DIFFICULT FIGURES

Evening Post, Issue 15, 17 July 1936, Page 13

DIFFICULT FIGURES

SILVER RING AND CUDDLE

It will be something unusual if either Cuddle. or Silver King—two -near the lop in the quotations—wins the Epsom Handicap, says a Sydney writer. They are both "aged," and the last winner from that division was Masquerade, in 1883. Masquerade also won the previous year, and he was "aged" at that time. : •'.' . .'■.'";

Something else of that age will eventually break into the winning list, but it is- expecting a lot of horses so heavily weighted as Cuddle and Silver Ring.

Hadrian, one of the popular present picks, is a four-year-old,. and over a number of years the race has been good for horses of that age. Melodrama was four when he won his first Epsom Handicap, in 1907, and since then fifteen others have been successful.

In -weight, Niglitmqrch takes pride of place with 9.4, which is 21b more than. Hyhjan carried. The:; latter, as a' three-year-old, wjDn .the Epsom with 7.13. From 1913 tb 1917 horses of four years won each time, Woorak (8,12) being heaviest-weighted of. these, though Panacre had only 21b less when successful the following year. Four-year-olds in Metellus (8.7) and Boaster (8.1) dead-heated in 1925, and a year later. Ambunis, scored with 8.11. Chatham had 8J.3 when' he won at four, and Synagogue 21b, less last year; ; - Hadrian has 8.8,- so; while it caniiot be contended he .is."thrown'1 inj" he has a weight that past results prove is not difficult for a good four-year-old. .