CARB NE AND POSEIDON COMPARED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 952, 4 June 1908, Page 9

CARB NE AND POSEIDON COMPARED.

In the course of an interesting comparison between these two great horses, “Ribbleden” of the “Australasian” has the fol owing: — Although Poseidon is not likely to leave the post for the paddock yet awhile, the time is opportune to review his career and performances, which in some respects have been remarkable. To say that Poseidon was bred by Mr R. H. Dangar, and cost Mr Denison 500 guineas as a yearling, is but to repeat an oft-told story. As regards pedigree. Poseidon is the result of the fashionable cross—the crossing of St. Simon horses with mares of Musket descent —which has been so successful in Australia. As a stake-winner, Poseidon has done wonderfully well; indeed, up to the end of his third season he has won even more than Carbine won, and Carbine was a horse in ten thousand. The following table shows the respective stake-earnings of Poseidon and Carbine at corresponding periods:— Poseidon. Carbine. As a two-year-old ... £185% £1,155 As a three-year-old . . 13,890 6,401 As a four-year-old . . . 5,871 6,384 As a five-year-old ... . . 15,686 £19,946% £29,626 Carbine and Poseidon began their careers in very different ways. Carbine ran five times as a two-year-old, and was never beaten. Curiously enough, he did not win a classic race, but his superiority over other three-year-olds was most marked; and, for a performance under handicap conditions his Melbourne Cup (10.5) stands unparalleled. This victory augmented Carbine’s winnings considerably, the prize being worth no less a sum than £10,230. Unlike Carbine’s, Poseidon’s early form was of litt'e account, but as a three-year-old he developed remarkable powers, and. although he never displayed the brilliancy of Carbine, he won dis tinction in both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup—an achievement long looked for, but unaccomplished until Poseidon appeared on the scene. Viewed broadly, Poseidon had done pretty well everything that might reasonably be expected of a horse except win the Champion Stakes, the Cumberland Stakes of 1907, and the last A.J.C. Autumn Stakes! Failure in the latter event might have been overlooked; but when a few days afterwards he decisively turned the tables upon his

vanquishers in the Cumberland Stakes, the crowd became critical and denunciatory, and kicked up a hullabaloo. Poseidon was actually hooted! However undesirable such demonstrations may be, I am afraid they are unavoidable while human nature is what it is. To say that they were justified would be as absurd as to say they are not justified —sometimes. It is a question if the racing public has not the right to express an opinion on a matter of public interest, provided they express it in a decent way. Subsequent running showed that Poseidon’s defeat in the Autumn Stakes was just as much an accident as was Marve.’s sensational but short-lived triumph over Carbine. In the ordinary affairs of life accidents suggest inquiries as to causes, but stewards are as peculiar in their performances as are some of the racehorses. Horse-flesh —and particularly the racecourse variety—is proverbially perverse; and what with this perverseness and the eccentricities of jockeys, the public has a lively time of it. To dabblers in speculation, inconsistency in the racehorse is the unforgivable sin. Grand Flaneur was a marvel of consistency, as he was never beaten; and Carbine during his four seasons on the turf was only once unplaced; only once was he found among the “also ran” — words of ominous meaning to backers of defeated favourites. Poseidon has not been a frequent offender against consistency, having only been beaten three times when he started at odds on. During his career Carbine ran in 43 races; won 33, was six times placed second, three times third, and was once unplaced. Poseidon has run in 32 races; won 19, was second four times, third three times, and six times unplaced.