WHO’S WHO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 7

WHO’S WHO

—IN THE—NEW ZEALAND CUP.

BY

“ARGUS.”

Mr H. Riddi ford's b.g. Scion, by Boniform—Lady Jean IT., oyrs, 9st. Prior to his success in the New Zealand Cup last year. Scion was just a useful performer, with four faces as a three-year-old to his credit, over distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile and a distance. Last season, before coming to Ricrarton. he started four times, without once being in the, money. He carried 7st 101 b when he won th© New Zealand Cup. and coming on the scene with a late challenge, he won by half a length from Foo Chow, Bst 91b, with Muraahi. fist 101 b, a length away. The most striking feature about bis performance was that it showed him up as a stayer. After.a couple of failures at Wocdville, he went on to Fllerslie, where, he carried Bst 21b and von the Auckland Cup hy a neck from Insurrection, Bst 31b, with Income Bst 81b another neck away. This i>erformanc© did nothing more than emphasise his stamina, as he was most leniently handicapped after his Riccarton success. A weeklater, carrying Bst 101 b, he was third in the Auckland Racing Club Handi-

Mr J. Richardson's ch.g. Roseday, by Solferino-Rosalia, fiyrs, gst 91b. Roseday provided the surprise of last year’s New Zealand Cup contest. Arriving from Wingatui only a cot.pie of days before the race, and with no credentials as a stayer, he helped to set a solid pace, and he was still going well at the distance, eventually finishing just behind the placed horses. It was a very fine performance pn the part of a hbrse who had not undergone an adequate preparation for a two mile journey. Tic failed. to reproduce the form in the Metropolitan Handicap at Trentham in January, and was unplaced in the Wellington Gup and Racing Club Handicap, but he ran gold Light to a head in the Summer Handicap, one mile. In the following month he won the Dunedin Cup under 8s t. covering the mile and a half in 2min 31 2-ssec. while a few days later he was second, with 9st, in the Dunedin Joe

Mr G. L. Rutherford’s b.g. Royal Star, by Martian-Lady Victoria, aged, Sst lb. Royal Star is one of the veterans of the New Zealand Cup field. He has had a chequered career. As a young horse he fell twice in races, but those mishaps did not seriously affect him. judging from the generous manner in which he raced subsequently. Later he met with serious injuries on two occasions, each of them necessitating a lengthy spell He was at the top of his form two years ago, when, carrying 7st lOAlb. he won the New Zealand Cup very decisively. On the second day of that meeting,'under Bst 131 b, lio was second to Kilgour 7st 31b in the Metropolitan Handicap, while he put up another excellent performance in the Canterbury Cup, when he ran sec ond to Ajnythas. He was unplaced in the Auckland Cup and Auckland Racing Club Handicap, following which trip he had to be spelled.

Muraahi, Kilgour and Rouen will be discussed on Monday.

ca.p, beaten a, neck by Income 9st, who in turn was a length behind Muraahi 7st. That was his best performance. He started in seven other races before the end of th© season, without one© touching the money. Among the races in which he failed was the Trenthain Gold Cup, Rapine. Kick Off and Sunart being in the places. His performance on that occasion was disappointing and disposed of his claims to rank as a good class horse. This season Scion has been unplaced in each of his four starts. From that point, of view he has done no worse than in his preliminary racing, before last year’s New Zealand Cup success- On this occasion, however, he will have to tackle a very difficult task from the one he faced so well a year ago. He has to carry 9st, or an increase of 181 b. This is a big rise, and it should be borne in mind that it represents a. burden fill) more than any horse has yetcarried to victory in the New Zealand Cap, while many horses with much better credentials than Scion have been among the failures. If can he said in favour of Scion that he is a stayer and that he looks exceptionally well, but he does not appeal as a likely winner.

kev Club Handicap, won by Scrimmage. Sst. 31b. Following on those two performances, he was fortunate enough to get into the Auckland Easter Handicap with 7st 121 b and he duly won. his time for for the mile being Imiu 38sec. This season Roseday has start ed three times. After being unplaced in a five furlong race at Kurow, he won the Electric Handicap at the Dunedin meeting, registering an impressive performance. Then he went ou to Gore, where he won the Gore Cup, carrying a big weight. Roseday’s weight in this vear\s Cup is 121 b more than he failed under a. year ago. Against that, however, it can be argued that he looks ready for the big task on the present occasion.' On appearances, in fact., he is a vastly improved horse, and for that reason he must be given a big chance of getting some of the money, even if he is not quite equal to winning it.

He did a lot of racing last season without success , his only money earning efforts being third in the Canterbury Gup and third in the Midsummer Handicap. This season he has started only twice being badly beaten each day of the Ashburton meeting last month. On his latest public form he must be regarded as a spent force. Singe he raced at Ashburton, however, he has done some useful track work, without being set anything of a searching character, and he has come on a lot during the last week or two. lie is one. of the Cup horses with real credentials as :• stayei - , and in spite of his poor form in public, it is probable, that he will be running on when more brilliant gallopers are getting very tired. Royal Star is by no means a forlorn hope, but his final gallops, during the next few days, should provide the best line to his prospects.