THE MELBOURNE CUP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 291, 6 November 1934, Page 10

THE MELBOURNE CUP

AUSTRALIA’S GREAT RACE. NEW ZEALAND SUCCESSES. (By “Binocular.”) Tho 74th Melbourne Cup was decided at Flemington late this afternoon, when that wonderful racecourse, in consequence of the centenary celebrations, was graced by a throng no doubt considerably in excess of tho previous record crowd. Ono of tho richest races of tho world, it is tho aspiration of all owners in tho Southern Hemisphere to possess a horse of the calibre which will enable him to capture tho big prize. But while many strive to that end, few attain their object. The first cup contest, in 1861, was a sweepstakes of £2O, with payments of £lO and £5 as forfeits. Thero was no added money and the complete stake went to tho owner of tho winner. It was not till 1865 that tho value of tho raco rose to £IOOO. In the interim £IO,OOO added money has been given on 12 occasions, and in 1923, Bitalii’s year, the total value of the stake was £13.288. Last year the stake was £7OOO.

It is 51 years ago since Martini-Henry, a bay son of Musket and Sylvia who wa3 bred in Auckland, brought the Dominion into tho limelight when he followed up a victory in the V.R.C. Derby by scoring in tho Cup race. He carried the colours of Hon. James White, tho latter having purchased him for 1200gns when passing through Auckland en route from Sydney to San Francisco. He was not raced as a two-year-old and the V.R.C. Derby was hie first start. In the following year two other sons of Musket, Trenton and Nordenfeldt, attended one another home in third and fourth places respectively. Twelve months later Trenton, who had been sold by Mr Dan O’Brien to Mr W. C. Cooper, of New South Wales, for 3000gns, was beaten by Arsenal when conceding the winner 28'.b. In 1889 Carbine, then a four-year-old. carried 10.0, or 141 b over weight lor age into second place, being beaten by Bravo by a length. However, a year later Carbine registered a performance which gained for him a special plaec in tho history of tho Australian Turf. Although woightod at 10.5 in a field of 39, Carbine was always favourite, and he won easily by two lengths and a half from Highborn. In tho spring of his three-year-old career Carbine was bought for 3000gns by Hon. D. S. Wallace, and when he won tho Melbourne Cup his owner was credited with a win of £28,000. In 1891 Strathmore, a threc-ycar-old son of Nordenfeldt and Ouida, who was bred in Auckland, ran a close third to Malvolio and Sir William. Another of Nordenfeldt’s progeny, Carnage, who had previously won the V.R.C. Derby, was in charge at the distance in the Cup raco of 1893, but Tarcoola wore him down to win by half a length, while in the 1895 tontest Hova (by Ingomar) also filled second place. It was in 1907 that Apologue broke the spell of ill-luck that had attended New Zealanders. Ho was installed favourite and lie justified the position by winning with 7.9. Nine years then elapsed before Sasanof beat the English-bred horse Shepherd King to enable his owners to take a large sum out of the Australian betting ring. In 1922 The Cypher, a three-year-old colt by Martian, made a great effort, but King Tngoda beat him by half a neck. The cup of 1929 brought New Zealand into prominence when Nightmarch (9.2), Paquito (8.5), and Phar Lap (7.6), all of whom were bred in the Dominion, filled the three placings. A year later Phar Lap carried 9.12 to victory from the New Zealand-owned Second Wind. Last year New Zealand had lour representatives figuring in the field and Gaine Carrington ran a dead-heat with Topical for third place. Theo’s victory in tho V.R.C. Derby, on Saturday would no doubt bring him into favour for the Cup, and New Zealanders’ interests would bo somewhat mixed in view of the presence of Sir Simper and Limbohm in the field to-day, in addition to Theo. It would be pleasing to find the trio keeping the place occupied by Do-minion-bred performers well to the fore. THE FIELD. MELBOURNE CUP. ’Two miles.

Peter Pan 9 10 Gippsland 7 10 Rogilla 9 7 Sir Simper 7 7 Nightlv (N.Z.), Limbohni inc. 41b pen. 9 4 (N.Z.) 7 7 Hall Mark 9 2 Thco 7 6 Heroic Prince 3 9 Sylvandalo 7 5 Flail 8 7 Sarchcric 7 2 Punch 8 7 Favndale 7 2 Panto 8 6 Marabou 7 0 Journal (ine. Gladswood 7 0 10!b pen) 8 3 Verberry 6 12 St. Yalorey 8 3 La Trobo 6 10 Miramond 8 1 lolaus 6 7 Broad Arrow 8 0