N.Z. CUP HORSES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 301, 15 September 1933, Page 17

N.Z. CUP HORSES

Ten Appear at Marton IMPRESSIONS OF FORM (By “The Watcher.”) No fewer than ten New Zealand Cup candidates raced at Marton on Wednesday, Speedmint, Retract, Ythan, Mercian Prince, Fiji, Milnrow, Joie de Vai, Royal Bengal, March Alone and Chopin. It is, of course, much too early in the season to form any definite opinion on Cup pros? pects, but even making all allowances for an improvement and the poor quality of this year's Cup field, the majority of the Marton runners will not be rushed by prepost speculators. Speedmint did best by dead-heating in the Marton Handicap with Curie, after being compelled to make a.ll' her own running. Speedmint is a Cup possibility, and her trainer, E. Pope, stated after the race that it was the intention of the stable to have her at Riccarton on November 4, provided all went well in the meantime. Speedmint is well seasoned with racing, and Pope regards her as a good stayer, having no doubt of her ability to run two miles. Ythan finished second in a hack race against moderate company, and there is little doubt that more patiently handled he might have won. This, on top of his winning form at the hunt meeting at Wanganui, indicates an improvement in Ythan’s form, but it is still well below Cup standard. He has time, of course, to make further improvement, and in the meantime need not be discarded. Retract finished well back in the Marton Handicap. His form is good when at his best, but his showing this week was not at all encouraging. March Alone made a poor showing in the hack distance event. On this and all his previous form he is not a New Zealand Cup possibility. Mercian Prince ran a very poor race. It would appear that his best form is shown in heavy ground, and this is out of the question in a New Zealand Cup. Fiji rah in the open sprint, which represented the best class at the Marton meeting. He is above himself in condition, but ran a creditable race upon which he is bound to improve a lot in the near future. Fiji has a third in the N.Z. Derby to his"' credit, and he should be a possible Cup horse, though a resumption of racing less than two months before the event hardly suggests that his owner is very seriously considering the two miler.

Milnrow had two races and he has yet to get out of maiden' company. He has not shown anything to suggest that his Cup prospects can be regarded seriously, . . • Joie de Vai, who has been racing lately over hurdles, ran a creditable third in the Marton Handicap, It is in her favour that she is fit and well seasoned, but she will not make much appeal go far as the Cup is concerned. It is certain, however, on her form, that she will bo one of the few stayers in the race. Royal Bengal ran unplaced in the Railway Handicap. He is another horse that has had a lot of racing, but few will anticipate a win for him in the Cup. Chopin ran sixth of the seven runners in the Marton Handicap, but the slow pace was no good to him. He ran in the New Zealand Cup last year, and put up a creditable performance, but the task proved beyond him. Ho has no Fast Passage to chase this year, and he is always honest and consistent, but even with the poorer quality this year the game little Lord Quex gelding does not look , well placed. On Marton form • Speedmint, Fiji, and Ythan appear the most likely to train on for Riccarton,