METROPOLITAN INDEX

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1931, Page 21

METROPOLITAN INDEX

GUIDE TO CUP WINNER ?

After finishing second in the Metropolitan of 1917, Westcourt was successful in the Melbourne Cup. Nightmareh achieved similar distinction in 1929. Will Concentrate, who was narrowly beaten by Strength in this year's Randwick event, follow in their footsteps? asks the Melbourne "Globe."

Concentrate is a sound stayer, and he has to his credit some good performances over distances in New Zealand, among them victories in the New Zealand St. Leger, the Auckland Cup, and the Wellington Cup. He showed early promise by winning once and being placed six times as a two-year-old. His first victory as a three-year-old was achieved at llosehill in a highweight handicap, and later that season he was the winner of the New Zealand St. Leger. In his subsequent career he met the Melbourne Cup winner, Nightmarch, and the Metropolitan winner, Star Stranger, and though he could not beat Nightmareh, whom he twice met at even weights, he proved too good for Star Stranger, who conceded him only 41b.

Concentrate was unlucky to suffer defeat in the Metropolitan. He finished very fast, and in two more strides would have gamed1 the verdict. lie afterwards ran unplaced in the AVavorlcy Handicap, in which he had 9.9. In Tuesday's Melbourne Cup he is to be ridden by Ashley Reed, a former New Zealand jockey, now domiciled in the Commonwealth.