N.Z. Trotting Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 7

N.Z. Trotting Cup

Tuesday s Contest Reviewed Will North Prevail Over South ? ON Tuesday light harness fans will foregather in strong force at Addington to witness one of the finest fields ever known contest the race for the Dominion’s greatest and riehest trotting event—the New Zealand Cup—while all the followers of the sport who cannot be present for the special occasion will be keyed up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm awaiting the ultimate result of the historic struggle.

For a quarter of a century the New Zealand Cup has graced the Metropolitan Club’s November card, growing in popularity and general interest each year until it has become recognised as the greatest light-harness event in the Dominion, and, in fact, the Southern Hemisphere.

From a stake twenty odd years ago of £3OO, the value of this high-class contest has grown to the magnificent allotment of £3,000, while at the present time it is open only to pacers and trotters capable of tramping two miles in 4.26 or faster. This is proof positive of the remarkable advancement made in the trotting game in the Dominion. The First Winner When Monte Carlo, driven by B. P. Edwards, now a prominent breeder at Mangere, won the first Cup in 1904, lie registered 4.44 2-5 for the journey—a tine effort at that period. It was a real contest, Monte Carlo just defeating Novice, a mare imported to the Dominion by James Pettie (who is still breeding good ones in Auckland) and who when sent to the mentor’s paddock produced such cracks as Native King, Nelson Derby and Nelson Fame.

When in 1914 Win Soon beat a good field home in 4.31 it marked a great

performance, but three years later Adelaide Direct brought the time record dowrt to 4.27 4-5, and this was overshadowed the following year, when the mighty Author Dillon registered 4.26 2-5 (Two years later he went 4.21 4-5 for third place-) This winning record stood for six years, when Peter Riddle was successful with the Australian pacer, Sheik, who went 4.25 4-5, and then Ahuriri, after winning the following year in 4.28 1-5, came back next November and cleaned up the opposition in 4.25, giving Scotty Bryce his fourth Cup success (which he followed up last year by turning out Kohara a winner). Dual Winners The first horse to win the Dominion’s chief event more than once was Wildwood Junr., who, in 1909 and 1910, pulled out the big end of the purse for his owner, W. Kerr, the Wildwood horse registering 4.39 on each occasion. In the contest of 1920 that fine square-gaited mare, Peta Reta, trotted home in 430 2-5, downing the pacers in great style, while the following year her name was again inscribed on the honours board. On this occasion Sherwood defeated the trotting mare by two lengths, but after hearing a protest entered by owner Robson for crossing in the straight, the judge’s placing was reversed, Reta Peter securing first certificate, and Sherwood’s backers receiving a second dividend.

The 1925 event saw Ahuriri demonstrate his ability as a good one by winning nicely, and the following year he repeated the dose, J. Bryce being his pilot on each occasion. Ahuriri did not start in last November’s contest, J?*. t* lo Hornby mentor won with Kohara, and later c<wme to Auckland " on t* lo richly-endowed Cup at Alexandra Park with the dual New Cup victor, and on Tuesday ne will make an effort to lead Ahuriri m a winner for the third time in the great Addington race. Sixteen have stood the final test * he forthcoming contest and the nt'id can be undeniably said to be the Jest that has jet stepped out for the nen prize, and the issue is most open, te n at least of the competitors holding Sood prospects of success. Of the sixteen carded for Tuesday’s

r ace a few at least cannot, on recent showings, have much chance of success, and it would not t>e surprising to find the field further reduced on the day. Dalnahine' has been left in. Probably with a view to the going P e *ng heavy, but should conditions be O-K. when the day arrives it is more likely that Jock Henderson will depend upon his other string, Terence Dillon, is one of the most improved highclass pacers at present in commission. *hiprint also stands his ground, but “O’ce will leave it to Ahuriri to do *h® Job, unless the track is a sea of in which case the Nelson-owned Pacer would have a reasonable show.

a *taki Girl will evidently want the soft footing: if she is to make a bold showing, and if the dirt track is hard and fast next week those mentioned may be found declining their engagements. North Island Hopes Northern candidates in Padlock (Manawatu) Kohara (Taranaki) and the brilliant trotter, Peterwah (Gisborne), will be a merry trio for the Southerners to bump up against, and while the latter holds the balance of power numerically, and is also exceptionally strong in point of quality, there is good reason to believe that some of the rich prize money will find its way to this side of Cook Straits. Tho Longburn-trained Padlock is one that cannot be taken cheaply, and while many consider he is not up to Cup class, it must be remembered the Hal Zoloek gelding has done practically everything asked of him in a masterly manner. Ilis splendid performances of last season speak for themselves, while his exhibition in the ten-furlong trial at Wellington in September proved his undoubted brilliance. A wonderful beginner, Bill Hughes's charge should gain a good position early, and this will give him an advantage over a lot of his opponents. Padlock is in the pink of con-

