MELBOURNE CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 3

MELBOURNE CUP.

THIRTY-ONE REMAIN. PROSPECTS OF MALA. N.Z. WEJUL REPRESENTED. The Melbourne Cup will be decided at Flemington next Tuesday and considerable interest will be taken in the race, owing to tlie fact that there are seven New Zealand-owned and bred horses engaged. Thirt3-one remain 'in, and Aliunga (9.1) is at the head. As a three-year-old he won the V.R.C. St. Leger and also the A.J.C. St. Leger, while last season he scored in the Aufcmn Plate, one mile and a half, at Randwick, and also took the A.J.C. l'late, two miles and a quarter. This season he has won the Spring Stakee, one mile and a half, on the same course, while he was narrowly beaten by Talking in the Craven Plate, and acted as runnerup to Mala in the Kandwick Plate, two miles. Wotan (9.0) created a great surprise in the last Melbourne Cup, when he won with 7.11, establishing an Australasian record for two miles. This season he was second in the Tullamore Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Moonee Valley, and was beateu a head by his etable companion. International, in the Herbert I'ow.er Handicap, one mile and three iurlongs, at Caulfteid. Wotan failed to ehow up in the Caultield Cup iast week, but all the same he is not without prospects, for lie is a good stayer. Mala (8.12) was one of the best three-year-olds in Australia last seaepn, and won the Randwick Plate recently. He was sixth in the last Melbourne Cup, and only for bad luck in the race would have been much closer. He will be one of the best fancied. Flood Tide (8.9) has had two races since he has been in Melbourne, the Herbert Power Handicap and the Caulfield Cup. In the former event he was in the lead till the straight was reached, where he faded out, while in the Caulfield Cup he was well back for most of the way, and finished on to get sixth. Donaster, who is on the same mark, showed good form ae a three-year-old, winning the King's Cup at Adelaide, and last sc-aeon he annexed the Adelaide Cup and Coronation Cup, stamping himself as a firet-class stayer. He later failed in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, carrying 8.7 in the latter event. La*st week he was third in the Caulfield Cup. and evidently is returning to his best form again.

Twice Second. Sarcherie (8.9) wae second in the Melbourne Cup to Peter Pan in 1934, and occupied a similar position behind Marabou m 1936, while she wae tenth last year. ; At the recent A.JJC. meeting she won the Sydney Handicap, one mile and a half, so she is evidently not far from her best again. Black Mac (.8.7J won the Memsie Stakes, nine furlongs, at Caulfield in September, defeating Young Idea. As a stayer he will have to be taken on trust. Balkan Prince and Silver Standard are on the 8.6 mark.' The former won over a mile and a half in Weet Australia, and at the Melbourne Cup meeting laet year scored in the Hotham Handicap, one mile and a half, and ran up to that form by finishing third in the Melbourne Cup. Recently he won the Mentone Jubilee Cup, one mile and a quarter, and was third in the Toorak Handicap, one mile, at Caulfield. This horse has been sore recently, but it is stated that he is showing improvement, and it ie expected that howill take his place in the field. Silver Standard hae had an exasperating run in big races, for his seconds include the Queensland Turf Club's Moreton Handicap, the Doombin Handicap, run at the same meeting, the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup. This-season he won the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Roeehill, beating Sir Regent and others, and creating a new record for the race. Sir Regent, however, beat him by a head in the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick recently. Silver Standard will be assured of a great reception if he wine. The Trump (8.5) won over nine furlongs at Caulfield in August and recently accounted for the loorak Handicap, one mile, and the Caulfield Cup, for which he was favourite. The Chanter (8.4) has nothing to his credit this season. Mestoravon (8.2) won the Sydney Cup laet seaeon and wae successful in the Newcastle Cup. one mile ■•ind three furlongs, last September, while Willie Win (8.1). who won the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton last l-.astcr. has hart a couple of races since his arrival in Melbourne, these being the Stand Handicap, at Flemington. and the Caulfifld Cup. in which he failed to set into the picture. Jack Horner (8.0) has very little to his credit.

Raced Well as Three-year-old. Alinura (7.13) won the Derby and St. Legcr at Adelaide as a three-year-old, and Inst season she scored over a mile and three furlongs at Caulfield. Mutable (7.13) won the Australian Cup, two miles and a quarter, last season, and was successful over a mile at Caulfield in August He was unplaced in the Caulfield Cup last week. Sir Regent (7.10) won the Metropolitan Handicap by a head from Silver standard and last week was second in the ( aulfield Cup, being narrowly beaten by The Trump. However, he was stated to be very unlucky, suffering interference, and. but for this, Australian writers are of opinion that he would have beaten The Trump. Frill Prince (7.9) won the Moonec \ alley Cup, one mile and five furlongs, last Saturday but is stated to be an unlikely starter. Royal Step (7.7) was successful in the City Tattersalls Handicap recently, while Hua. on the same mark was third in the A.J.C. Derby and occupied a similar position in the Caulfield (■uincas. He is looked upon as one of the most likely three-year-olds to score. John Wilkes (7.4), a three-year-old, won the Melbourne Stakes, one mile, earlier in the month, beating Pnmelus and Donaster. The owner of Talking recently offered 6000gs for him. Bristol (6.13). who is of the same age, won the Canterbury Guineas, nine furlongs, and was second in the Members' Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Randwick. though he failed to fill a place in the A.J.C." Derby. Gay Knight (7.2) won the Spring Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, at Rosehiii. and was second to Sarcherie in the Sydney Handicap, at Randwick. International 17.5) put up his best performance when he won the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield recently. Vaalsmore (6.7) beat Old Rowley in the Spring Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Sydney Tattersalls, while he was third in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap. Tapestry (7.2) was third over a mile and three" furlongs at Rnsehill and was second in the Waverley Handicap, one mile and three-quarters, at Randwick.

In Hotham Handicap. A pood many of the Melbourne Cup candidates are engaged in the Hotham Handicap, one mile and a half, which is run at Flemington on Saturday, and this race may provide a guide as to the result of the big event. However, some that may be fancied are: Mala. Silver Standard Sir Regent, The Trump, Wotan and Hua. The Melbourne Cup acceptances are:— ;«?.:: \l fVwL J V Main .... 8 12 Royal Step . 7 7 Flood Tide . 8 9 Hua 7 7 Ponnstpr ..89 Niantfruara '. 7 6 S.irchorip ..89 Rod Kay 7 5 Blr.ck Mac . 8 7 International 7 5 rtnlkan ITince S 6 John Wilkos 7 4 S y. vcr , . «ay Knight . 7 2 Standard . 8 6 Tappstrr 7 o The Trump . 8 5 Mascara'des ' 6 13 Thp Chanter 8 4 Bristol ' 6 13 Mesforavon 8 2 Old Rowley '. 61" Willie Win . 8 1 Royal JacK Homer 8 0 Messenger . 611 Alinura ... 713 Vaalmore . 6 7 Mutable ... 7 13