THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 206, 5 July 1894, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

As was the case last year Mr Hefirjr is well up to time with his N.Z. Cup Weights, and although his handicaps were not due 1 till on or about July Ist the Southern handicapper made known the results of (his work on Saturday last. Following the handicap of last year Mr Henry puts (Merganser top weight, but this year her sweight is zlb less than when she was asked to meet St. Hippo on level terms at 9.10. At 9.8 she is not badly treated, and in fact taking the handicap as a whole it may be called a “ flattering one, inasmuch as several horses stick ont ‘ pretty far as probable winners, but it is a question whether the charge of being framed rather low may not be brought against it. There’s too much of a drop between the two at the top of-the list with -the result that the 'light weightshave but little show. Take*Merganser, for instance. I consider the mare is more than-fairly well treated, and should She be accepted for, as doubtless she will be, she should show her connections a more than'fair struggle. There’s, as I said before, too big a drop between the top and second weight-this- year than was the case last year. Then St. Hippo and Merganser .were followed ’by Stepniak, 9.1; now Merganser is followed by Prime Warden, 8.8, which is Ilb less than ?Mr Henry • gave him in last year’s New Zealand Cup. Stepniak and .Launceston are out of it this year, and like Mergariser/Prime Warden has received more* than fair treatnjefit, and - he should justify the Dunedin people who backed him prior to the appearance of the weights at roo to 5. \He is a horse I have great faith in, and disregarding later running ! shall have him oh my side. ■ ■ ■■ '

/ ■ ■ • X Looking back at past performances what J do we find him capable of doing over distances ? There is his second in the * Canterbury Cup at w.f.a.; his second in the Otago Cup carrying 9.2 to Merganser’s 8.3; his third in the Dunedin Cup with 8.11 ; his 8.10 win in the Forbury Handicap ; and other good wins, so I must come to the conclusion that he is the pick of the top weights. From last year’s 7.3, Au Revoir has gone up to 8.6, which is I think a trifle too close to Prime Warden at the weight given the latter.. Next comes sterling old Liberator at 8.4, at which mark he meets Hip-, pomenes on level terms. Both these are terribly well.in. From 7.4 to 8.3 is a bit of a lift, and at the weight I don’t think Rosefeldt is going to repeat her win of last year. Still she’s a sterling mare, but generally an unfortunate one, although last year the wheel of fortune turned decidedly in her favour* Clanranald has 31b less than he had last year, but staying is not too much in his line, and no doubt Prime Warden holds him safe. From last year’s weight, 7.7, Skirmisher has gone up to 8.3, and if he comes back to his proper form the weight will not stop him. He is as well in as anything in ’ the race, and those who backed him . before the weights came out will not I fancy have much cause for regretting the support they accorded the colt. Let him keep well in his work and not go stale —a-not unlikely thing, seeing his recent quick return to form —and the winner of the Cup will find him a very hard nut to crack. Saracen has j lb less than last year’s weight, but I will pass the name. Rangipuhi Stands at the same weight, and he’s a good horse. Robt. Phillips, ,the Victorian penciller, was not far wrong when he picked on him as a rattling good horse and named him as one who could figure respectably on Victorian courses. And Pegasus, 7.13, looks well in, although he is a colt I have Tittle fancy for in first-class company. Vogengang 7.13, Lady Zetland 7.12, Beadonwell 7.11, and Impulse 7.9 do not attract me in view of Lottie’s 7.8. She can rattle along with that weight and at present she must be on my side. From last year’s 6.7 Ich Dien has risen to 7.8, but one cannot grumble at the weight, and the princely named one is far from out of it. Royal Rose cannot have much chance, but Monte Carlo, 7.7, may. Pinrose, 7*6, I don’t fancy. With 31b less than last year’s weight Dilemma looks well treated, and when one remembers that he ran second with 7.0 to St. Hippo’s . 7.7 New Zealand 1892 Cup victory, he should be considered well in at 7.6 with increased age. Rangiatea at 7.5 has nibs more than he was called upon to carry last yegr. Next to him comes Scot Free, 7.4. He has been in some k fair races, and although there is not much in his performance to indicate a big two mile run in Cup company I confess to being partial to the chance. At the weight he meets Three Star and Captive on level terms. Speaking of Three Star I don’t think he is very well placed in having to .give his two - year - old rival, Grenadier, 61b, But more of that anon. Outpost, Lakeshell, and Magazine meet at 7.3, at which placing Outpost has jibs more than last year, Lakeshell has slbs, and Mazagine is reckoned to be 81bs better. Outpost and Lakeshell are good performers, but I doubt the weighting. There is little to recommend Magazine or Artilleur, 7.2, who have to meet Mohaka and Casket. The last mentioned is a promising one, but I cannot say whether distance is in this candidate’s line. I shall have to await advice from the South. Westmere, with 31b less than he .was weighted at last year, should be worthy of consideration. The two-year-old career of this son of Escutcheon—x Leonessa shows very meritorious work over sprinting distances, and age should have had the effect of lengthening his galloping powers. Banner is on the same mark as Westmere and Pompom stands lib lower, at which weight Purepo, Aidershot, and Reflector are also located. I cannot say that any member of this quartette looks a probable Cup winner. Eight horses meet on the 6.12 mark, viz., Golden Fleece, Spindrift, Speculator, Hybrid, Leontini, Goosander, Grenadier and Princess May. Of that lot Goosander and Grenadier are well worth careful x consideration. .We „ know the breeding of Goosander, and I am certain this racer can gallop better than has yet been seen in public. Grenadier is as likely-looking a colt as one would wish to see, and I am confident that age will put him far ahead of most of those he had as rivals in his two-year-old career. Three Star, for instance, I regard as having aU the worst of the deal in having

to concede Grenadier 61bs. Barnby showed himself a fair youngster, but none of the others weighted at 6.11 impress me; and of those weighted below Nixie should be the best. Summing the handicap up, I consider the stone difference between the top and the second top weight is a misfortune, for it makes one or two heavy and middle weights stick out like the proverbial foot, while the lighter-weighted ones are crushed together out of consideration. Amongst the top weights Merganser, Prime Warden, Liberator, Hippomenes, Skirmisher, and perhaps Rangipuhi are the best; and Lottie, Monte Carlo and Dilemma are the best of the middle weights. Amongst the light weights I like Three Star, Goosander, Grenadier. That should be the picked dozen of this coming cup, the winner of which should stand considerably nearer the top than the bottom of the weight list.