TRENTHAM IS NEXT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 246, 7 January 1928, Page 8

TRENTHAM IS NEXT

FINE CUP FIELD JOTTINGS FROM WELLINGTON (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Great nominations have been received for the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting, which is to be held at Trentham on January 21, 23, and 25. The Wellington summer meeting is

one of the fixtures at which the classic events, interesting as they are, do not overshadow the principal handicap event. The Wellington Cup stands supreme in the matter of commanding the interest and the attention of the racing public. It is one of the hardest of the big cups—if not the hardest—to win, and this year, by the time Mr. Coyle has drawn up his adjustments, in rdl probability it will look as hard as ever. THE CUP There are 25 entries for the Cup. and after making aUowances for some dropping out, the field is sure to be a large one, for the reason that when the nominations are taken late, as they are in this case, only horses with a big chance of going to the post are entered. Anyone who looks at the list at all carefully will come to the conclusion that Star Stranger and Rapier will be the top-weights. Rapier, having won the last Wellington Cup, and the New Zealand Cup and the Auckland Cup since then, cannot escape lightly. He has proved he is one of the best handicap horses we have had in the Dominion for some time, and he must be weighted accordingly. Star Stranger is particularly good at a mile and ahalf, and as he won at the recent Auck’and meeting over the 12-furlong journey, his prospects of being one of those at the head of the list are very bright perhaps, than his immediate connections would like them to be. The weighting of the remainder would bettor be left out of the question for the time being. SPEED TO BURN

Sprinters will be at the meeting in strong force, unless there is an unexpectedly big list of withdrawals. For the first time people in this end of the North Island will have an opportunity of seeing the crack Auckland sprinter. Aussie, in action at Trentham. Paganelli, another of the best of the northerners, is likely to come. Probably it will be found that Aussie will race even better here than he does

at Ellerslie, as the big course here will suit a good galloper such as he is. LEADING THREE-YEAR-OLDS The crack three-year-olds, Cirnabue, Eulalie, and Gascony, will be here, and so will Reremoana one of the best sprinters New Zealand has produced for years past. Reremoana is back to something like his test, and his presence at the meeting will be of considerable interest. Speedy Southern sprinters who are coming are Money Order and Booster, also Good As Gold, who has burst into prominence m the Soutli in the last few weeks. Others will be the much-discussed Australian importation, Lausanne, and that great old battler, The Hawk, who despite his second at Hawke’s Bay at New Year must be on the down-grade. With such materal the handicapper ought to be able to frame a contest which null be 5s keen as any that has been witnessed over a sprint course in Nev; Zealand tnis season. THE DOURO CUP It is fully expected that the best hacks in fhe country -vspll be seen in action. To produce this result, the Douro Cup was instituted. It carries a £7OO stake, and is run over a mile. The race is never easy to win, and this year it will be quite as hard as ever. In fact, those whb have seen the recent racing have come to the definite opinion, on scanning the list, that it will be harder than ever before to win. That speaks well for the even quality of a number of the hacks engaged. POPULAR WITH OWNERS The popularity of the race with owners and trainers is evidenced by the fact that 46 entries have been received, and there is a prospect of seeing in action hacks from almost all quarters of New Zealand. As the race will not be run until the second day, the running on the opening day will affect the handicapping, but it may be found that one of the top weights will be Lady Limond, a mare who ran well at the recent meetings held at Awapuni and Marton. What has been written above must not be taken to mean that that popular classic, the Wellington Stakes, will not stir the interest of the crowd. It will, beyond doubt, as any race bringing together some of the best of the

tw r o-year-olds and three-year-olds is sure to. The field at present includes the crack two-year-olds. Childsplav, Staghunter, and Prince Humphrey, while Eulalie, Gascony, Paganelli, and Silver Mine are three-year-olds engaged.

ROYAL WIN FOR THE GOVERNMENT AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S DONATION The sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation in connection with the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting amounted to £30,178 4s, made up as follows:

Totalisator tax .. . 3 Dividend tax . . . 13 Stakes tax 0 Amusement tax . . . 7 3 Total 4 0