MARES AND THE CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1932, Page 6

MARES AND THE CUP

PRIOR WINS RECALLED

The victory registered by Fast Passage in this year's New Zealand Cup revives recollections of previous contests in which mares have played a prominent part, comments 'Thaeton." They have scored nine outright victories and two dead-heats for first, besides gaining minor places;on numerous occasions!,

' For the initial race in 1883 Nonsense, a four-year-old mare, who had the handy impost of 7st 121b, was a warm.favourite. She made a bold.bid for victory, but the five-year-old. Tasinan, Bst 91b, beat her by a short :head. '. " .■'■'.

In the following year Leonora, Bst, finished second to Vanguard, Bat 91b, and, in 1886, : Spade Guinea, 6st 101b, scored the first success for a mare.': In 1890 Dudu, Bst 91b, ran second to Wolverine,.Gst 111b, and in the succeeding year two three-year-old fillies, Tlmme, 6st 21b, and Rosefeldt, 6st;l2lb,' finished second and1 third respectively to British; Lion; Cst 111b.

"In' 1893 two mares, fought out the finish, and victory, went to Rosefeldt, 7st 71b, from leh Dien, 6st 121b. In* the following year Lottie, -7st 81b, finished- second -to Impulse,- 7st;9lb; ' ■ :■.,. V ~. .. : ."'

..In: 1896. Lady-Zetlandj an aged;mare, carried. Bst< 91b home in front of a field of sixteen, and her victory stamped her as one of the most brilliant mares that have figured' on the • New Zealand Turf. She was.the ancestress'of'this year's second horse.home in the Cup, Minerval.' The race in 1900 was memorable because of a ■ Scad-heat for first between Ideal, a fiye-year;old mare, carrying 7st 51b, and the six-year-old Horse Fulmen, 7st 131b.. Next year the six-year-old mare Tortulla, Bst lib, was successful. In 1908 Heorthen, 7st 'Sib, ran tha winner, Downfall, 7st 81b, to a head.. The" succeeding year. saw the four-year-old Lady Lucy, ■ 7st. lib, beat, a field of fifteen. : In 1912 Sihapis, 7st, ran third to Midnight' Sun,'Bst, aiid Masterpiece, 7st 131b, and in the following year she registered an easy victory under 7st 51b.

In 1014 there was another dead-heat, and ngain a mare was one of the bracketed pair. This was the four-year-old Warstep, 7st 111b, who dead-heated with the three-year-old gelding Indigo, 6st 121b. .In 1.020 Oratress, Bst 71b, won, and in-1923 Dame Straightlace, 6st 71b, ran second to the aged gelding Rouen, Bst 51b. Tho race of 1928 resulted in a victory for the, five-year-old Oratrix,- 7st lib, and the fact that she -was a daughter o£ Oratress added special interest to her victory. Fast Passage ran the two miles in 3min 22 l-ssec when she won this year, and; as thi<s constitutes a record for the race, her victory is particularly notable.