THE MELBOURNE CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 171, 2 November 1893, Page 6

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

The final acceptances for the £lO,OOO V.R.C. handicap has reduced the number of acceptors to three dozen —exactly the number of starters which faced the flag last year when Glenloth won. The horses rubbed out will hit many backers, for we find such well-supported animals as Fortunatus, .Swordbearer, Brocklei gh, Launceston, Penance, Splendide, and Steadfast amongst the defections ! The acceptors are The Admiral 9 9, Cremorne 9.7, Camoola 9.5, Malvolio 9.4, Portsea 9.2, Realm 9.0, Sternchaser 9.0, Vakeel 8.11, Oxide 8.7, Lord Hopetonn 8.5, Port Admiral 8.5, Tarcoola 8.4, Newman 8.1, Sainfoin 8.0, Tridentate 7.10, Light Artillery 7.7, Carnage 7.7, Jeweller 7.7, Lord Grenville 7.5, Patron 7.4, All There 7.4, The Sailor Prince 7.3, Loyalty 7.3, Pippin 7.2, Tim Swiveller 7.1, Salient 7.0, Pounamu 7.0, Solanum 6.13, Pulvil 6.12, Strahan 6.10, Garcon 6.10, Trenchant 6.10, Aquarius 6.9, Polly Mohr 6.8, Vendetta 6.7, and Dickens 6.7. As for the prospects of the animals in the race —well, in a Melbourne Cup there are many chances, as witness Glenloth’s win last year. The Admiral is top weight with 9.9, eight lbs more than he carried last year. He has improved on last year’s form, however, and despite the weight it will require speedy heels to lead him past the post. Cremorne I don’t fancy. Camoola at 9.5 is greatly fancied in Melbourne in spite of recent running and will carry a lot of money. Malvolio is reported to be doing badly on the track, but Redfearn is confident that the nicely-shaped black can again win ; but I doubt it very much. Portsea is a big fancy of mine, and the son of Neckersgat—Lady Lovelace will finish well amongst the leaders. Both Realm and Sternchaser have a show, and New Zealanders will rejoice to see the last named or Loyalty get home. And there is a big probability in that direction. Vakeel I pass by in spite of the big support Mr Crozier’s horse is getting, and Oxide on his Caulfield running will find many friends. He’s an unlucky horse, however. Taracoola, Newman and Sain-

foin are dangerous names in the eight stone odd division, and Jeweller at 7.7 will, many critics think, effect a surprise. Those who have laid against him on account of his late running may repent their action. Fortunatus has given way in favour of Tim Swiveller, and I also think Tim is the better horse over two miles. Polly Mohr and Dickens are dark outsiders, and may, like Glenloth did in 1892, appear at the last moment. Allowed half a dozen in, which to pick the winner, I would select The Admiral, Portsea, Camoola, Jeweller, Loyalty, and Tim Swiveller. To furnish a definite placing, and given a start in the race, I would forecast the result as follows : — Portsea .. .. .. 1 Loyalty .. . . .. 2 Camoola . . .. .. 3 (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT). Melbourne, October 25. The sportsmen of Australia were never more puzzled over a race than they are over the Melbourne Cup this time. Everyone has a champion in his own fancy, and Camoola is evidently the Sydney favourite. They talk of his greyhoundlike action, his staying powers, and the pace the Big Cup is always run in being so suitable to Chester’s son. All facts. Then “ What a great horse The Admiral is,” and “ Look what he has done with big weights up.” More tacts not to be forgotten. And, Cremorne. Because he showed no form of account at the A.J.C. Meeting you forsake him. Brush your memory up with some of the doughty deeds the glorious son of Nea did when he won those six races last year. Besides, he is in splendid nick now, and nothing like the same horse that cried a go to Loyalty at w.f.a. Malvolio. “ This Cup horse is in great form ” oomes from good judges. That alone with what we know Madcap’s son has done before must mark him “ dangerous.” Grand little Portsea, another in the pink of condition, we know can romp home with welter weights in the best of company. And Mr Purches’ ideal wish would be to lead the winner of the Cup in this year. Glenloth’s last year surprise may make a few fancy his chance again, but it would require another sticky day. Brockleigh, who has now 9.0 to carry, has lost prestige by his defeat in the Caulfield Cup, but those who forsake this great horse (if the going be good) this time will ‘ whip the cat ’ afterwards. ‘Can he stay?’ ‘Yes.’ If his owner can be believed. Doubt him, and you would doubt any sportsman on the turf. Realm is another great little horse who has shown abilities in the past to make his impost on this occasion look like a possibility on his fast legs. Day is doing him credit, but Realm’s formation is liable to make him appear too big. Sternchaser will be the pride of N.Z. Gollan’s stable, and it is only asking him to repeat what he has done before to nearly annex the Cup. If he goes ‘ one better ’ he will be first. Fortunatus, the stable companion to the Caulfield Cup winner, must be reckoned with. Ascot Vale would indeed be a surprise, but then we must get used to them. Sir William, after his rest, may turn up again in the front rank of the Melbourne Cup. His running of late can be entirely put on one side as a criterion.

