CUP PROSPECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22900, 1 December 1937, Page 11

CUP PROSPECTS

LIKELY EABLY FANCIES

CHANCES OF CERNE ABBAS WILD CHASE MAY DO BETTER The much discussed question of what Cuddle would receive in the Auckland Cup has been settled. She has been • awarded 9.8. When Cuddle won for the ) second time in succession last year with 9.3 in 3.23 she had the highest weight ever carried victoriously by a mare and also lowered her own existing record . for the race by one-fifth of a second. It will be a wonderful feat if she car ■ftin for the third time and she might z r ' s o to the occasion, even though she has 9.8. Comparatively few hoi'scs have won the race with nine stono or ovei since its inception in 1874, and, apart from Cuddle, the only ones have beer Nelson in 18S6 with 9.8 and in 1887 with 9.12; Wairiki in 1903 with 9.8; All Red in 1909 with 9.1; and Rapine in 1925 with 9.8. A Difficult Task It will be readily recognised that Cuddle is set a difficult task, even though there is a dearth of proven stayers in the field this year. However, her latest form has been good and after her second in the Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton early this month she will have many admirers. The New Zealand Cup winner Ccrno Abbas is another likely to have a strong ■ following. She is an improving four-year-old and might follow in the footsteps of Fast Passage and Cuddle and win the two cups in the ono year, a feat that has seldom been accomplished. It is in favour of Cerne Abbas that she is still handily weighted with 8.1, and in that respect she is better off than either Fast Passage or Cuddle, who had 8.11 and 9.0 respectively after winning at Riccarton. Compared with the horses she defeated in the New Zealand Cup Cerne Abbas, who has been raised from 7.1t to 8.1, comes in on the following worse terms: —Wild Chase (second), 71b.; Silver Streak (third), 121b.; Friesland (fourth), 101b.; Argentic, 51b.; Queen of Song, lolb.: Lowenberg, 181b.; Small Bo\% 91b.; Boomerang, 101b.; and Might, 61b. The chances are that Cerne Abbas will defeat again most of these horses if they run, although Wild Chase and Argentic are two who might trouble her. Wild Chase might do a little better at his second attempt at two miles. Argentic, who has 21b. more with 8.11 than when he finished second to Cuddle last year, brilliantly won the Metropolitan Handicap on the final day at Riccarton, with Cuddle and Cerne Abbas in the minor places. Comparison With Metropolitan A comparison of the weights carried in the Metropolitan Handicap with those they have been allotted at Ellerslie is therefore interesting. Argentic has been raised from 8.9. to 8.11, Cuddle has been lowered 41b. from 9.12 to 9.8, and Cerne Abbas lowered 71b. from 8.8 to 8.1. Others who contested the Metropolitan Handicap have been lowered as follows: —Boomerang, 31b.; Catalogue. 211b.; Queen of Song, 51b.; and Small Boy, 91b. Catalogue has a substantial drop, but he has not performed like a stayer and a concession in weight is unlikely to make him stay two miles successfully.-A- feature of the Metropolitan, in addition to Argentic's brilliant win * was the manner in which Cerne Abbas was finishing on, and at two miles ; she might take her revenge on that horse and Cuddle, although the latter should find her decreaso in weight a consideration up where she is. The horses who ran unplaced in last year's Auckland Cup have been reduced in weight as follows: —Flood Tide from 8.11 to B.G, Jonathan from 8.4 to 7.10; Fersen from 8.3 to 7.0, King Roy from 8.0 to 7.1, Mazir (fourth) from 7.11 to 7.4, and Knight of Australia from 7.3 to 7.0. Kelly has been raised from 7.0 to 7..1. King Rey and Knight of Australia both carried a little over last year and the allowances that have been made to them have been taken from the weights they carried. Whether any of this division will bo capable of improving upon last year's performances remains to bo seen. Jonathan, apart from his lapse at the Takapuna meeting, and Mazir have been racing well and may be the best prospects. Fersen, also, may bo a possibility. He won the New Zealand Cup in 1936 and two miles may suit him better than the shorter distances he has been contesting recently. Willie Win's Impost With 9.4, Silver Ring would not bo out of it if at his best, but 1 lie may not be forward enough. Willie Win ran second in the Melbourne Cup with 8.1 and now has 8.10, which is not prohibitive after his consistently good efforts at Flemington. Wotan has been lowered from 9.0 in the Melbourne Cup to 8.8. His form in Australia during the spring was disappointing, but he and Willie Win have the recommendation of being stayers. Greek Shepherd is unlikely to be at his best, but Queen of Song is a stayer and is not to be despised after her return to winning form at Ashburton. It is interesting to note that of the 54 horses handicapped for the cup no fewer than 33 are on the minimum. It is improbable that many of the minimum division will find favour early, although some who may be possibilities are Besiege, Might. Nightdress, Quadroon and Tybalt. The early favourites may include Cerne Abbas, Cuddle. Argentic, Willie Win, Mazir and Wild Chaso.