THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 4 November 1930, Page 14

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

TO-DAY'S GREAT RACE, PHAR LAP A RECORD FAVOURITE The Victoria Racing Club's Spring Meeting will be continued at Flemington to-day, when most interest will be centred in the long-CBtablished Melbourne Cup, recognised as the greatest race in Australia or New Zealand. The field remaining in after the second forfeit on Tuesday last is as follows: — MELBOURNE COT, A sweepstakes of 75 boys each, with 10,000 ecus added; uecond 2000, third 1000. 2m. St. 1%. £l. K. Telford's cli s Phar Lap by Night Raid—Entreaty 4yrs . . 0 13 E. F. Smith's b g Donald by Don Reynaldo—Andoe aged . . 8 12 E. Lee Steere's ch g Second Wind by Grniulcourt or Psychology—First Blow syra . . . . 8 12 L. K. S. Muekinnon's br h Carradale by Caravel—Vicella 4yrs .. 8 9 H, J. Winter's b g Soulton by Paddington—Evelyn Soult 6yrg . . 8 3 H. Lowis's ch jn Nadean by St. An-ton—-Ijodes 6yrs . . ..80 F. E. Shillabeer's b g Shadow Kins by Comedy King—Beryllla Syrs 7 12 J. E. Pelham and M. Cummiiis's ch m Some Quality 6yrs . . 7 11 W. Hadley's b g Star God by Martian —Star Lady 6yrs . . 7 11 A. Trevor and A. D. Webster's b ff First Acre by Acre—Olta aged . . 7 9 E. Moss's br e Veilmond by Limond— Veil 3yrs . ..76 J. Wren's b g Muratti by Spearhead— Floretina aged . . ..76 Exors. late J. Brown's b c Balloon King by Air Balloon—Princess Berry 3yrs . . ..76 P. H. Osborne's b h John Buchan by Buchan—Motherwort syrs . . 7 5 J. Wilson's eh c Wapilly by Blankney 11. Enough Syrs . . ..73 J. Scobie's b g Temptation by Koyal Alwvne—Tempered syrs . . 7 0 C. O. Battye'o ch c Tregilla by Tre-clare--Maltgilla Syrs .. 6 13

Phar Lap will go out as the shortestpriced favourite in the history of tho race, and with all the high-class handicap horses out of the way his task appears to be as easy as those ho has so successfully executed this season. Racegoers will probably confine their attention to selecting the minor placegetters, and these may comprise Carradale and Balloon King. Other events to be decided to-day are: Cup Hurdle Race, of COO bovs, two miles; Railway High-weight Handicap, of COO sovs, six furlongs; November Nursery, of GOO sovs, five furlongs; Cup Steeplechase, of COO sovs, about two miles and half a furlong; and Yan Yean Stakes, of (iOO sovs, one mile.

