THE AUCKLAND CUP HANDICAP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4193, 24 November 1883, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE AUCKLAND CUP HANDICAP.

[By HirroNA.]

THE weights for the two principal events of Auckland Racing Club Summer Meet■- ■ _CuP and Steeplechase—made their 'ppearance on Monday night last, and when . jj (j om niittee issued their production the eral verdict was they had succeeded in J«min£ " a most flattering handicap." A ■"""rotask was get them, too, in the fact M !Jlt they had never seen a number of the fnrses run, but despite this, they have Miuitted themselves admirably, and, in my inion are entitled to tho thanks of the mrtinf* community for their labours. The Mowing table, which has been compiled w me shows how the handicap weights of the different horses in the Cup compare ■Jrith their weight for ago :—

It will thus be seen that last year's winner, Welcome Jack, holds the post of honour : -with 9at 101b, being 101b over his v eight-for-age, and judged by his achievements all 1 through the season, it must be admitted he icould not have received less. Should some of the best of the field drop out, and he be among the starters, it is pretty certain he will beat a great many more than beat him. I At the present time, he is quite entitled to H&e put down among the " possibles." I Cheviot with Bst 12lb has his full share of I weight, and although credited to be a .; jjoocl animal in private, he has never :- -.accomplished anything in public sufficiently brilliant to make me think he has a chance I with that impost. Mischief (Bst 121b) un- : -doubtedly is a first-class mare and weightcarrier, but still I cannot fancy her this I journey, and think that if they meet £- she will more than find her match I in Lady Emma, whose form has certainly ; warranted her being placed above the I •daughter of Malice. Vanguard (Bst 101b) I might well have had a few pounds less, and I I certainly prefer the chances of his stable I 'companion Salvage (Bst 81b), who, if he sees .;';'."'"tha post, will take some beating. With ' i Bst 61b, Lady Emma must also bo I reckoned well in, but until the stable make a move, she is one of those just I -as well left alone. Turquoise (Sst 31b) was ; spotted by backers as a good thing soon i -after the weights appeared, but f»r ay :: own part, I don't think he has got off any I too lightly if his running at the recent C.J.C. Meeting was his true form. Still, I I fcnow for a fact he is a good colt, and for I the presontmay with safety be put amongst I the dangerous division. Tim Whiiller has I 121b less than last year, when he had the I misfortune tomeet Welcome Jack, andldon't .' -think his owner can find fault with hi* I impost. That tho little fellow has not lost I his form was proved in the New Zealand |, Cup, when he ran a fair third with Hntt 101b in the saddle, while in tho *?; Metropolitan Stakes he only Buffered ' I -aneck defeat from Mischief, the mare conI >cedinghiml4lb. Leonorais not over-weighted with 78t 101b by any means, but it remains i to be soen whether her "leg" will prove I troublesome in her preparation; while H Leonata is nicely handicapped at 7st 81b, >'although he has yet to snow whether he can get over a long journey. Maori (7st f*" -71b) is too unreliable for me, and a man H require to have a heart like a millI stone to back him. More to my liking is ; Libeller at the same weight, and if he ■stands his preparation, his chance must bo upon as a very favourable ono. I When I had a look at the little fellow •? several weeks ago he appeared to be in I great heart, and it was very evident ho had I: greatly benefitted by his spell, irishwoman I (7st 21b) lam not in love with, nor do I fancy I 1 the chances of Normanby at the same weight. H Hippodamia, with 7st 21b, is none too leniH «ntly treated, and if I am not mistaken the H distance will prove to be a bit 1 beyond her tether. Adamant (7st) has I "the recommendation of being a Dunedin I Cup winner in the fastest time yet I TOcorded for that race, but beyond that, i' -his performances have only been of a modeI rate character, and I think there are sevI 1 «ral below him that can lower his colours. I JEnvious, with 7st, also has none the worst I «f it, but she has done nothing of late to I 1 justify her winning, and I look with consid- ■ -erably more favour upon the chances of The "': 'Poet, who cailnot be considered out of it with I fist 121b. Last year he succeeded in running Hj into third place with 91b more in the saddle, I and there is no reason why he should not :*: be thought favourably of now, for he is an honest little fellow, and will struggle on to ' I the bitter end. His stable companion, The ;; Jilt (6st 121b), finds no favour in my eyes, ;' for she has never shown any form to sup•Jose she will get to the end of the I Auckland Cup distance, and the same B Tremarks will equally apply to KenilM , worth. The performances of Major George's ■■'pair, Wapiti and Nelson, point to I their prospectsbeingparticularlybrightwith H *rt 101b each, and if the pair are got fit and ;., can stay the distance, they should play a Jrominent part in the fray. Which is the better of the two will have to be found out on the training ground. Sir Bedevere (6st 91b) is also a youngster that has a good reputation, and Musketeer (6st 81b), Master Agnes 1 ■ <6st 81b), Escopeta (6st 71b), and Epicure : '(6it 71b) have been allotted weights which I -shonld not stop them ; but tho chances of Buzzard.'Hippona, Soukar, Linda, Report, B Vortex, Gilderoy, and Swordsman are not worth discussing. Of the whole thirty-five •engaged, the most worthy of support at the present time appear tome to be Salvage, ' Tueqcoise, Leonata, Tim Whiffler, The Poet, Nelson, and Wapiti, and I will not be surprised if the Auckland Cup winn«r of : 1883 is concealed among the number.

