NEW ZEALAND CUP WEIGHTS

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7362, 15 July 1889, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND CUP WEIGHTS

Reviewed by Spectator. The appearance of the weights for the New Zealand Cup " on time" on Saturday last, caused no more—indeed not so much —notice aa would have been shown over the issuing of a handicap for some £20 event, a few years ago. TattersaU's Club was quite deserted, and that institution as a place in which business on coming events can be done is practically deaa. " A member for Tattersalls," such as he | of "Pink un" fame, would., find his j occupation gone in New Zealand, in which Christchurcn TattersaU's is the chief of New Zealand hotting institutions. Though I was present shortly after the posting ot the weights for the race in question in the waiting room, I found no one about but Mr Westmacott, the acting secretary. The first impression I formed on glancing at the weights was that a start had been made J at a weight necessary to allow the handicappers dealing with such afield, and I don't think that it can well be said that 9st 61b is an extreme weight to ask a performer like Manton to carry. True, 1 never saw him really well, and I can only iudge him on what I saw him do when not himself in Auckland, aud at Wanganui, and on what he was reported to have achieved at Napier and Canterbury Spring Meetings last season. I should certainly take him to be a first-class horse when himself, and one that a few pouuds in weight would not trouble, but I cannot see the.jusfrice of making him concede 61b to Cuirassier, whom I take to be a better horse—not because the latter beat him in Auckland. That performance is ignored by most racing men, and the handlcappers in thi3 instance have shown that they attach no value to it whatever, but they have based their judgment on what Manton did with Cuirassier here. Now Manton was acknowledged to be very well, and capable of doing a much greater performance when he won the Derby here, but any judge will admit that Cuirassier was the worst-conditioned colt of the lot, and moreover ran respectably though beaten. In Auckland, Manton, up to the time he fell in the Cup. though he had contracted a cold, was reckoned by those connected with him to have a big say of winning. He was going very well when he fell. His fall caused him to become sore, and a week later he met Cuirassier, and his owner and friends were as sanguine when the flag fell as ever, and with them Manton was literally going to make hacks of his field. Hilda, who was none the worse for her gallop in her Cup race, showing no more soreness in her feet than a week before, was thought to possess a chance of lowering hie colours, but Cuirassier, on account of believed want of condition, was not going to have a say in the final settlement of the question. This indeed was pretty much the opinion held by the public and clever men who bad seen the horses run before. Jimmy Kean, the trainer, and Jack Keau, the rider of Cuirassier, fancied their colt, and the latter told mc that if there was a little more time the Derby would be a good thing for Cuirassier, and as it was Manton would have to stretch himself. I took particular stock of the horses before the race, and noticed that Cuirassier was somewhat excited and sweating, and he hardly left the paddock like a horse in thorough condition, and though Manton was made most use of and Cuirassier was ridden a most patient race, and won, he was undoubtedly the most distressed of the three starters at the flnieh. I think a horseman like Clifford could have got Manton home a winner in that event. Holmes, however, rode to orders and went to burst up his opponent. Now, if the bandicappers iraaglue that Manton lost the Auckland Derby through being amiss they should have taken into consideration the condition that Cuirassier wan in when he met Manton In Napier, at Riccarton, and at Ellerslie. The time in which the Auckland Derby was run was sufficient to show that Cuirassier at all events had improved on his Canterbury form, and the way he finished home should have led to a different estimate of his merits. It is a matter of opinion, however, and mine is that Cuirassier is the better horse, but apart from that I consider that Manton'e bare victory in Napier and the reversal of Canterbury form at Auckland, should have caused the handicappers to have placed the two horses on the same mark. For the reason that I think Cuirassier a better horse than Manton, I must consider him a better treated horse than Chain Shot, who has full allowance of weight, and who can hardly be considered to have proved himself within 61b of Manton under this -scale 1 of weights. Dudu, for bo good* a performer, could not have escaped with less, and I consider that her owner has not much to complain of so long as she keeps sound. Recluse, who has been first favourite for some time, need not be given a second thought. The handicappers expect him to run nearly a two stone better horse than he did in the Wanganui Cup. He is a jrood an d a brilliant colt buf.npe one that I expect to see so much' improvement in as to make mc believe that' netae a show with each cattle as Duda at a difference of 21b, or with . Cuirassier at the same difference, or with Manton at a difference of 81 bs. Manton at Wanganui, wan said to be all to pieces, indeed he had a bruised heel and was lame after the race, and many thought him ho before it. .To give some idea, he was beaten hy the little flat and hurdle horse Ahua in a two mile gallop (v few mornings before. Dudu then beat Recluse, who was very well, and there > was no less than 251bs between them. Two I pounds is cow thought to be a fair estimate of the difference.between them. I don 6 think Recluse has a show. Sultan, on the same mark I would much prefer if he Is the I horse he is represented to be over this particular journey, and I should prefer him to Son-of-a-Gun at a difference of 7 lbs. Hilda at Bsl3)ba is one of the best thing* in the handicap if she can be brought tit to the post. I can't fancy Springston at Bst, and I consider his performance hardly warranted so much weight. Silver mark has also too much, and ; Wolverine has quite enough I should think., Whisper is a good mare if she can be brought to the post well, and would run a fair race with her impost, but Apropos would find her weight plenty to carry to the end of two miles. Exchange is unsound and may be passed. British Lion on his best form has qolte enough. I question whether Occident is a genuine two miler, but he has not been badly served. Masthead is credited with having done some marvellous gallons in private. She is in about her right place on public form. Gipsy Prince at 7st 91b has quite enongb. Merrie England and Corunna have been made more of than any coming three-year-olds in previous handicaps, and Manton in like manner has been treated to more weight than any coming four-year-olds were, ; 9st 61b is his weight for age in November, and 7st 61b Is the weight for age for the three-year-olds. Merrie Engand Corunna have each 2lbs over their weight-forage. Good as Maxim proved himself as a two-year-old after having measured strides in Australia with tho best there. Good as bextant and Niagara each proved themselves they were not asked to carry more than their weight-for. age, though on this occasion It may be pointed out that Manton is handicapped to be within a pound of as good as Maxim was handicapped to be at the same age. I don t think either of the colt* are badly treated,

