THE MELBOURNE CUP WEIGHTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 4

THE MELBOURNE CUP WEIGHTS.

This week's Australian mail puts us in possession of the opinions of the vaiions turf scribes on the Melbourne Cup weights. As I predicted, the opinion is unanimous that the handicap, taken all round, is a good one, but while some think Cat bine should have had 9st 121b, others think he has got off well with lOst, and the public at largo seem to be of the same mind, for the great son of Musket has been supported by them since the weights were declared at thousands to forty. It will be noticed from the opinions of the cliileient writers appended below that "Augur" stands out as being the only one who picks Cuirassier among tho likely ones.

selecting New Warrior (" Sydney Tribune") writes : — Carbine being in the lists no other could be chosen to commence with, and though lOst is a thumping impost under which to hope for victory in the principal handicap of the Australias, Mr Wallace's wonder could have expected no leas. Even now he must be legardedas one likely to run well, and already he is the only candidate backed with tho Sydney ring for any amount. The New Zealander Maxim and Manton are in at 9&t 51b and 9st lib respectively, and if he is to be judged through the reports which have been received concerning him the former ib by no means ill used. Another one that should be looked upon as dangerous among the heavy weights is Cardigan, Sst 101b, while if Niagara could be made lo stand a preparation he would read particularly well at Bst 61b. In Bst 51b Lonsdalo has no more than his share, and Sedition and Ben Bolt, Sst 41b and Bst 31b respectively, read nicely, Among the remainder those that strike the casual observer as best off are Rudolph and Centaur, Tst 81b ; Coiunna, 7st 61b; Tourbillon, 7st 51b; Antieus, 7st slb ; Carrington, 7st 31b : Singapore, 6st 121b. That good judge, MUktindalk, of the "Town and Country," thinks tho champion colt Carbine has not been by any means crushed. He says : —Among the light weight division Little Bernie or Bustler may perhaps be the best. Copenhagen 1 always expected to see furnish into a good horse. Singapore, with 6sfc 121b, will be sure to attract the public. ' Alchemist is fairly well in ot 7st, and Montalto with 21b more is woll weighted. Though not from a staying family, Marvel, at 7st 51b, is well treated, also Antaeus at 7sfc 31b, and Centaur 7st 81b. That promising colt Richelieu has been well taken care of. Our old friend Whakawai is well master of 7st 121b, as also Chicago, Bsb lib. Oakleigh, Bst 21b, is well treated. The win-

Vigilant (" Melbourne Sportsman J!) concludes his analysis thus:—lf it were absolutely essential to my existence that I selected &i\ horses now—four months ahead of the raee —as being the best handicapped half dozen in the race I would name The Yeoman, Bst 51b ; Scottish Chief, 7st 2lb : Corunna, 7st 61b; Cardigan, Bst 101b • Benzon, 7st 101b, and Menotti, 6st 131b. AsitoDKdS (" Melbourne Leader ") says: To conclude this first glance at the Melbourne Cup weights I will express my preference for Bravo, Cardigan, Benzon, Chetwynd, Churchill, and the best of the 3-yoar-old.e, which I shall not be surprised to discover in Richelieu. Were I asked to choose the probable winner in twice I would still further reduce the above half dozen by Bravo and Benzon.

Auuur ("Australasian ") says the lot of horses that appear to have the best show of success are Mentor, The Australian Peer, Maxim, Cuirassier, Melos, Tradition, Chainshot, CLaldean, Whakawai, Chicago, The Lawyer, Benzon, Silvoiton, Richelieu, Antreup, Churchill, Tantallon, Stockwell, Grand Chester, Plenty, Prince Consort, The Pioneer, Singapore, and Bluenose.

ner, however, to my fancy is Carbine ; while those which may run well are Singapore, Libble Bernie, The Tyler, Copenhagen, Oakleigh, Antcoup, Merrimu, Tradition, and Melos.

Nkmo ("Sydney Mail") says that Mr Barnard has done '.veil by nob crushing a good hoi'Ro like Carbine. The allotted 3Ost is just about a fair thing, for if a horse can carry a sfcone more than weight for age and get.home from a field of all sorbs, he deserves to win. Maxim and Man ton have been pretty well taken care of ; anc so have Cuirassier and Melos. With Bst 101 D Cardigan has simply been thrown in, and on all public form holds everything above him, unless it be the wonderful Carbine, safety. Tradition has been allowed in very nicely; Bravo has more than enough ; but Niagara reads very well at Bst 61b. Chain Shot may be about properly placed, and, striking a line through Melos, Lonsdale has been allowed in very comfortably. Rudolph has not boen imposed upon when in the receipt of 7st 81b ; and if Corunna bo anything like as good as represented, our iSew Zealand friends should be satisfied with 7fct 61b. Sinecurolooks better than Marvel ate yen weigh ts, and the former has been more consistently handicapped to Antajus than is the case in the Metropolitan. Many of the middle and light are comparatively unknown.

EAKivr Bikd (" Sydneyßefeiee ") writes : — Maxim and Man ton appear to have been thrown out, and the same applies to Cuirassier. By the way, it appears that one only has to send a horse from New Zealand in order to get the weight on him. Good though most of them are which cross over, still some slight consideration should be shown. Melos, Bsb 121b, in all right, and Cardigan, Bst 101b. likewise. Tradition is nicely placed, and I am jrlad to sco that Niagara is better treated here than above. Those lowtsr down who appear to have a show are Keith, Oakleiejh, Chicago, Chaldean, YVhakawai. The Lawyer, Rudolph, Richelieu, Marvel, Binecure, Antaeus, Menotti, Royalist, Papua, Singapore.

Chitabob (Melbourne correspondent "Sydney Referee"), in taking a dozen lo b«at the fi«ld, chooses : — Mentor, Benzon, Anto3us, Maxim, JVJag-a/sine, Mane, Artistocrati, Bowmonfc, Chin chill, Chicago, Kicuelieu. Singapoi'e.

Tam-o'-Shantjkr (" Tasmanian Mail ) — The half-score which strike me as pro mising to provide the winner are Maxim, Manton, Melos, Tradition, Lonsdale, Oakleigh, Kudolph, Stockwell, Corunna and Silveniiere.

Warrior (Melbourne correspondent of the " Otago Witness") thinks the best treated are Melos, Tradition, Whakawai, Ernani, Rudolph, Corunna, Don Giovan, The Lawyer, Churchill, Sumatra, Singapore, and Silvermerc. Melbourne correspondent lo the u Canterbury Times " :—ln: — In taking a cursory glance down the list the following score please me most : — Mentor, Tradition, Bravo, The Yeoman, Whakawai, Benzon, Bowmont, Marvel, An tarns, Snowfoot, Scottish Chief, Stockwell, Grand Chester, Cabala, Silvermeie, Locksley, Prince Consioit, The Serf, Bluenose, and Lord Bundoora.

Cranbrook (the Flemin^l-on tout of the "Sportsman") fancies most Tradition, Bravo, The Yeoman, Benzon, Anta j us, Singapore, and Stockwoll.