THE AUCKLAND CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 297, 14 December 1892, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND CUP.

I have read the opinions of the various ™" scribes throughout the colony on the dockland Cup handicap, and one and all {"■hesitatingly pick Merganser as too wmenUy treated. Both of the.turf scribes connected with the " Weekly Press " select to win, and "Mazeppa "«• "Witness" does ditto. 3^B -ib Wtt ."Castor," of the Canterbury

"Times," who was presenb at the Dunedin Spring Mcc ting says :—" With the exception of his breabment of Merganser, Mr Evebb has made a fairly good handicap; bub ve.y few of the northern handicapper's Mends can say thab he has nob perpebrabed a most serious blunder by bhe way he has handicapped bhe Obago Cup winner. It is so long now since Mr Evett has visited the south that he can hardly have gauged the form of a large number of horses running here during the past twelve months accurately, and one or two more blunders of this description will cost him a good deal of bhe reputation that he has gained during the past decade. Of course Merganser may nob win. Mares are uncerbain animals ab bhe besb, and bhe daughter of Albatross will havo accomplished enough travelling and hard vrork by bhe time she reaches Auckland to detract largely from her brilliancy. Sbill, any handicapper who had seen her perform at Riccarton and Forbury could hardly have done otherwise than have given her ab least 71b more to carry. In adjusting the weights for the St. Andrew's Handicap, run on the second day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, Mr Dowse, who, besides being on the spot, was presanb ab the Canterbury Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, handicapped Merganser ab 9sb 3/.b, Cynisca at 9sb 21b, and Clanranald ab &3b 21b. Merganser did nob sbarb, as she vrna engaged in the Onslow Plate on the same day. Cynisca certainly won the race, but »be has failed repeatedly in her efforts to sba.y two miles, and Merganser won bhe Otago Cup so easily thab she could apparently havo covered anobher half-mile wibhoub inconvenience.