FIELD FOR CUP

Press, 1 November 1977, Page 28

FIELD FOR CUP

4.40 p.m. (NX. time)l—--MELBOURNE CUP $150,000; 3200 m. ? 7606 VAN DER HUM (4) 55 (6 g Hermes—Tip O’ Dawn; trainer, L. H. Robinson). Won , this race on a bog track iast ( year. Should be preferred to some doubtfuls at this distance but won’t be a top fancy if the track remains firm.

R. Skelton Colours: Cerise, green diagonal stripes and cap. 2 5852 GOLD AND BLACK (14) 57 (5 g In The Purple—Gam; trainer, J. B. Cummings). Sealed his place as favourite with bold finishing run for second in Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. Runner-up to Van der Hum in this race last year with conditions all against him. Also second to Reckless In Sydney Cup. J. Duggan

Colours: Gold and black hoops, gold cap. 3 3070 ROYAL CADENZA (If) 57 (5 g Bucaroon—Cadenza; trainer, E : S. Dromgool). Has been racing well below best form on hard tracks.

Colours: Green, gold stars, armbands and cap. 4 1584 RECKLESS (16) 56.4 (7 g Better Boy — impulsive; trainer, T. Woodcock). Well weighted for a stayer with his record at the distance. Winner this year of the Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Cups but weighted with great chance to win this one. P. Trotter Colours: Grey, green diamonds and sleeves. 5 5510 MING DYNASTY (17) 56 (4 g Planet KingdomChow Mein; trainer, J. B. Cummings) Decisive winner of Caulfield Cup, but on trial at this distance has since failed in Cox Plate. H. White Colours: Grey, red Maltese cross and cap. 6 6226 HAPPY UNION (4) 55.5 (5 g Zamazaan — Here’s Trouble; trainer, W. Winder). Game run to finish close to money in Mackinnon Stakes. Would not have to Improve much on that run to reach a place here. P. Hyland Colours: Navy, gold hoops, red armbands and cap. 7 2904 SHAITAN (22) 553 (« g Hermes—Taringama; trainer, W. Sanders). Battling fourth to Sir Serene at Moonee Valley hardly makes him a top chance in this one. R. Taylor Colours: Tangerine, red sash and quarterd cap. 8 2225 UNAWARE (7) 55.5 <4 g Without Fear — Clipjoint; trainer, C. Hayes). Won Victoria Derby last year. Outstayed by Ming Dynasty in Caulfield Cup. Galloped brilliantly last Thursday. J. Stocker Colours: White, green sash, black sleeves and cap 9 4141 FAMILY OF MAN (18) 54.5 (4 g Lost of Man — Colleen; trainer, G. M. Hanlon). Beat Australia’s best weight-for-age horses at 2000 m in Cox Plate but there remains a doubt about his ability to get this distance. Should settle handy and be in the thick of it for a long way. B. Thomson Colours: Royal blue, yellow braces, red armbands, 10 5133 SALAMANDER (20) 54.5 (4 g Approval — Sister Eve; trainer, T. Hughes). Honest genuine racehorse. Finished third In Caulfield Cup and third in Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. Should be one of best ridden horses in race. R. Higgins Colours: Blue and white stripes, red cap. 11 0044 VALADORO (10) 54 (5 g Agricola—Masina; trainer, T. Hughes) .Has won at this distance tn Duke of Norfolk Stakes here last season. Unluckily beaten in Perth Cup last summer. Left in front In Hotham Handicap on Saturday but lasted bravely for fourth.

