THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 257, 31 October 1933, Page 13

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

LATEST SCRATCHINGS. MELBOURNE, October 30. It is now announced that Liniarch has been scratched for the Derby and the Melbourne Cup. Winooka's dam Kanooka has foaled a filly to Constant Sun. M. McCarten will ride Topical in the Cup, Dermid in the Gantala Stakes, Blixten in the Derby, and Great Legend in the Maribyrnong Plate. Roy Reed will be on Regal Son in the Cup, Cavalcade in the Maribyrnong Plate, and Movie Star in the Cantata Stakes. H. Badger will pilot Blixten in the Cup. , The following have been scratched for the Melbourne Cup: Movie Star, Lough Neagh, High Brae. Danilo, Mince Pic, Highway, Bayacre, Telitc, Saurian, Scapel, Bold Boy and Ramadan. Danilo and Folk Lore have been withdrawn from the Derby, and Sky Writer from all engagements. A veterinarian tubed Gold May to-day in the hope that it will cure his defective wind and assist him to win a race. He seems to be going well. The Cup acceptances close to-morrow. STABLE AND TRACK NOTES. ADDITION TO TEAM. The latest addition to Geo. Holland's team at Ellerslie is the two-year-old gelding Prince Sahib, by Night Raid from Oruia. He is a well-developed juvenile, though a bit overgrown for his age, consequently it ds not intended to do much with him until later on in the season.

HER TURN WILL COME. Prolyxo ran two solid races at Paeroa and her winning turn should not be far oil. She is due to make her next appearance in the Flying Handicap at Ellerslie next Saturday, and with only 41b above the minimum she is likely to beat more than beats her. The sister to Amnion Rα is improving with each race and should be worth following during ~ the next few months. , HAS SOME PACE. Rereatu looked very big when he paraded for the Hack Handicap at Paeroa on Thursday, and he made a good showing till well into the straight, where he dropped back. It is stated that he met with interference in the concluding 6tage, and that was the cause of him failing to maintain his position. Rereatu has plenty of speed and he should be an improved horse the next time out. MAKING GOOD HEADWAY. Gold Money has made good headway during the short time she has been in work at headquarters and is standing up to her preparation in a satisfactory manner. She was somewhat on the burly side when she made her reappearance after a few months' spell, but has fined down in condition and will soon be ready to take on more strenuous tasks. Gold Money does not require much galloping to fit her for racing, and from now onward is likely to come on very fast.

FILLY DISPLAYS SPEED. Red Flame, the Chief Ruler filly in J. Lambess' stable, has been sprinted on several occasions recently, displaying promising speed for a beginner. On Saturday morning she put up a creditable effort over three furlongs on the course proper, traversing the distance in 37 4-5s and was running on solidly at the end of her task. This filly has done exceptionally well during the past few weeks, though she may still require a bit more experience before she is seen at her best. WILL IMPROVE. Lady Diana, a four-year-old filly by Hunting Song from Lady Cintra, by Absurd from Cintra, ran a couple of good races at the P*aeroa meeting last week. In the Trial Handicap she was always bandy to the leaders and finished fourth, whib in the Novice Handicap on Saturday fhe and Queen Nona carried on the running practically all the way, Emancipation and Lady Zinnia beating them home, heads dividing that p.air, with Lady Diana a -imilar distance away. Lady Diana, who is owned by Mr. B. H. Cueksey, looks as though she will do a lot better shortly, for there is no diubt she possesses pace. '

