THE NEW ZEALAND CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND CUP

ROYAL CHIEF IN FAVOUR The numerical strength of the field for the New Zealand Cup is not likely to show much shrinkage by the time the horses reach the post. This means that in such a fairly large field the luck of the run may play a part in the judge’s verdict. Royal Chief will be suited by a firm track, but devoid of sting, and this may be obtained if the water service is used. Royal Chief is a heavy-lopped horse, and in the natural course .of events should be in better racing shape than when winning at the Wellington spring- meeting. With so many light-weights in the field a sound pace is almost sure to be set, and this will make it a full journey that will suit a stayer. Although Royal Chief will probably retain his position as favourite up to the rise of the barrier, the connections of others engaged do not apparently regard the top-weight as unbeatable. Taurangi is held in strong favour in some quarters. She has won up to a mile and three furlongs, and such a journey is a fair test of stamina. She would with her proved speed be well suited by a slow-run race. The Buzzer has proved that he can stay, and hence must be regarded as one with a really good chance, better racing shape than when winning at as he has shown sufficient winning form this season to prove himself in racing condition. Sly Fox was a close third in the Auckland Cup with 8.1 to Cheval de Voice 7.9 and Royevrus 7.10 in 3min 25 3-ssec. The defeated lot included Dictate 7.5. Sly Fox raced last season up to July at the Wellington meeting and this season amongst the sprinters raced at Manawatu on September 5. This means that with a brief let up he has been kept going, and hence should be a thoroughly -fit and well-seasoned horse for the New Zealand Cup Sly Fox was fourth in the Avondale Cup and third in the Plumpton Handicap run at the same meeting. He then won the Mitchelson Cup with 8.1 m 2mm 33 3-ssec, when Auto .Sweep 7.4 was amongst the unplaced lot. Clfief 9.7 beat Sly Fox 8.8 in the Wellington Handicap by three lengths. Little Rohm 7.9 was another two lengths away third. The unplaced lotincluded The Ring H. Pearl of Asia 7.2, and Auto Sweep 7.L Royal Chief comes do , wn . l p S i y i ce ‘ilb This form seems to delete the chance of b those tha°t finished behind the first two The Ring 7.9 won the Wat Kins Handicap by a length from Homily ?f n with Sly Fox 8.13 a head away In the New Zealand Cup Sly meets The Ring on 51b b % t^UY d rn o® , ef er-' as a proved stayer seems to hold pr<efer ence over the mare. Te Kawiti is me selected mount of H. Wiggins who prefers him to Capricious, on whom he nnisnea second last year Wiggins has won twice this season on Te Kawiti, who has oeen raced without incurring the risk of a rehandicap. Te Kawiti * s . r< rjf AuckKara who ran a dead heat in the Auck land Cup and won the following year. Capricious cannot be brushed aside because she has been deserted by her last year’s rider. Her second last year cannot be ignored, and she is much better than her form at the Dunedin spring meeting suggests, no doubt through not being forward enough to repeat torm. She ha since been showing Improvement °n tne track. Passaform has won over a mile and a-quarter in a manner suggesting ability to stay, and Swordstick s second in the Great Autumn Handicap is proof of considerable stamina when acting under a light weight. Dictate has been placed In both the Auckland Cup and Ne ™ Zealand Cup, and so holds good credentials for a horse with a feather-weight. There Is no reason to enthuse about the rest of the field, as recent form seems to show that most of them are held safe by others higher up in the list. Wardress has won with a strong finish over a mile and aquarter, and shapes like a stayei, and so does The Raker, and they may prove the best of the light-weights. Royal Chief will start favourite, with The Buzzer next in demand, and the next best may be Sly Fox and Taurangi. The Welcome Stakes An excellent field is engaged in the Welcome Stakes, and mo matter how much early racing of two-year-olds may be condemned the fact remains that it is a race that attracts a vast amount of interest. Winning form is represented by Foreign Coin. Par Avion, Pay Roll. Salutation, and Silver Lily. Others have placed form that suggests possibilities, and Palfrey may be found showing a marked improvement. Foreign Coin won in each of his two starts. At Marton<he beat Par Avion at even weights over half a mile after running wide at the turn. He then won the, Wellesley Stakes with 8.7 by four lengths In Imin 2sec, and on the same day Par Avion won the Taita Handicap with 8 - 10 „ in Qri P ?£ Avion 9.5 won the Karltane Handicap in lmin Isec, and there does not seem to be much between him and Foreign Coin. It is, however, in Par Avion s favour that he gave away a lot of weight to bom fields he defeated, whereas Foreign Coin met his opponents at set weights with a margin of 31b. They art; both bred on speedy lines, and a meeting between them will lie full of Interest. Par Avion may prove the best.' They appear to hold all they defeated fairly safe, although Monetary is expected to benefit greatly bv his race. Silver Lily won well at Wingatui. and, going on at the right end. Salutation was finishing very fast in the McLean Stakes after being slow away The race on the second day did not supply much of a line when Salutation won In 49sec or 2-ssec slower than Silver Lily s time. The winner may come from Par Avion. Foreign Coin, Silver Lily, or Salutation The Stewards’ Handicap

