NEW ZEALAND CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 156, 20 July 1893, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND CUP.

Mazeppa,” in the Otago Witness, says : —“ At the outset of Mr Henry’s handicap for the New Zealand Cup we find a surprise in Merganser being awarded the same weight as St. Hippo. Most folk reckoned that the colt would be on top. When this pair met in the Auckland Cup St. Hippo won with 8.9. and Merganser was placed third, astern of Brigand. Judged through the weight for age scale St. Hippo was then giving Merganser 231 b. He carried 141 b over, and she 91b under. In the race now ahead of us they meet not only on seeming but on actual even terms. Each has 101 b over weight for age. On the bare figures this looks like an injustice to Merganser. But the handicapper who handicaps on figures alone is the handicapper who will go down oftenest, so long as horses are flesh and blood and bone, and not pieces of machinery, and for this unexpected bracketing together some justification is provided in the light of Merganser’s subsequent performances.” After citing her victories in the Hawke’s Bay Cup, Napier Park Cup and Great Autumn Handicap “ Mazeppa” goes on to say: —“ Thus we have Merganser giving us three performances under heavy weights Had there been only one we might have said it was a fluke ; two would have perhaps been explained somehow ; but no one can say that in three such performances the result was due to anything but sterling merit, and all things considered I think that Mr Henry is quite warranted in taking his own view of Merganser’s ability instead of following the general opinion of the public. I make this admission as one who expected to see St. Hippo head the list. One thing is quite certain; that with a less weight than 9.10 there would have been noplace in the handicap for such horses as Stepniak and St. Katherine. The arguments on the other hand are that in her victories she never had to meet St. Hippo, and that so far she has not travelled two miles. The answers to which are that St. Hippo could hardly have done more than she did, and that having outstayed everything opposed to her at a mile and three-quarters there is no reason to suppose the extra quarter of a mile will stop her. lam beginning to think that after all St. Hippo was lucky in catching her a little below her best form in the Auckland Cup. Any way, there is quite enough authority for her position in the handicap, and also for placing her and St. Hippo so high up as 9.10, or 131 b above last year’s top weight.” And “ Maz«ppa ” winds up his comments on the whole handicap thus :—“ When first looking at this New Zealand Cup handicap I thought it was not a good one. Inspection caused me to doubt the accuracy of that judgment, and a close scrutiny satisfies me that in most respects it is a well-thought-out compilation. Ido not agree with Mr Henry in all particulars, but I admit that in respect to all points of difference there is a possibility that his judgment is sounder than mine and at the most the argument is only as to a matter of two or three pounds. I may add that a good number of judges hold the same opinion as myself as to the general merits of the handicaps, and hence there has been no betting to speak of since the weights appeared. If pressed for a selection I would name Prime Warden, Hippomenes, The Workman, Thame, Tempest, Royal Rose, Outpost and Pegasus.