THE STEEPLECHASE. 'In the Steeplechase, Clarence heads the list with 12st 121b, and he might well have had 21b more, for in the Hawkes's Bay Steeplechase at the end of last season he 1 succeeded in beating a good field with the "very game impost, and tny opinion is that if

all in the race were to start and be ridden right out, Clarence would, despite his tall impost, finish first. It must not be forgotten, however, that Mr Pilbrow also lias Barbary (lOst 71b) and Ilavenswood (!)st 101b) engaged in the race, so that it will take backers all their timo to pick out tho Simon Pure just now. With lOst 121b, Chandler's owner cannot complain at the treatment ho has received, and he must certainly bo looked upon as a good outsider, while the Wanganui horse Ngata has a most tempting appearance with lOst 41b Of course, it is yet too early to talk about spotting the winner, but as I have stated above, Clarence should win "if he is wanted."

Owners should bear in mind that the first forfeit for the Cup and Steeplechase must be declared on Friday next, or the nominator will be liable for tho second forfeit of ssovs. for the Cup, and 4sovs. for the Steeplechase.

- Wolcomo Jack ... , -Cheviot •• jtlBChiet •• Vanguard .. Salvage I^ayEinma.. ■us** Leonora jionata Maori .. Idbcllcr jiehwoman .. jjormanby, . • jippodamia.. Adamant .. ■ Bnviou3 The Foot TheJUt .. Senilworth .. Wapiti.. Tfelson.. jjirBedevero Mnsketoer .. 1 .Master Agnca J5scopeta Epicure . Buzzard Hippona :' .Soukar Xinda .. Keport.. Vortex . Gilderov -Swordsman .. Horse. ■ '.. st. lb. 9 10 8 12 8 12 8 10 8 8 8 6 8 3 7 J2 7 10 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 2 7 0 7 0 « 12 G 12 6 10 CIO G 10 G 9 6 8 6 8 G 7 (i G 6 1 G 4 G 0 I li 0 I 0 0 li 0 I li 0 « 0 t 5 P BtAb. 9 0 9 0 9 1 9 0 9 'I 9 1 9 0 9 (i S i) a o 9 6 '.) G 8 9 9 2 9 0 9 6 9 0 9 3 8 9 9 6 7 9 7 9 7 9 7 9 7 9 7 5 9 fi 8 9 11 '' 7 0 !) li 9 li 9 0 Diffor'noa 101b over 21b less 31b „ 41b ,. 81b „ ' 91b „ 111b „ 221b „ 131b „ 201b ., 271b „ 2Hb „ 211b „ 281b „ ■Mb „ 341b „ 281b „ 331b „ 251b „ 381b „ 131b „ 131b „ 141b „ 151b „ 151b „ 91b „ 171b ., 141b „ 331b „ 181b „ 161b „ 231b „ 481b „ isib ,; 421b .,