The Stewards' Handicap will De ran under a comparatively light scale of weights to what has been the case in previous years. Some of those engaged have won under rather more weight than thev will carry this year, and hence it seems safe to predict a particularly fastrun race. Density has shown a retention of speed, but failed at Timaru and Trentham probably owing to being a bit on the big side in condition. She won the Great Easter with 7.9. and an increase to 8.11 will help to steady her speed. On that occasion sne was a little over three lengths in from of Spanish Lad. who will meei Density on 181 b better terms. No>. Out, who finished, fourth, will meet Density on 151 b better terms, and on paper both Spanish Lad and Not Out hold a good chance of beating the top-weight. Spanish Lad won the Templeton Handicap Willi 8.10 in, lmin 26sec by three lengths from Rakahanga, and he will stay on btltu. than most at the end of a fastrun race. Rebel Mate should be held safe bv Doria and Don't Forget on form at the Dunedin spring meeting, but he has- improved since, then, and on his best form holds an excellent chance of getitng amongst the money. Doria ha? proved her brilliancy. She won at the Grand National, and Spanish Lad, who finished fourth, meets her on 161 b better terms Doria won on the first day at Dunedin. but failed in the Dunedin Guineas. She will probably be in much better shape at Riccarton than when racing on the second day at Wingatui. Bronwen has not finished in a place in five starts this season, and she also failed to show up in the last eight races she ran in last season when she won four times in 20 starts. Her principal success was in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap with 7.13 in lmin 11 4-ssec, or l-ssec outside the race record. St. Cloud is one of the speedy lot under a light weight. Since winning at the Grand National meeting, and running third with 9.5 to Black Thread 9.13, and Paper Note 8.1, St. Cloud showed herself in form by winning at the North Canterbury meeting. She won a double at Timaru last autumn, and Rebel Mate, who finished fourth, now meets her on ; 211 b better terms, and such a margin brings the Robespierre gelding into the picture. Sir Beau was a particularly brilliant two-year-old last season, when he won at Trentham under 9.6 in lmin 12Jscc. This season he has proved himself in form and has won without jeopardising his chance by a re-handicap. He should be able to account for Enrich at a difference of 41b. Sir Beau beat Enrich in the Wanganui Guineas, but the latter may be favoured bv a shorter course. Enrich 8.7 won the Pioneer Handicap, run at Riccarton last year in 58sec. when Don't Forget 8.12 finished six lengths away third. Don't Forget finished second to Doria in the Welcome Stakes and finished a neck in front of Enrich Endorsement won five times last season. Her last win was at Hawke's Bay in June, when she won with 8.12 over six furlongs and a-half in lmtn 19 4-ssec. She afterwards carried 9.8 into a close third to Vascones 8.6 and Royal Star 8.4 over six furlongs in lmin 14 3-ssec, and was second at Wellington with 8.10 to Sleeveless 9.3 , over seven furlongs in lmin 26jsec. On form in the Shorts Handicap in Wellington Kentucky should beat Endorsement, but she cannot be left without a fair chance. Not Out's win at Wellington marks him as dangerous- He finished in front of Density in the /Vwatea Handicap, and now meets her on 21b worse terms. He showed improvement by winning on the third day. and reads better than Bronwen and Rakahanga, but apparently the two last-named are expected to Improve on Wellington form. Belle Cane has made a somewhal meteoric rise to fame, and if sent to the post, would find plenty of support. On early two-year-old form Don't Forget reads well, and his form this season shows that he has not deteriorated. He holds a good chance of beating Enrich and Doria, and through the former comes close to Sir Beau, who has to concede him 121 b. Gold Flight can muster up a good turn of speed, and appears to have been improved by her two races at Gore. Six furlongs may, however, prove a bit beyond her. Kentucky can be best considered on his second to Amigo at Wellington, and on that form he should beat Bronwen. Enrich, and Endorsement. Gay Parade

seems to be a bit flattered at being included in the field, although he can muster up a good turn of speed. Those most in favour may be Sir Beau. Don't Forget, Not Out, or Dorla, Kentucky would be fancied if reserved. The minor events may find the following in favour:— Spring Hurdles.—Recollection, Dividend, Jewish Lad. Spring Plate.—Belle Cane, Boloyna, Royal Lancer oi Schoolgirl. Linwood Handicap.—All Night, King's Toast, Nightglass. Apprentices’ Handicap—Sir Amyas, Cymric, Ferriby. Riccarton Handicap.—Beau Leon, Sir Cameron,'Globe Trotter, or Wild Career.