NEWMARKET HANDICAP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 130, 19 January 1893, Page 9

NEWMARKET HANDICAP.

The declaration of the weights for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup are always anxiously awaited in Auckland, and this year, more than ever perhaps, was particular interest evinced therein because we all wanted to see how our crack colt St. Hippo was assessed by Mr Dakin, and in addition to him there were Quadrant, Merganser, Regel, and Miss Letty from this neighborhood all engaged in the Newmarket. But, of course, it was St. Hippo that we were principally concerned about, and now that we have seen what Mr Dakin thinks about him, I think we can say that the colt is extremely nicely handicapped, especially in the Australian Cup. But it is with the Newmarket Handicap that I must deal first.

Bungebah has the post of honor with 10.1, and he is such a brilliant horse over six furlongs that I really do not think he has a pound too much. It must be remembered that with 10.0 Boz ran second to Churchill in this same race, and without disparaging Boz, I think I may safely say that Bungebah is more brilliant than he. When Bungebah won the Newmarket Handicap a couple of seasons ago he had 9.3 in the saddle. Last year his weight was 10.4, and he finished unplaced behind Wild Rose. 8.1. The mare now goes.up 151 b, and Bungebah is taken down 31b. I like the old horse’s show with all his weight, but it must be remembered that he is at an age when he is more likely to retrograde than improve. Ascot Vale (as will be seen by the report appearing in another column) broke the Victorian six furlongs record on New Year’s Day by winning the Standish Handicap. Weight doesn’t stop good ’uns at three - quarters of a mile, and therefore I cannot but regard Ascot Vale’s claim with favour. Ditto Autonomy, 9.8, whose forte in my opinion is undoubtedly brilliancy. He cannot stay, but he certainly can skip over six furlongs or a mile very merrily. With Autonomy in at 9.8 —which by the way is exactly a stone over his weight for age— I take St. Hippo to be well dealt by with 41b less, but it is hardly worth while seriously discussing his chance for the reason that the V.R.C. St. Leger is run on the same day, and it is pretty well certain that that will be his mission. Fortqnatus, 9.2, has 231 b more than when he ran second to Wild Rose in the same race last year, which means that he meets her on 81b worse terms for the beating he then received, which at first sight seems perculiar, but it must be remembered that he has put up some sterling performances since then, whereas the mare has not, and the colt is more likely to improve with age. However, I think both Bungebah and Ascot Vale hold last year’s winner and rnnner-up safe. Donizetti, 9.1, came with a big reputation from Queensland some time ago, but never did anything to uphold it, and 1 will have none of him. Chatham was supposed to be a good thing for the Carrington Stakes in Sydney the other day,