Vakeel, the S.A. champion, will have to be reckoned with, but Sydneyites have little faith in him.

St. Albans 11. is not to be dispised, and if he be a rod in pickle, don’t be surprised. He has proved his galloping powers before to-day. Oxide, the most unfortunate horse in the colonies, is evidently been backed by the Jonah Brigade, and if they have been stalled off this time he may win. The little black kicker’s name at the head of affairs would please thousands, and a gamer little gee than Mr Hall’s won’t look through a bridle at Flemington on Tuesday week. Swordbearer may be, but Launceston and Loyalty are both good horses, and Dan O’Brien, N.Z., would like the Cup. Loyalty naturally, on his form at Randwick, holds pride of position in money matters, but whereas he -vitas in perfect condition then (and is said to be now) and other horses were not, this pair have a hard task to accomplish in beating the cracks. If Launceston should prove the one, don’t be staggered, for strange things occur now and then. Donation. What can one write about him ? He ought not to win, but still he might. Port Admiral will have his fanciers, but not many on the Sydney side. Greygown should be worth more than a passing thought, and if the grey has retained his form of a year or two back would make the best of them stretch.

Lord Hopetoun is doing good work, but — that’s all.

Penance, who has I2lbs more to carry this year than last, when he was third, is the quiet fancy of some of the knowing ones, and is receiving the Forrester polish, and reported ‘ going great guns.’ Tarcoola is putting in useful work, but is surely held by more than one of the top weights. Sunshine —well, he is a mystery, but hardly to be frightened at. Little Bernie would have been dangerous, but is quite out of it now. Etra-Weenie, a clipping mare in a clever stable, and doing good serviceable work. Tim Swiveller wants another heavy day, and then this stable companion may be better to trust. Newman, if what he is said to be, is a very dangerous horse. Fulham may be equal to getting a place this time. Sainfoin is going well. Donizetti should be held by Penance. Splendide is one of the best handicapped, and if she and Tridentate (on the same mark 7.10) go fit and well to the post Queensland may get the Cup. Don’t forget Splendide. Elswick —handsome and improving. The Captain won’t beat his stable companion The Admiral. Steadfast, a Nordenfeldt long shot, with a chance.

Hartington has been going to create a surprise. He is still ‘going,’ and is wound up Carnage. Await the Derby. Jeweller has a chanee of recovering his good name, and he will run forward. 33 to I, his pi ice now, will be greatly reduced before many days. He was unfortunate in the Caulfield Cup, but he is a good horse, and only needs following. Several Derby candidates under 7.6 must be left until after Saturday. Rumour says one or two are far better than generally believed, and a ‘ double event’ winner is among them. We shall see.

Lord Grenville is a horse that has greatly improved. Gingham has been a disappointment at times, but she is nicely weighted, but may be outclassed. All I here, who is very fast over a mile, has been saved for this event, and looks thrown in. Gaillardia, Pippin, Carrington, Strahan, Elima, Ilium, and Polly Mohr (especially if she accepts), are all let in with a weight all but classed as proverbial postage stamps, and one may create a surprise.