TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

IHE NEW ZEALAND CUP WEIGHTS.

The Canterbury Jockey Club's weightadjuster anticipated the date on which the handicap for the New Zealand Cup of ISO 2 v/aa to be published by tending out hie allotments 24 hours before the advertised time. In compiling this handicap, Mr J Henrys allows himself a margin of throe stone and two pound 6 in his endeavour to satisfy the owners of the 66 horses nominated for the race. Of th© number handicapped, three horeea are given over 9st ; the game number constitute the Bst division; 15 are contained in the 7st division, and no less than 15 get in under 7st, and furnish the 6st division. Of three latter lot, 19 get in with the lowest weight allowed by the Rules of Racing. Nonette, with 9.9, holds tha pride of place in the handicap, and by getting that position settles many argument? and wagers made by those who endeavoured to forecast Mr Hcnrys's adjustment--. Xone-tte's Stirling deeds during the past season entitle him to the greatest respect, and proved him to be one of the best thr<-e-year olds that has ever raced on the New Zealand twrf. Four-year-olds who have been allotted high weights in tho same race are Ginsy Grand 9.7. Euroclydon 9.5, Multiform 98, Advance 9.9, Seahorse 9.5, and Renown 9.0. Of these, "Euroclydon wa& the only one to bear silk in the race, and ran Eecond to Lady Zetland 8.9. who heat him by a short length. From a time point of view' this was one of the fastest Isew Zealand Cups ever run, and the time put vp — 3mm 30 2-ss=ec — hns only been beaten by Waiuku 8.6 (3min 50scc), Tirant d'Eau 7.7 (3min 29 4-sscc), and the deadheaters, Fulmen 7.3 and Ideal 77, who passed the post in 3min 29 4-ssec As a performance for a four-year-old Euroclydon's ranks high, and the merit of the performance will take some beating. However, few ■would cay that Euroclydon was quite the equal of Nonette as a three-year-old ; but •there ia better goods under Nonette at 9.9 •than there was under Euroclydon at 9.5. Nbnebte commenced his three-year-old career by winning the Avondale Guineas from a weak field in lmin 46i.=ec, and at Kav.'ke's Bay he was d.-feated with 8.3 by Okoari 3 2 o\er one mile and 116yc!s, in lmin sCsec. He next went under to Men-chikoff in the Uawke'a Bay (Jr.hna 0 but on returning home to Auckland he w n the Great Northern Guinea* in lmin 45i-ee In the A" 'k land Cup, with 8.0. he rail nocond ti> fcH. Michael 7 4. who defeated him by two 'eii'^thi in 3min 32 4 -seec Tv.o il<ir« 'aicr Xom tto took up 9.0 and bent R *f'!a 9 2. Rattle .ie 9.3, and a good field of olh<" rs o*. rr a mile and a-quarter in 2mir. 12-ec On tl\e tlunl day of the same moetir.g Nonri'e won the A.R.C Handicap, one mil© and a half iv. Emm 37£ sec. with 9.4. and the oth^r p'ao>'s were occupied by Bluejacket 9 3 an ' >St. Michael 9*o. Amongst those lx-'nnd '.mi were Battleaxe 9.3 and Coroi.et 8 6 Our * mile wad «-auwtaE in tha &. S. Ha.n<liga.n

