Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1907. THE WELLINGTON CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 881, 24 January 1907, Page 5

Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1907. THE WELLINGTON CUP.

The Wellington Cup was run for on Tuesday, and it is gratifying to know that it has fallen to a really good horse. When the top weight triumphs in a big handicap, the win is generally a popular one, because the true sportsman always likes to see the victory under adverse conditions of a genuine racehorse rather than the fluky win of some leniently-treated squib. Achilles has won many races, but this is the first time he has managed to place a handicap to his credit. He carried 9st 41b, giving all sorts of weight away up to 391 b, despite which fact he was in front all the way, and won at the finish somewhat easily from Apa, with Eden in third place. So well had Achilles been going in his morning gallops that he was made a very warm fancy, going to the post very little better than an evenmoney favourite. The time for the race, viz., 2min 35sec, is two seconds slower than Ropa’s race last year, and has also been beaten by Advance, who in 1903 carried lOst 41b to victory in 4-ssec faster time. Nightfall equalled Achilles’ time in 1903, but with these exceptions since the race was founded in 1873 no other time has been so good. A great disappointment in the race was the poor showing made by Zimmerman, who had been very favourably treated by the hand’capper. On his Auckland form the big son of Birkenhead seemed to possess an undeniable chance, but he could get no nearer than sixth. When up here he was ridden by Jones, while at Trentham D. Price had the mount, which would be nothing in his favour, as the horse wants a strong rider to make him do his best. Apa ran a.. very honest horse, making a big effort for victory in the straight, and he was but I'.ttle more than a length behind Achilles at the finish. Eden, who filled third place, only had 6st 71b in the saddle, so the filly’s performance was nothing to* enthuse over, and it is evident she is only moderate. By his victory Achilles has re-established his right to be considered the champion of New Zealand, .and it is not remarkable that h's rider, Jenkins, received an ovation on returning to scale.