WHO’S WHO IN THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17183, 29 October 1923, Page 2

WHO’S WHO IN THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

BY

"ARGUS.”

Mr Rua Moelahima’s b g AI UR. AAH I, by Camp Fire—lneuru, 6yrs, 7st 10Tb. A year ago, when Aluraahi came to Riccarton for the New Zealand Cup, he had a win in the Higgle Handicap nt Wanganui to recommend him. ll© had a fair field behind hint, but Ihe performance did not attract a great deal of attention, as he started ninth favourite for the New Zealand Cup. He was kept a long way back in the early stages, but came with r* great run over the last half-mile, finishing a good jthird to Scion and Fo© C li'6'.v. If was a.n impressive performance which showed Muraahi up as a .sound stayer. After finishing Fourth in the A nekland Cup, ho carried 7st and won the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, In corne 9st and Scion Bst 101 b being ir. the places, with a good field behind them. Ho was unplaced in the YY’anganui Cup. under 7st 121 b. Sunart Safe Mb, Palestrina Bst 81b and Stork 7st •lib, filling the places, but on the sec-

Mr R. A. M'Konzie’s b g. KILGOUR. by Kilbroney—Angelina, aged, 6st nib. Kilgour has some very useful performances to bis credit, but they are

one! dr. v he the- Eerie Handicap under 7el 121 b. beating Palestrina Sst iffib by a head This season Aluranlii was four times <ut of a place before he won the YYavcrley Cup last week. There was great merit in this win, as the opposition v was not strong, but it showed that ATuraahi was well. His New Zealand Cup prospects can best be summed up from last season’s form. He has been raised a stone on the weight he carried in the Cup last i year, but even with that rise he must j have a good chance, provided lie is well handled. His Auckland running in the summer also showed him to be. a likely sort, and there was some merit in his Wanganui win in the autumn. When the YVanganui form is carefully studied, however, it l©ok?s as if Palestrina would beat him, provided. of course, the Clareneeux mare is at her best. At the same time, Muraahi may be marked off as a hor.se who is sure to race very prominently next Saturday and it will cause no surprise if he wins.

)sr ndwiched in between some very | moderate efforts. Two seasons ago. I for example, he won only two races, j or.e of them being th© Metropolitan 1 Handicap at Riccarton, when he car-

ried 7st 31b and was followed bom© by Royal Star Set 131 b and Foo Chow Sst 61b. That, was a. very impressive performance, as he came on th© outride of the field from well back and won easily. It waa an exhibition, in fact, that mad© it apparent, he did not chow his proper form in the New Zealand Cup, two days earlier. Before coming to Riccarton lie won at Mastert°n. but those were his only successes that season and he was thirteen times out of a place. season he showed no form, being unplaced in his eight starts. He has started four times this

j Air R. Heppner’? V> g ROUEN, by Bezonian —Lady Laddo, aged, 6yrs, Sst 51 b. Rouen was fancied for the New Zealand Cup two years ago. as a. result of useful North Island form, including a win at YY*angarmi and two seconds at Trentham, one of them with Amythas liis conqueror by a neck in the Champion Plate. When be came to Riccarton, however, he failed to make a show. Later in the season ne was placed four times without winning. I>ast season he started twenty-two times for four wins and five thirds. His best- form was shown in the win ter, when he won at the Egmont- meet-

season, grinding up with second t« V agabond in the Mascerton Cup. This latest performance came just in time to show that Kilgour has not altogether lost the gift of galloping, and it may be well not to disregard his prospects. He has suffered front at different times and probably this will account for some of his poor form. He is quite sound now. however, and bearing in mind his excellent Showing in the Metropolitan Handicap two years ago, he is worth* keeping in mind as an outsider who rr.iy play a prominent part in the New Zealand Cup this year.

1 ing and followed it up a week late* j with a double at "Wanganui, carrying big weights, but the hulk of liis opponents were of moderate class, t He has started five times this season, 5 bis only money earning effort being s when he ran third in the Champion - Plate at Trentham. Surveyor and 2 Razzle Dazzle, who finished in front 2 cf him, arc a good pair, but the race 2 was not run at- a sound pace. In any = case, form over a mile and a quarter :s no guarantee of ability to see out 5 two miles with the pace on all the way, and Rouen has no credentials t«x recommend him for the New Zealand - Cup journey.