NEW ZEALAND CUP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND CUP

FACTS AND FANCIES One of the strangest features of the New Zealand Cup is that, dui-ing the 51 years during which the race has been run under that name, no horse has won it on more than one occasion, and during the 19 seasons in which the principal event at Riccarton was known as the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap the Waimate horse Knottingly was the only dual winner. This is the more notable when it is remembered that Ariel and Nelson each won three Auckland Cups, that Bluejacket and All Red won tw'ice, and that Te Kara has a win and a dead-heat to his credit in New Zealand’s only other two-mile handicap. Another notable fact is that since the wonder colt Noctuiform strolled home in 1905, no three-year-old has won the Cup outright, the nearest approach to success being made in 1914 when Indigo was adjudged to have dead-heated with Warstep. The record of three-year-olds will not be improved this year, as no horse of this age is engaged in to-day’s race. Four-year-olds claim the biggest share of Cup honours, having been successful thirteen times in the last 30 years.

The highest weight carried by a Cup winner is 9.6, borne by Nightmarch, but this would have been exceeded had the handicapper at that period not been limited to that maximum. The time record is 3.22 1-5, made by Palantua in 1933. About a dozen riders have steered the winners of two Cups, the last of these being the late Arthur Eastwood, but the record is shared by S. Lindsay and H. Gray, each of whom rode three winners.

There have been many striking incidents in connection with New Zealand Cups of the past. Lochiel was so heavily backed that he put scores of bookmakers out of business. Canteen scored at the expense of Wairiki and Achilles, and although his position as winner was not disturbed, his rider, J. McCombe, was suspended for a year for interference. Canteen was sold for 3000 gns to Sir Clarke of Victoria, but was such a disappointment there that he was dubbed “the grey deceiver.” Sinapis won during the currency of a maritime strike. She was held up at Wellington with other cargo, but the strikers relented to the

extent of allowing her to pass through the blockade and the mare arrived at Riccarton on the morning of the race. Star Rose’s win will always be remembered because of the mammoth dividend returned by the double totalisator which was operated for two or three years. Only one investor, a Taranaki man, backed the combination Star Rose and Captain Shannon, and collected over £2OOO. Still another striking point about the Cup is that it was never won by Sir George Clifford, who raced horses with extraordinary success over a period of 45 years, and won altogether many hundreds of races. Piquancy is given to this item by the fact that his son. Sir Charles Clifford, succeeded with Fast Passage at his first attempt. Mr G. G. Stead, on the other hand, won with Lochiel, Grand Rapids and Noctuiform, while his son W. G. scored with Sasanof and was a partner with his brother and Mr G. D. Greenwood in Vice-Admiral. The smallest Cup field has numbered eight—lßß9 (Tirailleur), 1891 (British Lion), and 1904 (Grand Rapids); afid there were only nine runners when Tangihou won in 1915. The biggest was 21, the number that paraded for the 1908 contest, which was won by the “circus horse” Downfall. The hottest Cup favourite was Noctuiform, who paid £l/11/0, and later in the meeting returned £l/1/0 in the Derby, and £l/2/0 in the Canterbury Cup. Prior to this he had won the A.J.C. Derby by a street from his stable-mate Sungod in time several seconds faster than the race record, and was sold by Mr G. G. Stead to Mr J. Buchanan, a member of the Scottish distillery firm, for 5000gns., delivery to be given after the New Zealand Cup meeting. Noctuiform failed to acclimatise in England, and proved to be worth less than 5000 pence, but he was a smasher in this country.

It has been alleged that the 1935 Cup field is the weakest in the history of the race, but that is a foolish assertion. To go no further back than two years, it is much better collectively than that beaten by Palantua. In that season the two top-weights in the Cup handicap were both milers—Autopay 9.0, and Inflation 8.6. Few duffers have won the New Zealand Cup, though occasionally a Tangihou bobs up, and among the victors have been such great ones as Tasman, Vanguard, Lochiel, Manton, Tirailleur, St. Hippo, Euroclydon, Lady Zetland, Waiuku, Seahorse, Noctuiform, Warstep, Sasanof, Count Cavour, Rapier, Chide and Nightmarch. Vintage, 9.5, top-weight in this year’s field, is at a disadvantage in not hav-

