FROM THE MIDDLE SECTION

NZ Truth, Issue 1201, 6 December 1928, Page 11

FROM THE MIDDLE SECTION

Top Weights In Auckland Cup Will Have Their Work Gut Out To Win The Money

HOYLAKE AND ORATRIX WILL BE

3 ■ 1 1 Top-weights have their share of success m the Auckland Cup but on Boxing Day f j next those at the head of the handicap are goin£ to have a sever© task m front of | | them. Form points to the middle portion of the field. i

TJANDICAPS made their appearance **• on Monday last and It cannot be said that there Is anything In the nature of a surprise. As is always the case, heroes have been let m lighter than was expeoted — or vice versa. Star Stranger meets Rapier on four pounds better terms for hot - running m the New Zealand Cup, m which race Rapier was seoorid. Neither is going to appeal a great deal, at the moment at anyrate. Count Cavour has been dropped, and he has a show— rough perhaps. He Is a peculiar chap, "The Count," and Ellerslie has always seen him give of his best. Prior to the handicaps, there was a lot of talk of Laughing Prince and In giving him 8.12 he is about at his figure. To date he has shown no marked ability to stay, but he is improving, as his performance m the Canterbury Cup Ishowed. Mask has been treated as a nonstayer, and one is Inclined to agree with the view expressed by the adjuster. Footfall is out of action and there is some talk of Oratrix being Bore, but the race is some time off and she is going to be one of the ante post i favorites.

She won the New Zealand Cup with twelve pounds less, and, with nearly two In between, she should improve that muoh. She was out of a place In the Metropolitan, but m addition to being a little unlucky, she was carrying 8.9. Goshawk, 7.18, would be more at home on a shorter course, and the best must have been seen of Te Kara. One of the most improved horses m commission Is Vertlgern. and at Feilding last week he played with his field. Still, much is left m doubt as to his ability to go two miles, and a race like the Summer Cup or the Racing Club Handicap would suit him. better. Beacon Light will not be inquired after. He raced soundly at Riccarton, but that was all that could be said of him. The muoh ditousstd Hoy lake haa been allotted 7.11 and that ia surely a handy weight. He Just failed -to win the New Zealand Cup with 7.0, and then, on the Monday scored In the Metropolitan with a stone more. That win was a fine performance, and he finished up his week by running third at weight for age to Laughing Prince and Rapier. At Ellerslie Hoylake comes In on advantageous terms when compared with Laughing Prince and Rapier — eighteen

FAVORED

and tw«nty-<me pounds better respectively. Be has done well since he last raced and unless something untoward happens will be favorite on the day. Piuthair Is turned out, and The Hawk has little show. .First Sight Is now to go north and he will he nibbled at He Is up to good class, but he may not be able to beat Hoylake when only In receipt of two pounds. To most. First Sight's eorreot place would have been In the Manawatu Cup. From now on down the weight falls rapidly — and so does the. chances of the horses met. Talisker and Corinax are m handy with 7.4 apiece, and the better of the pair should prove to be Corinax. Blsox has got In with a very nioe poundage— 7,9- Winner of v Farilamantary, a Winter Cup and an Avondale Cup thia year, she is indeed fortunate to get only throe pounds abov« the minimum. But she appears to be on her right mark, notwithstanding. There is little likelihood Of one of the bunoh on the minimum - proving good enough to win the day, unless It is Tidal. Present Indications point m the direction of HOYLAKH, ORATRIX, LAUGHING PRINCE, ■!