THE TURF

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 15, 18 January 1921, Page 11

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

WELLINGTON CUP FIELD

<»I "SIR LANCCLOI.")

Although the field which is likely to contest the first "two thousand pounder" run at Trenthnm docs not include either Orak-css or Sta.rland, winners of the Now Zealand ;.nd Auckland Cups respectively, it includes a pretty representative field of horses, several" of whom have' previous form to recommend them over a. journey of twelve furlongs. Tho latest horse to como into favour is First Salute, probably becauso ho will . be ridden by H. Gray. Tho horseman named had "choice of several mounts in the race, and took the ride on the runner-up in the AuckJHnd Cup, v.-lio has the fair weight of 8.9. In the Otaio Plate, run over the Wellington Cup distance at Biccarton in tho spring, First Salute carried 8.11, 21b more than ho will have to shoulder at Trentharn, i:nd won in 2min 36 4-Ssee. In tho St. Andrew's Handicap at Feilding a few weeks later he had 7.7, and won in 2min 34 4-sec~c. Uncle ?ved beat, him in the-T'akapmna Cup, but he won the Jockey Club Handicap, distance one milo two and a half_fuvlonga, the following day. Those .who sa.w First Salute race at Kllerslie speak of him as a much improved horse, and '>vith the best horseman in the .■■addle ho should give a good account of himself. Whether Client can concede- First Salute- 81b' remains to bo seen. The Fordell-trained horse was in the field which contested tho race two years back, when Red Ribbon dead-heated; with Rewi Poto. On that occasion Punka' was sent out favourite and filled third place. Client's most recent form in the Manawatu Oup, which he won with 9.3, was good. Ho wiil, howaver, meet amuch ' stronger field than he mot at Awapuni. Maioha is probably the most improved horse in tfie field, although he has never been 'sucxe.'fi'.il in such a long journey sir, a mile mid a half. It should be remembered that he won the Autumn Handicap, a mile and three furlongs, at Trentha-m, carrying 8.0, in tho good time of 2inin 20 l-ssec v Ho did not contest the milo and a half event at Ellerslie, where he won at a milo and a mile and a quarter aixl also dead-hea.tsd at ten furlongs with H-od Ribbon, who, it is generally considered, was lucky lo share the stake. Considering tho racing lie has dono he looks bright and muscular. Few of the competitors are better known at headquarters tlitm Red Ribbon. She ran second to Nobleman three years ago, divided the stake with Rewi Poto a year later, and twelve months ;igb was among the field that failed to get placed. When she won the St. Andrew's Handicap ;it Fcildiug in tho spring, she defeated Client at a difference of 21b. In Thursday's laco she meets Mr. Duncan's gelding on 10ib better terms. She must therefore be considered well treated in tho mutter of weight so far as the top weight is concerned. Vespucci, the only three-year-old in the race, has run some fair races this season at Biccarton - and Ellerslie over the distance. Being trained by R. J. Mason, he-is sure to have a big following. Can ho concede itge and weight to several seasoned performers lower down iv the list? Tentci'field is entitled to a place among the probables if he could be induced to reproduce the form he showed ■in tho Metropolitan Handicap at Biccarton and the Racing Club Handicap at lillerslio. . However, the chestnut has the name of being unreliable. Punka, is more likely to "come back" than Nobleman if their recent form can bn taken ns a criterion. When she won the Oaks, Punka, proved herself superior to Karo and Afterglow, and the subsequent form of the jjair of Demosthenes mares—both Cup winners—made them out to be something above the ordinary. If Punka wins no one will begrudge Mr. H. W. Gamford the success, as he will only be getting back the money he has expended on the daughter of Cooltrim in the last twelve months. Lovematch looked well at the holiday fixtures, but shaped disappointingly. She may do better later in the season. She has only the same weight to carry as when the sislor to * Nones won the Hawkes Bay Cup, run over the same distance, last autumn. On that occasion nb.e, defeated Red Ribbon, Dusky Eye, Client, Nobleman, Vagabond, Ora tress, and others. ' Eleue must ba considered favourably handicapped on his last performance in the Invevca-rgill Cup, in which lie carried a. stone more than his Wellington impost, and ran ten furlongs in 2min 9sec. If ho can reproduce his form of last season in the spring at Biccarton, the Southland representative will have to be reckoned with. Of the horses in at the tail-end of the handicap, Esperance has the best credentials. Like Lovematch, she is ono of the Martian tribe that have' a happy knack of bobbing up in important handicap events. It will be seen from the credentials and recent performances of the horses engaged that the ovent bears a most open appearance on paper. Those who pick the winner should consider themselves fortunate.