THE MELBOURNE CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 118, 15 November 1939, Page 13

THE MELBOURNE CUP

CATALOGUE UNLUCKY:

RIVETTE PROVES STAMINA

(From MVedettc.")

MELBOURNE, November 9

- Catalogue's rider in thf Melbourne Cup, B. McMenamin, considered that the old gelding would have been placed , at least but for interference inside the last furlong, which the stewards considered sufficiently grave to suspend N. Percival for one month. Ironically* the horse that was alleged to have contributed to Catalogue's misfortune was his compatriot, Beau Vite. While "undoubtedly Catalogue was perhaps a little unlucky, the honours of the race could not be taken away from Rivette, who won her Melbourne Cup as creditably as she did the Caul- - fleld Cup and became thie first mare to achieve this difficult double. UNUSUAL TRAINING. Rivette's extraordinary run of success has upset ideas of training, for the mare has had the lightest of preparations, 'her work between the two cups consisting of only two gallops of a mile arid a race in the Moonee Valley Gold .Cup. With the exception of one day, for a week prior to the Melbourne Cup she .did not'visit the training track but was exercised on the road. The Melbourne Cup almost was the Caulfield Cup overagam, with Rivette racing very similarly, striking a little trouble at the half-mile extricating herself quickly, going round the leaders on the turn, and then travelling home strongly-to win. Maikai, who filled second place, came from further back than he did at Caulfield,. ; Respirator ran- a similar race, finishing fast, and in another stride would have beaten Pantler for third place. Beau Vite was in front/at the beginning- of the last furlong but then., tired ' Into'- eighth. Another. New Zealander, Wilson, did better in finishing on for seventh place. The dual Derby winner, Reading, ptilled too hard in the ::'middle' 'stages and .beat himself,1 "not being among tlie-first fourteen at the ;. finish;.,. -..,-..-"..• •■:.'."■. ' . , 7 .A unique ..feature. of the race was the riderless Ortelle's Star's leading -, Rivette ;past: the. winning post , by. a clelif-'necki this mare having lost F.. ; de 7.Valle seven furlongs from hbinei-Just ■•' at-this stage The-Trump, who had won the-Cup^ double, two years? ago,, broke down badly find no doubt his ownejr, -•■ Mr.- E. Eccles; now;will retire him. Catalogue paid-the expenses of the Australian trip in the Hothanv Handicap on the opening;day-at Flemington. He went to the front early,7•" slowed down the--field, rand, as'ih the Melbourne Cup .of last year, sprinted away, giving nothing else'" a' chance. He was -'< well Tracked by his connections at a good price. BEADING'S DERBY. Reading, again proved thb master of High' Caste in the.. Victoria . TUerby, leading all the way. High Caste made two runs to get to Reading, but he was outstayed and apparently is dnly a brilliantygaJloper and not a stayer. He. should be a. great performer up toa- mile .or a .mile and. a quarter. ,Readipk. as, a dual P.erby7 winner., p¥d\^ed,'ihimserf*tß' biTS good colt, and,. there-was'considerable merit in jhis«> ; :;*ecga«e^f-^is^rav)ng,! * had- to -ov^ebmeya^sligM|ie|>. injurs;," received ~a f6rHlgh€'Sefor^7 v tlie'-:race. Mr. Alan Cooper's 'purchase, Gold Salute, is proving,(expensive,:,*for. after1 being side-on- at the-start ortherDerby,, , he made little headway and'7^as last; was left ihi-tho Melbourne GtijMfcuVwas scraEtche* on thefeourse, : Itris;i^2ry' doubtful ii,he Mill prove -up toi the. expectations of his Australian;, bwnery althbugli he ..has galloping ability "and willvwin races> ' <^a " "."TAS a "racp the; weight-for-age MacMiinbh Stakes7on. the opening day wa^s farcical,, riders of the six. hpvseg behind 270rteHe?s' Star -perriiitUiig that mareTto run along .An frojit,; with thtf result 'that she spjrjnt^ away land was nxit-Txraught. 77: Mosaic, i .;st#t^d; a hot favourite -and -missed a place.- H©-was - ; produced again in the Melbourne Cup but could not manage the heavy track, ; being on© of the first horses beaten, -.Broadcaster woji .the-Mariby^png,.-. ;in remarkablfe 'fashion... oyep* Cgming::7-inl«rference' and diffleuMfis : ahd vindicating those who claim,Tthat j he is the Derby h^se of nest s-giiOn,, ■ Both Broadcaster and the runney*u£; . Halifax, registered' .fine pe-rformahe^s** '< Haljfajc having .to surmount the han» dicai? bf being out at No.. 20.;• at.{ th^; *; barrier.*'-'." ■■■•-.' .;' -..-.'■ ' 'x-. .. v."y-'--. X '■ ■''■■■