AUCKLAND NOTES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 61, 4 December 1937, Page 19

AUCKLAND NOTES

l "Early Bird.")

The Cup . apd Railway Handicaps PROSPECTS DISGUSSED

■ (Special — From

AUCKLAND, Last Night, Dark Shadow, ihe double winuer at Takapuna, is not engaged in the Auckland Cup, but ho figures in the Raihvay Handicap 011 the second day, an event m which he will be troubled to go with the speedsters. Ho may be reserved •for "his other engagements at the summer meeting at Ellerslie, these being tlie Summer Cup and Grandstand Handicap, on the second and fourth days respectively, and both mile and a quarter affaixs. It. will be remembered that as a result of his fine showings, as a hack, at the Great Northern Steeplechase meeting eighteen months ago, Dark Shadow was one of the early Winter Cup fancies, this engagement being subsequently declined, after which he won the Waikato Cup and the Te Awamutu Cup. He was then tried in the Auckland Cup and failed to make any showing, and as he is not in the Cup or .A.R.C. Handicap this time, his owner is obviously under no illusions concerning Dark Shadow's staniina. Mazir's two efforts at Ellerslie last week-end indicated that he may be better served in a race like the Auckland Cup, in which event he finished fourth last Boxing Day with 7.11, and now he had been let down half a stone 011 that assessnient. Mazir was not more than two and a half lengths away from Cuddle when she won twelve nionths ago, so he is not without a chance, although oa breeding he could not be strongly recommended over two miles. Mazir has been finishing on in his latest outings, and he is at least a place prospect in the Auckland Cup.^ One of tlie early fancies for the Railway Handicap is sure to be Palustre, who ran two sueh exeellent raees at Ellersile last week-end, finishing third the first day, beaten two noses, and won • on the second day by a similar margin, She has 7.3 in the big sprint on Boxiiig. Day, and as she is improving she will have to be seriously reckoned with When it is sajd that last season Palustrp could just' see out five furlongs the strides she has made in the way of &tanuna is remarkable, and the way she i'ought on at Takapuna indicateB that she is not lacking in courage, a vital neccssity in the Railway Handicap.

A Strong Hand. Tbe position of the three-year-olds in the Railway Handicap is interesting, for horses of this age if kept just below weight for age should be veiy hard to beat. Trilliarch 7.12, and Royal Bachelor 7.10 are rated the best of this age, and they have to concede 121b and 10lb respectively to Baehelor King, so that they are allowed only 41b. each over the imposts allotted for the first dhy at Te Rapa ' last month, whOn Baehelor , King scored decisively. The latter had two faijures chalked up against him at Ellermie the other day, and it would appeaw that he is not an everyday sort. Trainer Pope has a strong hand in the Railway Handicap with Pnnlstre and Baehelor Kine.

The last three-year-old to win the Raihvay Handicap was Gay Blonde, also trained by Pope, and she was really brilliant that day. The fllly carried 7.13, just weight-for-age, so there was merit in the pcrformance, for apart from the weight factor she did not get a very good run. Last Boxing Day Golden Sheila was liandieapped at 8.0, 71b over the scale weight, and she finished fourth, although it was conceded that the field was not so good as some. of its predecessors, while at the same time she had more weight than she had possibly earned. Golden Sheila is agaiu engaged, with a couple of pounds over the scale weight, so that no risk is being taken with her. It is in her favour that she is about back to her best form.

Suited by Tliis. After his forward showing the first day at Te Rapa, when he lost a consid? erable amount of ground through running off the course at the home turn, Gay Hussar was expected to show up when produced at the Takapuna meeting on M nday last, but he failed to ,get into Ihe picture, the paco set by J A rvakur lieiag a bit too warm for all the field with tlie exception of Te Hero, the winner. Gay Hussar is still a maiden, and witl* his spced he will get a royal chance if started at Te Awamutu. where is is now trained, for the

maiden race there, the Waipa Plate, six furlongs, is run under weight-for-age and his impost will therefore be 6.9. Ja the past two-year-olds have done well in this event. With tho Auckland Cup and Railway Har lieap weights announced, the early speckers will be very busy endeavouring to sort them out, and they certainly have a job in front of them. As winner and runner-up respectively in the New Zealand Cup, Crene Abbas and Wi' 1 Chase, will be in -keen demand, while Willie Win's second t- The Trump in tho Melbourne Cup will ensure him support, despite his rise of 91b in his weight, to which may be added tho a.lditional half stone brought about by the' highei' minimum prevailing lu !. Jonathan and Mazir may be the best of the northerners, and Wotan and Flood Tidc, back from Australia, will add intcrest. In the Railway Handicap Royal Baehelor is fancied strongly, for he is nicely placed and he may be extra good.