dition and prepared to run the race of his life. Kohara won last year like a great horse, and that he is getting back to his best, was demonstrated recently at Epsom, when, splendidly handled by Alex. Corrigan, the black pacer won the Spring Handicap. There is no getting away from the fact that Kohara is a born stayer who possesses a fine turn of speed, .and since joining Jim Bullock’s stable at Hawera he has been, brought to a high pitch of efficiency. Even with his penalty to 24yds the 1927 Cup winner will count a lot of friends when he goes to the post on Tuesday, when he will stlrp a very fit horse indeed. The fact that Peterwah is a squaregaiter, among a field of top-notch pacers, is used in some quarters as a lever against his chances, but this is weighed on the other side by the knowledge that he is the greatest and most brilliant trotter ever seen in the land. At the National Carnival in Christchurch the Gisborne horse showed his true worth, and when Bob Fisken drove him home in front of some of New Zealand’s best pacers on the opening day, he put up a record that stamped him with the hall-mark of all-round efficiency. Many good judges consider Peterwah was unlucky in missing the National Cup on the concluding day, and as he is now nicely treated in the big event next week, he looks like finishing in front of those who took part in that contest. His owner has made no secret of the way the trotter has improved, and is quite optimistic regarding the ultimate result of the contest. Southern Stars As recently mentioned in The Sun, the three back-makers, Great Bingen, Ahuriri, and Jack Potts, will make things decidedly interesting for those in front of them, and if they do not get the money, will make the successful ones go pretty fast to collect. Great Bingen has been showing an appreciable return to form, and his public essays at Wellington and Greymouth have caused him to harden in the market. His bulldog finish will bo of material assistance when the end is in view, and “Drum” Withers is confident that his champion will be

on hand to get some portion of the stake when the judge is reached. Ahuriri can be classed as the greatest Cup horse of his day, and it is no wonder he is such a crackajack, as tho canny trainer Scotty Bryce sets his charge for events of this nature. And as the writer has said before, when Bryce sets a horse for a cup or classic, it takes something out of the ordinary to beat him. That was further proved in the last Auckland Cup, and may bo again demonstrated on Tuesda-y, when the big race is decided. Ahuriri is in great heart, and readv to give of his best, and that factor alone will carry a lot of weight with backers. Jack Potts is a high-grade pacer and possesses both speed and stamina in such a degree to make it possible for him to win any big test- He is unfortunate enough to be a slow mover off the mark, and may through this get a bad position, but trainer Donald is a heady reinsman and will waste no territory on the journey. When it comes to the final effort, few will have anything on Jack Potts, as he showed when extending Ahuriri in the Auckland Cup. The Canterbury horse has come through a sound preparation, and will he well tuned up for his mission. Three Poeeibilitie* Having dealt with the three Xorth-

ern representatives and the back-markers, whose past performances entitle them to be classed as the “stars,” it is necessary to turn to some of the other runners, who must have a great chance of being in at the kill. Takiiv-T recent form as a guide, Prince Pointer, who has a two-mile grass track record of 4.22 ..nd is on 4.24 in the big race, must claim attention. The son of Logan Pointer has

proved himself a top-notcher in past years, and while latterly he has not been seen to advantage, the fact that he is coming to his best days must be admitted after his fine performance at Timaru last week. While it was only a mile and a-quarter go, the Prince went round a big field to win, and when well, staying is his forte. He is now under W. J. Tomkinson’s charge, and as the Addington trainer is keen on landing a New Zealand Cup, he is sure to have Pri-nce Pointer at the top of his form In fact. “Tomky” is making no secret of his prospects, which he says are cheerful.

Then we have the brilliant young pacer Terence Dillon, son of the great Author Dillon, winner of the 1918 Cup. All that Author was is claimed for his offspring, and if such is the case, he will be there when the numbers are hoisted. Aucklanders have seen enough of the Oamaru pacer to know that, “like good wine, he needs no bush,” and his high-class performances at Epsom last February are still fresh in the minds of those who witnessed the racing on that occasion. When Terence led the field home in the Otahuhu Cup, tramping 4.25, it was a masterly performance, but was eclipsed by his effort on the concluding day, when, after meeting with trouble three furlongs from home, he came round the field to finish a neck behind Sea Pearl in 4.26—a wonderful performance. The Oamaru horse has not been a great deal in the public eye since then, but he raced at Addington in August, and again at Oamaru last week, and there is ihe assurance of his trainer, Jock Henderson, that all is right with Author Dillon’s son. For the next selection there are several well-performed ones to consider including Black Admiral, Machine Gun, Talaro, Peter Bingen and Queen’s Own. After his National Cup victory, Peter Bingen was heralded in some quarters as a likely New Zealand Cup winner, but it must not be forgotten that, despite bis fine achievement on that occasion, he practically crawled the last bit. Peterwah just about had his measure when he broke, and in leaving his feet the

trotter hampered Jewel Pointer and TalaVo, who filled the places. At Greymoutli again Peter did not impress as a likely solid two-nuler. The limit pair have not shown anything of late to suggest they would win such a keen, hard contest, but the form of Talaro and Queen’s Own at National time was distinctly reassuring, and they cannot be counted out of calculations. Queen’s Own ran a great race into third place in the August Handicap, while Talaro, after finishing a good third in the National Cup, came out later in the day to win the 10furlong flutter, beating a good one home in Jewel Pointer. At this time of the year Talaro may be more- reliable than Queen’s Own, and can therefore be linked with the possibles. Fighting Chances The deductions made to this point reduce the field to nine with good fighting chances, as follow: Padlock, Peterwah, Kohara (North Island), Tolaro, Terence Dillon, Prince Pointer, Jack Potts, Ahuriri and Great Bingen (South Island). To further fine it down to the place-getters (four prizes are offering for this big event), two from each island will be included: Padlock and Peterwah, from the North: and Terence Dillon and Ahuriri from the South. When the final review appears on Monday, “Abaydos” will endeavour to find the two great hopes, which will include one from each island.