but he “ went down ” therein, and though he won Tattersail’s Club Cup, I will pass him by now. Pilot Boy, 8 13, does not commend himself to me, neither will I have Hopetoun at the same weight, for I fancy he prefers a longer journey. Etra Weenie as a Maribyrnong Plate- and V.R.C. Oaks winner is entitled to respect at 8.12. Lord Hopetoun, 8.1 1, was certainly a most brilliant two-year-old, and though an unlucky horse he has occasionally shown flashes of brilliancy since then, and on New Year’s Day he was Ascot Vale’s most immediate attendant at the finish of the Standish Handicap. Linburn, 8.1 1, and Azim. 8.10, I pass by, but Gresford, 8.10, will have a good word froih me. Our New Zealand representative Merganser is by no means harshly dealt by at 8.8, and fit and well at the post I would not mind backing her at outside prices, but I shall want to see her over there and doing good work before I further estimate her chance. Antaeus, 8.8, has not long enough recovered from his injuries to be able to do himself justice. Sainfoin, 8.8, has run one or two good sprint races, but I must decline to stand him. Gladstone, Prime Minister, and Quadrant constitute the 8.7 division. Gladstone has since he won the Normanby Stakes as a two-year-old got lower and lower down till we find him lately in the ranks of the se’ling platers, so surely he cannot have mach chance. Several rumours have reached here as to Prime Minister, who I know has been a strong tip to several people in New Zealand. I know nothing of his capabilities myself further than are disclosed by his last year’s performances, and turning those up I find that he ran in ten races last season, winning a couple. At Brisbane Tattersall’s Spring he carried 7.12 to the front in the Fairfield Handicap, 7 furlongs, beating a field of nine. He ran third to Sp’endide and Babel in the Queensland Derby a month later, but with 7.9 did not get placed behind Babel, 7.8, in the Sandgate Handicap, one mile and a quarter. He was then put by till the “ fall” of the season, when he was badly beaten in the Queensland Leger. Nor did he do any better in the weight-for-age Royal Stakes of a mile and a quarter, but at Toowoomba (Q.) during the first week in June he beat half a dozen in the Clifford Plate, one mile, carrying 8.8. Next day Splendide, 8.9, only did him a head—he carrying 8.3 —in the Town Plate, about nine furlongs, and this was' I think the best performance he did. At the Southern Downs (Q.) meeting, the following week he twice ran second in what, on collateral form, seems to me very moderate company. I expect that a good many people who are supporting him, and have supported him, are taking their cue from the fact that he is a halfbrother to that great racehorse The Australian Peer, and that is on what they have chiefly made up their minds, but his performances certainly do not warrant my recommending him in any way as a likely winner of this year’s Newmarket Handicap. There is tolerably certain to be a “ rod in pickle” somewhere, but I cannot see how he can be that rod. I should think Mr Bobbett will not grumble at Quadrant getting off with 8.7, but, on the contrary, that he will soon be up and moving with him. If he be well on the day I’m sure he will run a great race, for his past performances have made him out a brilliant horse at this distance. Dan O’Connor, 8.6, was a brilliant two-year-old, but has not done much this season. Passing by Newcastle, 8.5, of whom I know next to nothing. I come to the 8.3 division, which comprises The Swell, Steadfast, Malolo, Biringi, Happy Jack, Magic Circle and Ravenswing, and of these I certainly like The Swell and Magic Circle best. The latter’s performances at the end of last season were certainly not encouraging, but I do not forget that as a three-year-old she was second best to The Admiral in the V.R.C. Derby, and second best to Litigant in the V.R.C. Oaks. The Swell last season won the Winter Stakes of a mile and a quarter at the Sydney Tattersails’ Winter Meeting, and is, I fancy, entitled to great respect. He is, like Magic Circle, in a “ dangerous ” stable —one of those that it is always well to keep a watchful eye upon about Newmarket Handicap time. I have no fancy for either Swordbearer, 8.2, nor Hero, 8.1 ; but Warpaint is a nag of another colour. He is a three-year-old/ son of Chester and Wheel of Fortune (full sister to Abercorn’s dam Cinnamon), and is owned by the “J. B. Clark” syndicate. He ran well last season, and being in such a stable as that presided over by T. Payten should be worth watching. So should Trenton’s daughter Gaillardia,

who has the same weight. C. 8., 8.0, has some pretensions to form up-country in New South Wales, and also in Queensland, but not sufficient to warrant my picking him as a likely winner. Competency at 8.0 reads well to me. Among the trio put in at 7.12 is the New Zealander Culloden,' but he will have to improve considerably on past form to have a chance. Of the quartette in at 7.1 1 I have a strong liking for Bel Giorno. Harbour Light is given a rare chance at 7.10, I think, but he seems to be a very unlucky horse in most of his races. The untried Mousquetaire (Trenton’s half brother) figures at the same weight. First Boolka, 7.8, commends himself to me, and travelling a little further down the list I stop at The Seine, 7.5, and then Lady Trenton, 7.4; Kookaburra, 7.3; Newton, 7.3; Proh Pudor, 6.12; and Jew Boy, 6.10, I mark as well weighted. The Newmarket Handicap is a proverbally difficult race to pick, but I am proud to say I have before managed the task, notably in Churchill and Bungebah’s respective years, while last year I selected Fortunatus, who ran second to Wild Rose. So I am bold enough to hope that I may have found the winner of this year’s Newmarket when I select the following dozen as best in at the weights :—Bungebah, Ascot Vale, Etra Weenie, Gresford, The Swell, Magic Circle, Warpaint, Bel Giorno, The Harbour Light, First Boolka, The Seine, and Proh Pudor.