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Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 15

AUCKLAND CUP PROSPECT

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, December 1. One of the early fancies for the Auckland Cup in the north will be Mazir, for he has already won twice this season and is still in with a handy weight, 8.8, though it is all he merits. The Whirlwind gelding did not compete in the race last Boxing Day, but two years .ago he finished fourth behind Cuddle, Argentic, and Scotland. He had 7.11 then and he seems to be a better horse now. An interesting feature of this year's Auckland Cup field is that the four horses placed last Boxing Day are again handicapped. They are The Buzzer, Knight of Australia, Argentic, and Kelly, although there is some doubt as to Argentic's lining up this time. Stretto, Marie's Acre, and Orate, respectively first, third, and fourth last year in the Railway Handicap, are also engaged again. The runner-up, Ben Braggie, is missing. ANOTHER PAPER SLIPPER? One of the most pronounced drops in handicaps in the intervening twelve months since the last Railway Handicap was run is recorded in the case of Golden Sheila. She contested the event last Boxing Day with 8.11, and finished in the ruck. Now she has been dropped 161b to 7.9, and as she has not done much racing this season and appears to be improving it would not occasion surprise if she were to' race prominently under this impost. She may even be another Paper Slipper. Golden Sheila made her last appearance at Ellerslie last weekend, and she ran quite a good race, finishing sixth with 8:6 in a field of twelve. As this mare was also fifth on the first day at Te Rapa under 8.4 it seems too early yet to rate her as a has-been. Two years ago, carrying 8.5, 61b over the scale weight for a three-year-old filly, Golden Sheila finished fourth in the Railway. The jumpers seen out at Ellerslie last weekend were by no means a good lot, and this was demonstrated by-the fact that Erination finished third each day, carrying 13.8 and 13.9. However, the first day's winner, En Tour, held out some hope at Te Rapa a week earlier that he was on the upgrade, and he won really well. This fencer is a natural jumper who should be capable of winning in the best crosscountry class next winter. He has won both over hurdles and steeplechase, courses at Ellerslie. ■ I ERINATION FOR CUP. Mention of Erination recalls that he is an entrant for the Auckland Cup and it has been given out that he is to receive a special preparation—from i now on only—for the big two-mile flat race at headquarters on Boxing Day. I It is certain that this gelding will very much appreciate the let-down from 13.9 to 7.0, and he should be capable of going much faster under the lighter,

weight. However, the Auckland Cup is not an easy race for any horse to win, and it is a moot point whether racing over stiff hurdles with 13.9 is a good foundation upon which to base an Auckland Cup preparation.

While Penzance has to date won only one small race, her fine showing against Tepoto on the opening day of the Auckland Mid-Spring Meeting was certainly conducive to the view that she should add her second victory to her record before very long. In fact, she was the only horse able to make a show against Tepoto, and the form was enhanced in value when her conqueror scored again on the second day. Jack Tar's showing in the handicap event at Ellerslie last Monday was a meritorious one, for this was only his second outing of the season and he was meeting many horses that had been kept going throughout the spring. It is probable that the Captain Bunsby gelding's next outing will be at the Waipa fixture at Te Rapa a fortnight hence, or he may be kept for middledistance events at the Auckland Meeti ing, when there will be plenty of handicap races to suit him. The recent outing should improve him a good deal. He is not in the Auckland Cup, the stable entry being Eirthday Boy, a fact that may mean something.