N.Z. CUP AND STEWARDS'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 33, 2 November 1937, Page 15

N.Z. CUP AND STEWARDS'

HANDICAP WEEK'S DILEMMA Performances of Runners Reviewed THOSE WITH CHANCES (By "Tha Barb.") Once again racegoers and epeculators throughout the Dominion are confronted with the probtem of solving the New Zealand Cup and the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap. Ever since the nominations made their appearance the horses engaged in these two events have been closely followed, but i£ anything the puzzle has become more complieated, especially in connection with the Cup •in which the handicapper^ Mr W. Russell, has hindered instead of a&sisted to find the winnere. The handicapper has every reason for being proud at the adjustments he has niade in his first New Zealand Cup, luTthe past Hawke's Bay has enjoyed its share of success in thiis important handicap, but this season flnds us with but one representative, Hunting Cat, who, according to his owner, 5Tr O. Nelson, is no certain starter although he will race at the meeting. The evergi'een sayiug that this year's field is a poor one has'not been overlooked by the uaual crowd of peesimistic critics. Many horses appear to have a very fair chahce" di success, so much in fact^ that a bigger field th&n usual may go to the post, On account of the absence of long-disfance handicaps in New Zealand it is difficult to gauge the chances of many of the acceptors, bo that breeding lines naturally play no small part in the many summings-up. Breeding, of courso, is no sure way of selecting winners, but over two miles it certainly has proved helpful. The following ia & review of fhe runners in this year's New Zealand Cup: — WILD CHASE, 8.13 (Sir Charles Clifford's br.li., 4yrs., by Paper Money . — Wild Hind by Autumnus). — Being a Paper Money has many wondering if he will eee this journey out, but there is no reason why Paper Money (by Greenback, a son of St. Frusquin, from Epping Rose by Eager) should not beget a winner over two miles although his gets in New Zealand have been known more for their brilliancy than stamina. Last season Wild Chase came from the back to win the New Zealand Derby, of 1$ mile, while in the New Zealand St. Leger, of 1£ mile, he made haclts of Martara and Cerne Abbas. He also won the Dunedin Cup, of 1J mile, like a stayer and then in the Great Autumn, also 1J mile, he carried the steadier of P.6 for a three-year-old, and on a heavy track was beaten into thircl place by Willie Win and Aretic King. This season he has failed to win. At the Wellington meeting, although his form was not convincing^ he showed that he was a horse of class that will, with a little more time, prove as good a fouryear old as he was a three-year-old. Undoubtedly he has the best credentials, while his weight ia 11b. below the w.f.a. Bcale. ARGENTIC, 8.11 (Miss M. C. 'Wilson's b.g., 8yrs., by Silverado from Spotlight by Nassau). — This gelding although getting up in years has given the impression more than once of possessing the required stamina to win over this distance, but unfortunately has not been- easy £o train. Places the New Zealand and Auckland Cups

show that he can do the distance, also he has won many handicaps from t,en to twelve furlongs. Saturday should see him possessing a very fair chance of success. queen of song, 8.8 (Mr P. Hogan's b.m., 6yrs., by Songbird from Differential by Tractor). — The pick of the handicap in some respeets. Last spring she ran a great race in the Melbourne Cup to weigh in fourth, and it is quite probable that if she had been entered in that race this year she would have been kwarded at least 9.0. The fly in tke ointment ,is that for this last twelve months she hae not shown her best form, and the question arises is she as good as formerlyl There is no way, other than her forih, of answering that question. TAURA MAI, 8.4 (Mr A. C. Mills's, 6yrs% by Paladin jfroin Fairform by Boniform). — When a three-year-old this gelding revealed first-class form when ^vinning, among other racee, the Dunedin Cup and the G.J.C. Great Autumn, having that bonnie mare, Cuddle, behind him on bOth oceasions. Last season in the early Spring this plain gelding was taken to Sydney, but unfortunately for his Southland owner went amiss. He commenced racing again this seasOn after a lengthy spell, being in minor places in two of his few starts. There is no reliable guide aa to his presont fitncss or soundness, but should he be all 'right then Mr A. C. Milis will go very close in collecting Saturday 's big prize. FRIESLAND, 8.3 (Mr 0. Cox's b.g, Gyrs., by Fnarsdale from Flueney by Demosthenes) .—Will he go the two miles is the query being aske.d liere. He has proved a brilliant galloper, liaviiig acted both as the wi-Uner antl ••unil6r-up in the W.E.C, Thompson Handicap, as well as being suGcessful up to te n furlongs. the longest he has tnefin tried over'. It 5aE b§ afecepted that he is a very fit liorse s6 should run a good race, as his breeding should prove helpfiil over the fioHCluding stages. F/NGE. 8.2 (Mf W. H. Barton 4s b.g, 8yi's.,* bv Lapiclh! '• ffom a Iiunyktl tpftfpl -- RRtllftf !I rfitlcial pPtligf&t? hae t l.i«i agftl gi'Irlil'-'t Hfc has WOll savei-iti 'vuees np tn tcu ftitlotigst •shewH itig ti distinct liking to heavy fcraekS.

