THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2920, 4 November 1916, Page 14

THE TURF

J NOTES AND COMMENTS IBr. Glencoe.l THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. The attention of sportsmen will be concentrated on Biccarton to-day, when the New Zealand Cup, of 2000 sovs., two miles, comes on for decision. The boats which left for tho south this week liavo all been crowded with excursionists bent on being present to see tho Cup run, but even so tho meeting does not look like I attaining tho proportions of previous years. The war is begining to tell its tale, and many may be absent to-day from causes brought about by tho great struggle on tho Continent. The fields to-day will also not be as large as in previous years, and there is likely to be a falling off in the totalisator figures when the coming week's totals are made UP ' NEW ZEALAND CUP. The principal item in the day's racing is, of course, tho big two miles, aud the following are the probable starters, their weights, and riders list. lb. Mr. P. Hall's b. m. Merry Eoe, 6yrs. (J. Buchanan) 8 'J Mr. G. Hunter's ch. g. Indigo, syrs. (L. Wilson) .' S 2 Messrs. Barrett and Bain's bile. c. -Mavc Antony, -lyrs. (C. Emerson) 8 2 Mr. A. B. Williams's b. g. Multiply, aged (A. Oliver) 8 0 Messrs. F. A. and V. N. Prico's b. g. Itorke's Drift, syrs. (W. Kobinson) 7 13 Mr. C. G. Dalgety's b. g. Snub, 4yrs. (inc. 51b. pen.) (L. H. Hewitt) ... 712 Mr. Jas. Handj's b. li. Mullingar, syrs. (B. Deeley) 7 11 Mr. W. Gardiner, jun.'s John Barleycorn, Gyrs. (W. Bell) 7 7 Mr. Y. T. Barren's ch. li. Eingform, oyrs. (inc. slb. pen.) (J. Olsen) 7 5 Mr. T. H. Loivry's blk. c. Marco Bello, lyrs. ( ) 7 D Mr. H. Friedlander's b. c. Ardenvhor, 4yrs. (H. Young) t...... 7 ,1 Mi'. D. H. Roberts's cli. g. Fiery Cross, 4yrs. (inc. 101b. pen.) (N. Shore) 7 3 Mr. A. M'Donald's b. g. Montana (K. Heed) 7 2 Mr. H. Whitney's br. f. Rose Pink, 3yrs. (inc. 71b. pen.) (Con Reed) 7 0 "Mr. Higliden's" ch. g. Seddel Bahr, lyrs. (G. Clarke) G 12 Mr. P. Jlatu's b. g. Toki, syrs. (inc. 51b. penalty) (H. Lowe) 6 12 Mr. F. C. Hoe's, b. m. Ladify, 6yrs. (T. Lowry) li 7 Tho final gallop of Snub on Thursday has sent him to tho position of first fancy, and ho is likely to hold his position until tho field is dispatched on its journey. Last .sfason the Martian gelding's public form was very poor, but his effort at W/ngatui this season was fair, and he should run well to-day. The news published to-day that the top weight Balboa had been scratched will disappoint many, aud as he was well in the market, but there was a prejudice against him on account of the weight, lie is easily the best performer in the race, and should have made a bold showing despite his burden. The next on the list is Merry Roe. The<people behind the Soult maro think the race something of a good thing for her, but twp miles is a long way, in a big field with Est. 91b. on her back. Indigo, Bst. 21b., is having his third race in the Cup. His form at Trentham was poor, and does not suggest him as a likely Cup winner. Marc Antony will cany the lucky No. 4 saddle cloth, and his admirers think he will carry it well. The writer subscribes to this view, and it will bo remembered in 'bis favour that with 9st. 41b. on his baok he was flying at the finish of. the Champion Plate at .Trentham. Had that event been run over two miles it looked certain for him to catch Desert Gold and Nones, which would have been a good Cup trial. • Ho is a good stayer, and though some of tho track fatchers think his preparation has not been sufficient for a two-mile journey, it may be said that the trainer of the horse should be the best judge of this. Multiply has been unsound lately, and neither Rorke's Drift nor John Barleycorn seem to have done enough racing to fit them for a severe two miles. . Mullingar may finish the journey a trifle

far-, but lie is well handicapped, and if the last pinch does not find him ont he must be dangerous. None of tho lightweights appeal, unless it be Montana. He looks to be certain to defeat any of those below Mullingar, but he. may be hardly class enough for'a race like this. In' past years the top weights liars not done well in the Cup, but this .year there may be a change. s STEWARDS' HANDICAP.

The Stewards' Handicap is the. next item of interest to the Cup. Thore is a big field of twenty-one runners, and the, race is the most open of the day. The top weight Chortle is such a great horse that he cannot be left out of the .calculations, and on all form he lias been given every chance to win. Ho is now sprinting as well as ever lie did, and to beat him to-day the others will have to go very fast. Panmure is not ready, but Binieter, Seadown, and Chakwana, who came next on the list, will all go well. Egypt is the preferred of the Lowry stable, and Hyttus, Koesian, Multiplication, and Ivilleniv have all got admirers in plenty. The three-year-old division is represented by Egypt, Hyttus, and Koesian, and this division lias won the race 011 divers occasions in the past. THE OTHER EVENTS.

In the Spring Hurdles there is a poor field. Crib, the top weight, is a class above the others, the best of whom- may be Banian.

If Hylatus has been sent south he will be one of the fancies on the machine for the Spring Plate, and in his absence the investors aTe likely to go strongly for Splendant, who won a double at Trentham.

The Linwood Handicap, seven 'furlongs, will find several 6mart hacks in commission. Amongst them are Brambletye, who goes tho distance well, and Ascala'phus, a winner at Dunedin. The lastnamed has a big reputation in the South.'

In the Welcome Stakes, Mr. H. E. Troutbeck has a very strong hand with Lingerie and Simonides, who will be coupled on the machine. The Karanvnowned Hymentsra lias a good private reputation, but so far has not been produced in public. Battle Eve is the best performed of the Apprentices' Handicap field, and Gold Soult appears to bo better suited to welter weights than any of the others in the Tliccarton Welter Handicap. "Ngahauranga" is informed that a win for Chortle in the Champion Plate would hare entailed a penalty in the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap.