CUDDLE BRILLIANT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 268, 14 November 1935, Page 4

CUDDLE BRILLIANT

CUP WON ALL THE WAY FEM’ STAYERS IN FIELD For the fourth year in succession the New Zealand Cup. the principal event on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Metropolitan meeting at Riccarton on Saturday, was won by a marc. On this occasion it was Cuddle, who was to place her name on the scroll of fame, and she did it in brilliant style by leading from start to finish, writes “Rangatira” in the Evening Post. Though Steeton had achieved such a success last year, it is *most unusual for the Cup to be won in this way; and never could an end-to end victory over two miles have been so granly achieved as Cuddle did it on Saturday. She ruled the final favourite in the betting, rather decidedly better backed than Fersen, who was the next choice, but her prices were good ones. Cuddle drew No. 10 at the post, but she started from one or two places closer in owing to others, including Vintage, moving out, and as soon as it was possible to sort out the field she had control. Passing the stands she was a clear length in front of Steeton. Dodge, Tuirau and Vanestep, but going to the back she increased her lead to three lengths, and then still further to about five lengths passing the mile. She was evidently allowed a brief respite at that stage, tor the field closed to a length of her, but then she started off again. Rounding the home turn Vanestep, Osculate and Argentic had drawn clear of the others in pursuit of Cuddle, the last pair having moved up from rearward positions, and so they entered the straight. Instead of a fight over the closing section, however. Cuddle just left her rivals standing, and she romped home victor amidst great acclaim by six lengths from Vanestep, who beat Argentic by two lengths with Fersen running on a moderate fourth. Cuddle 'a success was a veritable ; triumph. She played her own game | and outclassed the field. She thus won ' the- Cup a second time for her Wellington owner, Mr. K. J. Murphy, who previously captured it with Oratrix, another mare whom Mr. Murphy pur- | chased with this rase in view. Mr. [ Murphy bought Cuddle only a little over two months ago from her breeder, Mr. J. A. Hennah, who had doubts about her standing further serious training, but Mr. Murphy pluckily took the risk of this. After transferring to Trentham she was cared for by P. Reardon, head man to the ‘’Brentwood” establishment, but T. K. George took her over on his return recently from Sydney. L. J Ellis’ only previous success in the Cup was by coincidence on Oratrix. Vanestep, a daughter of tne great Warstep, ran a splendid race, too, being always near the front, and she fully deserved her second placing. She resumed racing at the same meeting as Cuddle (at Masterton last month;, but prior to then she had been off the scene for over two years, the result of a fall while training. She is small but she can stay, as she gave promise of doing in her races earner lu ner Argentic, the third horse, is another member of the Warstep family. He moved up brilliantly about five furlongs from home, but in the straight he never had any prospect of reaching the two mares who beat him. He is still another horse who has had a chequered career. Fersen was running on fourth, but he had his full chance had he been good enough, except that he met slight trouble when was dropping back near the half-mile. He held a place about the middle of the field most of the way. Osculate wenf a surprisingly good race to the straight, where he had gone up alongside Vanestep, but he then weakened out of it and finished just a fair fifth. Kamal Pasha was still going in sixth place, with Walton Park also running on; and after them the order of the remainder was Vintage. Tuirau, Sunee, Steeton. Dodge, Killowyn, and Guarantee, with big intervals to Caliente and Silver Sight (always last). Tout le Monde was pulle'd up after going about six furlongs. Little comment is necessary on the Leaten division, all of whom failed because they could not stay the distance. Tuirau caused some interference when she fell back beaten, but the four leaders were already leaving tlie field at that stage, and Fersen was the only one who might have gained a place if he had not been in the trouble, though this is doubtful. Kiltowyn’s effort particularly was disappointing, and Sunee never raised any serious hope in his prospects. Caliente was not herself, so she might yet some day improve on this performance as a two-miler. The race was truly run on this occasion, the time being good for a dead track. The first half-mile was done in 32 2-ssec., the first mile in J min. 44 2-ssec., the- first mile and a-hal.* in 2min. 36 l-ssec., and the full distance in 3min. 27 3-ssee., so that Cuddle came home her last half-mile in 51 2-ssec. The New Zealand race record for two miles is the 3min. 22 l-ssec. registered by Palantua two yeais ago on a perfect track.