EARLY GLANCE OVER WEIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 78, 28 September 1940, Page 15

EARLY GLANCE OVER WEIGHTS

THE BUZZER AND BEAU REPAIRE READ WELL

(By "Rangatira.")

Nothing better shows the quality of a field than its handicap, and the impression immediately made by this year's list of weights is that the field is at least up to the standard of recent years, if not possibly, despite a few notable absentees, somewhat aboye the recent mean. From the horses in the list an excellent field should eventually be drawn. The weights for the New Zealand Cup are customarily based on a narrower' range than is used for the Melbourne Cup and other big Australian handicaps, in part accounted for by the 71b lower minimum in the Com- ' monwealth; and they also rarely attempt to distinguish the form in the same detail as the Australian lists do. Both the New Zealand Cup and the Melbourne Cup weights this season have been started at 9.6, but, whereas 30 out of the 62 horses in the New Zealand Cup have been placed on the minimum (7.0), only 113 out of 285 have been set on 7.0 or lower in the Melbourne Cup, including 21 on the minimum (6.7). ON TOP MARK AGAIN. The last two years it has been a simple task -for the temdicapper to find his top-marker in the New Zealand Cup, and; for the second year m succession Royal Chief occupies that post with 9.6, which for several years up till the • occasion of -Nightmareh's. success in 1930 was the maximum weight that could be given in the race. Twelve months ago Royal Chief, the both-way favourite, put in a characteristic run from.well back over the last quarter-mile to finish a close fourth, and as one of the proved stayers in the field he must be respected again if he shows any form at all when he resumes racing next month. As a six-year-old, he is not yet in the veteran group. However, it is a necessary reflection that in the long history of the race only one horse, Nightmarch, has won with 9.0 or more. Willie Win, now nine years old, has also shown himself a true stayer, for 'he was runner-up, in the Melbourne Cup three years ago; but he may now be .past the'age when a return to his; best form might be expected. With 8:8 last year he was not produced at the .meeting.. However, ; because of; subsequent form, he has been lifted to 8.12 this year. His subsequent form last season included two good wins, both on the Riccartbn track, on which he has always excelled, the Midsummer Handicap, U miles, under 8.8 in February, and the Great Autumn Handicap, 11 miles, under 8.7, at Easter, his last appearance for the season. Two years ago he contested the New Zealand Cup-under 8.12. and he finished fourth behind Arctic, 'King, 8.1. The Buizer, .^S^anti, MiEpbrd, 7.5. '■ Taurangiis a somewhat surprise. No. 3 on 4 the' list with 8.8, -but Tier form in winning, the; Waikato Cup, 11 furlongs, last "spring under 8.13 . evidently impressed ;the handicapper,. though she has £a4led v in sprint ■ company since resuming.,, She is- bred' well enough to stay, though, of course, she has yet to be:;tested.over a full journey. '^^WELL-PROVEN STAYER; The-Buzzer, as a well-proven. twoniiler,, lias., no- cause for complaint with his 8.6. He won the Auckland Cup three'years, ago under 7.6 (including 61b overweight), and then he was just a shade unlucky not to win the New Zealand Cup the following season, being beaten only half a head by Arctic' King in a desperate finish. One would have expected him, on his form as a stayer, to be set aboye Taurangi, and he. looks one of the. likeliest sorts among the higher weights. Another in this group who will be in keen favour if he goes on satisfactorily in his present preparation is the four-year-old Yogi, who demonstrated himself one of the most promising of the younger stayers last season, especially by his second to Old Bill in the W.R.C. Autumn Handicap, 11 furlongs, and his win in the AR.C. Nolan Handicap, H- miles, in which he carried 8.0, or 21b under W.f.a. With .8.5, he. has 91b under w.la. in the Cup, and though it isall he actually merits on performances, he must still be regarded as one of the better prospects in the race if he matures as he promised last season. Others weighted.in the eight stones are Royal Appellant 8.4, Peerless 8.2, Siegmund 8.1, Beau Repaire 8.1, and Sly Fox 8.0. Royal Appellant has been handicapped apparently on- his win last New Year's Day in the A.R.C. Handicap, 1£ miles, under 7.9, which was some evidence of stamina, but it is doubtful if he will be tempted by the weight he has been given to make the trip south. Peerless is only a shadow of her past self, and Sly Fox and Siegmund have already failed in the New Zealand Cup, which has generally' ruled out a horse in this event, , ■. . . ! Of the quintet mentioned the most likely appears to be' the four-year-old! Beau Repaire, who, like YOgi, showed high staying qualities as a three-year-old, especially when winning the W.R.C> Handicap, 11 furlongs, with 7.9 (71b\under w.f.a.) after haying.finished fourth in the Wellington Cup two ' days: earlier under the , same weight. ■ First up this season, Beau Repaire made a bold effort to : win the AvOndale Cup' all the way under 8.3, and he was finally beaten only half a head by: Clinch,, which indicated that he has come up this season as good as ever, :■ and.perhaps better. TCHE LIKELIEST GROUP. The group from 8.0 down to the minimum has so often found the winner of the New Zealand Cup that it has . to; be very " carefully inspected. However, the winners from this section have customarily been horses who have disclosed improved ability during the. spring, as, for instance,' Yours Truly .last, year, and. it is as yet rather early to form any real judgment on this line. Among those who may be noted as possessing likely prospects on breeding .and, form are Te Kawiti 7.10, Capricious (second last year) 7.9, Win-

As the premier handicap event of the Dominion's racing year, the New Zealand Cup is looked upon -as the standard by which the proved and potential stayers are to be judged. Therefore the weights for this two-mile contest are always keenly awaited, as they sort out and graduate about half the nominated field on known form, and heap the rest on the minimum as possessing no form, in the opinion of the handicapper, to justify their being in the more select half. This year's Cup will not be run till November 9, but interest has now been stimulated in it by the release of the handicaps.

ning Rival 7.7, Sparkle (who beat Capricious and Willie Win into the minor places in the Dunedin Cup, 1£ miles, last February) 7.7, Classform (narrowly beaten by Yogi in the A.R.C. Nolan Handicap) 7.7, and Mishna (who finished close up last year) 7,2. There are others who may come into favour as the result of form revealed during the next few weeks. As far as those on the minimum are concerned, and they are nearly half the field, there is very little in known credentials or the long history of the race to commend them. In 1915 Tangihou won off the then minimum of 6.7, and the only horse originally weighted on the minimum to have succeeded since was the big 1934 upset, Steeton, who carried lib overweight. Last year Capricious, who ran second, was also on the minimum in the handicap but put up 41b overweight. Perhaps the likeliest in the next few weeks to show staying form worthy of Cup class off this year's minimum are Areas, Glenora Boy, Colonel Bogey, Anita Foe, Pearl of Asia, Kilometre, and Pern. A rehandicap may be incurred by any horse who prior to November wins a race of the value of £250 or more, or races of a collective value of £500 or more to the winner, provided that no horse may be rehandicapped to carry over weight-for-age. The first acceptance is due next Friday. On the weights as- declared horses who make an early appeal for this year's New Zealand Cup are The Buzzer, Beau Repaire, Yogi, Royal Chief, Te Kawiti, Winning Rival, Capricious, Classform, and Mishna.