Amateurs Try Hand at Handicapping

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 514, 17 November 1928, Page 6

Amateurs Try Hand at Handicapping

THE AUCKLAND CUP

A LOT o£ interest continues to be evinced iu tlie invitation extended to Sun readers to try their skill at allotting: the weights for the Auckland Cup. The latest attempts appear below.

The Auckland Racing Club’s Auckland Cup is the most liberally endowed handicap event in Dominion racing, and as such attracts the best horses, and consequently provides a thrilling contest.

There are 44 horses engaged in this year’s event, which comes up for decision at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, the opening day of the Auckland summer fixture, which introduces the seven days’ racing and trotting carnival. The invitation to show their skill at framing the handicaps for the Auckland Cup has been eagerly seized upon by sportsmen, and the response has been so liberal that several will be published daily. As is perhaps only natural, there is a wide divergence of opinion as to the respective weights to bo carried, in some cases this difference working out at over a stone. It shows, too, that there are many sportsmen who have their own ideas on the subject, as applicable to the forthcoming Auckland Cup, and there is little doubt that they will bo found eagerly awaiting the declaration of the official handicaps, due on December 3. That is only a fortnight ahead now, so those who arc desirous of availing themselves of the opportunity to “give it a 'go” are urged to do so right away. Lists will be published strictly in order of priority, and only a limited number can be included each day. To-day’s lists are from “Searchlight,” Grey Lynn; “liugliie,” Newton Hoad, Auckland: and “Constant Reader,” Green Lane, and are shown

his ability against. * While not detracting from the merit of tv. J. Mason s galloper, there will be found loyalists at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, trojp this part of the province, if not elsewhere, to pin their iinancial faith on the leading juvenile of the season in tlic Auckland Province. Thera was a “vacant place 1 at le Rapa for several weeks when the popular trainer, Frank Tutchen, was ’ off the scene” as the result of being an inmate of the Waikato Hospital. He Is back at Hamilton headquarters once again, and has had the “good greetings” of owners and fellow trainers. Among the big team F.T. is working is the Wellington Steeplechase winner and Grand national Steeplechase runner-up, Pouri, who looks very sprightly. The aged son of Spalpeen and Koiwi- is carrying a littio of the superfluous in the matter of flesh, but he is sound in wind and limb. It is the intention, according to reports from hia home centre, to put Pouri into his first serious action, since his Grand National appearance, at the fixture at Takapuna at the end of tire present month. While Pouri cannot be at his absolute best by then, those who take an interest in these matters will take reminder of the fact that Pouri has galloped well in highweiglit company in the past, and Takapuna has been a circuit on which he has kept the best of this grade travelling. Getting More Advanced Gold Rep has done very little in the way of active racing to the present stage of the season, btit the St- Amaas chestnut is likely to be more active from this out. Her owner-trainer, Theo Langmuir, of Te Awamutu, has been laid aside for some time with a damaged shoulder as the result of a fall. In tlie interval, Gold Rep has been kept going by the Te Awamutu trainer, A. Cook. She is likely to make her next appearance in tlie hurdle fields at the coming fixture at fle Kuiti. Gold Rep has fined down toward real condition for racing of late weeks, and when saddled up at the end of next week she is, on looks Sim” capable of being in “the firing Strikes 111 Luck r.ff V ,T naau wn unfortunate start off on her three-year-old career. The descsendant of Limond and Tivoli was kSt 1 o P iS Whilu t' ac ing at the Waikato Clubs spring gathering at Te impa. The damage sustained by the filly 1 las not cleared off as yet and if llo i d , , up .future prospects’ in the racing told with Volimoud for a still fui tiler period. This is indeed hard luck ier th" Te Aroha owner of Volimond (Mr. p. Swney), who deserves a turn of good fortune with this carrier of his popular colours. Volimond’s breeding, should tlie worst befall poses nteES Uei v;t,uo for breeding pur-’ Roman Abbey was a winner of cross-country honours tor the prominent and popular Cambridge ownertrainer, R Hannon, at tlie spring gathering at Ellerslie, and those who can take a, line on prospects in this branch S . ai ? e Wlll be on th c “qui vivo" foi the future so far as Roman Abbey is concerned. The notice of Roman Abbey s name in flat events at Te Kmti next week-end brings back the knowledge that ho has not only had some expericnco in this department but has also shown some ability as .^° 1 man u Abbey is by no means backward, when condition for racing is being sized up, and that is going 40 A, t , ar ! d to him when he «s next saddled up for duty. Softer Tracks Essential

High Pitch has not performed to any extent of late months to bring him mto direct prominence. The Marcliedon —Shrill gelding has entered on his sixth year, and so far as actual stake earnings are concerned, his Paeroa owner, Mr. J. Irwin, can probably be said to have balanced matters since he effected the purchase of High Pitch. The gelding has run his best races

respectively as A, B, and C. Here they axe: — AUCKLAND CUP o£ X 3,000; 2 miles A. B. C. Star Stranger .. .. .. 9.5 9.5 9.1 9.8 9.4 Mask Count Cavour .. Laughing Prince .. Goshawk .. . • .. The Hawk Piuthair Footfall Beacon Light .. •. Corinax - .. 9.0 . 9.2 .. S.13 .. 8.5 .. S.7 .. 8.12 .. 9.2 .. 7.S .. 7.8 S.O 8.7 9.0 8.2 7.5 8.1 8.4 S.3 7.7 7.13 8.10 9.0 8.13 8.6 8.2 8.5 8.6 8.7 7.8 7.8 .. 7.2 7.0 7.3 7.11 7-0 S.O 7.S Te Kara .. • • • • Hoylake Celerity II First Sight .. .. Prince Humphrey Tresham Historic Bisox Battlo Colours .. .. 8.2 . 7.12 . 8.0 .. 8.5 . 7.4 . 7.0 5.3 7.9 7.0 7.2 7.10 7.0 7.1 7,9 7.4 7.0 S.O 7.13 7.3 7.6 8.1 7.6 7.3 7.12 7.0 7.3 Catkin ' - - .. 7.8 . 7.0 7.4 7.0 7.6 7.5 7.7 7.12 Desert Glow . . . . .. 7.5 7.0 7.2 7.2 7.6 White Fang .. .. Tidal Eh Timi .. .. • • Vertigern . 7.0 7.0 7.1 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 Thursby .. - • .. Phillipic . 7.0 7.5 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 Star God Starboard Light w. Blimp Papatu David Garrick Nippy . 7.0 „ 7.0 .. 7.0 . 7.7 . 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.2 7.0 7.0 7.0