THE SEVENTIETH CONTEST

INTERESTING INCIDENTS RECALLED. The contest for to-day's Melbourne Cup will be the seventieth for the celebrated event. In the history of almost every big race extending over a long stretch of years, many incidents of a highly sensational order aro interwoven, and the following reminiscences will Indicate' that the Melbourno Cup has itß full quota of such happenings. The first sensational surprise occurred in the 1871 race, vrhen The Pearl led the field home. Mr John Tait, who owned The Pearl, had a second string to his bow, Pvrahus, who was the one on whom the stable hopes rested. The Pear! was quite out of favour, and it is a fact that a wager of £9OO to £9 was laid against him just prior to the start. The Pearl developed unexpected dasli when' by the favourite, Romula, in the elosing stage, and, disposing of his opposition, won by two lengths amid tremendous excitement. At X.ong Odds. Eight years later there was another pointed illustration of the glorious uncertainty of racing. The three-year-old Suwarroiv, who had won the V.K.C. Derby on tho opening day, and who figured in the cup with 0-1, waß tho popular fancy, and his party had him backed for a very large stake, Suwarrow flattered the hopes of his admirers by leading into the straight, but an outsider, Darriwell, who started at 100 to 1, dashed into the load at the distance, and, holding his advantage, won by half a length from Sweetmeat, who beat the favourite by a neck. A further sensational page was added in 1881, when Zulu scored a victory, the favourite division suffering a complete rout. The De'rby winner, Darebin, ruled a warm favourite, but he was in trouble before the straight was reached, and Zulu, who went to the front a long way from the post, survived all .challenges and won by three-quarters of a length from The Czar. Owing to a leg trouble, Zulu was regarded as a probable non-starter on tho eve of the race, and odds of 50 to 1 were called about him as he went to the post. . . y® ar following the favourite division was once again counted out of the place-getters. The race was run in torrents of rain, and The Assyrian, who started at the forlorn odds of 100 to 1, won by a length from Stockwcll, who was followed by another outsider, Gudarz. ' Carbine's Defeat. Bravo, who won in 1889, furnished another illustration that it is unsafe to* write a horse out on the grounds of unsoundness. After contesting the Caulfield Cup in the year named Bravo displayed pronounced lameness, and his chance of starting in the Melbourne Cup was m some quarters regarded as so hopeless that he was counted out in the betting, and one wager laid against him was £IO,OOO to £SO. However Bravo shook off his lameness and on the' day he was quoted at 8 to 1. Carbine held command at the distance, but although he made a game effort to ward off Bravo's challenge, he had to surrender to the son of Grand Flaneur who won by a length. ' When the field lined up in 1892, Malvolio, who had won the previous year was the ruling favourite, and that too' in the face of his being called upon to' carry top weight, 9-S, on a heavy course and with rain in evidence. Malvolio was a complete disappointment, and a trio of outsiders—Glen!oth, Ronda and Penance—fought out the finish. Glenloth, who fairly revelled in the heavy going, took command below the distance, and he romped home an easy winner. Glenloth was quoted at 50 to 1, and once again the pencillers had a great win, for he was practically unbacked. Derby Winner Beaten. The race of 1393 was rc dered very noteworthy by reason of the fact that the odds quoted against the favourite, Sainfoin, were 8 to 1, the Derby winner, Carnage, who had ruled second favourite, standing at a point longer. Carnage endeavoured to win from start to finish, but inside the distance Tarcoola shot up with an overpowering run and defeated him by half a length. Tarcoola's staying capacity was greatly doubted, and he started at 40 to 1. Brothers in Action. In 1894 the field included two brothese, ituenalf (syrs) and Patron

(4yrs), Buenalf being weighted at 7-7 (261b under weight-for-age) and Patron at 9-3 (31b over wexght-for-age). Ruenalf had won races under standard weight-for-age conditions, and on paper the cup was voted "all over bar shouting." One thing seemed quite certain, and that was that Patron would not defeat his well-performed brother, for he figured among the field Ruenalf worsted in the Melbourne Stakes a few days before Ruonalf started a hot favourite, but weight of money did not assist lam to a victory, and, after leading tlie field gix furlongs from the post, ho collapsed, and Patron, having staying capacity, cut down the opposition in gamo style, winning by three-quarters of a length from Devon (7-12), with Nada (7-0) a neck away third. Patron Btarted at 33 ta 1, and his victory holds a place among the most sensational in the history of the race. A New Zealand Favourite.

