. Thk following interesting account of the race for the A.J.O Derby is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald, of the 14th Inst After one unimportant break away, the word was given to a good start, ana oxide against the rails, and Brasenoss in the centre, were first to move, but had hardly gettlsd Into thair strides when Sulphide appeared at the front, and thua early making the pace very fitrongt led hia stable mate and Bengal a length and a quarter past the stand, and a length from them came Stromboli a length and ft half in front of the others, who were whipped in by Aster. At Cutt’s Sulphide had increased his advantage to a couple of lengths, and Oxide’s head just showed ill front of Bengal, while Stromboli waa a little more than a length away, and fighting hard to get hiR bead, with the others on terms ft length off. After passing Oxenham a the pace seamed to ease down a little, and ftS they approached the six furlongs post Sulphide had three lengths to the Rood, and Bengal was still with Oxide and worrying him in the interests of Stromboli, who was a length off with Brasenoae at his aide and the others a length away. After ascending the hill Sulphide drew away ft little more, but the effort told its tale, and, as he began to waver, Oxide leaving the beaten Bengal, raced up to his friend, and the pair flashed past the half mile post and oam« round the bend together, with Stromboli thundering behind them at an interval of ft length, and the others were out of it. The pace now became very solid, and Oxide, fairly extended, swung into the straight against the rails, while Sulphide, banging out, when beaten, gave Stromboli ths ohanoe to follow the son of Sardonyx, an! also take advantage of the opening. Sulphide, having performed his allotted task, then retired, .nd when the two cracks were fairly on their home journey, it was seen that although Oxide had an advantage of three-quarters of a length of the dis, tanoe, N brisker was hard at him, while Huxley, though wriggling with th. spurs, still had a good hold of ’he big fellow's head and was sitting still. Keeping out . bit wide Stromboli made his run at the half distance, and reaching the leader's tferoat strap it looked to be all over, but, answering every call of Nerrioker’s red spurs, Oxide made one more brilliant effort and again led bv a neck. Matters now assumed a serious aspect for the favorite, for Huxley had begun to ride and the whip was in the air Three sharp whip strokes down the shoulder brought Stromboli on terms once more, and then a slashing race ensued as the pair raced locked level to the post. For half a dozen strides neither gained, but just at the last a supreme effort on the part of the favorite enabled him to secure a victory by the shortest of half heads, after one of the most brilliantly contested races ever seen at Randwick. Aster was ab ,ut eight length. aw..y, and just got home from Label, SulEhide, Bengal, and Brasenoae, who finished 1 a great heap. Time, 2mio