THE MELBOURNE CUP.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4221, 30 September 1874, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

The, stakes in this great race are now looked upon in Melbourne as a gift to Goldsborough. The Australasian of September 18th says : "In fact, .all betting is almost at a standstill, paralysed by Goldsborough, who is in at such a weight that his winning is regarded merely as ; a question of health and fitness on the day. Sterling, be it noted, is not in the Cup, nor the Maid of Avenel either, and although undoubtedly there are a few horses left in with a chance of 'winning, yet the contingency is regarded as : remote if Goldsborough remains as he is. The preventive for such a state of affairs is in making the declaration of weights after Randwick, and not before. Mr Barnard would make a very different handicap now. He would not pile it on Dagworth or Lurline, and let in the four year olds so light. He would alter his weights considerably, and Goldsborough would get a stone more on his back. As a handicap, that for the Melbourne Cup must now be all wrong." "Augur," tells us that " Lurline is going in greatform." Healsostatesthat "Goldsborough's Metropolitan performance stamped him as a horse of the highest class, for he had more to contend with than a heavy weight, but despite these difficulties he nearly pulled through. There appear to be all sorts of rumors floating about concerning this horse—one to the effect that his owner has been offered £4500 for him. In the face of these rumors it would be unwise indeed for the public to touch him at present, for though there need be no fear while he remains in Mr. Tait's hands, a change of ownership might necessitate a change of trainers, and in th.it case there would, perhaps, be a poor look out for the horse's backer.-",".