THE ALISON CUP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 524, 29 November 1928, Page 10

THE ALISON CUP

Will it be Corinax or Royal Doulton ?

A race that in a small way may have a bearing on the Auckland Cup is that for the Alison Cup across the harbour to-morrow. There are 11 engaged, and eight of these figure in the big Ellerslie event. Just how that eight will shape is what is going to interest most those who are endeavouring (foolishly?) to solve the problem of the Auckland Cup, which race, by the way, is only a little overJthree weeks off. On top to-morrow is Seatown, who in his younger days ranked little below Commendation and Limerick. He has not done much racing for the past two years, but liis reappearance and his last start, too, was a third in the Waverley Cup, which must be regarded as distinctly promising. The Right Way In receipt of 81b from Seatown is Corinax, and the Taranaki gelding will need to be at his very best to stand even a remote chance of being ablo to concede the weight. Corinax has been doing well on the tracks, and following on his Waika.u Cup win he will be well sought after by backers. Like Te Rapa, the going at Takapuna is right-handed, and that is the style that Corinax believes in, although he has won at Ellerslie. Then we come to Le Choucas, who won surprisingly at the Auckland spring meeting and returned a big price; apparently everybody was caught on the hop. Le Choucas may be troubled by the distance, despite the fact that he is, like Corinax, by Magpie, a begetter of stayers, one of his progeny being Windbag. If he has been trained for a journey Le Choucas may see it out. However, he is in the previous race. Two Possibles Mint Leaf l will not be wanted by the cognoscenti, for it will be held that the course will be against him.

Desert Glow showed up at the Dargaville meeting and then won the Whangarei Cup impressively, so that

he cannot be ruled out. He may find it impossible to give 41b to Royal Doulton in the latter’s present form, for there was no mistaking the manner in which she defeated Desert Glow and others in the Dargaville Cup. The latter is only allowed *lb for that defeat, and even for allowing for his subsequent win up North, he has none the best of it. Royal Doulton on the other hand said to be in good form. The Light-weights Next on the list, by virtue of his 61b penalty for winning the Te Kuiti Cup, is Transformer, and his return to form lends added interest to the race. He usually goes well on this course, too, his last two runs there resulting in two seconds. Papatu will be fancied, for he is to be ridden by Wiggins, for whom he seems to do his best. Thursby is not fancied, although his form this season has shown decided improvement. Tinokoa failed badly at Te Kuiti. and he would much prefer some mud. Golden Wedding will go fast round the bends, and she may hang on. But those nearer the top shotild have her measure. It is a rather even field, with Corinax and Royal Doulton perhaps standing out. and with Seatown and Desert Glow not very far behind them. But the very evenness of the contestants almost makes a thrilling race a certainty.