He may win a two-mile handicap, but is not being eagerly sought after for the present race. ARCTIC KING (Mr W. J. Woods's b g., 6yrS., by Rabbi from Snowland by Kilbroney) . — His best performances have been over ten furlongs though he won the W.R.C. Handicap, of 11 furlongs, and was second last year in the Great Autumn, of 12 furlongs. He has shown his best form on a heavy ground, so that should Riccarton be this way on Saturday, the Trentham gelding will have his chances greatly enhanced. CATALOGUE. 8.1 (Mr E. L. Barnes's b.g., 7yrs., by Lord Quex from Catalini by Catmint). — He struck his be:t form last season to win out of hack company and come on to Hastings and run second to Padishah in the Coronadon Cup, after which he went to Riccarton to win ,the Winter Cup. Since, however, he has failed to win although running fair races. Has a chance, of eourse, bdt others appear to have better. LOWENBERG, 8.0 (Messrs T. J. and P. A. 0 'Neill 's b.g., 5yrs., by Lord Quex from Zarene by Chief Ruler). — Two seasons back he won the New Zealand Derby, but has not enjoyed the success since that was anticipated on that win, although he has won handicap laces. He comes from the same stable as Friesland,' and it is no certainty that both will start, so that if one is decided upon some will accept it as a guide. On a track with the sting out of it Lowenberg will not have to be overlooked. HUNTING CAT, 7.12 (Mr O. Nelson 's b.g., Oyrs.^ by Hunting Cat from Catalini by Catmint).-— -Our sole representative in the race, and as has 'been said previously is no certain starter, Last season, when looking to have excellent chances in this race, he went amiss. Now the class is infinitely better and Mr Nelson 's gelding, on account of that slight breakdown, may not be the same proposition he was twelve months back. HAZOOR, 7.9 (Mr W. Howard Booth's blk.g., by Black Ronald from Moana by Hymestra). — Has won mahy handicaps, and although in his ninth nintk year, is still showing winning form. His trainer, M. Williams, opines that he will stay the distance and then some more, but in this opinion I, for one, do not concur as his dam is a daughter of the sprinter, HymeBtra. SILYER STREAK. 7.9 (Mr E. H. Aubrey's b.g., 8yrs., by Paper Money from Fulica by Braxted). — Hae a great reeord as an evergreen winner, having at one time enjoyed the position- of being New Zealand 's best sprinter. This writer, on going through his performances, cannol recommend him over 16 furlongs, CERNE ABBAS, 7.10 (Mr C. N. Draper's br.m., 4yrs., by Lord Warden from Monoxide by Boniform). — This maro is the baby of the race. Last season she did not strike form until the autumn wlien winning both the G.N. Oaks^ of 1J mile, and the St. Leger, of lf mile. She has made a big improvement on her early three-year-old form, and in all her racee has shown stamina and, bred as she is, cannot help but see out a solidly run two miles. This season she was first at Wanganui, but at Avondale was a little disappointing. She again struck form when beating all but Small Boy in the Mitchelson Cup, of, 1^ mile. At Wellington the first day she was unlucky to come out and win the next up, but her defcat out of a "place on Saturday was a had knock to many who had already f.upported her. Howeves, she will starl one of the f avourites, unless of eourse thoro ' are no adverse reports on her condition in the next few days. SMALL BOY, 7.5 (Mr E. Fitzgerald's blk.g., 5yrs., by Psvchology from Susan Lennox by Kilboy). — He in-

