EXPOSED FORM AS AGAINST UNKNOWN

NZ Truth, Issue 1203, 20 December 1928, Page 13

EXPOSED FORM AS AGAINST UNKNOWN

TN all. there 'is £25,950 to be dis--1 tributed m the coming four days. • two stakes being of £3000 each.the Auckland Cup and the Great Northern Derby. . . . _ mn - -The Auckland Cup has created more interest than ever before, mainly because opinions are divided as to whether the only other two-mile handicap of the Dominion— the New Zealand Cup— was a decisive test as to the merits of Oratrix and Hoylake. However, Oratrix and Hoylake are not the only two m next week s Cup. As a matter of fact, the prospect of both suffering defeat enters into the picture. . _,_ , . -m reality, a .deep study of the best form of at least half-a-dozen of the other acceptors appears to indicate that Oratrix ahd Hoylake are not likely, to have matters all their own way, and it is some years since "N.Z. Truth remembers the Auckland Cup bearing such an open aspect as the 1928 contest. '■_,_,. Count Cavour, which has had a distinct fancy for Ellerslie, and which has acted as runner-up to Rapine, Tanadees and Rapier m the last three Auckland 'Cups, has less poundage this term' than when he tackled the job m past years. „«„/• A. New Zealand Cup victor of 1926, he is said to have come on a heap since failing at Riccarton m November. "The Count" is a stayer, an<J therefore cannot be entirely dismissed, despite increasing years, but there seems reason m preferring Laughing Prince because of his more recent encouraging winning form. .- It is only a question with him of

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

Though the summer sporting carnival at Ellerslie bears a local, rather than a national title, it is, nevertheless, recognized as the premier sporting fixture of the year. Weight of stake money attracts the horses from all parts of the two islands, and, with the star performers there, the crowd, as a natural sequence, follows.

seeing out the bitter end of two miles, but he should strip m the best trim. Mask is the build .and age to make a .bold showing, biit his form has not been encouraging; when approaching long distances^ A,s a three-year-old he certainly defeated Star Stranger by a neck m a stirring . struggle for Great Northern j St. Leger honors. The second registered by 'Oratrix m the A.J.C. Metropolitan followed by her victory at Riccarton is convincing enough as to her staying ability. It is something unusual to find a i New Zealand Cup winner of the* same I season m under Bst.; Oratrix certainly has a rise of 121b5., but ' her Auckland Cup weight will be within -Vislb. of what she carried into ; second place at Randwlclc. 7 It may not pay 'to dwell long on her defeat, with 8.9, m the mile and a-half at Riccarton, won iby Hoylake with 8.0. Vertigern, the five-year-old son of Rossendale, has claim for some consideration, for last season he won half-a-dozen events, besides being m the money on seven other occasions. That he is m form he proved by capturing the mile and a- quarter Feilding Cup a few weeks back m 2.6 2-5,. w^th 9st. on his back. His supporters on the day will probably have to aid them a bracketted companion m Talisker, which won both the Levin Cup (7.4) and Otaki Ling Memorial (7.12). These events were both run over, ten-furlong tracks and were won m such handsome style as to leave room for belief that Talisker should be m the picture for some of the journey, if not till the bitter end. . Transformer's northern spring: vie-

Something Unusual

Tories may appear to give him some chance, but with the overweight he Will carry, and his ten* years, he may be too near the really good ones m poundage. Papatu is m the same position regarding overweight, but with Goldfinch m the saddle there should be nothing lacking m horsemanship. That rider has already successfully steered Te Kara m the race and Knows the track. Paul's candidate is fit and that is the only point that can be quoted m his favor, '..*■■■ -Goshawk only requires to stay •. ' to prove a thorn m the side of the best. They all know it, too, and fear Cameron's charge, as well they might. Goshawk has great credentials so far as he has gone, and as he is by Magpie, which sired a Melbourne Cup winner m Windbag, there seems no reason why Goshawk will not run on. It is held by quite a few good judges that I-Joylake should have clone better than finish third to Oratrix m. the New Zealand Gup. He has made improvement In the interim. Boxing Day will settle all arguments— and they have been many and sometimes heated. He will need to be as good as his most ardent admirer 'claims, for there Will hardly be any loitering next Wednesday and the race will tell definitely whether he is a genuine stayer or not. He. is not ensy to handle, but Barry should suit if Hoylake can be suited. •.Corinax promise.-*) to sti-ip well and gu the Journey. The trouble with him is that he needs plenty of vigor on the part of his horseman. He also needs keeping- together so that he can' be persviuded to cover the

least possible ground. It is open to doubt if a light boy can fill' the bill. Catkin may have a light-weight's show only, and comes with a deadheat from Woodville to hearten his admirers. 7 Desert Glow won the mile and aquarter Waipa Cup because he got a great run next the fence the last bit. Because he won, and is as well as ever he was, he cannot be counted entirely out. Still, th'e ela9S seems just a bit rich for him. White Fang once ran ten furlongs m 'IA % at Flemington, but he does not appeal over two miles/while Thursby has a Jellicoe Handicap to his credit. As for Eh Timi, most people are wondering why the £.10 acceptance, fee was paid for him. His victory wouidi be a complete surprise. Tidal's acceptance is different, and though he failed to get into the money at Waipa his showing left some hope for him. * The Te Awamutu turns did not suit him, but he showed speed as tie came from the back to finish a close seventh well out. If he is not overdone before the day, Tidal has a very promising stayer's chance, and though he will possibly be trailing the field m the . early part he is one "Truth" will be looking for to be finishing on. It should prove a very stirring battle, and when the real fight takes place, the judge may find the three m the picture to be: GOSHAWK, ORATRIX, HOYLAKE.