THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

A REVIEW OF THE WEIGHTS. [BV PHAETON.] Mr. Henrys lias issued the weights for th» New Zealand Cup, and with their declaration. held over a period of some six weeks later than in preceding years it may bo said I hat turfites were extremely keen to receive them. As the C'.J.C. handicapper adopted (lie severe scale of ■ 10st for .his standard weight in the race of 1904- a good deal of curiosity was evinced as to the line of thought he would adopt this year in the face of Achilles (who was top weight last year and who had again to be .handicapped for the two-mile race this year) nob having fulfilled Ins engagement under his welter weight in the lace of 1901. Mr. Henrys elected to adopt a lighter scale this year: and that is one important point on which I think the weight-adjuster will receive an all-round compliment. Well, before proceeding to a review of Mr. Henrys' work let me place (he weights as cast oh record st. II). St. lb.

Achilles has only once endeavoured to get a. long journey, and that was when ho followed Canteen and Wairiki home in third place in the New Zealand Cup of 1903. On that occasion Achilles had , 9st 61b in the saddle, and was conceding Canteen 221b and Wairiki 41b. As the son of Medallion was only beaten two and a-half lengths in a race that was run in the lightning-liko time of 3in. 27 3.-5?., and in which he suffered serious interference at a critical juncture, there is plenty of evidence to uphold the contention that the chestnut is a good horso at two miles. Last season Achilles went down badly in the Wellington Cup ,(one mile and a-half) when carrying 9s 121b, and in the W.R.C. Handicap (one mile and aquarter) under 31b less he also failed to get into the placed division. However, it will, I think, be safer to sum up Achilles for the approaching- New Zealand Cup on his performance in the same race in the spring of 1903 rather than on his brace of unplaced performances at the Hutt in January last; and if that is done, well, then, the son of Medallion can straightaway be accorded a place with the dangerous division. With 9st lib opposite his name Matonga has received all the weight to which he was entitled. It is true that he won the Auckland Cup under only _ 31b less weight than he has been awarded in the Southern race; but he was all out that day to win by a length. lam not, however, prepared to disagree with those who hold Mahutonga to be a horse of great possibilities at five years old in the event of his training on satisfactorily ; but, as he has not been seen in public since lie ran at Ellerslio on January 3, it will bo as well not to become too enamoured of his spring prospects until it is known for certain that he is perfectly sound. Nightfall showed herself up in attractive colours when she won the Wellington Cup under Bst 21b; and I suppose she is entitled to carry 31b over her weight-for-age, which the impost (Bst 121b) allotted to her by Mr. Henrys represents. Mr. Stead once told me thai: he had tried Nightfall to bo as good as Cruciform; and, though the daughter of Multiform has yet to prove this in public, the Southern sportsman is not likely to have spoken in that strain without good cause. Air. Stead is not one to indulge in fairy tales when discussing his horses, and I take it that he was quite serious when lie made the statement abovenamed. If Nightfall is as good a mare as Cruciform, she must be accounted to have a first-class chance of earning Cup honours at Riccarton in November next. Quarryman (Bst 71b) managed to win the Wanganui Cup in March last under 7st 111b, and with 41b the worst of the weights he ran Vladimir to a neck for,the Great Autumn Handicap. The Bill of Portland horse appears to be pretty solid, and maybe ho will be equal to something at five years old that will eclipse his previous performances. Maniapolo (Bst 41b) must be accounted nicely in for a horse that has been boomed so extensively as has the son of Soult. Up to the present Maniapoto has not been set to tackle a longer course than a mile and a-quarter; but from the manner in which he has been supported it would seem as though he had thoroughly satisfied his connections that he will bo quite at home at 16 furlongs. As the son of Soult has been .sent to Australia he may have his impost in the New Zealand Cup added to, and, as lie can incur a 141b penalty, if will he as well for backers to go slow until they are assured that the Soult horse has escaped such flu addition. Scotty (Bst lib) has been daintily handled. In the last Auckland Cup, under Sst 31b, the St. Tifger gelding heat all the field save Mahutonga (who was conceding- him 91b). and it cannot be denied that lie was travelling (really well when they dashed past the winning' post. On the third day of the Summer Meeting he won the A.R.I'. Handicap with Bst 61b in the saddle from end lo end, while under 9st 211) he was only beaten for the (Grandstand Handicap by Quarryman, to whom he was conceding a stone. No doubt the gilt was somewhat taken off Scotty's Ellerslie effort when he failed to gain a situation in the Wanganui Cup under Bst 71b; but I deem it safer to sum up Scotty on his Auckland form than on that which he displayed on the West Coast. In the autumn Scotty won the A.E.G.. Easter Handicap under 8s lllb; but under P.st 51b he failed to gain a situation in the Autumn Handicap. Srolly is not an everyday horse; but, timed nicely, he car. call up •a. dash of brilliancy, and in the event of Frank Maemauemin nicking his horse into the same condition in November as lie had him last summer it will not

