AUSTRALIAN CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 130, 19 January 1893, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN CUP.

What would have otherwise been a good handicap for the Australian Cup has, I think, been spoilt by the 10.0 clapped on to The Admiral. Though it was fully expected that after his running in the Spring he would be at the top of the list, it was never thought that Mr Dakin would put such an impost on him as 10.0. Melos, if in his old form, would be reckoned well in at 9.8, but he has been for some time under suspicion, and has, I,: fancy, seen his best day. Malvolio, 9.6, has zlb less than in the last Melbourne Cup, when he was so much fancied but was not placed. I have a sneaking regard for his chance. The Melbourne Cup winner Glenloth is raised to 9.2 — 1 jib more than he triumphed with on that memorable Tuesday at Flemington when it rained torrents. I will have none of him,* for I am convinced that the Melbourne Cup of 1892 was as false a run race as ever eventuated in the annals of the Colonial Turf. Correze has 8.12, the same weight as he was given in the Melbourne Cup, and I expect to see him make a bold bid for victory. Hopetoun, Portsea, and St. Hippo are bracketed at 8.10, and I look upon our New Zealand champion as decidedly well in. When you look through the Australian Cup list, you do not find many real stayers, and we know that St. Hippo is a stayer of the first water. Therefore I look upon him as having a big chance. I think Hopetoun is weighted up to his very best form, and Portsea, though talked about in connection with the last Melbourne Cup and other good races, has not landed them. I think St. Hippo will beat both him and Hopetoun. Little Bernie, Realm, and Chatham are the 8.9 division, and I don’t fancy either. La Tosca is not overburdened with 8.7. If Camoola be such a good colt as some people aver, then 8.6 should not stop him, but I think St. Hippo is quite capable of giving him 41b and handsomely beating him. I see nothing else I like till I come to Etra Weenie, 8.1, and then the next to catch my eye is Azim, 7.13. This colt ran well, if perhaps a trifle unlucky, as a two-year-old, and with 11 lb from St. Hippo he doesn’t appear to me to be at all badly used. Ronda, who ran up in the last Melbourne Cup, is given a big chance at 7.12. Considering what big performances Redleap has brought off over the sticks and across country, I fancy Mr , Dakin has been a bit too lenient in giving him only 7.7. I like Calculus at the same weight, and below him I take Gaillardia, 7.3, and Newman, 6.12, as the only ones having a say. To try and select the winner in half-a-dozen, 1 choose Malvolio, Correze, St. Hippo, La Tosca, Etra Weenie, and Azim. The first forfeits for both the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup are due on the 30th inst. (Monday week).