ALISON CUP ON SATURDAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1147, 24 November 1927, Page 11

ALISON CUP ON SATURDAY

Transformer and Llandudno May

Prove Dangerous

, (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

The most valuable handicap to be decided m New Zealand before the long" string of Christmas carnivals is- the Alison Cup of 700sovs., booked to eventuate at Takapuna on Saturday.

SO far as numbers go, the elevenfurlong and 40 yards event has drawn satisfactorily, but the class of stayer engaged — with few exceptions — is not encouraging. Desert Glow certainly 'finished second m a New Zealand Cup, while both he and Transformer have figured as winners over 12 furlongs on the Takapuna track. Royal Mint Is another which threatens to be suited by a lengthy course. Valkon is one of promise and Mint Leaf scored m the Waikato Cup. But' mostly those engaged seem m trouble after going a middle distance. Transformer gave out the signal that he was nearing his best when he raced at the Ellerslie spring carnival, ibut developed a cold, which has. prevented him toeing the mark since then. However, there is reason to believe he is right again; if so, he deserves strict consideration. Valkon was worked more . for events than for a middle distance just prior to acting as runnerup to Mosaic m the ten-furlong event at Cambridge; but it may be different now. Desert Glow's Te Rapa form was shocking after the promise he gave at Ellerslie less than a fortnight before, and he has benefited m poundage as a result. Eden Hall's Whangarei efforts were discouraging, while Mint

Leaf may be troubled by the track,' being so bulky. King Lv has yet to go a distance successfully, which may prove hard for a horse once troubled m the wind. Master Doon is truly an in-and-out customer, while Papatu has not thrown out any encouragement this season that he is up to good handicap form. Phaola won over a mile last start, Wedding March is a hurdle performer, but Golden Krist is only a plugger. Llandudno is certainly possessed of galloping ability and m his last outing showed a clean pair of heels to the opposition when he ran 2.6 3/5 m the mile and a-quarter Hamilton Handicap on a stayer's track at Te Rapa. He is now up 12lbs. over a longer track. However, his ability to race into a favorable position may get him somewhere on a track such as Takapuna. He beat Mosaic at Te Rapa when m receipt of only 31bs. and Mosaic has since won two mile and a-quarter events. /Delightment was third that day and Mint Leaf fourth. " As for Royal Mint, he may not be a starter unless the track has a tendency to be soft. Still, if started, he is well placed where stayers are lacking. To sum the whole business up, the issue may be decided between LLANDUDNO, TRANSFORMER and VALKON.