Editorial- RANDWICK’S RICH HANDICAPS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1930, Page 4

EditorialRANDWICK’S RICH HANDICAPS

Though Melbourne, with its £lO,OOO cup race, is an easy first in providing o for handicap horses, Randwick is not far. behind, and, unlike the Victorians, does not put all the sovereigns in one basket, but provides liberally for both sprinters and stayers alike. The spring handicaps at Randwick, which will engage attention early next month, are well- worth striving for, the Metropolitan Handicap being worth 6000 sovs. provided by the club, as well as carrying with it a sweepstakes of 30 sovs. for final acceptors, and the Epsom Handicap being worth 3000 sovs., with a similar sweepstakes.' These events are run over one mile and five furlongs, and one mile respectively. ' . , Leaving Randwick’s valuable classics to New Zealand-bred horses—Phar Lap, Nightmarch, Veilmond, Limerick and the rest—one can proceed to sum up New Zealand’s prospects in the principal handicap races, in which our representation this spring appears to be exceptionally strong, both in point of numbers and in quality. One feature which is pleasing is that New Zealand horses are numbered amongst those whose chances are most favoured for both the Epsom and the Metropolitan. Past records prove that the public has generally been “right on the mark” in summing up. the. Epsom, and even fairly successful in sorting out the winner of the longef-’(and harder) Metropolitan. So the favouritism of New Zealanders is a happy augury.: . - As proof of the success of favourites, m the Epsom Handicap the following performances of “first choices” since 1920 may be a interest: — 1921. Beaufort, first. L, Fujisan 2.. ■ 1922. Rostrum, first. als ?’ 9 0t ?° ’ ’ 1923—The Hawk, unplaced.. 1928.—Amounis, first. .1924.—Blackadder, first. 1929.—Gi1t Edge, unplaced. 1925.—Honan, unplaced. After perusing this list New Zealanders can look with more than z a ray of hope to the chances of our eleven representatives—not a bad number in a field of 46, and including well supported ones like High Disdain, Gay Ballerina, First Sight; Eaglet and White rj No fewer than 16 of the 47 remaining in the Metropolitan Handicap are New Zealanders, and they include the prime favourite, Paquito, as well as Waterline, who is almost aS greatly m demand with the public, together with Concentrate, In the Shade, Gay Crest and Star God. Paquito has defeated most of the middle-distance performers in New South Wales, and his second in.the Melbourne Cup stamps him as a stayer of the first order With the ex-New Zealander, Maurice McCarten, in the saddle, he will only need, to get a fair run to take a. power of beating, and unless something untoward happens he should start first favourite on the day. Xhe fate of the favourite in. the past decade is shown below' 1920. —Finmark, unplaced. 1926. Pantheon 2, Spearfelt, 0. 1921. David, unplaced. • J^7.— Murillo, fiyst. 1922. Purser, third. 1928.—Jocelyn 1, Sharp bon 3, Bac1923. Sir Andrew 1, David 2. chus , , 1924. —Prince Charles, unplaced. 1929.—Nightmarch, second. 1925. —Virgin Gold, unplaced. The Epsom Handicap is run on the opening day (Saturday, October 4) of the A.J.C. spring meeting, and the Metropolitan Handicap on the following Monday. May success crown the efforts of our bqst; that is the wish of New Zealand sportsmen. “Paritutu.”