THE MELBOURNE CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 974, 5 November 1908, Page 6

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Another Melbourne Cup has been numbered with the past, and the downfall of all the most fancied horses has to be recorded. If anyone had been bold enough on Tuesday morning to prophecy that Lord Nolan would win the biggest race of the year in the colonies he would have been laughed at as a simpleton. Certainly on any form he has shown the colt d’d not appear to possess the faintest chance of victory, but he has proved once more there is no such thing as a - ertainty in racing. As a two-year-old Lord Nolan started in five races and never got even a place. Then in the A.J.C. Derby he was badly worsted by Parsee, and, although he won the New Stakes from weak opposition he could only get third in the Craven Plate In the Randwick Plate Peru beat him with the utmost ease, and then again in the V.R.C. Derby last S-’tu-day Alawa and Parsee ran clean away from him. for, although he got third, the colt was eight lengths behind the second horse. On this form it looked as certain as could be that both the Derby winners would be certain to defeat him again, while Peru’s •fine running in the Melbourne Stakes seemed to suggest that he also would be sure to defeat Lord Nolan. The defeat of the fancied candidate does not appear to be the result of any fiuke, for in the cabled account of the race Parsee, Alawa and Peru were well placed at the start, and throughout the race were in a nice position to score. Under the circumstances the’r easy defeats seem difficult to explain. The finish of the race must have been very exciting. The N.Z. bred Delaware was first into the straight, with the top-weight Mooltan. Lord Nolan, Alawa and Tulkeroo in close attendance. Inside the distance Lord Nolan was just showing in front of Tulkeroo, and in a desperate finish Lord Nolan beat the heavyweight by half a head. Delaware was two lengths off thi?d. and then fol’owed Mooltan and Jhe favourite. Alawa. The time, viz.,\2 riin. 28% sec., although fast, has W beaten on several occasions, notably by Carbine (1890), Newhaven (1896), Acrasia (1904), Blue Spec (1905), and Apologue (1907). The latter holds the record for the race, viz., 3min, 27sec. Lord Nolan, who is a three-year-old bay colt, and carried the light impost of 6st 91b, was 'bred by Mr. J. Mayo and trained by E. A. Mayo. He. was got by the St. Simon horse Positano from Lady Lybia, by Antaeus from Lady Trenton from Black Swan, by Yattendon. Tulkeroo, who made such a bold effort to score when conceding 2st to his successful rival, is a six-year-old brown horse by Simmer from Myall Queen, and belongs to Mr. J. McLaurin. Delaware, who filled third berth, is a cast-off. from the Yaldhurst stable, and claims as his parents Seaton Delaval and Stepfeldt. Mooltan ran well under his big impost of 9st 121 b, but Peru, who on Saturday beat him at weight-for-age. although meeting Mooltan on much better terms, ran disappointingly. The honour of steering the Melbourne Cup to victory fell to Flyn, who must be credited with riding a good race. He kept his horse in a nice position throughout, and brought him with a well-sustained run at the right