THE N.Z. CUP.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 3 November 1906, Page 2

THE N.Z. CUP.

Ran To-Day.

The Competitors and Ihcir Prospects.

To-day about twenty thousand people will, be gathered together at Riccarton from all parts of New Zealand, and their mission will be to see the contest for the N.Z. Cup of 190(>. At the present time there are sixteen horses left m the race, which piomises- to be a very e-xcitinf:; and exceedingly interesting event. The N.Z. Cup,. having the largest sum m stakes attached to it of: any other race 'm the colony, naturally draws horsetf from all parts; of..New : < Zealand ; and m this, year's event there are- contestants from as. far North as Auckland and.;as far South, as Dunedin... •■

The top-weight is Paritutu,* and he and Multifid carry the confidence of hosts of backers "from all over, the colony, while the people of ' New Plymouth, where the horses hail from, have wagered heavily that this pair will. run first and second. Star Rose also comes from "The Carden of New Zealand," but his. chances are not now taken seriously into account, „ though when the nominations first came out he was backed- for a lot of money. Letherin and Lyrist are on the same mark, *7. l3. The former would have been all the.' better for a run In public, but his party were too wise for that, and they may have seriously jeopardised- the geldinp's chances by their extreme caution. The same remark applies to Lyrist, though m the Karamu stable there is. plenty of trying tackle, so that Mr Ormond's trainer should not be altogether without a line to go on. Were the going sloppy the Karamu horse would possess a chance second to none, but I have never seen him put up any striking performances when the track has been hard, but on the : contrary most of his. races .have been won; m sticky going. Mult ifid, is an out and out good.' horse \ that I expect to run into a place m to-day's race, if not actually .to~ win. It is. a matter for regret that his preparation, has been i interfered with, but nevertheless his track work showa that he, has come on a lot since his arrival at Riccarton. J. McCombe will have the mount on Mr O'Brien's horse, and for the benefit of my readers I may state that he would not swop his ride for anything else m the race. .

Ghoorka will carry the "cerise jacket, black cuffs and cap" of the Pori-? rua stable, but I do not regard the black 't son of Lochjel as dangeirous. Armistice will be the sole, hope of Wanganni, and .a good representative she is, 'quite- fit to carry any sportsman's colors.' If she is as well as she was last Christmas., the V N..Z. Cup is quite within her reach, but no estimate can be formed, of her track doings, as she is always a great sluggard at work, and with her the "colors up" makes a wonderful difference. MarteHo and St. Joe are from the conquering Fordell stable, and the "shrewdies" give: it out that St. Joe is- the best of the pair. Ironmould Will do battle for Auckland, and if the members of the Ring are, to be believed he will be a very bad horse for them. , On track farm he can have no chance, but that may go for nothing; as his trainer,.: Andy Robertson, has not m the past allowed, his charges to leave their races oir the track. Mafcaroff has no credentials to N.Z. Cup form, and his victory tor" day would be boil over. L&ndwern is bred both to stay and sprint, being by Stepniak, ' from Leda. He is owned and trained by that popular Hutt sport, Mr. W. Davies, and his victory m a big race like the N.Z, Cup would be very well received all over . the colony. Mr Davies has never previously prepared the winner of the New: Zealand Cup, and his chances of accomplishing the feat this -year do not appear \66 rosy. Stepdancer, . the sister .-.to Menschikoff, is a fair little mare that will be well served by her light impost arid consequently should be galloping on when a lot of the others are stopping. The three bottom weights, Notus, Lapland and Blythemaid have no public performances to recommend them to backers. The following list will show the horses, their weights and riders m i this rear's event :—

St. lb. Paritutu 8 5 ... C.Jenkins Letherin 7 13 ... W. Young . Lyrist 7 13 ... D. Price Multifid ... ... 7 12 ... J. McComljc Ghoorka 7 9 ... W. Price Armistice ... 7 5 ... A. Oliver Martello ... ... 7 4 ... G. Price Ironmould ... 7 3 ... J. Paramore Makaroff 7 2 ... J.McOlusky St. Joe 7 1 ... S. Reid Landwern ... 6 10 ... L. Wilson Stepdancer ... 6 9 ... F. Jon6s Star Rose ... 6 7 ... B. Cotton Notus ' 6 7 ... B. Douglass Lapland ..: ... G 7 ... — Yarr Blythemaid ... 6 7 ... J. Ghlsen. . My final selection for the Cup Will be 'found under the heading "Late Sporting," on another page. •