SURE TO GET SUPPORT. As the result of his solid performance in the Hying Stakes at Avondale good support is likely to be forthcoming for Puss Moth in the Shorts Handicap at Ellerslio next Saturday. The Catmint gelding rarely runs a bad race at headquarters, and if lie has made any improvement at all since he appeared at Avondale he will be very hard to beat. He is a brilliant galloper, capable of running out six furlongs from end to end, and his prospects next Saturday appear very bright. ENGAGED IN TWO EVENTS. Lord "\ al has done a fair amount of work since the Avondale meeting and no fault can be found with his condition at the present time. He has been paid up for in two races at the Auckland meeting, the Mitchelson Cup and the Flying Handicap, but according to his trainer the Valkyrian gelding will contest the former event. Lord Val's form at Avondale was a bit disappointing and he will need to show a lot of improvement to have a winning chance in the Mitchelson Cup. WILTSHIRE'S SUCCESS. ; Wiltshire looked to have the steeple-1 chase on the first day at Paeroa in his keeping, judged on his fourth in the Waikato Hunt Cup, and this proved to be the case. Patutahi was with him over the concluding part, but Wiltshire was too seasoned for him at the finish. On Saturday he was warmly supported and made a good showing till the laet fence, but had no chance with Valpcen at the finish, and Mia Stella stayed on better than ho did to pain second money. Wiltshire, however, ran well.

RAN A GOOD RACE. 1 King Meetor ran a surprisingly good race 2 when he finished second to Black Jktarlin in the Hack Cup at Paeroa. and he pro- - mises to develop into a useful three-yeav-t old. When competing in juvenile events s last season the son of Ivintc Lu displayed » abundance of speed, but was slightly defi--1 cient in stamina. He has evidently - improved in that respect, for he ran out 1 the eight furlongs and a half in the Hack 1 Cup in resolute style, considering it was ' his first attempt over that distance. The 1 racing is likely to improve him and better " results can be looked for in the future. * [ WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. t A couple of season ago Prince Val dead- ; heated with Historic for first place in the > Mitchelson Cup, carrying 7.10, and is engaged in the same event next Satuulay [ with 8.3. His only success in the interim i was recorded in the Pluirpton Handicap, i one mile and a quarter, at Avondale about ! two weeks ago, in which event Carfex and i Red Sun filled the minor places, necks i separating the trio. Summed up on that i form Prince Val is entitled to consideral tion in the mile and a half race at Ellerslie s next Saturday. ; WON CUP LAST YEAR. Royal Artist had a race in the Avondale Cup, his first outing this season, while his ' next effort was in the Xaumaruuui Cup at ' Paeroa last Thursday. He was well back \ in the middle stage, but was fourth entering the straight. Half way down he was in second but Desert Star stayed on to beat him lor second position by a head, three-quarters of a length behind Baroscope. Royal Artist won the Mitchelsou Cup last year with 7.10 and now has 8.2. He should be improved as the result of his recent racing when he is saddled up for the big event at Ellerslie on Saturday. A FINE PERFORMANCE. King's Knave put up a great performance when he won the Farewell Handicap, seven furlongs, at Paeroa on Saturday. He had 11.2 in the saddle, and though he had only two opponents he beat them handsomely, running the distance in 1.25 2-5. With such a weight to carry, and the time, it greatly enhances his prospects for the Mitchelson Cup next Saturday, and with 301b off his back he is sure to run a great race. He is bred tp stay, and the manner in which he won the Avondale Cup, one rnilo and a quarter, suggests that a further quarter of a mile will not seriously trouble him. A GREAT FINISH. The Nursery Handicap at Paeroa on Saturday provided one of the best finishes that has been seen in a race, and especially a two-year-old race, for a very long time. There were seven starters, and they went off well. •When the post was reached King Briefly had his head in front of Sporting Song, while half a head away came Pound Sterling, and then practically 'in line another head back were Keith Lu, Rerepai, Lady Burleigh and Gay Athlone. A length and a half would easily have covered the field. The handicapper, Mr. I<\ J. McManemin, must have been pleased with the result.

