DUNEDIN CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 129, 12 January 1893, Page 8

DUNEDIN CUP.

Only a few days after Mr Evett came into the field with his Wellington Cup weights we had the handicap for the “ Cup” for another Metropolitan Club—the Dunedin Jockey Club —placed before us. The adjustments for this race of two miles and a distance were adjusted by one of the best weight-compilers that ever put pen to paper, Mr Geo. Dowse, and I can only regret that with St. Hippo and Merganser scratched, with Major George’s entries void, Crackshot and Launceston not entered, and very few good stayers in the country, he should have had such an arrant lot of nonstayers to handicap as have presented themselves to his purview. As runner up in two Dunedin Cups, and winner of the last one when he carried 7.10, Mr Dowse could not but commence his handicap with Occident, but he has not unduly crushed him, but has put him in at a “ flattering” weight, 8.13. Mr Stephenson’s Tasmanian-bred one has not been seen in public for some time, and served a mare or two during the covering season, but as far as I know he is sound in wind and limb, and in such a poor field as there is likely to be he must have a big chance. In writing of the Wellington Cup handicap I have expressed my opinion that Prime Warden does not like a distance of ground, and therefore I will not have, him on my side. But what could Mr Dowse in the face of the opposition do with him or with Olanranald (who figures at 8.7) except what he has done ? The latter, though showing himself a brilliant horse up to a mile and a quarter, or perhaps a mile and a half, has never got a longer journey; but then the number of stayers in the race is small, and Mr Dowse endently did not wish to be caught napping. Though Cruchfield has been under a cloud for some time, and it is doubtful whether he will stand training, Mr Dowse in giving him 8.0 has certainly erred on the side ( of leniency considering the way the son of Cadogan and Puriki has won the Hawke’s Bay Cup and other good races in past years. If Ted Cutts could only land him fit and well at the post, I would as lief have him as anything else. With neither the winner of the New Zealand Cup or Canterbury Derby engaged. Mr Dowse had no three-year-old to start on but Vogengang, who may be termed, in a manner, a classic winner this season, seeing that he won the Timaru Guineas. He was, however, upsides with the best

of them as a two-year-old, but after his ninning at Timaru last September something went wrong with him. and he did not strip at all pink at the New Zealand Cup Meeting. Mr Dowse has now given him exactly his weight for age, and I cannot regard the colt as badly treated when I remember what Its two-year-old form was ; that he is built on the lines of a stayer; and that the non - stayers are very numerous in the handicap under notice. The longest distance Morion has yet got successfully was a mile and a-half in the Auckland Derby, and as I believe him to be an overrated horse, I shall decline to stand him. In the Auckland Cup Mr Evett made Morion give Scot Eree 41b, but Mr Dowse only makes him give Scot Free 21b, and even with that disadvatage against Mr McKinnon’s horse, I muchly prefer him. Mr McKinnon, when I saw him shipping his horses here on Friday, expressed his intention of making a trip through to Dunedin, and should Scot Free not incur a penalty in the meantime, I think he ■will be handy when the Dunedin Cup comes iup for decision. Ido not like Flinders at 7.8, but with 71b more than he carried into second place in the New Zealand Cup, Dilemma is entitled to great respect. If in good nick after a spell, he will take a lot of beating. Crown ’Jewel has a chance at 7.6, but it would he as well to wait a bit and see if she incurs any penalties at Wellington or Christchurch before deciding definitely as to her prospects. Whereas in the Wellington Cup Mr Evett made Thame give Crown Jewel 21b, Mr Dowse now puts lib between them.and he gives North Atlantic the same concession from Thame, Mr Evett putting them on level terms. Leaving North Atlantic out of calculation on the presumption that he is not well, I think it is a toss up between Crown Jewel and Thame, both of whom have shown ability to get over a distance of ground, but both may incur penalties before the eventful day. I have taken exception to Mr Evett’s handicapping of Johnny Faa in the Wellington Cup, and his Dunedin confrere, who should know more about the horse than Mr E., instead of asking him to give weight to Dilemma. Crown Jewel, Thame, and North Atlantic, puts him below them, and gives him 7.2. He is a most unlikely starter, though. I don’t care for Captive at 7.1, but Don Pedro, 7.0, is one of the cut-and-come-again sort —albeit a rough diamond at that—that often flops us when least expected. He has at least an outside snow— if not something more. Were Awarua Rose well I would deem him to be entitled to great respect, but he got gallopped on in the New Zealand Cup and has not been right since. Lustre, 6.11, has hardly shown that he can stay up to the present, but such a well-performed sprinter of good breeding might have been put up to 7.0 with advantage. The form so far shown by Senator. 6.11, is hardly good enough for a long distance like this, and Tempest, who is in at the same weight, has repeatedly shown that she cannot stay. If her owner, Mr Stephenson, is to win I think he will only be able to effect the trick through the agency of Occident. Spinfeldt, 6.9, is of no account judging by previous form. I would have a sneaking regard for The Dreamer, 6.9, if I thought he were real well, but I hear on good authority that he is not. It is said Wyvern, 6.9, is booked to go to Sydney, whither his owner, MrT. W. Hungerford, has already preceded him. Diadem, 6.7, has done nothing of merit since she won the Canterbury Oaks, and there wasn’t anything particularly meritorious and Wayland, 6.7, is one of tn -dost in-and-out rogues in training. It will be seen from what I have said that Mr Dowse has had an extremely mediocre field to deal with, and it is matter for great regret that the Dunedin Jockey Club’s 600sovs should be thrown away on what with a few exceptions may be described as equine canaille. When the acceptances are in on this night week, the 19th inst., I shall be quite prepared to see a big weeding out, but meanwhile I commit myself to the opinion that the best in at the present weights—leaving all calculations as to penalties out of the question —are Occident, Cruchfield, Scot Free, Dilemma, Crown Jewel, and Don Pedro, and all in fit and well, I would plump for Dilemma if compelled to give a final tip at the moment.