TAKAPUNA CUP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 11, 28 January 1937, Page 8

TAKAPUNA CUP

To-morrow's Event at Ellerslie INTEREST IN PLATE

Bs T«jl«grar>h— Own CorreBporideril * AUCKLAND, Last Nigkt. Tke acceptances for the opening day of the Takapuna Jockey Club's summer flxture, to be held at Ellerslie on Friday (the anniversary of the Auckland Province) and Saturday, are veary satisfactory considering that the entiies were not very big. The \ course has made .a good recovery from the gruelling it received over the four days' holiday racing and the going will be fast unless. the weather takes another fickHe turn. Win and place hetting will be in operatiori. One of tke most interesting events ■on Friday's card is tke ' 'hack classic,'' tke Wynyard PJate, for wkicki tkere will be about ien runners. Tke position is rather dominated by Kilonsa, who is on tke verge of good handicap company, and as ske kas been working very well indeed ske will be tke actual favourite. One of her most dangerous opponents may be the tkree-year-old Quadroon, whose strong finisk into third place in the Great Nortkern Derby stamps kim as a good colt, especially in view of Martara's form in tke infcerim. A possi'ble lightweight is Jack Tar,. who will be aided by the maiden allowance, so that he comes in well under tke scale of weigkts. Tosh, Rulette, Rollicker and Surella have chances, but the trio first mentioned look the "pick of the smart field. i?ke Takapuna Cup is going to be an excellent contest, for some of the best gallopers in the province are included, a notable acceptor being Lagoon, whose two victories at Thames last week indicates that she is back to her best and Wbile tliose above her may be difficult to dispose of she looks a really good place proposition. Ske will be opposed by nine others, representing quality, so 'it is a smart field all round. Mazir was very unlucky not to have won tke Summer Cup kere last montk, and if he is at kis best he would be hard to beat. Dark Shadow is a brilliant galloper over this distance and if he is none the worse for his Auckland Cup run on Boxing Day he could lead all the way. He has the same weigkt that he carried at Te Awamutu, when he led from start to finish, but this is a much better field. Master Brierly is a good prospect once more, while Shy was second to Martara at Trentham last Saturday. Gay Talkie has not raced since he went under a cloud on the eve of the Auckland meeting, and he is a good three-year-old if he was ready. The othere half of the Cup contains prospects in Kelly, Gay Broney, Knight of Austrailia and Con Fuoco, the lastnamed being very unlucky in the cup event at Thames. It is an excellent field, with Dark Shadow,. Mazir, Lagoon, Master Brierly and Shy possessing undoubted chances. * A feature of the sprint, the ZeaJandia Handicap, is its evenness. Mata Hari came on from Trentham, where she went her best race on the final day, and on that showing she will not be outclassed on Friday. Others likely to show up are Impasto, Gfalilee, Sweet Rose (who galloped- brilliantly on Tuesday), Lornacre and Round Up, and for che last-named horse a very bright tuture is predieted in the open ranks. Sweet Rose and Mata Hari can be recommended. Tudor has only to be produced thoroughly sound to be dangerous in the Hurdles, while the better of trainer Bayly's pair, Raepata and Tidewaiter, probably the iatter, may go close to capturing the Trial. Among others tlie following read very well in/their engagements on Friday: Square Acre, Ferry Hack ; Dragon xVlotb, Calliope Handicap ; and \yiniona, Rangitoto Hack. The followmg will eome in for keen support in their races. — Noon; Orewa Hurdles. — Tudor, High Quality. 12.42 : Trial Handicap. — Tidewater, Ngakaru, Black Mush. 1.27: Ferry Handicap. —Squar© Acre, Fox Moth, High Star. 2.17: Takapuna Cup.- -Dark Shadow, Mazir, Lagoon. 3.2 : Calliope Handicap. — Dragon Moth, Bachelor King, Nuclei. 3.5S; Wynyard Plate — Kilonso, Quadroon, Jack Tar. 4.37 ; , Zealandia Handicap.— Mata Hari, Sweet Rose, Galilee. 5.22 : Rangitoto Handicap. — Winlona, Kespectful, Aymon.

There is a possibility that spurs will be completely barred in Australia. j They are a relic of barbarism, says a Dunedin sciibe. «l * • • j Mr. A. K. Firth, who has met with considerable success with Royal Chief, his first venture into the racing arena, will be represented by another Lwo-year-old in Elegy at Riccarton next week. Elegy, who is to have her first race in the Lyttelton Plate,- is a filly by Posterity from Damaris, winner o± the Great Northern Oaks. She cost 300 guineas at the 1936 yearlfng saies. » * • Mr. J. M. Samson was amongst the bidders at the yearling sale, and went after some of tlie choice goods. Ilis only purchase was, however, the Tidal — Marais eolt, whom he took over from E. J. Ellis. The colt traces back to Sunbird, a sister to Ardenvohr, a winner of the New Zealand Cup, and Mascot, a winner of the Auckland Cup, Canterbury Cup, and other races. The colt will be trained by C. J. Ellis at vY ashdyke.