Unofficial Weights For Auckland Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 517, 21 November 1928, Page 10

Unofficial Weights For Auckland Cup

In the handicaps framed for the Auckland Cup* (run on Boxing- Bay), Sun readers show a. good grasp of the situation by voting unanimously for Star Stranger as the horse to be on top. A number of efforts published to date all agree on this point, but it is hardly likely that the official weight adjuster will require this mandate from sportsmen, for, like all those in close toucli with racing, he will know that the Martian gelding must start the handicaps. It is also agreed that Rapier should be in second place, a few pounds below the Martian gelding, but there is almost a violent difference of opinion about several of the others. For instance, Mask is reckoned as due from 8.0 to 9.0, while an even greater discrepancy appears in the case of Pink Note. One reader places him on 7.0, while yet another soaj:s to 8.121 However, the efforts of these sportsmen are very interesting throughout, for behind their work lies enthusiasm —and it requires plenty of time and an abundance of enthusiasm to affix the handicaps for 44 horses, and in addition it has to be borne in mind that the’average racing man has not such a thorough grasp of the current form,' not only in this province, but in the whole Dominion, as has the A.R.C. handicapper.

If anybody has any doubts as to the magnitude of drawing up handicaps for such a race as the Auckland Cup, let him try it! Further lists are invited. It is significant that among the unofficial handicaps published so far, fully half hail from outside the greater city area, indicating that there are enthusiastic sportsmen in the whole province. In the list set out below they are

acknowledged from the following contributors:—A, from “Punch” (Mangaiti), B. from "Billy” (Ponsonby), C, from R.F.T. (Epsom), 13, from C.H. (Waihi), E, from Derby (Bayswater), and F, from J.P. (Huntly). Here is the result of their study of the form of the horses engaged:

Star Stranger A 9.8 Rapier .. .. •• • • •«« 9.5 A L a s k . . . . .. • # m S.5 Count Cavour .. .. .. .* S.6 Laughing Prince.. «.« .. 8.13 Goshawk . • • • ... 8.5 The Hawk .. .. .. 8.2 Piuthair .. .. .. 8.7 Footfall * 8.12 Beacon Light . • •*. 8.7 Corinax .. .. .. 7.7 In The Shade 7.13 Seatown .. .. •. „. 7.3 Oratrix .. .. .. .. ... ... 8.9 Valkon -* .. 7.6 Te Kara •• •• .. r . 8.6 Hoylake .. .. .. .. ... S.S Celerity II ... 7.0 First Sight Prince Humphrey • • .. 8.1 Tresham . . .. 7.0 Historic .. .. .. .. .. Bisox .. 7.9 .Battle Colours •• .. 7.4 Booster .. .. .. .. .. 7.0 (,’atkin . . .. .. .. .. .. 7.6 Concentrate .. .. .. 7.0 Pink Kote a. .. .. .. 7.3 Desert Glow .. •• .. .. 7.2 Mint Leaf .. .. •• ... .. 7.1 White Fang •• •• .. .. 7.0 Tidal 7.2 Eh Timi ... 7.0 Ver tiger n .. .. .. M 7.0 •Talisker .. • • .. .. 7.0 Thursby .. ... 7.0 Phillipic ... —. 7.0 Transformer .. .. .. .. 7.0 Star God .. .. 7.0 Starboard Light .. .. .. 7.0 Blimp .. 7.0 Paparu . . . . .. .. 7.0 David Garrick .. ... 7.0 Nippy .. 7.0

B 9.8 c 9.6 11 9.6 B 9.6 F 9.7 9.5 9.4 .9.4 9.3 9.2 8.9 8.8 S.8 8.12 S.l] 8.13 8.9 S.13 8.12 8.9 8.13 8.12 9.0 9.0 9.0 8.2 8.5 8.5 8.5 S.5 7.5 7.8 S.l S.l 7.1] 8.1 S.O •8.4 8.6 8.3 8.6 8.4 8.6 8.6 8.7 8.5 S.2 8.6 S.4 8.4 7.7 7.12 7.8 7.11 7.7 7.8 7.6 7.6 7.10 7.9 7.3 8.1 7.2 S.2 7.7 8.3 8.0 8.1 S.2 7.12 7.7 7.10 7-. 12 7.11 7.9 8.6 8.3 8.3 S.4 8.3 8.0 7.6 S.O 7.11 7.11 7.3 7.11 7.12 7.9 7.4 7.4 7.5 7.12 7.9 7.9 7.7 7.8 7.12 8.07.11 7.2 7.2 7.6 7.8 7.4 7.1 7.3 7.6 . 7.6 7.4 7.9 7.1.:: 8.1 7.9 7.9 7.3 7.4 ?:f 7.5 7.4 7.0 7.1 7.5 7.0 7.1 7.6 7.3 7.4 7.4 7.1 ' 7.1 7.3 -ft 7.0 7.6 7.4 7.7 7.0 7.2 7.2 7.6 7.6 7.4 7.1 7.2 7.5 7.3 7.4 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.1 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.2 7.0 7.0 7.0 70 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.7 7.4 7.0 7.0 7.2 7.0 7.4 7.0 70 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 70 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.1 7.0 7.0 7.0 70 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 70 7.0 'J.O 7.0 7.1 ft 7.0 • 7.0 7.0 7.1 7.1 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.0 . 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.3 7.0 7.0