E. J. Didham Colours: Blue, gold hoops, cardinal cap.

12 11191 SIR SERENE (12) 53 (4 g Hermes—Sweet Talk; trainer, T. J. Smith). Rehandicapped twice since weights came out for winning the A.J.C, Metropolitan and‘Governors Stakes at Moonee Valley. Must be respected. P. Cook Colours: Black, orange Maltese cross and armbands. 13 2709 VACUUM (23) S 3 (4 g Agricoia — Rather Nice; trainer, J. B. Cummings). Won V.R.C. St Leger last season. Failed in Werribee Cup last time out. W. Treloar Colours: Light blue, black sleeves, red cap. 14 0131 BRALLOS (24) 52.5 (6 g Oncidium — Lady Sheila, trainer, P. Banham). Best stayer to come out of Tasmania for some time. Impressive In record breaking Geelong Cup win on October 19. M. Baker Colours: White, brown sleeves, black cap. 15 5729 GREY AFFAIR (2) 52 (6 g Lumley Road—Gaekwar’s Topic; trainer, J. J. Atkins). Won Doomben Cup and was second in Metropolitan. Never showed up in Governor’s Stakes last time out. G. Palmer 16 2002 HYPERNO (3) 52 (4 g Rangong—Mikaria; trainer, G. T. Murphy). Runner-up in Werribee Cup last week, his first show of form for some weeks. B. Andrews Colours: Red, black and w’hite striped sleeves, black cap. 17 7300 PETEKEN (8) 52 (4 h Stunning—Regal Eulogy; trainer. W. P. Roche). Unlucky third to Major Till snd Happy Union in Coongy Handicap on' October 12 but failed at .Moonee Valley and in Werribee Cup. Would appreciate easier track. G. Willetts Colours: Cerise, light blue stars and sleeves. 18 9460 WAVE KING (1) 52 (8 g Crest of the Wave— Queen’s Romance; trainer, J. H. Hely). Showed nothing in Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. Veteran and likely to find this too formidable. R. McCarthy Colours: Blue, red sleeves, rm armbands and cap. 4213 GOLD PULSE (21) 514 (5 g Oncidium—Bridesmaid; trainer, T. J. Smith). Game finisher for third in Hotham Handicap. That following a win over 2000 m In fast tune In Sydney. M. Johnston Colours: Dark blue, vellow spots and armbands. 20 1360 BEAU'S DEMAND (5) 51 (6 g Stipulate—Real Gay; trainer, R.’ N. McDonnell). Runner-Up in Auckland Cup last season. Best recent run was third in Cranbourne Cup. R. Heffernan Colours: Green ,blue diamonds, cerise sleeves and cap.

21 6311 MAJOR TILL (13) 51 (4 h Atilla—Santa Liza; trainer, C. S. Hayesj). Followed up Coongy Handicap victory with easy win in Hotham Handicap on Saturday. Ran the race out like a stayer. R. Mallyon Colours: White, green sash, black sleeves and cap. 22 0836 TROCHEE (11) SI 6 g Masthead ll—Viyella; trainer, L. McLean). Disappointing in Hotham Handicap after appearing to have every chance.

W. Skelton Colours: Black, white bend, light blue armbands and cap. 23 2732 YASHMAK (») 51 (4 g Zamazaan — Glorytime; trainer, M. L. Robins). Sound second in Hotham Handicap, finishing doggedly. Respected at weights.

J. Letts Colours: Royal blue, white diamonds, red sleeves and cap. 24 1158 MASSUK (15) 48 (4 g Sugar Apple—Golden Sabrina; trainer, J. Houlahan). Won two Provincial Handicaps then a Flemington 2500 m handicap on October 1 but form then fell away. Interesting light-weight. A. Trevena

Colours: Light blue and Mack stripes, maroon sleeves and cap. Selections.— Reckless, Gold And Bieck, Valadero. Other opinions.— Jack Elliott (“Melbourne Herald”): Reckless, Gold and Black, Salamander. Kevin Sattler (“Adelaide News”): Gold and Black, Major TUI. Peter Lovitt (The “Australian”): Gold and Black, Major TUI, Happy Union. Keith Hillier (“Melbourne Sun”): Family of Man, Salamander, Gold and Black. Tony Kennedy (The “Age,” Melbourne): Major Till, Ming, Dynasty, Gold and Black. Kel Gillespie (“Adelaide Adver-i tiser”): Gold and Black, Family! of Man, Unaware. Barry Farmer (“West Austra-I Han,” Perth): Gold and Black,: Reckless, Salamander, Reckless. Tom BrasseU (“Daily Mirror," Sydney): Reckless, Gold and. Reckless, Salamander. Keith Robbins ("Sydney Telegraph”): Gold and Black. Salamander. Reckless. Bert Lillye (“Sydney Morning Herald”): Reckless, Gold Pulse, Salamander.