Even Stevens Is Back In Favour For Cup

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29972, 6 November 1962, Page 5

Even Stevens Is Back In Favour For Cup

(.N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, November 5. The New Zealand stayer, Even Stevens, and Australia’s former sprint champion and new stayer, Aquanita, are sharing favouritism tonight for the £20,750 Melbourne Cup at Flemington tomorrow. Both are at a point better than each-way odds.

Even Stevens joined Aquanita at the top of the market today after reports that he ran a sensational secret trial very early yester-

day morning. The trainer, A. McGregor, admitted today that Even S evens ‘ 'exercised'' yesterday but would not give details.

A racecourse patrol officer said Even Stevens “went like the wind” in the trial gallop. Aquanita earlier displaced Even Stevens as cup favourite after defeating Sky High in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.

Sydney's millionaire philanthropist and former leading racehorse owner. Sir Adolph Basser, disclosed today that

he had made an approach to buy Even Stevens. The horses's owner, Mr James Wattie, of Hastings, had told him that the horse was not for sale at any price.

Another development today was a surprise riding switch by leading Sydney jockey, George Moore, who rode River Seine in the Hotham Handicap on Saturday and was booked to ride him again in the cup. River Seine, an early cup favourite, finished eleventh In the Hotham. after starting favourite at 11/8. The previous Saturday, ridden by R. Higgins, he won the Moonee Valley Cup.

Moore asked to be freed of the cup engagement, so that he could take the mount on New Zealand-bred Raajpoot. Bookmakers quickly reacted to the switch, and River Seine drifted further out of the market and Raajpoot firmed. Raajpoot came in four points and River Seine drifted out four.

"Moore has such a big following that anything he rides

is backed for a fortune.” a leading bookmaker said today. Last year’s Melbourne Cup favourite. Sparkler, was scratched today, after pulling up lame in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.

Jockey W. Williamson rode the New Zealand stayer. Quite Able, in final exercise at Caulfield today.

The trainer, Russel Wallis, said Quite Able was very fit and had shown no signs of leg trouble since the Hotham Handicap. The scratching of Sparkler let the emergency. Come On, into the cup field. Come On, the 500 to 1 outsider of the cup, probably the longest long-shot in the history of the race—arrived from New South Wales late today.

Jack Purtell. who has already won three Melbourne Cups— Hiraji (1947), Wodalla (1953), and Rising Fast (1954) —said today he was hopeful he could win for the fourth time on Le Storm.

That would equal the cup riding record of Bobby Lewis, who won on The Victory, Patrobas. Artilleryman, and Trivalve.

Purtell said Le Storm’s Hotham Handicap win was a great trial for the cun. “Whatever beats me in the cup will be the winner,” Purtell said. Only two favourites both New Zealand owned—have won the cup in the last IS years. They were Dalray, at 3/1 in 1952, and Rising Fast at 5/2 in 1954.

Phar Lap. at 11/8 on, in 1930, was the shortest priced favourite to win.

An estimated £5,000.000 will be invested on the cup throughout Australia tomorrow.

The forecast is for fine, sunny weather, and course officials are expecting a near-record crowd of about 100,000.