THE MELBOURNE CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22720, 5 November 1935, Page 15

THE MELBOURNE CUP

Australia’s great race, the Melbourne Cup, will be run to-day, the starting time being 5.30 p.m. New Zealand summer time. The final acceptors, 28 in . number, make up a good field. The race will be notable, owing to the attempt by Peter Pan to establish a record for the race by winning for the third time. He was successful last year ■with 9.10, and he won as a three-year-old with 7.6. Now, at six years, he is set to carry 10.6, compared with the 10.5 under which Carbine scored. Peter Pan is by the staying sire Pantheon. Hall Mark, the winner two years ago, is by Heroic, while his dam, Herowinlde, is a sister in blood to Trivalve, the 1927 Cup winner. Hall Mark is a versatile horse, and very well. Sylvaudale, winner last season of the two St. Legers and the Australian Cup, •won the Melbourne Stakes on Saturday. The only imported horse in the field is Sir Hugh Denison’s stallion, Berestoi, by Beresford. His English form was good over middle distances, but he has not shown his best this season. Shadow King, by the 1910 Cup winner, Comedy King, is the veteran of the field. He is 10 years old, and he will be making his sixth attempt in the race, his record to date being twice second, twice third, and once unplaced. Sarcherie, second last year, is a five-year-old by Archery, her dam, Sarkara, by Buckwheat, being a daughter of Stephanos by Stepniak from Field Rose, She is bred to stay, and she won the Hotham Handicap on Saturday. Yarramba, by Spearhead, is another of the veteran brigade. He was second to Peter Pan in 1932. Mainlaw, by Magpie from a mare by Sea Prince from a daughter of Bobadil, has a stout pedigree and an improver’s record.Marabou, who is a four-vear-old by Marconigram, was third in the Caulfield Cup and second in the Melbourne Stakes, and is one who has a chance of beating the favourite. So has the Pantheon horse Hot Shot, second in the Caulfield Cup. Three-year-olds make up a strong list in the field. Young Idea is fancied, in spite of his Derby failure at Eandwick,

but that form did not make him look a stayer. Allunga, who dead-heated with Homer in the A.J.O. Derby, has better credentials, and so has Palfreseo, who won the Caulfield Cup so impressively. Feldspar’s win in the Victoria Derby on Saturday will probably bring him into favour. , New Zealand’s hope is Sporting Blood, the winner of the New Zealand Derby and Canterbury Cup a year ago. He opened well in Sydney this season, but he has been under a cloud lately, though he may be back to form now. Two others bred in the Dominion are Gladswood and Loud Applause. They are both by Limond from Curtain, and, therefore, are brothers to Pelmet, the smart Riccarton two-year-old. Still another New Zealandbred candidate' is Bunsby Gaze, a halfbrother, by Captain Bunsby, to the Grand National Hurdles winner Huntique, but his form to date has been short of Cup standard. The forecast is for fine, pleasant weather to-morrow. Gay Friar, Loud Applause, and loung Idea have been scratched for the Cup. The Oak Stakes acceptances are:— Sweet Tribly, Covesbaw, Light Wind, Bimilla, Nissa, Lady Kooringal, Princess Cynthia, Venosa, Nalda, Valsard, Roll Up, Salamander, Champagne.