Anticipations.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 430, 20 October 1898, Page 11

Anticipations.

THE NEW ZEALAND CUP MEETING. [By ( ur Canterbury Correspondent.] It is now within one month of the decision of the New Zealand Cup, the greatest handicap race of the year,,and anything concerning the horses engaged is bound to be of interest to your numerous readers at the present time. Since reviewing Mr Henry’s handicap in July last I have endeavoured to keep your readers well posted with the doings of the Canterbury horses, and have repeatedly expressed my opinion in regard to the chances of the same. When 1 selected eleven horses in July last as most likely to furnish the placed division I had no other ground to go upon than past performances. In not a single instance did I know whether any owner was satisfied with the weight allotted to his horse or horses, and only two horses out of the eleven have dropped out, namely, Zanella and Cannonshot. The following are the nine I have got left: St. Paul, Daystar, Coeur de Lion, Goldleaf, Multiform, Target, Swordfish, and Tirant d’Eau—not a bad lot by any means. The payment on Friday last left exactly twenty horses in the race. It is now my intention to have something to say about the chances of the various horses, and try and select the winner in five. To start with that brilliant son of St. Leger, St. Paul, occupies the position of top weight. From reports to hand there can be no doubt that St. Paul has undergone a searching preparation for the Cup, but what backers want to know is can St. Paul beat Stead’s champion, Multiform, providing of course the latter is at his best? Personally I prefer Multiform because .1 think he is the best horse in New Zealand at the present day. Multiform is striding along in great style. In a mile gallop on Saturday morning he showed that he has lost none of his pace. As I said in July last if he goes to the post he will start favourite, and will I think win. Having said this much the question I have to consider is who is Multiformis most dangerous opponent. Swordfish, the third on the list, has undergone a thorough preparation. He is by the same sire as Multiform, and there is no reason why he should not be as good as Stead’s champion. Nestor is also reported to be well forward, and has been supported by his connections, but, 1 do not think he can beat either of the sons of Hotchkiss. Daystar has a nice handy weight, and he has only to run up to bis three-year-old form to be close to the winner at the finish. Starshot has done her work well, and Hobbs is confident of winning the Cup with her. Epaulet has shown both good and indifferent form in the few races he has started in this season, but I do not think he is good enough to beat the top weights. He is in fine buckle and might possibly run up to his owner’s expectations. I discarded Boreas when the weights appeared, but I must have him on my side after his recent running in the North Island. Both Coeur de Lion and Douglas are evidently well forward and likely to run well. I do not care for the chances of Rubin or Tirant d’Eau,.

but like Goldleaf who has been doing some good work during tne past month. Of the others I prefer Target and Fulmen, both of whom will I think be handy at the finish. The following are the five from which I think the first three horses will come : Multiform, Sworofish, Starshot, Goldleaf, and either Target, or Fulmen. There is plenty of time for the other horses to show much better form than they are doing at present Within the next week or two I might change my opinion. The favourite doubles for the Cup and Stewards’ Handicap are Boreas and Chasseur, Multiform and Chasseur, Goldleaf and Double Event.

The three best handicapped horses in the Stewards’ Handicap are, I think, Chasseur, Skirmisher, and Female Franchise. Epaulet added more victories to his list this year by winning the Maiden Plate and Final Handicap at Dunedin. His owner was, I hear, very pleased with the way the son of Medallion shaped in the last race at Dunedin, and is more confident than ever that the N.Z. Cup is well within his grasp. Tigress looks at present to be a real good thing for the Canterbury Oaks Stakes. Motto and Hermosa should be near the winner.

There are some aristocratically bred youngsters in the Welcome Stakes, among them being Screw Gun (Hotchkiss —Bose of Wellington),. Sant Ilario (St. Leger—Cissy), Tolstoi (Stepniak — Fairy Maid), Reliance (Dreadnought —Dryad), in the colts, and fillies by Clanranald, Apremont, Cuirassier, St. Leger, and St. George are among the acceptors. Nihilist, Altair, Djin-Djin, Tigress, Hermosa, and Dundas are all likely starters in the Derby. At present I like Tigress and Dundas, although Altair is sure to run better here than he did at Napier. The two hurdle races at the Canterbury Spring Meeting have filled well. If Social Pest, Ilex, Sylvanus, Dundee, Liberator, Troubadour, Nicholas, Clarence, and Kuku all start the race should be more interesting than usual. As I predicted, St. Cyr was withdrawn from the N.Z. Cup. This was a great blow to a large number of backers. A week ago St. Cyr was one of the three first favorites for the race.