lierrts istamma from both sides of his pedigree. His only g5ub wm to dato was in the Mitchelson Cup whicb. is his sole recommendation. SUNEE, 7.5 (Mr J. W. Lowe's b.g., 7yrs., by Australian Sun from Bunee by Earlston). — Is a great galloper as well as possessing stamina. He is just as apt to run firet as last, so unreliable nas he proved to date. REBEL LAD, 7.2 (Mr . D. Grant's b.g. by Robespierre from Keel Bow by Gay Lad). — Was a first-clhSs hack in ihe South Island last 'season. At tke recent Wellington meeting he raced impressively. Is liked in quite a few quarters, but his form doos not point to him as a winner so that his improvement will have to be in private fof hie supporters to be confident. BOOMERANG. 7.2 (Mr H. W. MosS's b.g., by Iliad — Graciosa by Gay Crusarler).— His best was his first in the Cornwall Handicap, of 1J mile, on a sodden track. Without being recommended he is not disregatded altogether. MIGHT, 7.1 (Mr A, F. Lee'S brg., by Limond— Graciosa by Gay Crusader) Has a third and a fourth to his credit in the last two seasons in this race, No toore than an outside guoss. LINGUIST, 7.0 (Mr E. N. Didham's b.m.-, 6yrs., by Paladin from Cpuntersigu by Paper Money). — Is a silent tip down in the other island. Has nothing inuch to lead one to make her a prime Selection, her best win being on'Labour Day when, over 10 furlongs, she beat a weak field at Gore. ARABOA, 7.0 (Messrs P. and E. Butil's ch.g., 6yrs., by Balboa from Lady Winton by Some Boy II.). — A tnile, oi* tkereabouts, have ekown his best performances to date, but even tliey were not acComplifehed in "town hall" company. TREBLEACK, 7.0 (Mr W. E. Hunt's chg., 5yrs., by Woodend from Morse Signal by Vice*Adiniral).— Won on Labour Day at Gore, but his best pei'formance was in running seGond to Last Refrain in the Riverton Cup last hutnmA. ' COTTINGHAM, 7.0 (Mf G. Hall's b.g., Oyfs., by rolanel from Sweet Beauty by Cveyspefif).— Has won secoiid-ciass handiuttp^ as well as the iast Gfand Naiional MnTclios. Hoes ttot Uppeal as Cll|I etiudidu,t#8

MIEACLE, 7.0 (Mr d. E. Wankjyn'a b.g., 5yrs., by Biegfried — Polly Peachum by Feramorz). — A few hack wine and outside breeding j jpossesses no credentials. ARCHOILLE , 7.0 (Mr J, B. McGregor 's ch.g., 6yrs., by Woodend from Glentruin by Sunflower H.). — Only hack races to his credit. Has impressed* as likely stayor. His owner' previously brought off a surprise in this race with Steeton. Final gallops may make a difference to public opinion, but to-day the favourite looks like coming from: CERNE ABBAS WILD CHASE LOWENBERG QUEEN OF SONG Gold Boa has earned her place in tho C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap as last year she was the Dominion 's outstanding sprinter. She is going to be very harcl and, what beats hfcr musc go very close in saluting the judge. Paper Slipper won this race last season, and having proved kimself a performer of class, should again' go close. Ben Braggie won so easily at Trentham that many will not look elsewhere for the winner. Last vear in this race he finished fourth when weighted at the minimum. Now a rise of 211bs. makes one coneider whether he has improved that much. Concertpitch, a winner of two C.J.C. Great Easters, ifl undodbtedly a gifted galloper, but six furlongs has seen hJm generally beaten? Oratory was second both at Hastings and Trentham and is no more than a possibility at 8.10. Emissary .is a very brilliant gallope#, but perhaps a little past his best. Alma the first day at the National "bolted" away from the sprint field, and then came out the next day to win the soven-furlong race, beating the Winter Cup winner and other good horses. Two weeks back, carrying 9.7, she won easily at a minor meeting in the south, and now with 8.8, this Paper Money is hard to get past. Whirling and Triune, from Auckland, have only to strike form to be very dangerous. It Will be remembered that 12 months back the latter performed brilliantly at Riccarton. Debham was useful last season, but since luckily beating Ben Braggie at Wanganui in the early Spring has been racing below expectations. Maori Song has, I think, "shot his bolt" in the meantime and no doubt ufter racing throughout the winter, iius trained off. On a wet track he is iiked though. Grey Honour may win, but »o far has failed in this class. Rebel Chief without being rocoinmended is a possrbility. Dictate is a cut above the average, but eix furiongs may be a little too short. Nevertheless# he ia one that is not lightly passed ovef. Laughing Lass ip not a bad sort of a sprinter by any means, but she generally wins at a big meeting on the last day when the best have either gone up in weight substantially or have not accepted. Joviality may make the grade, but it would," I think, pay to wait and see if he is class. Haughty Winner last season was a brilliant galloper and should he strike that form, at 7.6 he will be hard. He wili be coupled with Faper Slipper. Black Tfiread won on opening day at Wellington and that win decidedly draws attention to his fair chance of sucCess. He comes from the same .stable as Ben Braggie. Ctessamor was last one day at Wellington. Brunhilde is a very fit mare now ae recent racing has brought her back to her very best form. That she is brilliant is undisputed, and with the minimum, this Hastings-trained filly is going to take some catching. Palmet and the reat hardly appeal as likely winners of a C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap. Sorting them out has no doubt cost more than one headache already, but with all things even on the day, the best-backed divieion may comprise: alma brunhilde GOLD BOA CLIFFORD Bracket