St. Michael 9.5 defeated Nonette 9.10 in 2min lOisec. Throughout this meeting St. Michael was the one particular thorn in NV>nette"s side, but besides conceding weight he was giving the bearer of the yellow jacket a year in age. Nonette next won the Wanganui Cup, one mile and three-quarters, with 8.11, in fmin 3 3-ssee, and behind him wae Tortulla with 9.3, whom he beat by a short length. Many who witnessed this race held that Tortulla should have won had she not made her run too soon Beddington /.12 was five lengths away third, and is reported to have run like a stayer. Amongst the unplaced in the race were Ideal 8.4, Sirius 7.3, and Fakir 6.10. That Tortulla was in form at that meeting is shown by her performance the following day in the Wanganui Stakes, one mile and a.-quarteT, when she oanied 9.12 and did the trip in 2min 9sec, and beat Beddington 8.3 out of a place. At Auckland, at the Easter meeting, Nonette 9.11 beat a large field over a mile in the Easter Handicap in linin 42sec, and amongst them were Highlander 7.6 and Hohoro 9.10, whilst unplaced were Bluejacket 9.7, Ostiak 8.0, Okoari 9.4, and many other good 'uns. On the second day of the same meeting he won the Century Stakes, weight-for-age, one mile and a-half, in 2min 39isec, and the weights carried were: Nonette 8.12, Tortulla 9.10, Beddington 8.11. On the third day of the meeting Nonette took up the steadier of 10.6, and finished out of a plaoe in the Autumn Handicap. He started favourite, but was interfered with in the race. The above is a list of performances which lias seldom or never been equalled by a three-year- old, and which has caused Mr Henrys to give him. his position in the Cup. And although he is asked to give Tortuila and Cruciform more than I expected, I will have the son. of Seaton Delaval on my side.

Crucifoini 9.5 comes next to Xonette. and whilst there is no questioning her brilliancy she has also given proof of her staying abilities by her running in the C.J.C. Derby, io. which she finished a langth. away from Menschikoff in 2miu 37 4-ssec. She won the Oaks comfortably in 2min 43 4-ssec, and at Auckland fche carried 711 (w.f.a.) in the Auckland Plate, one mile and a-half, in 2m in 4-lsec, and easily beat Bluejacket 9.4. At Wellington Cruciform downed Tortulla in the Zealacidia Plate, one mile and aquarter, comfortably in 2min lOsec. The weights were Cruciform 9.7 and Tortulla 9.12, and this may be taken as a journey over which Tortulla is particularly brilliant. Her next journey racs was the New Zealand St. Leger, in which she cantered home in 3min 8 2-sf=ec. Summing Cruciform's form up. she may be said to be the best thiee-year-old filly th*t has ever raced in the colony, and without further ado I place her en my side.

Tortulla ha? 9.3, which is a stone and two pounds more than she won easily with last year. In dealing with Nonette and Cruciform the dam of Tortulla has frequently croped up, and all her performance* last season go to show that she can stay about as well as any other man's horse, and can also act well under big weight 3. She is a big, powerfully-built sad seasoned mare, and although she belong? to a stable which holds a. strong hand in the Cup, 1 would as soon stand her as anything in the stable. Her form in the Wanganui Cup, when she ran second to Nonetto with 9.3 to tho colt's 8.11 ; her win in the Wanganui Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, with 9.12, in 2min 9 4-saec ; and in the Autumn Handicap, one- mile- and a-quarter, at Wellington, with 9.12, in 2minll l-si?ec, would alone entitle h«r to rerppct. Besides these, she won the Macawatu Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 9.9. in 2min 40 l-ssec, and beat Palaver 8.10, Motor 8.0, Legion of Honour 7.9, Magnificent 7.9, and Sirius 7.7. With 10.5 Tortu'U ran second to Fashion 8.4 in the Wairaiapa Cup, one mile and a-half, in 2min 33sec. and was only a le«gth behind the winner at the finish. Although it is rumoured that she may be retired from tho turf, Tortulla has proved herself during the past season to be such a performer that I will add her to the pair above, and have tho trio amongst my selected. St. Michael, with 8.13, commences tha 8.0 division, and through his Auckland and Wellington form he must be entitled to eor.sidpraticn. When meeting Nonette at Auckland he comported hlmsolf as a stayer and a racehorse, and the only reason I put him by for the prp=ent is the rumour-, of his umoundne»s, whiih tray prevent him from cominc; through the ordeal of a New Zealand Cup rr j paration. Tlip ■«eightadjiMpr has not forgotten Renown's deeds o<i the turf, and w'nUt considering neither Renown nor St. Michael harshly treated I place them by for the same reason. With a drop of 81b comcb Pampero with 8 3. which read-s 7 tic-" a nicp racing weight for the son of St. Clair. Up to the present he has been remarkable rather for his brilliancy than his staying powers, and a slight lameness in the knee joints has prevented him from being wound up to concert pitch on more than ono occasion. The season before la~~t he carried 8 10 to within three parts of a length of Palaver 7.5 in 2min 38 3-s«ec, over the one mile and a-half of the Great Autumn, after he had met with a rcu;jh pafKuro on the road. He returned to Dunedin. and was defeated in the Birthday Handicap, one nn'e and a-quarter. with 9.0, by Nihilist 8.0. At last Xrw Zealand Cup mectirir hp raced well hut unluckily, and his seo< nds to Royal Art-llery and to Terrapin wert> full of merit. On his return io Dunedin he captured the ("Hago Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, with 8.10, in 2mm 14 3-ssec, and at the same meeting he won the St Andrew's Handicap, one mile, wit'n 9 10, in lmin 45sfc. In each of thc,=c races he won very easily. Pampero ran unplaced with 9.5 in thp Birthday Handicap v. on by Canteen 7.10, but on the next ilav of the meet ing he made amends for his defeat by winning- the Privincal Handicap with 9.2. and boat Terrapin 7.2, Canteen 8.8, and Lady Lillian 79. He wound up his sc-a«on well by Ins recent win at Wingatui. and in ee-lf-rting one out of the 8.0 division I take Ps.mpero.

