THE MELBOURNE CUP HORSES,

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7356, 8 July 1889, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE CUP HORSES,

To review at length the prospects of the 127 horses in the Melbonrne Cup this year would be a task which would take up a lot more space than it would be worth. During late years I have given some study to Australian racing, and made a point of reviewing annually the greatest turf event on this side of the Line. After hours of careful study of form up to the present time, aud giving due consideration to what information I have received from time to time from the Australian papers and from private sources, I shall as briefly as possible give the conclusions that I have formed: —Ist, that there are altogether a fair proportion of good horses in the race, but few good two mllers of these we have seen perform. There are a large number of moderate and a very large number of bad or indifferent animals, while there are many of which It is impossible to say whether they are good,bad, or indifferent. There are many under suspicion or infirm, in which class are represented a few good ones well-treated probably for no other reason. I hardly expected Mr Barnard to start so high. The first horse on the list is the New Zealander, Carbine, with the steadier of lOst, A lot of weight certainly, but a good one takes a lot of stopping. Mentor has had a big trouble. He is good, but held safe by his stable mate above him, Abercorn, a good horse, but held safe by Carbine. Australian Peer not the genuine article supposed, held safe by all above him. Maxim real good,nicely handicapped, best of top weights, but a question of going to the post. Manton, another good one under suspicion, would probably meet more than a match in Maxim, but would beat Carbine.

Currassier one of the best horses in the colonies. If he trains from now to November as he did from a two to three year old, will be one of the hardest nuts to crack ever seen in Australia. Melos, no show with such cattle as the last mentioned. Cardigan, a fair show. Tradition, not sanguine about him. Bravo an outside squeak. Niagara, good horse, nicely weight, but infirm. Chain Shot, fairly treated, and training on would have a say. Ldndsdale a market horse, always coming but never comes. The Yeoman, -not class enough. Recall, not game, and a disappointment. Somneil, a fair horse, held safe by Chain Shot and other New Zealanders. Sedition, evidently a stayer, as anything winning a New Market Handicap in the way she did mast possess some staying quality, a goodmare. Keith, one of the best treated horses in the race, a good show. Wycombe doubtful if class. Ben Bolt no show. Aristocrat too far. Oakleigh no good. Pakeha, will see him do better this season than ever ; will win a good stake this season, and Melbonrne Cup may not be too far. Chicago, a leg, and too far. Silver Prince, infirm. Chaldean, probably not class. Whakawai, better than generally supposed; has a show. Tranter, infirm, no show. The Sawyer, not class. Lamond, plenty of weight for a small one; can stay, and age may have served him. Benzon, too big for journey. Lelchardfc, not class. Bowmont, can't ferret good race; he ran when Silvermlne was killed; show, if well. Silverton, beyond him. Ernani, too far, Caulfleld Cap suit better, Centaur, too far. Chetwynd, been expected to come, bat doubtful if good enough. Rudolph, too far. Bichlieu, well worth watching; good colt, Vandal, not a thousand to one show. Corunna, real grit, but small; like others better. Knight of the Garter, evidently fairish colt. Toorbillon, no good. Marvel, good colt. Sinecure, one of the best two-year.olds. Don Giovanni, under a cloud. Claude, not class. Savanaka, no good. Merrie England, a racehorse; well treated. Antaeus, a fair colt. Marie, no good. Carrington, not class. Churchill, from a quarter that knows, a good one; said to be "a screamer." Snowfoot and Moorbank, not class. Sumatra, can't stay. Dunkeld, hardly class. Simon, can't stay. Alchemist, Daley, ho good. The Tyler, a fairish colt. Grand Chester, Menalto and St. Panl, no show. Engagement, a show when well will win a gook race. Papua (late Guinea), no show. Maggie, a real good mare treated well. Gasburner, poor chance. Singapore, some think White's dead bird. Sinecure, mc for choice. Sydney, no show. Silvermere, t.ot class. Tartar, too small, good pony. Fabulous, not class. Little Bob.f air colt. Blue Nose, moderate. Bustler, no good. The Gift, a very fast one and of much promise. Little Bernie, not class. Lord Bundoora, probably best of Gardner's string of two-year-olds. Nearly all tbe others are unknown or unperformed or wanting in class, but those not mentioned will be dealt with later on. Of those from nine to ten stone I like best, \ Maxim and Manton (both of which may succumb to the exigences of training. Of those from 9et toßst, Corassier, Cardigan, Sedition, Chain Shot, Keith and Pakeha. From 89C to 7st, Whakawai, Rowmont, Riobelieuf-Merrie England, Churchill, Marvel. Of the lighter weights that have performed I like Maggie. If I had to reduce this lot to a hail dozeq, Xshould have three New Zealanders at least to represent mc. From this It will be Been thai I am not one who thinks tbe New Zealanders have been badly treated.