TIDAL'S CHANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 14

TIDAL'S CHANCES.

IN BIG AUSTRALIAN EVENTS

PENALTY NO BAR

No promising- stayer in recent years hais ever had a better chance to win the Metropolitan and the Melbourne Cup in the one season than Tidal has been given this season. If he is good enough to win the Metropolitan, the penalty he will incur will bring his weight to only 7.10 (says a Sydney writer.)

Tidal is a French-bred horse and ranks as a 5-year-old, though 'he will not be actually that age until January 1 next. He won in novice company in N"ew Zealand, called "hack" company there, but his form of last eeason was so poor that the handieappers could not very well give him much weight in big races. So, when the weights for spring events came out, Tidal had only 7.2 in the Metropolitan and 'but 7.0 in the Melbourne Cup. For a horse of his age he has a wonderful pull in the handicap. The Cup penalty for a win in the Metropolitan is only 101b. Tidal presents an interesting problem for backers and bookmakers. So far as is known, no rider has been engaged for the Frenchman in either race, and the trainer of Tidal displays no anxiety over the. matter. He says that a jockey will be announced in due course. N. Percival, by the way, could have had the mount last Saturday, but he was not able to make the trip to the meeting, and so W. Cook wae engaged at a few pounds overweight. Some weeks back, Tidal was coupled in Sydney doubles with several Epsom candidates, but from what can be aathered, he has not been backed straight-out for the Metropolitan. Surprise was therefore occasioned when the stable stepped in last week and supported Tidal for several thousands to win the Melbourne Cup. This led to the idea that Tidal might possibly pass by the Metropolitan for the longer race. As far as is known, however, Tidal will run in the big race at lUndwick first of all. On the tracks, Tidal's work, is never very encouraging, but he is much better when the colours are up. He is a goodwinded horse, and no distance should be beyond him, but one thing against him as a betting proposition before the race day is the fact that 'he is practically useless in heavy going. At Canterbury Park, he could not raise a gallop when the track was heavy, though he was backed and ridden by M. McCarten. Spearman easily beat Tidal last week when the going on the Eandwick course proper wae heavy. For hie track work, Tidal is more heavily shod than the average horse of the present day. That is another reason why his track gallops are not of the best from the time point of view. He is a horse that is evidently on the improve, and it is thought that he may be up to weight-f or-age form. If that happens to be the case, he must have a really excellent chance in the big handicap events.