Melbourne Cup To-morrow

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1946, Page 8

Melbourne Cup To-morrow

New Zealander, First In, . Engaged

The richest race in the southern hemisphere, the Melbourne Cup, will be run at Flemington to-mqrrow. The cup, which was first run in 1861 for a stake of £2.00, with a sweepstake of £2O each, will be worth £lO,OOO to-morrow, £7OOO to the owner of the winner and a trophy valued at £2OO, £2OOO for second and £lOOO for third. Principal New Zealand interest will be taken in the running of First In, a. Dominion-owned horse racing in Victoria, and in Stenelaus, d New Zealand bred colt now owned in Austrial. On recent race form First In would not appear to have much chance of winning but the Siegfried mare has been galloping well, and her record in New Zealand has been excellent. On the score of breeding she has a. lot to recommend her, her dam, Gobble, tracing back to the famous Eulogy, though there is also an infusion of sprinting blood in the pedigree. Gobble was by Tea Tray from Fulsome, by Absurd from Eulogy, by Cicero. A point of interest for West Coasters is that Gobble’s first foal, Skyreifa (by Sky Blue) was a consistent winner on West Coast courses.

Weight-carrying Record. The greatest weight carried successfully in the Melbourne Cup is 10.5 by Carbine in 1890. Archer when he won the second time in 1862, carried 10.2 and Poitrel, in 1920 carried 10.0. The topweight to-morrow will be Russia 9.0.

One of the most sensational coups in the history of the race was brought oft by the North Island owners, Messrs T. A., W„ and R. Smith, when their Siegfried horse, Wotan, won in the record time of 3.21 J. . Among New Zealand horses which have triumphed in the great Flemington handicap are:—Martini-Henri 1883), Carbine (1890), Apologue (1907), Sasanof (1916), Nightmarch (with 9.2 in 1929), Catalogue (1938). The only horses to win the cup twice have been': Archer (1861 and 1862) and Peter Ban (1932 and 1934).

Derby winners have a fine record in the Melbourne Cup, and among recent winners of the V.R.C. or V.R.C. Derby and the cup are:—Trivalve, Hall Mark, Peter Pan and Skipton. The winners in the last 10 years have been:—l936, Wotan; 1937, The Trump; 1938, Catalogue; 1939, liivette; 1940, Old Rowley; 1941, Skipton; 1942, Colonus; 1943, Dark Felt; 1944, Sirius; 1945, Rainbird. To-morow’s Field. The field for to-morrow’s race will be as follows: — Melbourne Cup, first £7OOO and trophy valued at £2OO, second £2OOO, third £1000; two miles. —Russia 9.0; Valcurl 8.13; Cordale, Magnificent 8.12.; First In (N.Z.) 8.8; Leonard 8.6; Spam 8.4; Monmouth 8.3; Stenelaus (NZ, bred) 8.0; Cherie Marie 7.13; Logical, Oatcake 7.12; On Target 7.11; Knockarlow 7.10; Carey 7.8; Carlton, Earlmond, Gallant Gentleman 7.7. Concerto, Flying Duke, Punctilia, Rubontine 7.6; Bold Beau 7.5; Arduli, Little Tich, Two Grand, Valour 7.4; Prince Standard 7.3; Queen Midas 7.0; Chief Pilot, Orthodox, Rimfire 6.13; Star Act 6.12; Proctor, Red Fury 6.11; Miss Prim, Pledget 6.10.