for good three-year-olde we are learning to reckon with more and more as time nneZ oh, but I do think that where Mc?,?! England to Scots Grey should have been with him, or at least nearer to him and that some distinction might more reason ably have been expected between Scots Grey and Dunkeld. At the Autumn Meeting Scots Grey was j ll8 t beaten under the heavier scale of weights but under a lighter scale won from 'both Merrie England and Dunkeld. Scots Grey looked full of flesh and Merrie England also was biz. St. Clair has too much by a few lbs, Vandal has more than he has earned, Lady Norah, who has performed fairly when well, is amongst the best treated, and if any way forward now and if given a thorough no half and half preparation, I should stand her to finish out two miles. Lorraine may be a good horse, but I have no fancy for him. Jet d'Eaa I have always considered a likely colt to win a good stake, and I look upon him as a dangerous one with 7st Sib Dunkeld hardly looks like staving two miles, but he has a nice weight. Lady Florin has been pitched in if only half as good as some clever folk think. I looked upon her as one of the most likely two-year-olds to develop into Cup form, out she has so far failed to come up to my estimate. Engagement is another well treated one. St. James will hardly be found class. He has nothing to complain of on the score of weight. 01 all the other two-year-olds I like Cissj well. Strephon is said to be promising, but there are several amongst the number that promise to furnishintouseful animals Wauganui being one, about which I have heard good accounts. Some of the two-year-olds on the 6st 71b mark, however, might well have been placed at the foot of the handicap with Rainbow, who has shown winning form while such as Quilt and Quadrant have showed that there is a considerable difference between them. Why Quadrant should receive 21b from Helmsman or why the latter should concede weight to anything I can't understand. Alsace if served in the same manner as Ravenswlog rnighs come out and surprise us. I am certain she can race, and it is a matter of setting her well. To pick out ten horses at this stage I like Cuirassier, Dudu, Sultan, Hilda, Lady Norab, Jet d" Eau, Scots Grey, Merrie England, Corunna and Strephon, and I like their pretty much in order.