THE CUP MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 54

THE CUP MEETING.

The acceptance? received far the N.-w Zealand Cup on Friday last mu-t be deemed highly satisfactory, as nothing •of any great note is numbered amongst the missing. Heorthen is really the only absentee that the public were inclined io support, and those who were aitracted by the bold raco 6he ran l<i«t year would be somewhat surprised to find hor amongst the missing. AH Red remains in the pride of pkee at the head of the handicap, ar.d he has now an iiierease of lib owr his orignal weight. The son of Madder has domon-strated by reosnt winning form that he is in good racing shape, but even if he can stay out two n?il&s under his burden of 9.5 he will have to put up an exceptionally good performance to win. All Red is a horse that looks well up to weight and has already given proof of his solidity up to a mile and a-half, but the task in front of him is the formidable one of achieving what jio other horse has ever accomplished in the race, and thar is to carry over 9.0 and win. Still, that fact does not constitute a law to say that All Red cannot succeed Pimply because others have failed, and wore it not that the topweight is bred on somewhat nan-sfcaying lines he would be entitled to groat r<~,tx?rr. He has an .Auckland Cup ■to his credit, but now he has 131b more to earrj-. Still, he may have proved himself ;i much better stayer in pnvaf" than what <:an be gathered fiom his public perforrnr.ncs. BobnkoiT was regarded, and right-h fo, as one of thf> most brilliant middlo-di*;-'anr-e horses wo have h;>d, and tlm -oa.-on Ji2 kas given us proof tlial lm uiidc-niab!" sp<»d has not become unpaired by the -vinti-r respite from labour. In tho Auckland Cup All Red beat Bobrikoff when the latfce.r was pivinjr away 61b. and now tho laif-2 1 .- n->ools bis victor on 121b lvettev t^rms. Tlobrikoff ha^ b&en stoutly supiiorf-sd for no Cup. f.id presumably by those who know most about the horse, so tliat it maj I>2 taken for granted the- horse has imnroved in stamina. On form there is nothing to chcosc between Husbandman and Mo-ster - Soult The former won both Derb>s, and otherwise showed good form ov»r a mile and a-half, whilst Master Soult was kept principally to sprint work in thoearlv part of the year, but at th<» back «n.d he beat. Husbandman in tho St. Leger, whilst the latter baaf the Auckland colt in the G.N Derby. Of the two the writer ■urefers Mas-tor Sou't, but he is und^r it clo-iid. Downfall has been Turning without puccsss. and according to the marTrot there is a bis: '"■end'eney to iprnore him -••nd favour his companion BobvikofF. Fit and w<»!l Downfall would hp exr&Ueni trying tackle for the Finland gelding, and :•-<; tho latier apuears to be the stable elect, Downfall may be parsed over. It must ba said, hnwe\ei". jhpt there was a gcod deal of merit in Dowrrall's win in Ja.pt year's CJup. He had a bad passage going alons-th-e back, arid whsn h-? aot clear finished vrv fa~.(. Still !>e failed to win during tha remainder of tho season, and that stand's as a black mark ;:gai;ist him. although he? ran a -rood seco-id o^r ,i mile and a-half on one occasion when All P-^d beat him a head wlk»h gi\ing away 71b. California, found and w-e'!. would be entitled to a gcod deal of consuteration. as in what racing 1110 writer bus >=*n t'^.e San Fran tceldinr •»>a.rticipatc he b?s jienevally ae<°d n^ -a <*■-• -t. .«~-n 2 of tl.^ balance of tiio fWii, r.s Prim and Far.cKtream. hay« fail lv r ( >d r-r/-<l?ntial i !, an.-I anyone vho takes Hi" trouble to aualv-' th" Hold as far i>« public form is concerned will agree that it is a very op^n rso». In fact, ir nronn-,^3 to provide one of th? bo? f cont^N tha t ha-? «ver taben place for tin's big pri7o, and ■the vrit<?r's wish i~ that p.ic'i hors" miv be fit and ready to do his beet in the battle.