MELBOURNE.

SIRE OF WEST AUSTRALIAN, SIR TATTON SYKES, CANEZOU,

CYMBA, &c.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL.

BY CASTOR.

Melbourne, bred by the late Mr. H. Robinson, in 1834, was got by Humphrey Clinker, dam by Cervantes, her dam by Golumpus (by Gohanna), great grandam by Paynator, out of Sister to Zodiac, by St. George-Abigail, by Woodpecker.

Humphrey Clinker, bred by the late Lord Fitzwilliam in 1822, was got by Comus out of Clinkerina, by Clinker (a son of Sir Peter). Humphrey Clinker was a very good race-horse, beating in his career Lottery, Escape, and others. He was not, however, long on the turf ; while his trial as a stud-horse was equally short, his death, from an accident, taking place in 1834. Amongst the few of his get out, we find two or three very superior race-horses-Rockingham, winner of the St. Leger, Bran, Melbourne, and Famine. Humphrey Clinker was one of the most powerful as well as one of the largest horses ever trained.

The dam of Melbourne, bred by Mr. S. Reed, in 1825, is also the dam of Mentor, Morpeth, Maria, and a filly by Loudon-all winners. Two other filly foals included in her produce, which though, like the mare herself, never trained, have done good service in the stud. Minx, an own sister to Melbourne, is the dam of Philosopher, and of Sir Charles, winner of the Royal Hunt Cup; and Minerva, of Confidence, a good Queen's Plate mare. Melbourne's dam died in 1842.

Melbourne is a beautifully dappled brown horse, standing sixteen hands high. He has a lean, though long and rather large head; a long neck, finely arched, with a full " flowing" mane. He has good shoulders, immense quarters, gaskins, and arms, with capital hocks, knees, and feet. He is very large in the bone; in fact, his chief points are the great length and power he developes. If anything, he droops a little in the back; but this is most probably from age, Melbourne having now reached twenty summers. He is a very quiet-tempered horse, and on the best possible terms with those about him-his "first favourite" and constant companion being the cat Mr. Hall has introduced into the picture.

PERFORMANCES.

In 1837 Melbourne, then three years old, made his first appearance at Beverley, where, carrying 6st. 121b., he ran second to Mr. Bell's Righton, 4 yrs., 7st. 31b., for the Gold Cup (handicap); two miles. Mr. King's Vernal, 3 yrs., 6st. 4lb. (3); Colonel Thompson's Merryman, 6 yrs., 8st. 71b. (4); and Mr. Stables' Young Mohican, 3 yrs., 6st. 5lb., also ran. 6 to 4 on Melbourne.

Soon after this race, Melbourne-who was at the time under Hessel

tine's care, at Hambleton-met with an accident in the navicular bone of the foot; and it was thought he would never be able to run again. He was, however, taken home to Mr. Robinson's place, Carnaby, near Bridlington, and gradually brought round again. His subsequent ** preparations,” if such they can be called, were completed under very disadvantageous circumstances-the horse galloping in small paddocks, and figuring altogether as quite a "home-made" race-horse.

However, at York, in the spring of 1833, ridden by Templeman, and carrying Sat., Melbourne won a Handicap of 20 sov. each, with 50 added, &e. ; two miles; beating Mr. Tilburn's Master Cast-off, 3 yrs., &st. (2); Mr. Bell's Miss Eliza, 4 yrs., 8st. 2b. (3); Mr. Foulis' Eaglet, 4 yrs., 7st. 10lb. (4); and Mr. Jaques' Burletta, 6 yrs., 9st. 4 to 1 against Melbourne.

At the same meeting, at 8st. 7lb., he received forfeit in a match for 50 sov. from Mr. Stables' Young Mohican, 4 yrs., 8st. 5lb.; two miles. At Liverpool, carrying 7st. 12lb., he was not placed for the Liverpool Cup, won by Lord Eglinton's St. Bennett, 4 yrs., 7st. 4lb.; Mr. Ferguson's Harkaway, 4 yrs., 8st. 5lb., second. Ten others-including Prizeflower, Cardinal Puff, Cruiskeen, Birdlime, Caravan, and Modesty —also ran, but were not placed. A very strong field.

At Doncaster, at weight for age, he ran fourth and last for the Cup, won by Lord Chesterfield's Don John, 3 yrs.; Mr. Orde's Beeswing, 5 yrs., second; and Mr. Lane Fox's The Doctor, 4 yrs., third. 20 to 1 against Melbourne.

