RICCARTON TWO-MILER

NZ Truth, Issue 1190, 20 September 1928, Page 11

RICCARTON TWO-MILER

Few Horses There, but Many, Many Goats

New Zealand Oap handicaps are out, bat w far a* the average punter is concerned they could be withheld for weeki yet

IX7ITH such a plurality of goats m YV oluded m thlß year's biff two-m'iler the race is losinsr all of its in* tercet, and Judging by the way the olass deteriorates each year the event will soon bo one for maiden performers. Bortlng the sheep from the goats did not occasion the handioapper much worry. In all he had forty-nine horßes to weight, and of this number he found that thirty- one were Worthy — or unworthy — of getting m on the minimum. His top-weight, of course, had to be Star Stranger and he got the maximum of 9.6. To some people the fixing of a maximum is ridiculous, but to "N.Z. Truth" there can be advanced no reason why a good horse should be murdered to allow rubbish into a handicap. Three horses have nine stone or over; two have eight stone or over and then it goes from 7.13 down to the minimum. As a handicap It Is not one— it Is just a mass of seven •noughts. Looking 1 at the figures it seems Impossible to stop the top-weight from winning— and this, after allowing In

for the failure of the heavily-weighte* brigade In recent years. Star Stranger is going to be as fit as any horse In the field on that Saturday early m November. Count Cavour Is a great weightcarrier and he should beat Rapier, on the same mark.' They won't, want Beacon Light, but Footfall has not been overtaxed. A drop down into the seven stone and over division finds Battle Colours with 7.6. He was spoken of after the National as the next winner. Black Mint has only a postage stamp to canjyi but m his case— and m many others— rit will be a question of getting the right lad at the poundage. There is a tribe of them to sort through on the minimum, but nothing appeals more than Rotor. He has been an unlucky brute so far, but his gameness- is unquestioned and he is always running on. It Is a' long time till the day and many will drop out before then— and the more the better. Looking at them at this stave the four that enter into It «r« Star Stranger, Count Cavour, Footfall and Rotor.