N.Z. HORSES FAVOURED IN MELBOURNE CUP

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28734, 4 November 1958, Page 4

N.Z. HORSES FAVOURED IN MELBOURNE CUP

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE. November 3. New Zealand’s great record In the Melbourne Cup looks likely to be continued tomorrow with either Yeman or Monte Carlo, the two favourites, becoming the fifth New Zealand-bred stayer in the last seven years to win the big two mile handicap at Flemington. Yeman, a grandson of the English Derby winner, Blue Peter, firmed again in the betting today and is quoted al a point less than each-way odds and four points shorter than the second favourite, Monte Carlo. The Caulfield Cup and the Victoria Derby winner. Sir Blink, a certain starter tomorrow, has slipped from second favourite to equal fourth favouritism. > The crack Sydney Jockey, Seville Sellwood, is confident that Yeman will give him his third Melbourne Cup win. Sellwood won on Delta in 1951. and on the New Zealand horse, Toparoa, in 1955. Four final acceptors have been scratched, two other horses have been declared non-starters and the cup field tomorrow is likely to be 29—one less than the new limit. For the first time in its 98-year history, the cup will be started from barrier stalls tomorrow. The track is light and fast, but an expected change in the weather could bring rain before tomorrow afternoon. The Weather Bureau was unable to say today whether rain moving up from South Australia would reach Melbourne before the cup was run. Caranna, Lar Pota, Tuki and the South Australian colt. Jordan, have been withdrawn from the cup, and the New Zealand-bred Grey Jet is an unlikely starter. Monte Carlo After his four lengths win in the MacKinnon Stakes on Saturday, and his earlier victory in the Metropolitan, Monte Carlo is given every chance of winning the cup tomorrow. He failed in the Melbourne Cup last year, but recent wins have shown that his form is much better now, and his trainer, F Dalton, believes there is no reason why he cannot run out the two miles. The Melbourne “Herald’s” veteran racing writer “Cardigan” picks Monte Carlo to win the cup, but says there is just one doubt —his jockey, J. Thompson, does not get on with the horse in the same way as Sellwood. The horse, he says, showed that in the Caulfield Cup in which he was never in the race. Eleven other leading Australian turf writers, including the Melbourne “Herald’s” racing editor, Jack Elliott, have picked Yeman. Two fancy Humber Hawk, and three others favour the lightweighted Victorian four-year-old Red Pine, to win. Elliott favours Yeman because of the New Zealand horse’6 proven ability to run two miles, (he has won the Auckland and Wellington Cups), and because of Sellwood’s great ability as a big race jockey. Yeman, he says, is not harshly treated with 8-11. Red Pine, heavily backed at prices as long as 100 to 1, is the “mystery horse” of the cup.

A four-ycar-old, he began racing only nine months ago and has started 13 times for three wins and five thirds. At his last nine staits he has been once out of a place and that was a fourth. Red Pine has 7-4 in the cup (he was a maiden when handicapped), but was allotted 8-9 in last Saturday’s Hotham Handicap in which he did not start. Three weeks ago he won at Caulfield over one mile and a half with 8-3 and beat some good horses, including Pandi Sun, Humber Hawk, and Pushover. Humber Hawk The most improved New Zealand horse In the field, Humber Hawk—a once-a-year winner in his earlier seasons in Australia —is in top condition, but seems to be overshadowed by Red Pine. The New Zealand-bred Sir Blink is rapidly becoming one of the great three-year-olds of the Australian turf after his wins in the Caulfield Cup and the Victoria Derby, but with 7-12 he has 61b more than weight-for-age to carry tomorrow. Only one three-year-old in the race’s history, Newhaven (7-13>, has carried more weight and won the cup. Sir Blink was given oxygen treatment to restore his breathing after his Derby win on Saturday. He was given oxygen through a nose bag and appeared today to have fully recovered from a hard race. Sixteen of the 32 acceptors for the cup have been bracketed together on the totalisator. Officials were forced to do this as the Flemington totalisator can handle only 24 numbers. Brackets in the cup are: White Hills and Gazette, Jordan and Dream Son, Auteuil and Red Pine, Broken Blaze and Lourdale, Solgleam and Coal, Mac and Grey Jet, Mineral Sands and Neves. Our Pentzia and Gold Craze. Almost all fancied runners have drawn wide for the cup. Yeman (29) and Red Pine (30) are side by side. The Derby winner, Sir Blink, has 23, White Hills 31, Pandie Sun 18, and Monte Carlo 19. Humber Hawk (6) and Baystone (10) drew best of the first seven fancies. The widest winning barrier position in the last 10 years was Rimfire’s 23 in 1948. In 1955 Toparoa had 21. The cup field, with riders and barrier draws, is:— MELBOURNE CUP,

Of £15.500. Two miles. st. lb. Monte Carlo (19), J. Thompson 9 6 Prince Darius (3), G. Moore . 9 6 Pushover (26), P. Glennon 8 11 Yeman (29), N. Sellwood 8 11 Baystone (10), M. Schumache 8 9 Pandie Sun (18), Hutchinson . 8 9 Newstone (16) 8 6 Macdougal (9> 8 5 Dawdie (4), C. McLaughlan . 7 13 Star Aim (21), T. Hoppo 7 13 Humber Hawk (6), K. Ford . 7 12 Sir Blink (23), R. Reed 7 12 Asian Court (8), G. Aistrope . 7 9 Gazette (24) 7 7 Rise Again (5), R. Mallyon . Storm Warning (28) 7 7 White Hills (31), N. McGrowdi 7 7 Auteui] (32), N. Pyatt .. 7 5 Dream Son (1) 7 5 Red Pine (30). F. Treen 7 4 Broken Blaze (25) 7 3 Lourdale (17) .. . 7 1 Coal (14) K. Smith .. 7 0 Solgleam (11) 7 0 Grey Jet (7) 6 12 Mac (27), B. Quinlan 6 12 Mineral Sands (22), R. Kingstor 6 11 Gold Craze (12) 6 7 Neves (15), P. Bakos .. 6 7 Our Pentzia (20) 6 7 Scratched: Jordan and Tukl.