THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 169, 19 October 1893, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

Next in importance and sequence is the New Zealand Cup. The unfortunate scratching of St. Hippo for this race presents it in a new light and renders it even more of an open event than it was. And it was bad enough before. The withdrawal of Mr Nathan’s horse enhances the chances of the remaining candidates, for if he had started there is little doubt but that he would have annexed one of the leading positions. In writing of the race last week I placed Stepniak as the most dangerous opponent Mr Nathan’s representative had to fear, and now that the son of St. Leger —Hippona is out of way I think Mr Stead’s horse at 9.1 has a very big say indeed. The performances of this son of Nordenfeldt -Steppe entitle him to big consideration, especially when his recent running at the A.J.C. Meeting at Randwick is taken into consideration. Prior to that, what did he do ? At the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s last spring meeting he ran by no means a bad race, when he finished fourth with 8.10 on his back to St. Hippo. Variety, and St. Katherine. At the C.J.C. Spring Meeting he won the Stewards’ Handicap with 7.i0; on the second day of the same meeting he won the Derby Stakes with 8.10, beating St. Hippo at the same weight; on the third day he won the Canterbury Cup with 7.6, beating Prime Warden ; at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting he ran sixth in the Great Easter Handicap, which was won by Saracen; on the second day of that meeting he ran into second place in the Great Autumn Handicap with 8.13, when Merganser won ; and at the W.R.C. Autumn Meeting he obtained second honours in the Derby Handicap with 9.7 up. Then look at his running in the Spring Stakes and Craven Plate, when he followed Loyalty home. His chance must undoubtedly be considered a big one, and provided he is fit and well at the post I feel inclined to pick him as the winner. Prime Warden’s chance I also regard in a rosy light. Recollecting his wins in the Final Handicap at the C.J.C. Spring Meeting, in the Forbury Handicap in the D.J.C. Autumn Meeting, in the Autumn Handicap at the S.C.J.C. Autumn Meeting when he distanced Crackshot and Saracen with 9.5 up, and his displays in the Otago, Canterbury, and Dunedin Cups, his chance with 8.7 up should be good enough for one of the first three positions. The Workman I regard as decidedly dangerous, and I should recommend this son of Robinson Crusoe—The Maid as worth backing. His wins in the Newmarket Handicap on the second day of the A.R.C. Summer Meeting with 9.0 up, and in the Victoria Handicap on the third day with a weight of 9.5 are enough to make me think him a very handy starter at 8.3.

Amongst the 8.0 division there is a horse which has been awarded just ilb more than The Workman, viz., Boulanger, 8.4, and if he does not upset the bulk of the field I shall be greatly mistaken. His performances at four, five and six-year-old show that he is generally handy when wanted, and as he is being religiously reserved for the big November event, I feel confident in predicting that his place will be well up in the first flight. As a three-year-old,the son of Grand Prix—Fleurette was a very consistent performer. At four years he won the October Handicap at Hawke’s Bay with 7.12 ; won the Flying Handicap with the same weight, Kotuku following him home on both occasions with 8.4 and 8.5 ; ran third with 8.10 in November Handicap at Wellington, the winner being Cynisca with 51b less than Boulanger; ran second in the Wellington Cup to Cynisca with 7.10 up. Then we find him as a

five - year - old winning the Farewell Handicap at Canterbury with 8.4 in the saddle, his attendants being Prestige, 7.8, and Ilium, 7.4. The mile on that occasion was cut out in imin Not a bad performance. In the Otago Cup he ran a good second to Florrie, giving 51bs ; in the President’s Handicap at the same meeting he led Cynisca home with only 21bs advantage. Then at six years he ran third in the New Zealand Cup with 8.4, when St. Hippo won with 7.7. At Napier Park he ran into third place in the Cup Handicap with 9.0 up, the winner being Merganser. These are a few of his performances, and if he does not carry a lump of money on the 7th of November, so much the worse for backers.

Response, with 6.13 on her back, should not be overlooked, as I fancy she is. At the C.J.C. Summer Meeting she ran a goog race, when she took , third place in the Middle Park Plate, finishing behind Strowan and Persuasion, and it must be remembered she reversed the proceedings in the Champagne Stakes at the D.J.C. Autumn gathering by winning the Railway Plate with ease from the same Strowan and Persuasion.

Dilemma, at 7.9, is going well on the training track, and will race well, and I pick him as one that will finish in the first bunch. The son of Rubezahl —Lady Emma won the Kensington Handicap flat race with 8.0 at the Otago Hunt Club races ; ran second to St. Hippo in the last New Zealand Cup with 7.0 up ; fifth in the Metropolitan ’Stakes on the second day of the C.J.C. Spring Meeting with 7.12 ; sixth in the Jockey Club Handicap on the third day with 7.10, when Merganser won ; and fifth in the Otago Cup with 7.8, when Merganser also won. Dilemma has improved since those days, and will, I am confident, render a good account of himself in the big race on November 7th. Skirmisher, with 7.7, reads very well, and the son of Vanguard —Ouida should be well in evidence at the finish. That he can race there is no doubt, and I regard him as a good stayer. His performances are by no means second-rate. He won the Welcome Stakes with 8.5 at the C.J.C. Spring Meeting, beating at the same weight, Loyalty, who ran third on that occasion. He won the Juvenile Stakes with 7.10 on the second day; ran second to Outpost in the Dunedin Stakes at the D.J.C. Spring Meeting with 9.3 up ; ran third in the Musselburgh Plate on the second day with 6.6, finishing behind Strowan and Wakawatea; obtained third place in the First Challenge Stakes at the C.J C. Autumn Meeting with 7.9, when he came home behind Loyalty with 7.4 and The Workman with 9.0. Pegasus I do not fancy too much in spite of his performance in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. He will run well up, but the news of this week makes me fancy he will not get into any of the three leading postions. Provided the scratching pen is kept away from them I fancy, in view of latest developments, that Stepniak or The Workman will provide the winner, Prime Warden or Boulanger will take second place, and Dilemma, Response, and Skirmisher will be close enough up for any one of the three to snatch third place by a very short advantage. But during the next ten days the scratching pen, and that complaint which so often makes punters swear, ‘ failure to stand preparation,’ have to be reckoned with, and horses — particularly racers — are ‘ kittle cattle.’