AUCKLAND SPRING RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 228, 26 September 1929, Page 19

AUCKLAND SPRING RACES.

WEIGHTS FOR FIRST DAY. CUP AND SHORTS HANDICAP. The weights for tlie Auckland spring meeting have been issued by Mr. F. McManemin and, as usual, the MitchelCup and the Shorts Handicap will come in for most attention. The Mitchelson Cup. Star Stranger has been allotted 9.11 in the Mitchelson Cup, of lib less than lie had last year, when he was one of those who were unfortunately left at the post. On the second day, in tlie King Edward Handicap, two furlongs less, he deadheated with Catkin for second place, a head behind Goshawk. But it is Star Stranger's recent form that concerns us most now, and though he failed to show up in the Avondale Cup with 9.10 he ran Piuthair to half a length in the Plumpton Handicap, also a mile and a-quarter, on tlie second day. In consequence he has been raised 31b. There was a difference between Piuthair and Star Stranger in the Plumpton Handicap of 321b, while now there is 2Glb. Star Stranger has all he is entitled to. Historic (9.7) won the Winter Cup, one mile, 'at .Riccarton, with 10.4, equal to 8.4 on the spring scale. He annexed the Avondale Cup with 8.11, in which he received 131b from Star Stranger and 31b from Prince Humphrey. He has now been raised to 9.7, and is meeting Star Stranger on 91b and Prince Humphrey on 121b worse terms. He beat Prodice by three-quarters of a length in the Avondale Cup, the difference between the pair being 41b in favour of Prodice, and now lie has to concede the filly 121b. Prince Humphrey was fourth in the Avondale Cup with 9.0 and now has 8.12, and he is not badly treated. Vertigern (8.13) was good over a distance last season, .winning, among other races, the Wellington Cup with 8.3. He has only had one race this season, and that was when he ran third to Laughing Prince and' Admiral Drake in the Eclipse Stakes, seven furlongs, at Wanganui this month. Corinax (8.5) has not won since he annexed the Auckland Cup with 7.4, and he may require a race or two before he i 3 seen at his best. Paddon (8.2) has yet to show his ability over a mile and a-half. He has raced will up to a mile and a-quarter f and was fifth in the Avondale Cup with 8.7. If he can stay the distance lie certainly has a show with his present impost. Barometer (7.13) performed well earlier in the season, but went amiss just prior to the start of tlie Avondale Cup and had to be withdrawn. He had 8.3 on that occasion. Piuthair seems to be back to her best, and a season or two ago she was the best of her sex inithe Dominion up to a mile and three-quarters. She won the Metropolitan Handicap, one mile-and a-lialf, at Riccarton} with 7.8; the Egmont Cup, one mile and a-lialf, with 8.1; the Taranaki Cup, one mile and a-half, with 8.7; the Wanganui Cup, one mile and three-quarters, with 8.9; and the Great Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-liali, at Riccarton, with 8.13. She accounted for the Plumpton Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, with 7.4, at Avondale, on Monday, in good style, and now has 7.13. Piuthair will be in demand for the Mitchelson Cup. Transformer (7.11) won the To. Kuiti Cup, one mile and three furlongs, and the Alison Cup, one mile and three furlongs, at Takapuna last season, while the season before he showed ability up to to a mile and a-half, annexing the Takapuna Cup among other events. He ran a good race in the Plumpton Handicap on the second day of the Avondale meeting, finishing third with 7.11, and. now is in at the same impost. High Pitch (7.10) failed to get into a place in the. Avondale Cup, but he finished fourth in the Plumpton'Handicap on the second day with 8.1. Of the others, Desert Glow, Singleton, Talisker and Amor may be the best. The last named won the Autumn Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, with 7.2, at the last Wellington summer meeting, and should see out a mile and a-half all right. Perhaps the chief fancies just now will be Prodice, Piuthair, Historic, Star Stranger, Prince Humphrey, and Transformer. - The Shorts Handicap. Gascony is at the head of the weights for the Shorts Handicap with 9.G. He lias not had a race since the autumn, but he then demonstrated that he still possessed all the brilliancy he showed as a two-year-old. It is a very solid impost, and he may. find it hard to concede weight to some of those lower down. Silvermine has been scratched. Benzora (9.0) has been dropped lib, compared with his weight in the Flying Handicap at Avondale, but he will have to do much better to win this event. White Fang (8.6) won the President's Handicap, six furlongs, at Avondale in most convincing style, carrying 7.10. He will have some friends at Ellerslie after that performance. Gold Money (8.6.) was left in the Flying Handicap at Avondale, but failed to get into the money in the President's Handicap' with 8.7 on the second day. She, however, is a good sprinter. Lady Quex (8.5) was second in the Flying at Avondale, with 8.2, and will have plenty of support. High Finance (8.2) 'Is also a good sprinter when right, and she made her first-appearance this season in the President's Handicap (8.3) at'Avondale. She led into the straight, but then faded out. The race should do her a lot of good, and she has only to improve in the meantime to be very hard to beat. • Havering was a good hack last season, and after winning well on jtlic first day of the Wanganui meeting he finished second to Consent in the Owen Handicap, six furlongs, a head dividing the pair. Havering had 8.6 on that occasion, and he has now 8.1., Flying Juliet (7.12) should be improved as the result of her efforts at Avondale. Awarere (7.11) ran a great, race in tlie President's Handicap,", six furlongs, on the second day of the Avondale meeting, when he carried 7.5 into second place. He will be benefited, by that race and-should go well. Lady's Boy, who is on the same mark as Awarere, will also have to be considered. He can go fast, and won well "at Avondale. Of those lower down, Polyxena, Oration and Billikins may be most sought after. The principal-fancies at present may be Lady Quex, Awarere, High Finance, White Fang and Lady's Boy. Acceptances To-morrow. "• The acceptances for " handicap events for the first day, and final payments for the Welcome Stakes and Great Northern Guineas, close with the secretary, Mr. W. S. Spence, at o p.m. to-morrow.