require a great amount of persuasion to. cause AueklawWs to extol his prospects loudly. Eighteen horses figure in the division weighted between 7st 121b and 7st. Faritutu (7st 121b) is an honest old plodder, and as ho has run decently up to a mile and three-quarters it may not be quite safe to leave him altogether out of calculations. Molodeon proved a disappointment last season: but still condition may have had something to do with his poor form at Ellerslie in the summer. Under lib more than he is called upon to carry this year the sou of Medallion managed to get up into third place in the last New Zealand Cup; and with Sst 21b in the saddle he ran Mahutonga. (Bst) to a length for the Metropolitan Handicap. Melodcon lias had a spell for several months, and maybe he will lie able to retrieve his character in the spring. If Koseal can be properly trained he would have a. great chance under 7st 81b, at which weight Ghoorka has nothing to complain of. Noctuiform. (7st 51b) has beer selected by Mr. Henrys as the one amongst the three-year-olds entitled to lead that division, and he has awarded the sou of Multiform his weight fo; age (7st 51b). It will be interesting to note whether the chestnut colt bears out the handicapper's opinion. Mr. Stead has another three-year-old engaged in the shape of Sungod, 'who has been awarded 7st. As both colts are likely to be seen out at Uaudwiek next month we shall not probably 'have long to wait for a line as to their prospects of capturing the New Zealand Clip. Sir Tristram (6s Rib) is stated' to have a fine dash of pace; but. doubts are entertained as to his proving a stayer. There may not be a lot to go upon at tins stage'to warrant anyone forming a strongopinion as to a three-year-old winning the New Zealand Cup this year: but one of that division that may be' heard of is Multificl, who with only 6st 101b opposite his name is put in at 91b under weight for age. The son of Multiform wound up at Ellerslie in April with a win, and as I am told he has furnished splendidly in the interval I will tick him oil as dangerous. At the tail end of the handicap there may be something equal to tha. task of winning; but for the present I am inclined to look higher up ft' l the probable winner, and in ticking oft' tli2 list I find myself committed to the follow- , ing seven: Achilles, Mahutonga, Nighfri | fall, Maaiapoto, Melodeon, Scotty, and Muly

Achilles ii s Calibre ... li 1') Jlahntonga ... 9 1 J'lamen li 1" Nightfall 8 12 Probable 0 If) Vladimir 8 !i Apologue 0 in Xonettc 8 '■> M ulliii'l' « lit Qnarryinan ... ii 7 Apolloiloris ... ii 10 Jlaniiipoto 8 -1 '-lay .Spark ... G ]l) Gliidst'iic(scr'tch'd) 8 -1 .Toe Chamberlain.. (1 9 Orlolt 8 " Armistice li ■'! Scotly HI Douche I' !> J'aironiis 8 U Beau Beaton ... <! 9 Faritutu 7 12 Clanburn 6 8 Gold Crown ... 7 31 .Mystification ... li <> ilelodeoil 7 ]') S'.. Joe G 8 Convoy 7 !i Blylhemaitl ... li 8 fit. Michael ... 7 !l Thunderer... ... li Bulnwayo 7 il Heroism li Unseal 7 8 itoyal Crown ... li Ghoorka 7 8 Stepdancer ... li . Golden Knight ... 7 8 ])e la Hey G 7 .'Jeanne d'Aro ... 7 (j Xgatarmi ... ... li 7 Xoetuiform ... 7 "i Ability ... ... li 1 . JlelwooJ 7 9 Ilopa ... ■ ... li 7 lack Iteynard ... 7 2 Secret Society ... 0 7 Tirol,, 7 0 Hey wood li 7 General Symone... 7 (I Lyrist I! 7 Veneer 7 I) Grenade li 7 Lady Wayward ... 7 I) Manawnru li 7 Smr.'od 7 0 King's Birthday ... ti 7 Sir Tristram ... C *3 Rosegrove'... ... ti 7 Boomerang ... (i l.'l Armament ... li 7 Porcelain ... - ... I! 13 Assegai C 7 Cuneiform C 18 Sweet Helen ... i; 7 Kotos (] 13 Loiret '... ... G 7 Shrapnel G 11 Tsitsihar 6 7