Dundas, with 7 13, has a weight that should not stop if he were in a palloping hurronr. F> won the C.-T C M'd«ummer Hai.dicap wiHi 7 8 in 2min 36 3-swc, and cleared out f'om the fir-Id, nmon?st whom were Camiie Chiel 8.8 and Calibre 6.7. At Wirgatui he won the DunoJin Cup. out roile and a-half. with 8.11. in 2m;o 38 3-ssec, from end to Mid, am' boat Calibre 6.10, C.nnip Chiel 87. and Canteen 8.6. In his performances n* Ashburton he threw up th<* •>pongi\ but (-"■• ed 9.3 over -ma mile and a .uartsr at ''„ •■\ui in Zmn 16-rc. and did it <.'ir.iforta>U!\ Wtp it net for his, perhaps wro'i^lv-d. '••--. cd. ppstip as ? rogr.p I would not hh a -'tit" about D«"i''a«. hue a? it i- "" v. i'l cn!v c trm.irk 1 it. U*t further re-ff-r. • c<> P.- '''l nyton ha? bcrn a fjnly (jood and cousisteaS cexfornier thi& season, ajid in tko

majority of his races was always '"handy to the money" at the finish. He commenced the season by being beat a head over a tnilo by St. Ursula, and later won the Auckland City Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. with 8.12, in 2.11, and behind him was Bluejacket 9.7. He was unplaced in the Auckland Cup with 8.3, won, by St. Michael 7.4. Unplaced in the Wanganui Cup 7.12, won by Nonette 8.11, but, according to report, was travelling remarkably well at the finish of the race. After being unplaced with 9.10 o\er a mile and a-quarter he ran two seconds. In the Auckland Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 8.2, he was second to Matamataharakiki 6.7, in 2min 44sec, and second at Avcndale over one mile and a-quarter with 8.12 to Highlander 83, in 2min 12 3 ssee. At Auckland recently he won the Cornwall Handicap (welter) with 11.0, and ran the mile in lmin 47 l-ssec, and finished third with 11.7 in the Winter Handicap won in lmin 45| sec by St. Olga 9 3. Beddington has the New Zealand St. Lpgor to his credit, and he beat Cannie Chiel comfortably when he won 3min 11 3-ssex\ He i 3 one of those in the 7.0 division for whom I have a respect.

