NEW ZEALAND CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1322, 26 August 1915, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND CUP.

The weights for the. New Zealand Cup are framed on lines that should ensure a good acceptance. Warstep is entitled to her place at the head of the list, but has been rated higher than any onei of her age and sex in the past, and has consequently been paid a high compliment. She is probably more fancied than anything else, for the reason that she proved herself a good mare last season. Backers who like to get in early are many, and evidently they don’t all realise what a task it may be for a mare to win under 9.5 over two miles in the spring of the year. Mares win comparatively few of these long-distance events at any season of the year. Warstep will certainly set the seal on her fame if she should win under that impost. There are already people talking about the weakness of the. field. Is it a weak field? It may be so on the day, but it usually takes something pretty good to win, and there are some proved good ones in the eight stone and over division, which comprise Sea Fink, Pavlova. Colonel Soult. Sinapis, Bonny Helen, Rinaldo, Rewipoto, Indigo, and Kooya, any one of which if landed fit at the post must trouble the top-weight. The between eight stone and seven stone division has also a number of pro-

bables, whose ages range from three to six years old, of which it is safe to say the best has not been seen; and who will say that there are not still further down the list some very likely ones at their imposts? There are a few practically unknown quantities engaged, and some that have no form to recommend them for a race of this description, and though the number of horses entered is not so large this year as for some years past, there is every reason to anticipate that the material will be on hand for a good race, and that there will be a pretty good response from owners when the first acceptance falls due. Those we would select at this stage are Pavlova, Bonny Helen, Colonel Soult, Rewipoto, Rinaldo, Sea Pink, Indigo, John Barleycorn, Lord Multifid, Blackall, Banksia, Slogan, and Plunder. The probabilities are that we, have not seen the best of Bonny Helen, and that Pavlova, as fit as she was when she won three races at Trentham, including the Wellington Cup, is little inferior to Warstep. Colonel Soult has good form to recommend him over a distance, and on recent form Rewipoto should b(> ready to play his best card in November. Rinaldo has run some good races up to a mile and three-quarters, and should gO' one. better. Sea Pink has

recently raced up to his best ovei two miles. Indigo, presuming he has gone on the l r.ght way, cannot be ignored. John Barleycorn has raced consistently at Riccarten, and may stay further than he has been asked to do so far. Lord Multifid must be taken on trust. It will be to his advantage racing in Australia, and we know he has brilliancy. Blackall did nothing to enthuse over last season, but ran like one that might stay well and develop form. Banksia may prove hard to train, but she comes of a family on her dam’s side that need time, and if Mason can get her to the post just right she may race well. Plunder (another daughter of Achilles) has raced consistently and may win a good race yet. Slogan has won at a mile and a-quarter, and his light impost may assist him to get further. Sinapis, a previous winner, may not stand the necessary preparation again. Kooya, a handy mare, is probably m the same position. She has had a good rest. Multiply has not always raced like one constitutionally strong since he had influenza troubles, though he invariably looks well. Croesus has yet to prove that he can stay as well as sprint, though well treated. Potoa gave but one glimpse of form last season, and it would be taking a r.sk to back him without seeing some indication of a return to his best, though he is well in. Nightwatch s breakdown, which caused his long retirement, has to be remembered m considering h'.s prospects. Mummer may perhaps get two miles, out we would prefer Goldstream, who ran him to a neck over a mile and three furlongs at Trantham last April, when both narrowly defeated Rinaldo. The Australian-bred Three, by The. Welkin, gave some good exhibitions last season, and has rightly been treated as the best of h.s age. Sunbird has plenty of pace, and on her formi in the Feilding Cup, one mue and a-halt, second to her stable companion Leonta, reads nicely placed wiJi 161 b. less weight. Sir Alba has run some good races up to a mile and a-quarter, but whether he will get a longer journey remains to be seen. Specialform in some quarters is considered likely to do so. Palisade is preferred tor shorter races, and Wisebird has raced brilliantly up to six furlongs. Chillies is fast. All Ready has won a: a miland a-quarter. Zanthos shows some promise, while Chrysotis has won at a mile and a-quarter, and is bred to stay, but has been racing too long to lead people to fancy her. Fair Rosamond has run some very good races, but the distance may tell. Maniaroa, Prince Laddo, Tangihou, Fender, Briar Patch, Midnight Star, and others of the 6.7 division have been winners, but most of them can be more advantageously placed.