Coming Events.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 211, 9 August 1894, Page 5

Coming Events.

[Bsr

Borderer.]

-■THE NEW ZEALAND CUP.

An acceptance list of fifty names for the New Zealand Cup is a highly- satisfactory result seeing that the nomination list only showed seventy horses. Last year there were 45 acceptors out of 71 nominations, and with another five left in this year the handicapper may fairly be congratulated on his work. At present the prospect is favourable to a good field for the race, and in view of the quality of the fifty acceptors the horse that is hailed the winner of the Cup of 1894 will have to be no sluggard. Evidently the Meganser people did not fancy the drop of a stone between the mare and Prime Warden, for her name is missing from the list. And so, by the way, is Goosander. I must say I felt rather confident that one of this pairwould remain in. As I remarked in reviewing the handicap, Prime Warden is in my opinion more than fairly treated at 8.8, and although he has not shown up too well of late, I shall stick to what I said on July sth, and name him as a dangerous horse. His performances show what he can do over distances, and if the fall of the Cup flag sees him in good form he will be a very hard horse to beat. At only 21b less than Prime Warden, Au Re voir is not too comfortable, and I would not be inclined to place much reliance on the chance. I know many people fancy the chance, but I have my own opinion. Liberator has accepted his 8.4, and a sterling performer*- like him cannot be neglected. At the same weight Hippomenes looks decidedly well in, and unless something goes amiss, this candidate will have to be reckoned with. Rosefeldt has gone up a bit from her last year’s weight, but many people are sanguine she can repeat her 1893 victory. Then she had 7.4, now her weight is 8.3, and although I am enamoured of the chance I won’t say the mare is out of it. She is an honest, but generally an unfortunate racer, although last year the wheel of fortune took a good turn in her direction. In spite of rumours which are certainly unfavourable to jhim, Clanranald’s name comes up as an acceptor, and with 31b less than the weight allotted himlastyear he may give us a score, but I am inclined to think staying is not his forte. Some of the heavier weighted animals must beat him. The appearance of Skirmisher’s name in the list does not look as though Caulfield will be his mission, and although that does not necessarily give the lie to the rumoured Australian visit, I am inclined to believe in view of recent developments, that Christchurch will see him run. | Since writing the above he has been scratched for the Caulfield."] And if in anything like his correct form he must run a big horse with 8.3. Of Saracen and Rangipuhi I prefer the latter, for I do not feel at all confident of the movements or intentions of the first named animal. When the Victorian penciller, Robt. Phillips, was in New Zealand he gave it . as his opinion that Rangipuhi could more than hold his own on Australian courses, and I believe him. This horse’s chance is by no means the worst in the Cup. Pegasus at 7.13 is favourably regarded by many, and, if well, is worth looking after. I hear he has not been going very well lately, but Harrison may be trusted to get the colt in thoroughly good order by the time of the race. Lady Zetland and Beadonwell are not such a good pair as x the two next on the list, viz., Impulse and Lottie. I keep hearing whispers of Impulse being a good thing, but personally I know little of him, for his training is conducted in private. Regarding Lottie, her chance simply hangs upon her ability to stretch out the gallops we know she can do over a mile and a half to two miles. The weight is not an ounce too much for her, and from the quiet way her people are backing I her must conclude she has more than a fair chance of getting the required distance. The next acceptor is Royal Rose, and there’s a bit of a puzzle surrounding this horse. He has gone over to Australia; but does his journey mean racing over there or only steady training on firstclass tracks ? The stable "that shelters ‘him is said to be depending on Three Star, and we know they have backed the roan colt. But then, someone has also been nibbling at ‘Royal Rose, and he might prove the correct pea after all, But the piizzle is hard to solve. At any rate they both remain in the race, and ‘ they •' will be kept on my side as long as

they remain in the race. Not knowing the selected one I’ll take them both. Lower in the list I like Monte Carlo and Dilemma, and Pinrose and Outpost are a pair of good ones. Fit and well the chance of the last named horse will be a great one. Casket is another one I fancy, and of the remaining lot I like none better than Grenadier. At this stage I do not feel justified in narrowing the issue further than taking six as the best. And that half-a-dozen I believe to be Hippomenes, Skirmisher, Rangipuhi, Impulse, Wright’s best, and Casket.