ing raced this season, and his preparation has not been a searching one. Next on the list are Cuddle and Kiltowyn, 7.13. Cuddle is a brilliant mare but does not impress as a stayer. Kiltowyn, on figures, looks the pick of the weights. At his last start he was second in the King Edward Memorial at Ellerslie with 9.0, beating King Rey, who was 61b closer to him in the Cup weights. In the Mitchelson Cup, Kiltowyn was rated 221 b above Arctic Star, who, as a result of his Wellington success, was rehandicapped to within 31b and declined the contest. Fersen 7.7 also is 141 b closer to Kiltowyn than in the Mitchelson Cup assessments. Kiltowyn has not yet won at a longer distance than a mile and a quarter, but he is by Kilbroney, never runs a really bad race, and it is claimed by many Aucklanders that interference robbed him of the last Auckland Cup. It is certain that if the race were rUn in the north Kiltowyn would be a hot favourite. Steeton 7.11 on recent form has no chance, but Argentic 7.8 appears to be coming back. Fersen 7.6 is bred to stay, but seems too close to Kiltowyn. Silver Sight can be disregarded on late running. Guarantee 7.4 is by Paper Money, and on that account is not in favour, and he will carry some overweight. Osculate 7.4 had a fall at Gore, and may be better suited by a shorter trip. Caliente 7.5 is amiss, and in any case was set to meet Kiltowyn on 221 b worse terms than when she won the Mitchelson Cup. Walton Park 7.4 ran a decent race lUst year, but is a lumbering sort who does not impress as a two-miler. Kemal Pasha 7.3 is likely to carry 61b overweight, and few horses can afford to do that in a Cup. Tuirau 7.3 is a more appealing prospect. She is of the small and wiry type that should go a long way under her light impost and will be one of the popular selections. Vanestep 7.2 is not fancied, and Tout le Monde 7.0 is not genuine, though he won the Manawatu Cup over a mile and a half. Dodge has an outside show, and Sunee comes of a staying strain though his previous form has not been up to Cup standards. KILTOWYN, Tuirau and Fersen may be in the places. The probable starters and riders are:— Vintage (A. E. Ellis) 9.5 Cuddle (L. J. Ellis) 7.13 Kiltowyn (H. Goldfinch) .. 7.13 Steeton (W. E. Pine) .. .. 7.11 Argentic (S. Wilson) 7.8 Fersen (H. N. Wiggins) .... 7.7 Caliente (R. E. Walsh) .... 7.5 Silver Sight (A. Messervy) .. 7.4 Guarantee (R. J. Mackie) .. 7.4 Osculate (J. W. Jenkins) .. 7.4

Walton Park (P. Atkins) .. 7.4 Kemal Pasha (J. W. Jennings) 7.3 Tuirau (C. T. Wilson) .... 7.3 Vanestep (R. Marsh) 7.2 Tout le Monde (A. C. Messervy) 7.0 Dodge <W. Dent) 7.0 Sunee (R. W. Savage) .. .. 7.0 The Stewards Unlike the Cup, the Stewards’ Handicap has several times been won in two years by one horse. The first to perform the feat was the Oamaru mare Vanilla, and the next Vladimir, a fine sprinter of his day. The third double winner was Glentruin, an imported mare of great brilliancy, who carried 9.6 on the second occasion. The last was Comic Song, whose first victory will always be remembered on account of the three-figure dividend he returned. The distinction of carrying the heaviest impost first past the judge in the Stewards is claimed by Arrowsmith, who won with 9.13 in 1.12, a memorable performance. The time record is 1.10 2-5, made last November by Grand Sport, in the last important success gained by Arthur Eastwood, who after winning the Fendalton on the second day on Vintage, was fatally injured when Manetho fell on the third day of the meeting. The Stewards promises to be a hard race to win. Twenty-four sprinters stand their ground, and while about half a dozen appear to be right out of their proper class there are at least twice that number whose chances are good. In such a big field the draw for positions will be of material importance, and until these are displayed, backers will be more or less in the dark. Assuming that they are fortunate in this respect, Silver Streak, Variant and Bon Tray should be prominent. POISONING SUSPECTED By Telegraph —Press Association WHANGAREI, October 8. The thoroughbred stallion. Appellant, owned by Mr E. K. Plaisted, died under mysterious circumstances. The horse had been in excellent health, but on Monday morning was found in the stall in a dopey condition Though he rallied, he later became worse and died in agony. The inside of the mouth was raw and the indications were that the cause of death was poison. The stall was not locked, but the owner does not suspect foul play. Appellant was Australian-bred and was bought for 500gns by Mr E. W. Alison. The horse was not insured.