MERRIWEE AND PARTHIAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 40

MERRIWEE AND PARTHIAN.

"Reginald" writes: No three-year-old ever showed more xightdown courage than did Merriwee in the Cup. When Merriwee was tackled a furlong from home by Voyou, many of the onlookers capable of judging thought the .young one would be conquered, and it certainly did for a moment look as though the Cup would go to Sydney. But this is just where Merriwee asserted himself. Apparently relishing the hand-to-hnnd encounter, the Derby winner set to and fairly outfought his opponent. There was no shirk or shift about it. The work Mas there to be done, and Merriwee went about it with a determination that ultimately carried the day. Whatever may happen in the future, Merriwee deserves to be always remembered for the real grit he exhibited when " cornered " nearing the judge in hi? Melbourne Cup. Ho would not yield even the eighth of an inch, but battled on as though he himself knew what was at stake. He was rewarded with victory, and it can truly be said that no horse, young or old, of any breed, better earned the applause of the multitude. It was a distinct triumph on the part of thecolt, and let us hope that his severe spring" work will not detrimentally affect his after career. To see Merriwee under silk again will be something to look forward to. It came somewhat as a surprise to outsiders to find Parthian withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup. even before he was given a chance in the Derby, and it now looks as though the Grand Flaneur colt would have been capable- of looking after himself in the big two-milcr had he been allowed to go on with that engagement. On Derby running, Parthian must have been somewhere near Merriwee and Dewey in the Cup, and this would have put him in the first four at least. It is a pity that it was not thought worth while starting Parthian in the Cup. for, as it turned out, Mr Long's goodlooking bay had an undoubted chance at the weights. There is indeed some reason 1 to believe that Parthian would have been just suited in the two miles' race. He certainly lan below form in an eieht-furlong race on the same day. but that is altogether a different matter. If Parthian ia not the best of his year, he is not far behind the top. After his arrival at Flemington Parthian at once began to make headway, and on the last day of the meeting he was a good colt, which he proved by making all the running and winning the Spring Stake?. It is not e^\ery horse that can cut out the work, be it anything like sound, and still be in tho argument at the finish. Parthian did this in the Stakes, and even allowing for the swerve made by Merriwee, the merit of the winner's performance cannot be overlooked. Should both train on, it will be highly interesting to watch tho autumn battles between Merriwee and Parthian. Both are sound, contented colts, likely to do well in their subsequent preparations, so that we can took forward with some confidence to their reappearing on the sceno together again in due course. AVith his combination of Yattendon and Musket blood, Parthian ought to stay any distance, and a race like the Australian Cup ought to be just the thing' for him. On appearances alone Parthian beats Merriwee. The Grand Flaneur colt possesses plenty of size, and shows clean quality everywhere. While Merriwee may now be at his highest pitch, there still seems some room for improvement in Parthian, who really only commenced to "come on" again during the la-ot few weeks. And when 6uch a horse begins to progress the right way, there is never any telling where the advancement will end.