In 1895 a Ally named Auraria ran in the Derby on the opening day of the V.K.C. Spring. Meeting, and, as she was well beaten by Wallace and Osculator, her prospects in the Cup were regarded as forlorn. Tho Auckland-bred horse Hova, who had won weight-for-age honours in the Melbourne Stakes, and who had an impost Mb under weight-for-age in the Cup, ruled a strong favourite. Hova was galloping well in the lead when the home turn was reached, and his victory was loudly proclaimed. It was all too soon, however. Auraria shot up with a surprising challenge to Hova in the straight, and lighting it out with rare courage, she boat the favourite by a nock. In 1921 Eurythmic, who figured top weight with 10-5, went to the post a warm favourite at 4 to 1, but his large circle of admirers were to suffer a sharp roverse. A mishap that came against Eurythmic half a mile from tho winning post led to his being pulled up, and it was left to a trio of outsiders— Sister Olive, The Rover, and Amazonia, to fill the places. Sister Olive had very little to her credit, and, as she was subsequently beaten into third place in the V.R.C. Oaks, she is regarded as one of the most moderate performers included in the list of winners of the great Flemington race. Ntw Zealand-bred horses have had a fair share of the honours in past years, the winners including Martini Henry (1883), Carbine (1890), Apologne (1907), Sasanof (1916), and Nightmarch (1929). The best time for the race, 3.22J, stands to the joint credit of Windbag (1925) and Spearfelt (1920), and the highest weights carried to victory were:—lo-5 by Carbine (1890), 10-2 by Archer (1862), and 10-0 by Poitrcl (1920). UNSETTLED WEATHER INDICATED. PHAR LAP REPORTED FIT. tar.a.i association —by electric TBLECRAPH —COPIRIOHT.) (Received November 3rd, 7,45 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 3. Tho forecast for to-morrow is a sou'w.esterly change, with cloudy, squally, and unsettled to showery weather. Tho Mclbourno Cup race Btarts at 3.30. Phar Lap, who he 3 been sent away from Caulfield, is reported to be all right. The New Zealand horses engaged tomorrow include First Acre and Star God. in tho Cup, and Princess Betty in tho Yan Yean Stakes. Red Itoyal, who was an acceptor in the Yan Yean Stakes, has returned to New Zealand. On the course proper at Flemington to-day, Tregilla went three furlongs in 43. •Star God galloped a miie in 1.58 and Wapilly covered three furlongs in 38». Phar Lap's total winnings amount to £35,408. Carradale is to be sold at auction on Thursday. F. Dcmpsey rideß Soulton in tho Melbourne Cup. \ OAKS ACCEPTORS. MELBOURNE, November 8. Acceptors for the Oaks Stakes', to bo decided at Flemington on Thursday, are as follows: Miss Arrow, Mural Crown, Mira Donna, Homedalo, Carry On. Kaftan, Spear Girl, Scintillation", Cold Shoulder, Barbette, Ormolu, and Kidston. BALLOON KING'S WIN. SYDNEY, November 3. In eommenting on tho Victorian Derby, the "Sydney Morning Herald" 1 says Balloon King's win was thorough ly deserved.. Taking charge entering the straight, he had too much reserve for Veilmond, who considerably increased his task by running erratically over last furlong, and twice impeded the progress of Miss Arrow. The only excuse for Veilmond, who also wag beaten into second placo in the A.J.C. Derby, was that he was not good enough for the winner, who was ridden excellently" by J. Pike. WAIKATO R.C. (yausa association telegbahM WELLINGTON. November 8. Valsier has been rehandicapped at 7-6 for the Waikato Cup. W AIM ATE HUNT CLUB. There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Waimate Hunt Club, the president (Mr E. C. Studholme) presiding. In thq annual report it was stated that the following at the weekly hunts had been well up to that ot previous years, but the season had been an unfortunate ono for the hounds owing to distemper breaking out. The point-to-point meeting had been most successful. The annual steeplechase meeting had shown a failing off in receipts, the gate takings being £154 Is, and the totalisator turnover £4914 10s, as against £197 18s 6d and £5732 10s, respectively, at the meeting in 1928, and resulted in a financial deficiency on the day of £3l. The balance-sheet showed that the year commenced with a debit balance at the bank of £369 10s Bd, nad closed with a debit balance at tho bank of £394 17a 3d, after paying off a mortgage of £73. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. I The election of officers resulted:—President, Mr E. C. Studholme; master, Captain N. A. Rattray; deputy-master, Mr C. I>uuglas; committee, Messr.s F. Brown, A. P. Boyle, E. C. d'Auvergne, E. B. Fraser, II j' C. Hurper, H. N. Medhcott, A. Medlicott D Maodofiuld, J. S. Manchester, R. Rickma'n J/ Wai'die, S. R. Wood; auditor. Mr J. M Rattray. Messrs M. J. Meehan (Mskikihi), K. Paterson (Waimate), and Rupert and R Harrison (W aihao Downs) were elected members.