ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1948, Page 3

ON THE TURF

BY

"KESTREL"

NEW ZEALANDER HOWE FAVOURITE IN MELBOURNE CUP TODAY

New Zealanders have more than the usual amount of interest in the Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemington this afternoon, for New Zealand-owned Howe is topweight and favourite for Australia’s greatest two-mile race. Howe was backed to win £lOO,000 long before he as taken across the Tasman, and ever since he first showed signs of form solid support, has been forthcoming for him, with the result that a win for the New Zealander would

take a fortune out of the “ring.” Winner’s share of the stakemoney for the Melbourne Cup runs into close on five figures, the total stake, including a cup valued at £3OO, being £12,800. There have been richer cups, but this is the best stake for a good many years, and if Howe can secure the thick end of the purse his Australian mission will have been highly successful from the stake point of view alone. He has won three races and in addition was unlucky to be beaten into second place in the Caulfield Cup. Prior to his Australian campaign this season Howe had proved his high standard as a handicapper. He finished first in the Auckland Cup but was unfortunate enough to lose the prize through interference. He contested the Wellington Cup, third of the season’s two-milers, a month later, but failed to gain a place. However, he proved himself a master of weight in other events over a shorter distance, and his connections were encouraged to undertake the Australian trip, especially as they had been able to back him at long odds for boUi the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He was also coupled In the "double” at four-figure odds to win a sum estimated to run into six figures. How he was defeated in the first “leg" by being left in front half a mile from home is recent history. Now the stable has him running to win a fortune, and the odds against him have shortened to such an extent t hat his party could, if they wished, "lay off” enough to have a big win without any outlay. Howe’s position in the betting market arises from his wins in the Herbert Power Handicap, the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and the Hotham Handicap, as well as his close second in the Caulfield Cup. Convinced that in Howe he had a horse capable of winning a Melbourne Cup, owner J. H. Marshall refused an Australian offer of 16,000gns. for the New Zealand stayer a few monthx ago. Howe carried himself a step nearer fulfilment of Mr. Marshall’s ambi tions when he raced to a brilliant win from Karachi and Steady in the Moonee Valley Cup. V.R.C- handicapper Mr. C. H. Davis penalised the Defoe horse 61b for. the Me’bourne Cup following his Moonee Valley victory. Howe, originally weighted at 8.13, will now carry 9.5, weight-for-age for a five-year-old over two miles. Leading Melbourne jockey H. Bad. ger, who will ride Howe in the Melbourne Cup, says the horse's only dangers are Carbon Copy and Vagabond. The brilliance with which Howe held off Karachi's challenge at the turn In the Moonee Valiev Cup and then sprinted away from him in the straight confirmed beliefs that he was unlucky in the Caulfield Cup, says leading Australian turf critic A. W. Dexter. Badger, who was able to ride Howe more quietly than did Munro at Caulfield, said he had no thought of defeat from the five furlongs. “When I let Howe go from the half-mile, it was no race," he declared. Chopped out shortly after the start, Howe was fourth last out of the straight, and was still well back, galloping on the heels of horses ahead of him, at. the six furlongs. Badger said that, immediately after the six, the bunch ahead fanned out and gave him a perfect run. Once he was clear of trouble Howe moved sharply around the field and was fairly close at the half-mlie. For a few strides near the turn Badger had to force Howe througn the leaders, but he knew the horse had the speed and the power to make his own way and was not perturbed.

As Bedger started his run on Howe along the back of the course, W. Cook moved forward on Karachi, who had been second last early. Cook had decided that Howe, who started favourite, was the horse to beat. Karachi made his run a little wider than Howe, but he had his chance when the pair singled out on the bend.

Immediately Karachi’s name was called, however, he was a beaten horse. Badger looked across, gave Howe a kick and Karachi was left behind.

After the Moonee Valley Cup “walk-over” Badger said: “Howe is a top-class handicapper and is big enough to carry heavy weights. Ido not think any penalty will worry him.

“I think Howe will beat the ordinary handicappers in the Cup, but danger may come from good staying three-year-olds like Carbon CopJ’ and Vagabond—if Vagabond is a runner. “I was most impressed with my win on Carbon Copy in the Cox Tlate. "Carbon Copy cannot carry more than 7.6 in the Cup, and with his big pull in weights he is sure to be difficult at two miles," Badger added.

If he had been ridden in behind, Howe would have won the Caulfield Cup as easily as he took the £5OOO Moonee Valley Cup, said his owner, Mr. J- H. Marshall, after the Moonee Valley Cup. Backed for £30,000, Howe gave H. Badger his third winning ride of the day. After the Cup presentation, Mr. Marshall said; "I told Munro to ride him from behind in the Caulfield Cup, but I don’t doubt he was a victim of circumstances. He was left in front, but I was dumbfounded to see him there half a mile from the post. I made it clear to Badger that Howe would win if ridden from behind, and Badger carried out instructions perfectly.”

Howe has won three races in Melbourne and has been backed straightout for the Cup for more than £lOO,OOO. Months ago he was heavily backed in New Zealand and commissioners plunged on him in Melbourne before he showed form. The stable backed him again after he won the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield on October 9. There were 43 acceptors last Thursday for the Melbourne Cup. but scratchings since then have reduced the field to the “limit" number. 35, as follows:

MELBOURNE CUP (Of £12,800; two miles). Howe 9 5 Saxony 7 6 Royal Gem .... 9 4 Black Beau .... 7 5 Dark Marne .. 8 11 Rio Fe 7 5 Fresh Boy ... S 11 Robei t Bruce . 7 5 Silver Link 8 6 Royal Scot .. .. 7 5 Buonarotti Boy 8 4 Comic Court ..7 4 Red Fury .... 8 4 Rimfire 7 2 Westralian .. .. 8 3 Saxonian 7 2 Bannerette .. .. 8 0 Bruin 7 1 Karachi 7 12 Britisher ....7 0 Steady 7 12 Count Cyrano 7 0 Lysander 7 .11 Vagabond .. .. 7 0 Yamboon 7 10 Snowstream 6 13 Manakau 7 8 Chatsol 6 12 Anthelion ...77 Clement 6 12 Carbon Copy ..7 6 Sir Marfield . 6 9 Few Words ..... 7 6 Sun Blast ... 6 9 Ninnld 7 6