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ENGLISH HORSES WIN IN AUSTRALIA. Imported horses did well in Australia last season, but their record during the current one promises to be even better. At the recent A. J. C. Spring Meeting they won a half dozen races, and in addition recorded eight minor places; while at the V. A. T. C. Meeting, which concluded on Saturday, they accounted for six races, including both weight for age events and the Caulfield Cup, the latter for the second time in succession. It is a rather remarkable fact that Quinologist, winner of the Me-tiopolitan, was a maiden prior to the commencement of the A. J. C. Spring Meeting, at which that race was run; and Shepherd Kings first win either in Australia or England was in the Caul-field Cup. There are now few Australian races of importance which have not been won by English horses, and there is something more than a possibility of Poseidons "two Cups" double being equalled by Shepherd King, which, it is reckoned, will be even better suited by two miles than a mile and a half. Some years ago a fair number of Australian horses were taken to England with a view to winning middle and long-distances races, and they did rather well, too. In India our horses were regarded as better stayers than the English, but in addition to there being a change of opinion in that country on this particular point, English horses are now beating us on our own ground at all distances. Strangely enough, they have done better against us in long than in short-distance handicaps, thereby upsetting the long-accepted idea that our horses were superior to them as stayers, though inferior as sprinters. English horses are now enrolled as winners of such handicaps as the Melbourne Sydney, Caulfield, Australian, Adelaide, and Perth Cups and Metropolitan; and though Australias principal long-distance weight for age race, the Kings Plate until last year known as the Champion Stakes has so far escaped them, next autumn may see that included among their successes. Several of those which have distinguished themselves in Australia were only moderate performers in England, and in consequence we often hear the query of "What would the best do to our horses" No doubt they would beat them badly if they reproduced their English form; but perhaps, after all, the margin between the best of the two countries is not as great as suggested by the victories of some of the imported division. Change of climate has been responsible for marked improvement in some, and there is no doubt they would win fair races in England if they returned there and acted up to their Australian deeds. Still, the star of the imported division is undeniably in the ascendant, and, the way things are going, it looks as it will shortly be difficult to get a good price in Australia for any race horse not tagged "Made in England." Pilot in Sydney Referee.
