WINTER CUP REVIEW

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1930, Page 5

WINTER CUP REVIEW

WILL TRACK BEAT TOXEUMA? Since the inception of the Winter Cup T ft" 1899, the records favour the ninei {tone division, and in the 31 races dej aided horses with imposts of 10 stone 1 fir over (a 9 stone minimum) have scored eight times only. Good horses have been credited with wins in this race but far too often have the punters’ Calculations been upset by the track •and the unexpected form of “squibs.” In fact the Winter Cup has come to be regarded as a present for a good hack.

WINTER CUP.

O' 750 sovs. One mile.

Last week I exhaustively discussed the prospects of the top-weight, Toxeuma, but, though his track work in the interim indicates that he was never in finer fettle, his most sanguine adonirers must feel slightly afraid that the going will bo against their eelccJ tion. Havering continues to find steady support but the Hawera gelding is tack- ; ' lih'ff something more difficult than he has been up against in the past and, though he is a veritable mud-lark, the (final furlong may find him scratching. Black Duke is confidently , expected to ■ improve on his Trentham form and he runs out a solid mile. His inability Co begin as well as some may be one of the greatest difficulties the backers ■ip’f (Full Feather have with, (but the Autumnus horse will make ’matters interesting if he is in a good position over the last quarter of the ' journey. Teri is not expected to be forward enough yet, but Taboo won over a mile Trentham and Nancy Leo showed good form at the Northern meeting and [to-day is meeting her conqueror, Havering, on ten pounds better terms. The distance may prove her downfall. Beet ■ friend will have the sdrviccfc bf Gray, ■ ' * and he showed at Manawatu that there

was no fluke about his Whyte Memorial win. Staghunter won a sprint at Trentham and is widely discussed, but lie may feel the pinch at the death. Pride is not without a chance, and those who saw Royal Opera win on the second day of the Feilding Easter meeting were .impressed. Tourist and Starehooter will not be neglected, but nothing reads better than Marjoram, who won at Manawatu. Marjoram revels in the mud and is in rare form at present. Ranelagh’s stock has eased since Trentham, but he and Black Mint look the best oi the nine-stoners.

Summing up this difficult problem one must ■ regard Toxeuma, Havering, ■Black Duke and Full Feather at the top of the handicap and Best Friend, Royal Opera, Marjoram and Ranelagh among the lightweights, but comparing form with . relative poundages and making full allowances for track conditions, Toxeuma, Full Feather, Best Friend and Marjoram must make a big appeal to the public, though, •if the track should be in fairly good order there is no doubt that a hot favourite would be served up in ' TOXEUMA. .-BIRTH OF THE NATIONAL. When was the first Grand National Steeplechase run in New Zealand, and where? A South Canterbury correspondent of the Referee solves the questions. In 1873, at a race meeting held near Waimate, South Canterbury, a race called the South Canterbury Steeplechase, of 70 sovs. (sweepstake of £5, and entry £2), was placed on the programme, and was won .by Mr. Schluter's Honest John. The next year the race was called the Grand Interprovincial Steeplechase, and the etake was raised to £lOO. This event was won by Mr. R. Fraser’s Medora, with Honest John runner-up. That Honest John deserved hie name may be judged by the fact that he ran in three steeplechases that day, winning one and finishing second twice. In May, 1875, the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club ran its first Grand National Steeplechase under that name. The stake was again £lOO, and the winner was Medora, with Tommy Dodd in second place. The race was run at Oamaru, ' Timaru and Christchurch before it .settled permanently at Riccarton,-' ' ■r. ' = - '■

Toxeunia ir 5 Royal Opera 4 Havering. 10 11 Arikinul 3 Black Duke 10 11 • Starshooter ? Full Feather 10 5 Marjoram 9 2 Teri 10 3 Ranelagh 9 0 Taboo 10 .1 Black Mint 9 0 Nancy Lee. 10 1 . Smithereens 9 0 Beat Friend 9 10 Rascal 9 0 Staghunter 9 12 Royal Gama 9 0 Pride 9 9 Topere 9 0 Blimp . 9 6 Arch Arrow 9 0