THE WELLINGTON CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 282, 19 December 1895, Page 13

THE WELLINGTON CUP.

[By

“Gipsy King.”]

I have received three communications asking me if I would be good enough to give my “fancy” for the Wellington Cup. It, was not my intention to do so, as Borderer will, no doubt, go fully into the handicap, and, having the material at hand, he will be able to grapple with the task more exhaustively than I can do. A Bohemian cannot carry all the data required for a contract such as this, in addition to his wardrobe. To try and sift out the probable winner from a well-adjusted handicap containing fiftyfour Horses is enough to bring beads of perspiration to any man’s brow, and I would rather be excused until after the acceptances. However, to comply with my friends requests, I will pick out a few that appear to me to have a chance, but, having done that, I am just in as big a fix as before, for the reason that I have no information as to the condition of some of those I intend selecting. North Atlantic, Lady Zetland, Bessie McCarthy, Skirmisher, The Shrew, Irish Twist, Rangipuhi, Waiuku, Panoply, Chaos, Lorelei, and Brooklet, are a dozen that occur to me as fairly well handicapped. I assume that North Atlantic (8.12) will be more forward than he was at N.Z. Cup time, and in last year’s Cup he occupied a prominent but unenviable position at the finish, being wedged in against the rails with a horse on the off-side and one at the back, which prevented him from being pulled out. Still, he was very well then, and it may be difficult to get him back to that form. Lady Zetland (8.9) I select on last year’s form in the same race, as she was “ near it,” and I fancy that it was only the favourable position Mahaki obtained rounding the bend that won him last wear’s Cup. Bessie McCarthy (at 8.8), fit and well, I would pin my faith to before anything in the race, but, from all accounts, she is not in anything like racing trim at present, but a wonderful improvement can be effected in a light-fleshed animal in two months. Skirmisher (8.6) just now is very well, and he is not likely to be over-raced between now and January next, although 1 am of opinion that the Vanguards thrive on judicious racing in public. The Shrew (8.1) is not a particularly great fancy of mine for this race, but is such a handy kind of mare for the Wellington course that I am disposed to hold her in respect for that reason alone. Irish Twist (8.2), since his enforced retirement, may be better or worse, but if fie only retains his form of last Christmas, he will have to be reckoned with, but the course might beat him. That stride of his—as long as a wet week —will not be too much in his favour rounding “ Tattenham corner. ” Rangipuhi (7.12) has not made his appearance this season, but he has wintered well, and with the racing he will no doubt be given during the Christmas and New Year time, he will be well forward in his preparation, and, with a good strong horseman on his back, I intend to have the Maori-owned horse on my side. His 2min llsec for one mile and a quarter, on the Hutt course, at the Cup meeting last year, not forgetting his performance at the Wanganui Autumn Meeting afterwards, is worthy of consideration. “ Jim” Better, a steady man, now has charge of Rangipuhi, and I see no reason why he should not get him as well as his previous trainer. Waiuku (7.12) is generally voted a non-stayer, but I am not of that opinion, as I have seen him run over a distance when nothing like fit to do so, and although I am afraid that there is hardly time enough to prepare him for a journey, still he has done a fair amount of racing this season, which will assist his mentor in getting him to run out the requisite distance. Were I sure that he would be given a genuine and solid preparation, and have the services of a first-class horseman, I would select him to be better than The Shrew and Lorelei, whom I consider have a chance on this course. Panoply (7.11) has run some fail- races on the Sydney-side, and the fact that the son of Splendor has not been asked to do anything big over a distance is no reason why he should not stay. Chaos (7.8) has such a handy impost, considering his N.Z. Cup running, that, if he be the elect of the stable, I should pick him right out, as I think one mile and a half will suit him better than two miles, besides being a handy horse for the course. Lorelei (7.5) will improve a lot on her second to Leda at Feilding, in the Manchester Handicap, one mile and a quarter, and if Leda was handicapped at 7.5 I think she would receive the support of most of those who saw her run at Feilding, although I would set Leda down as a better stayer than Lorelei. My twelfth representative is Brooklet (7.3), whom I feel sure will be benefited by a good strong preparation, such as she has not had during her recent campaign, owing to the exceptionally unseasonable weather that trainers have experienced this spring. She is a great raking mare, wlipm her trainer (T. Quinlivan, sen.) has brought out in a

very careful manner ; she is not a “ boy s horse, and I think that sharp turn into the straight, at the Hutt, may prove fatal to her chance. If the race was run on the C.J.C. course, and a strong horseman could be secured for her, she would beat all those that competed at Wellington and Feilding, but a big striding mare, such as she is, will require to have all the luck on her side in securing a position before reaching that bend, which has upset the calculations of more than one trainer before to-day. I have tried as far as possible to give good reasons for selecting the twelve horses mentioned, and, to go for one, would name Ciiaos, although at present there appears to be certain indications that he is an unlikely starter, but I can pretend to know the intentions of his owner and trainer, so that I will stand at this horse for the present.