At the same meeting, carrying 10st., he ran second for the Victoria Handicap of 5 sov. cach, &c.; one mile; won by Mr. Dennison's Percy, 3 yrs., 8st. 4lb.; Mr. Wormald's Fieschi, 4 yrs., 9st. 7lb.; Mr. Cook's The Wonder, 3 yrs., 8st. 4lb.; Mr. Wood's May Day filly, 3 yrs., 8st. 2lb.; Mr. Eddison's Swiss filly, 4 yrs., 7st.; and Mr. Bowes' Tesane filly, 2 yrs., 6st. 2lb., also started, but were not placed. 2 to 1 against Melbourne.

At Lincoln, ridden by Marson, he won the Gold Cup, weight for age, three miles; beating Mr. Bell's Miss Eliza, 4 yrs. (2); and Mr. King's Remnant, 5 yrs.

At York October Meeting, carrying 9st. 10lb., he ran third for the All-aged Stakes of 5 sov. each, &c., a mile and a-quarter. Won by Captain Healey's Brother to Van, 4 yrs., 9st. 5lb.; Mr. Wood's Sister to May-Day filly, 3 yrs., 8st. 131b., second. Two others also started. 6 to 4 against Melbourne.

In 1839, at Beverley, ridden by Templeman, and carrying 9st. 4lb., Melbourne won the Gold Cub (handicap) of 10 sov. each, &c.; beating Mr. Bell's Fearnley, 3 yrs., 6st. 71b. (2); Mr. Bell's Miss Eliza, 5 yrs., 8st. 11lb. (3); Mr. Milner's Humphrey, 4 yrs., 8st. (4); Mr, Duke's Lady Fractious colt, 4 yrs., 7st. 7lb. (5); and Mr. Peck's Vexation, 3 yrs., 6st. 5lb.

At the same meeting, ridden by Templeman, and carrying 9st. 1lb., he won a Plate of 50 sov. in two one mile and a-half heats, beating Mr. Watson's Little Bird, 4 yrs., 8st. 1lb.; Mr. Richardson's Accelerator, 3 yrs., 6st. 10lb.; and Mr. Simpson's Aggravator, aged, 8st. 91b.

At York August Meeting he ran second to Mr. Orde's Beeswing, 6 yrs., for her Majesty's Plate, two miles; Mr. Bowes's Epirus, 5 yrs. (3); and Mr. Milner's Humphrey, 4 yrs,, also ran,

At the same meeting, ridden by Templeman, and carrying 8st. 5lb., he won the Members' Plate of 50 sov. in two one mile and a-half heats; beating Mr. Tilburn's Master Allen, 3 yrs., 6st. 71b.; and Col. Thompson's Mazourka, 3 yrs. (drawn after the first heat), High odds on Melbourne.

At Liverpool Autumn Meeting, ridden by Marson, and carrying 8st. Glb., he won the Palatine Handicap of 25 sov, each, &c., two miles ; beating Mr. Ramsay's Lanercost, 4 yrs., 8st, 10lb. (2); Lord Milltown's Medea, 3 yrs., 5st, 10lb. (3); Mr. Bell's La Sage Femme, 3 yrs., 6 st. 7lb. (4); and Mr. Graydon's Clinker, 3 yrs., 6st. 4lb. 6 to 1 against Melbourne.

At the same meeting, ridden by Marson, he won the Ormskirk Purse of 50 sov., &c., weight for age; beating Lord Stanley's Velocity, 3 yrs. 5 to 2 on Melbourne.

At Nottingham, ridden by Oates, and carrying 9st., he won the Cup (handicap) of 100 sov., &c., twice round and a distance; beating Mr. Collett's The Dean, 3 yrs., 6st. 11lb. This race was run twice over, in consequence of the horses having been started from the wrong place. In the first heat, also won by Melbourne with the Dean second, the following ran, but were afterwards drawn:-Mr. Walters' King Cole, 6 yrs., Sst. 9lb.; Mr, Bowes' Epirus, 5 yrs., 8st. 7lb.; Lord Chesterfield's Industry, 4 yrs., 7st. 12lb.; Mr. E. Peel's Saul, 4 yrs., 8st. 1lb.; and Mr. Walker's Lollypop, 3 yrs., 6st. 61b.

