No Champions

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 June 1927, Page 6

No Champions

Melbourne Cup Field Dominion’s Claims Where are the horses to take the places of Windbag, Manfred and Heroic? One looks in vain among the Melbourne Cup nominations for a horse of this class, and unless Amounis develops stamina, and either Royal Feast or Cannon lives up to his two-year-old promise, the outlook is not particularly rosy. Spearfelt’s name is among the entries, but it was thought he had broken down beyond repair. Rampion’s name is missing, but even he would fall short of requirements unless he improved in staying abiilty. LIMERICK'S CHANCE Limerick, of course, always will be rated among the top-notchers; and yet his failure in the Sydney Cup dispelled

to a great extent the belief that he is a real champion. He may be a better four-year-old. At all events, among the horses of not-quite-top c'lfiss entered for the big Flemington event, he will have to be respected. At the moment there does not appear to be anything in New Zealand (among the Cup nominations) that can be rated as better than Limerick. There was an impression that Commendation might put him in the shade, but expert opinion classes Limerick abovb Commendation beyond a mile and a-quar-ter. Up to a mile and a-quarter the general opinion in New Zealand is that Commendation would be Limerick’s master. PUT UP RECORD Commendation won the Wellington St. Leger in the Australasian record, time of 3.57 1-5 for a mile and threequarters. Reports of the race, however, indicate that he had to be kept going to beat Hynanna, who is not a firstclass three-year-old. One writer in the Dominion says that Commendation’s temperament is against him as a stayer. It was stated some weeks ago that Commendation will be brought over. He may be a better Caulfield Cup proposition. With Manfred and the others out of the way, the “second liners” may now come into their own. In this division are Pantheon, Pilliewinkie, The Banker, Tookarby, Royal Charter, Naos, and one or two others. Star d’Or, Spear Maiden (winner of the King’s Cup), Piastoon (winner of the Sydney Cup), Spearer, Imitator, The Slave, Nawallah, Accarak, Eridanus, Bacchus, Valamita, Count Cavour, Bicolor and Luddenham are horses whose names are sure to be prominent in the discussions this year. AMOUNIS’S PROSPECTS One horse in whom much interest will be displayed is Amounis. So far, he is known mostly as a sprinter, though the fact of his having beaten the champions, Windbag and Limerick, at a mile and a-quarter, indicates that a mile and a half would not be too far, and he may be a Caulfield Cup horse. He has been entered for both Cups. Amounis is one of the Magpie family. The Newmarket winner, Gothic, is another horse whose appearance in the spring will be awaited with interest.. Mr Green has entered him for the Caulfield Cup only, and that seems to suggest lack of confidence in him as a stayer; but Tracery horses in England have been able to get a distance!. Papyrus, winner of the 1923 Derby, was by Gothic’s sire. IMPORTED HORSES There are many new names among the imported horses nominated. Gallantry has not yet raced in this country. She is owned by Mr. Sol Green, and is a four-year-old by Lemberg (sire of the Oaks winner, Pogrom), from Chivalry. Mr. Green also has Son o’ Mine, a three-year-old colt by Son-in-Law—Arquebus. Medmenham belongs to Mr. E. L. Baillieu and “Mr. Constable.” By Prince Galahad from Meadow Grass, she Will be a four-year-old by Cup time. . Port Nelson is in R. Bradfield’s care, and James Scobie has Le Sourlcean, neither of whom has yet raced here.