Cannie Chael's form points to his being a brilliant miler, but in the Great Autumn Handicap, won by his stable companion, Glenaladale, he was putting in some good work at the finish. Cannie Chiel won over a mile and a-quarter at Wellington with 7.11 in 2min 12 2-ssec, and beat Tortulla 9.3 and KaJiuwai ; and on the same course won over a mile and a furlong with 8.11 in lmin 59see, and behind him in the race were Dundas 7.7, Tortulla 9.10, and Kahuwai 7.10. On top of this we have his defeat of Cruciform over seven furlongs at Christchurc'a. At present, however, I will place Cannie Chiel aside. Of the others in the Tsi division I like Glenaladale, Achilles, Porirua, Canteen, and Melwood. Ideal has earned tho name of being a jacte, and that causes me to discard her. Oetiak has v. on mile races in a manner which suggests tliat he could go further — and probably fare worse, as the funny man would say. Northumberland's performances aa a tvo-year-old stamp him as a. useful sort. Both Aehille-* and Porirua proved themselves first-clas.s two-year-olds, and the stable has tyro other well-bred two-year-olds, with winning form to recommend them, in Exmoor and Ghoorka. In fact, Prosee-r looks to have a remarkably strong hand, and his se-leeted should play a prominent part in the race. Melwood has done nothing to recommend him since his display in last year's Cup. Siege Gun has his breeding and relationship to good horses to recommend him, but perhaps it i 3 mere guessing that has placed him in liis present position in the betting market. Pc belongs to a powerful stable, but as I have no real knowledge of his abilities I pass him by. In last year's Cup Gl&naladale raced well after being stopped m his work, and his perforaianro in the Great Autumn btamps him as a thorough bulldog. He stuck to his task that day in a manner that few horsc-3 do. It was said that he was running in the interests of his stable companion, Cannie Caicl ; but although the latter was travelling well at the, finish, it was Glenaladale that won the race-, and won it handsomely. Of all those in the 7st lot he ie the one whom I am most inclined to favour. Canteen has bee-n a good but an unlucky performer during the season. His display in la?t year's Cup was not very great, but ho got into a bad position, and his Derby form would point to the fact that he should have been more prominent in at lea*t the early stages of the two-mile lace.' Ho is a fine big raking colt, with a splendid set of lepjs, and likely to stand a thorough preparation, which a horse must get through to get successfully to the end of two milee. Canteen is one whom I will havp on my side.

Time and space will not aJlow me to wade into details with the 6st division. Somo of them, such as Bowman, Lady Lillian, Fakir, Vladimir, Welbeck, Calibre, Ghoorka, Exmoor, and ot'ners, have winning performances amongst faiily good company to recommend them. Others, again, &r» recommended solely by their breeding. In this class comes Siege Gun. the last of the Frailty^. Sensation, by Hotchkiss — Ovid.i, is clo-oly related to Artillery, Hilda, Strathmore, and Hazel, betides others more or l<"-s useful. Ho ha« one small ivin to his credit, and Dame Rumour is bu*v with his name ; in fai t, one or two s-mall lines have been written about his chance. Triumph, 'a six-year-old full brother to Renown, at 6.8 looks well on paper. La Valiere, tho full taster to Nonette, is another that looks well on the store of breeding Amongst the voungaters whom I noticed last season, Goldi n Vein, Tercelet, Romany Queen, Stepc'ancer, Bombardo, and Grand Rapids were amongst those who left an impref-Mon on my memory ; and two, in Exmoor and Ghoorka, are taid to bo far superior to^ what their form on paper would indicate.

When on© glances at the large number of horses, weighted under 7st. they look as if they must be a bad lot, and the only reason some of them were nominated was because their owners liked to &p<" their horses in tho race. There may be some embryo Carbines amongbt them, but their public form dors not say so ; but perhaps their owners and iraineif. think they are sure to improve with agi 1 _

At present I like the following in the handicap :— Cruciform. Nonette, Tnrtulla, Pampero, Glenaladale, Achilles, Porirua, Canteen, Melwootl, BpcWington. Dundas, Lady Lillian, Fakir, Vlacliinir, Siege Gun, Exmoor, and Ghoorka. To take a dozen of those handicapix-d. I Hep- the following Korst'B in the-ir order: — Cruciform, Nfon-ette, Tortulla, Glc-naladale. Pamppro. Achillc, Porirua, Canteen, Lady Lillian, Beddington, Duudas, and Molwood.