At the same meeting he was beaten in two two-mile heats by Mrs. Massbey's Tubalcain, 3 yrs., for her Majesty's Plate. Mr. Scott's Whisp, 3 yrs., also ran for one heat.

In 1840 Melbourne only ran once-a very famous though an unsuccessful performance. At.Chester, carrying 9st. 4lb., he was beaten with great difficulty, by a head only, by Colonel Peel's The Dey of Algiers, 4 yrs., 7st. 101b., for the Chester Cup. The following also started, but were not placed: Mr. Ramsay's Lanercost, 5 yrs., 9st. 9lb.; Lord Eglinton's St. Bennett, 6 yrs., 8st. 121b.; Sir T. Stanley's Cowboy, 6 yrs., 8st. 6lb.; Mr. Copeland's King Cole, aged, 8st. 5lb.; Lord Eglinton's Bellona, 5 yrs., 8st.; Mr. Knox's George, 5 yrs., 7st. 121b.; Mrs. Massey's Tubalcain, 4 yrs., 7st. 12lb.; Mr. Collett's The Dean, 4 yrs., 7st. 10lb.; Lord Eglinton's Opera, 5 yrs., 7st. 91b.; Mr. F. R. Price's Captain Pops, 5 yrs., 7st. 8lb.; Mr. Fowler's Gilbert Gurney, 5 yrs., 7st. 6lb.; Lord Milltown's Cruiskeen, 6 yrs., 7st. 4lb.; Mr. Speed's Aimwell, 5 yrs,, 7st. 3lb.; Mr. Thompson's Stansty, 5 yrs., 6st. 12lb.; Mr. Haworth's Fair Louisa, 4 yrs., 6st. 10lb.; Lord Milltown's Wirrestrew, 4 yrs., 6st, 6lb.; Mr. Dockeray's Zephyr, 4 yrs., 6st.; and Colonel Peel's colt by Augustus, out of Constantia, 3 yrs., a feather. 9 to 1 against Melbourne.

In 1841, Melbourne concluded his life as a race-horse with one more appearance, when at Wolverhampton, carrying 9st. 71b., he was not placed for the Wolverhampton Stakes of 25 sov. each, &c.: won by Mr. Bell's La Sage Femme, 5 yrs., 7st. 7lb.; Lord Lichfield's The Corsair, 5 yrs., 7st. 11lb., second. Seven others also started, but were not placed. 7 to 1 against Melbourne.

In 1840 he started once, and ran second for the Chester Cup.
In 1841 he started once.

Started eighteen times, and won nine.....

1255

A very

stout and honest one

So far for Melbourne, as a race-horse. he was too. It is, however, in the stud that he is, after all, chiefly celebrated; and where he has at length gradually reached the head of the poll. His stock first came out in 1846, when one of his get was within an ace of doing what another has since accomplished-viz., winning the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Derby, and St. Leger. This was Sir Tatton Sykes, who won the two latter, and was a good second for the Derby. The Premier, a smartish two-year-old, appeared the same season. Since then, and with these, we may pick out from his sixty-odd winners the following as of more than common repute :-West Australian, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas' Stakes, the Derby, and the St. Leger. Sir Tatton Sykes, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas' Stakes and St. Leger, and second for the Derby. Canezou, winner of the Thousand Guineas' Stakes, of the Goodwood Cup (twice), and second for the St. Leger. Cymba, winner of the Oaks. Mentmore Lass, winner of the Thousand Guineas' Stakes. Arthur Wellesley. Alas! Assayer, Brocket, Dear me, Gadabout, Meteora, Milcote, Mistletoe, Melford (half-bred), Prime Minister, Premier, Slashing Alice, Sortie, Taly, Umbriel, Westow, and Lady Superior, a half-bred filly, which ran second for the Oaks.

Melbourne's stock, like himself, are nearly all large, fine-framed horses; his favourite son, West Australian, being one of the most perfect specimens of the thorough-bred horse ever brought to the post. They are not all, however, so remarkable for handsome appearance. Sir Tatton Sykes, on the contrary, was one of the very ugliest horses we ever saw in work, and many other Melbournes have the large, plain, and somewhat curious head. If, though, not all ornamental, they have generally the recommendation of being useful—a far more important item in the balance sheet.

Melbourne is announced to hold his Court this year, at the Turf Tavern, Doncaster-fifty mares at forty guineas each. The subscription, we believe, is full; so that Mr. Robinson enjoys an income of something like two-thousand a year, because, as the lads say, "he belongs to Melbourne."