CAN AHURIRI DO IT?

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 13

CAN AHURIRI DO IT?

Trotting Cup Handicaps Under Critical Review

f .(By "The -Toff.") ' THE declaration of handicaps for the New Zealand Trotting Cup has not disturbed the, market, Jack Potts, Terence Dillon and Ahuriri being still the favorites.

SO far, Terence Dillon and Jack Potts have met only on one occasion, that being m the principal ten-furlong contest at the recent August meeting at Addington, m which neither pacer was prominent. In the Cup, Terence Dillon is on 4.25 and Jack Potts is on 4.23%. Both are great horses, of which the best has not yet been seen. Jack Potts is two years older than his rival and promises to shade him m the big fight m November. „ But there will be little between them at the finish, so good has been their form. '■■.-.■ Here enters Ahuriri, which has two New Zealand Trotting Cups and an Auckland Trotting Cup to his credit, Just how Ahuriri will get on is a matter for conjecture. Terence Dillon has 24yds. from the "Oakhampton Lodge" candidate, and that may be too much for Ahuriri to bridge. On Auckland Trotting Cup form, Jack Potts should beat Ahuriri. Iri the big northern tussle Ahuriri and Jack Potts commenced fronl the same mark. At the bend for home Jack Potts shied and lost his position !and also valuable ground. He was m" front when he did it. In spite of his serious error, Jack Potts soon regained his balance and tore down the straight after Ahuriri, being only a head behind his rival at the judge. , With another ten yards to go, Jack Potts would have won. In the Trotting Cup Jack Potts has six yards from 'Ahuriri. The extent of the handicap 1 of the approaching big race is 48yds., Great Bingen being sole possessor of the back

mark. The champion two-miler ; of this country is hale and hearty, but, even m his best form, few would expect him to reach any of the money. His task of conceding 48yds; does not end at that. He has a big field to contend with, which alone is a stiff handicap. .''*■' •'

; Of the limit and 12yds. division, the. northerner, Padlock, has the best prospects.

Following on several attractive performances at Auckland, he visited Addington last Easter, where, off 4.29, he won m hollow style m 4.26 3/5.

He is an every day pacer that promises to improve, and while he undoubtedly has a good chance, it is just questionable if he is capable 'of being Alongside some of hip more classy opponents when the line is crossed. 'Another candidate capable of improvement is Daphne de Oro. She registered .4.26 when 'she ran Peterwah to. a neck m the August Handicap, run over two miles at Addington last month. She is a four-year-old and a high-class one at that.

The best-treated horse m the race is Peterwah. He won the August Handicap last month m the fast time of 4.23 4/6 and was full of running at the end.

• In the National Cup, decided at ; the same meeting, he was second ! jnto'the straight, and undoubtedly . would have won, but for making a bad break at the distance post.

In that engagement he was on 4.25, which mark he enjoys m the Trotting ;Gup; • Taking an early shot at the placmgs, jack Potts, Terence Dillon and Ahuriri fill the eye at the moment.

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