Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1907. THE AUSTRALIAN CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 5

Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1907. THE AUSTRALIAN CUP.

Matters are somewhat slack locally as far as racing is concerned, so that the attention of sportsmen is turned elsewhere. The. big autumn handicap at Flemington, the Australian Cup, is looming up in the near future, and a good deal of interest is being taken in it, as an Auckland Cup winner figures among the acceptors. Of the handicap, the well-informed “ Terlinga” writes: —“West Australia has the honour of owning the top-weight in the Australian Cup. May King has 21b less than he won the Perth Cup with, and he has 61b more than Poseidon, who is asked to carry 151 b over weight for age. Poseidon’s is not the heaviest weight ever given a three-year-old in the Australian Cup. In 1898 Aurum, who had previously run third with Bst 61b in the Melbourne Cup, was given 9st 31b. Although he did not win that Melbourne Cup, Aurum’s performance was the best ever accomplished by a three-year-old in the great race. He was beaten by Gaulus and The Grafter, to whom he was g’ving 121 b and 131 b respectively Both were old horses and weight-for-age horses. Bundook, the fourth, had 6st 111 b, and Positano, the favourite, was sixth with 7st 71b. He had won at weight for age in Sydney. Considering the good horses that ran in this race with light weights, it can, I think, be put down as the hardest Melbourne Cup we have had to win, save that of 1885, when Sheet Anchor (7st 111 b), Grace Darling (7st 121 b), Trenton (7st 131 b), and Nordenfeldt (7st 51b) were the first four horses. Aurum only ran th’rd in his Australian Cup, but he would have done much better if he and Battalion had not been kept right out of it until Ayrshire had obtained a winning break. Poseidon had 7st 61b in the Melbourne Cup, but he won easily, and the horses running just now are not up to the form of the old ones Aurum had to give weight to.” The scratching pen has, however, been put through Poseidon’s name, and he will doubtless be reserved for the Champion Race and St. Leger. With him out of the way Antonins has a good winning chance. “ The consideration due to age is being extended to Revenue, who has been dropped to Bst 41b. The old fellow has shown no form for years; but is a regular worker at Caulfield. Solution has been treated as a non-stayer. The best has, probably, been seen of Blue Spec; but he and Proceeder are not badly off with Bst 91b. Misty Morn is decidedly a very useful young horse over a distance'; but Bst 41b is enough for him. Collarit is allowed 141 b from Poseidon. How form changes I This time last year . Collarit would have had to give Poseidon 211 b. Benbow only gets 81b from May King for a bad beating in the Perth Cup; but the handicapper could not go below 6st 71b. Dyed Garments was racing like a useful stayer in the spring, and 7st 61b is a handy weight. Booran and Kaffirpan are another pair that are leniently used, but, as far as that goes, everything from Booran down to Mira, at 6st 91b, seems flatteringly treated. Realm, at 6st 131 b, has only hurdle form at present; but the Flemington people say he can make time good enough for the flat, and we know ihe can stay. Realm met with a mishap about Cup time, and was on the shelf for a time. He may turn out another Marmont.”

Australian writer seems doubtful as to Putty’s staying ability, but has evidently overlooked the fact that he won the Auckland Cup run over two miles, beating a good field, for Mahutonga, Armistice, Quarryman, Paritu■tu, Gladstone, and Melodeon were among those who finished behind him. Antonius is in the same stable as Putty and may be preferred to him, but if really at his best the son of St.

Leger should have a chance with 7st 12Ibs. He has, however, not been run to advantage for some time. Another Auckland-bred horse is in the race in Ellis, who, with 7st 3lbs, has a chance if he can stay over the long journey. The race will be run on March 5.