VALPEEN'S DISPLAYS. Valpeen did not stay on too well in the steeplechase at Paeroa on Thursday. He was the leader during the first part, while Wiltshire and Patutahi were clear of him over the concluding stages, and he finished a dozen lengths behind the winner, Wiltshire. , On Saturday, with half a mile further to go, he showed considerable improvement, for he led all the way. Wiltshire ran up to him about three furlongs from home, but he drew away again and won comfortably. His showing was a great deal better than on the previous day, when he was ridden by. a different jockey. Valpeen should race well at Ellerslie during the week-end, for he knows the country, having won both steeplechases there at the last Pakuranga Hunt meeting. HAS RACED CONSISTENTLY. Baroscope lias raced well this season and he has not reached the end of his winning way by any means yet. At Avondale he was very narrowly beaten by Delravn in the Nihotapu Handicap, seven furlongs, while he ran second to Musquil in the Members' Memorial, one mile and a quarter, at Cambridge on Labour Day. His next effort was in the Taumarnnui Cup at Paeroa on Thursday, in which he was never further away than second, and he outstayed Desert Star to score by threequarters of a length, and paid a nice price. On Saturday, in the President's Handicap, he was much more keenly sought after and scored by a head in a very tight finish, after being one of the leaders for over half the distance. He is in great heart at present, and in whichever event he is started next Saturday at Ellerslie he will have a show.

TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES. 'YYhatever may be said concerning the improvement of transport faeiliti.ee in these latter days, an Auckland racehorse owner who has been a regular patron of the Poverty Bay Turf Club's meetings for a number of years is convinced that overland travel facilities do not suit his purpose (says the "Poverty Bay Herald"). In a'letter to the secretary of the club last week, explaining his inability to reach Gisbovne for the spring meeting, this owner that he had tried to secure the services of horse-floats owned in Auckland, but found that they -were barred from the roads on account of their weight exceeding winter limits. He proposed to travel with his hoi-ses to Taneatua by train, as an alternative, linking up with a float to be sent from Gisborne, but even his willingness to face the expense of this course was unavailing, as the Gisborne float was unable to negotiate the suspension bridge at Waikohu, which narrow structure has been the scene of many difficulties for transport men. Owners of smaller floats at Hamilton were reluctantly compelled to turn down the offer of the racing owner's job, because under transport license regulations they were barred from conveying horses more than 50 miles from Hamilton, and another proposal had to be dropped in consequence. As a last resource the Aucklander was prepared to purchase a float for his own use, and with an expert inspected one which was for sale in his home town. The purchase was not completed, however, and the Aucklander"s horses stayed at home. Incidentally, 'his owner is not the only one who.se good intentions with regard to Poverty Bay meetings have been frustrated by transport difficulties, a northern trainer's tram having been kept away from the winter meeting for the eame cause.

SPEEDY TWO-YEAR-OLD. Gay Egypt, by Gay Shield from, that good mare Miss Egypt, made her first appearance in the Juvenile Handicap on the first day of the Paeroa meeting last i Thursday, and she won well, despite the fact that she ran very wide at the turn. She jumped away smartly and was never J afterwards headed, and she should be heard of again before long, for she should be greatly improved as the result of her race. She is owned by Mr. P. Brenan, who used to race her dam. RAN DOWN LAST. Wee Pat is steadily improving at hurdling and she should get a stake soon. On the first day at Paeroa she drifted a bit in the middle stages, but was coming on again at the finish. On Saturday she and Free Air were leading at the last fence, when she ran down the obstacle and lost a lot of ground, and Cruachan headed her, to score comfortably. If Wee Pat had kept straight she would have accounted for Cruachan. This was the first time she has shown any tendency to act in this way, and her action is hard to account for. MET V/ITH INTERFERENCE. Sporting Song jumped away smartly in both his races at Paeroa, but he was beaten into second place on each occasion. On Thursday he was with Gay Egypt over the first couple of furlongs, but the latter drew away in the straight and had half a length's advantage at the finish. On Saturday he met trouble crossing the top, but once heads were turned for home made a groat run, and looked as though he would win. However, he failed to sustain it, and King Brierly, who was always one of the leaders, stiiyed on to score by a head.