THE CAULFIELD CUP.

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 2

THE CAULFIELD CUP.

How it was Run and Won.

The following .description of the running of the Caulfield Cup will be read with interest. It is from the pen of the Melbourne correspondent of the '"Sydney , Sportsman," and from it it would appear that Solution might well have won had she not been made so much use of by her rider, W. Ryan. To rush a mare carrying 9st slb out into the lead at six furlongs m a mile and a-half race certainly does not suggest itself as. a judicious course.. Says the correspondent .—

There was a very big crowd m the. birdcage while the horses were being saddled. Pour of the thirty acceptors, m Circuit, lolaire, Katoomba, and The Bairn, were scratched, the lastrnamed having gone wrong after dome: a good gallop on Thursday, while Foulsham was satisfied it was no good chasing Poseidon with lolaire after the Eclipse Stakes was decided. The general verdict on the competitors was that they were by no means a gaudy-looking lot. Solution stood out by herself as the pick of them, and the Maorilander appeared a deal better than on the v previous ■ Saturday. Marvel Loch and Fineness were friendless, but Czarovitch presented a well-trained appearance, and so Sid Demas, to ride whom C. Cooper had been secured when lolaire dropped out. Lord Fitzroy also looked well, but LittleToy carried a lot of beef, arid, the handsome Graftondelle was even more burly. Charles Stuart was not much liked; and neither Delaware nor Mo^ ani found favor, but Simoda is \a very neat, fair, little fellow (/ and had evidently done a sound .; preparation. Two other thoroughly conditioned horses were . Melodeon, who was adorned with a hood and winkers, and Poseidon, who took the mobbing he received m the most matter-of-fact manner. Bon Graf ton and Mir a lacked nothinpj as regards condition, and Wandin was also struncr up, but gave the impression of being far more of ». a sprinter than a stayer. The neat, little Ellis appeared all the better for his recent racing, and so did Booran, who, . however, has still a soft look about him, and who can probably be further improved, but the remainder of the runners, Charmant, The Infanta, Dyed Garments, Willy Wally, Two Step, and Orline, no one wanted to see, and for all the chance they had they might as well have been m their stables. There was nothing sensational " about the betting. Poseidon, was a better favorite than Solution, and there was solid money for D-emas and Booran, but good big prices were procurable about the others. The start was an even one, and Two Step at once set the pace from Ellis, Wandin, Bon Grafton and Demas, with Melodeon, Charmant, and Marvel Loch acting

as whippers-in. There was not much change for the first half-mile, excepting that Solution, Poseidon and Simoda, all obtained good positions, while the pace was very solid. After going five furlongs, Solution joined Two Step m the tead, daylight separating them from Wandin, Ellis, Poseidon, Czarovitch, Bon Grafton, Simoda and Boqran, the field now bein? very much strung out. Six furlongs from home Solution was clear m front, and going very smoothly, while following heir were Ellis, Wandin, Poseidon, Czarovitch, Simoda and Demas, with Booran coming up. Solution was still m front at the turn, but as : they headed up the straight, Poseidon went to her, and after a bit of a struggle drew clear. The race was then at an end, for coming on m gallant style, Poseidon passed the post three lengths m front of Simoda, who made a big, effort to catch him m the straight, while a length and a half further - back Booran was third, just clear of Demas and ' Solution, who were close together. .The winner had a great reception upon turning to scale, and his performance has stamped him as certainly the be.st three-year-old we have seen since Newhaven. He •is evidently a great stayer, and the •immediate effect of his success has been to make him a warm favorite for the Derby and Melbourne Cup. The. former certainly looks at his mercy, and m the latter his most dangerous opponents now seem' to be Solution, Blue Spec, Simoda and Proceed. • ' Though she missed a place. Solution' was not disgraced, and she struggled on gamely under her. 9st 51b.. If she could have got out m the first half-mile," slie might have made a still better, fight. Simoda, Booran and Demas. all finished well under pressure,, -while Ellis was prominent, throughout. Wa,ndin also-showed a very bold front ( up to the home turn, but nothing else really threatened danger '^and the three last to finish' were Charles Stuart, Orline, who" was very sore," and Two Step. All previous time records were broken 'by the 3min 34£ sec recorded, and never for an. instant was there any . dawdlihc on the' way.. The. success .of Poseidon was a big blow to the ring, for the-,, c01t had . been steadily backed ever since he won the A.J.C. Derby, and all the likely doubles were soon secured. ■ Thanks .to the pace there were not so man^ complaints &h usual as to the bumping, though it was said that Demas got a, somewhat rouch passage, and the near stifle of the winner was marked with whitewash from the rail.