MELBOURNE CUP.—Six Best Weights.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 55, 13 August 1891, Page 3

MELBOURNE CUP.—Six Best Weights.

A contributor (“Pegasus”) sends us the following communication :— . After the appaarance *of' the weights, . the usual question is, “Well; can you pick it? This year’s compilation —to my mind—excels all of" Mr. Barnard’s previous efforts. Undoubtedly the horses have been brought very well together, unless there be a “ Caulfield Vengeance of ’9O ” somewhere hidden. The best six to my mind are Sir William, the best three-year-old, Carbine, Vengeance, Tirailleur and The Spot. To support my idea I will offer a few remarks on the relative merits of . the different horses. I—Sir William ; his ability to get 1£ miles was proved last year in the Spring Stakes at Randwick, when he ran a dead heat with 9st for second place with Melos 9st 51b, and Gresford 7st 51b, against Carbine’s 9st 51b in 2.44|. If he can get two miles—which is likely—his weight must be looked upon as the most lenient in the whole handicap., In the above race the weights were —Carbine 9st 51b, Melos 9st 51b, Sir William 9st, Gres-, ford 7st 51b. He now meets Carbine on 2 stone, Melos 71b, and Gresford on 191 b better terms. On the score of weight he should hold everything above Bst on the best of terms. 2 i —The best of the three-year-olds ; this item is a very open question, as we have Stromboli, Penance, and Oxide, all well performed, not forgetting, Hartington. Still, brilliant two-year-olds do. not always -in fact, seldom—prove the best three-year-olds Remember Titan! All of these four were somewhat brilliant at two-years-old. I fancy the best three-year-old is yet unearthed in Steadfast, half-brother to Lochiel, whose brilliancy at any distance is well known to our readers. To my mind, and knowledge the best three-year-old is either, Steadfast or Oxide—the former for preference. If Sir William cannot live two miles, then I think the three-year-old division will furnish; the winner of the Melbourne Cup of ’91.« Next to them I like Carbine (No. 3), about , whom? remarks are really superfluous. My advice is' back “ Old Jack ” for a place ; he will without, doubt be 1,2 or 3. My next is Vengeance,. Although well treated on the score of .weight/, I opine that he has already “ shot his bolt, and that he will be unheard of this season. My only reason for including him is on 7 the, score of weight. If fit and well he must be taken into consideration on the day of issue. Readers can very well count up his chances On his past well-known performances. No. sis Tirailleur, the Maorilander. I have had the information for months on the best of authority that he is within a stone of Carbine over any distance and up to 9st. In the face of their weights then, and the fact that he has accepted, for the Melbourne Cup and is absent from the N.Z. Cup, for which (in the company) his chances were as 8 to 3 in Melbourne Cup, he must be considered by his party to have a great say. I think, however, he will go down against the first four. The Spot is my sixth, and in support of my theory I will only ask readers to. consider the following points. St. Albans— Lady Disdain. The breeding is good for staying His weight is Bst 31b, just 111 b unden weight for age. His If- miles in 2.11 - with Bst 101 b (71bs above his present weight) is far above ordinary. He is in the hands of a strong, party -—the same one who brought out The., Admiral last year. In the Loch Plate, If-, miles, he carried 9st 21b into second place against Megaphone with Bst 71b. He now. meets the same Megaphone on 251 b better terms. Truly a great difference. The above remarks are only made on the score of weights and not on the ability of horses to get a certain distance or; on. 1 the chance of being “ off colour ”on the day. All these other considerations are left to readers to ponder over before deciding what they, will back.

The jumper Begorrah has changed hands> having been sold to a Christchurch sportsman, and is now an inmate of Murray-Aynsley’s stable. The following amounts were paid over in connection with the Plumpton Park Steeplechase meeting (Christchurch) :• —Mr. Rhodes / 9 5, Mr. Claridge 10s., Mr. MurrayAynsley/’ig, Mr. W. O. Rutherford 10s., Messrs. Moore and Chapman 15 s., Mr/ lss., Van Arch £1 10s; total