Cup and Railway Intrigue Sportsmen

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 528, 4 December 1928, Page 10

Cup and Railway Intrigue Sportsmen

REVIEW OF THE HANDICAPS

WITH the appearance of the weights, interest in the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap has quickened, and the effort to “pick the double” will be unceasing from now right up to Boxing Day, when the result will he established beyond all doubt. Below is given a brief review of the handicaps.

! In the handicaps for both the Cup [ and the Railway, Mr. McManemin has certainly given the horses at the head j of affairs every opportunity, for they are not harshly dealt with. It is better that it should be so, rather than to see good horses sacrificed for the benefit of perhaps several that should not even be in the race. The Cup Particularly is this so in the Cup, in which Star Stranger is set to carry 9.6, at which figure he must be given an excellent chance. Just prior to the New Zealand Cup meeting the Martian gelding went wrong, and the question is, will he have got over his disability in the seven weeks between die date of that race and the big Ellerslie event? This doubt is the reason why he is left out of the half-dozen sorted here. Rapier is now within 21b. of the topweight, and this was expected, for the Southerner ran a good second in the New Zealand Cup, with 9.0, and he therefore had to go up a bit. Now he is called upon to meet Star Stranger on 41b worse terms than at the imposts fixed for that race. An Encore? Several good judges opine that Rapier was unlucky in the big race at Riccarton last month; then he certainly has a first rate chance here on Boxing Bay. He is a natural stayer, and it must not be forgotten that he won the Auckland Cup last year with 8.10. Now he is asked to carry 81b additional. Therefore he must be respected. Count Cavour ran second 12 months ago with 71b less than he is to carry on December 26 next, and with him he cannot be overlooked at Ellerslie. Perhaps the right-handed way of galloping suits him best. A Question of Stamina On the same mark as the Count, 8.12, is Laughing Prince. He seems to have got his fair share of weight, but it is recognised that he could have got in with any less. He won the Mitchelson Cup with 9.0, and subsequently won the Canterbury Cup, IS miles and the Stead Gold Cup, 1£ miles, run at weight-for-age at Riccarton, in impressive style. With the Australian-bred gelding it is largely a question of his staying the It cannot be overlooked that Laughing Prince failed in both derbys last season, Agrion and Martarma both beating him at Riccarton and Ellerslie respectively. He has an astute trainer, however, who has announced his intention to retire before the end of the it seems like tempting fate to declare against Laughing Prince at this stage. At present Laughing Prince is the ruling favourite, and he may continue to hold that honour right up to starting time. Well Treated At first sight Mask appears to be vvell treated with 8.5. He improved a jceat deai after running out of a place in the last Auckiand Cup, and iie might even see it r.ght out. It is against him, however, that he is a hard puller. Footfall is nicely treated, if right, which is doubtful, and Oratrix has rone up for her New Zealand Cup success a matter of 121 b. She is apparently a good stayer, but she had to do her best to win last month, which makes Rapier out to have an excellent chance of reversing positions with her. Oratrix’s form at Riccarton does not read so impressively as her run into second place in the A.J.C. Metropolitan with 7.12, behind Jocelyn. Goshawk is one of the finds of the season so far as handicaps are concerned, for he has won his last three on end and he shou d be able to see the journey out. He cannot be left out of any final early summing-up. Feilding Winner A good word is to be said for cigern, the Feilding Cup winner, and ae has 7.13. He won last Friday witi: 151 b more than ihat over ten furlongs, but the Auckland Cup will be found -mother proposition, even at the dinerence in the handicaps. Te Kara ano Beaoon Light are good ones, but the former is a spent light so iar as this company is concerned—unless the course is muddy—and the latter has only to strike form again to be a possibility with 7.3. Hoyiake is apparently an improving sort, and is in die right hands. He ran third in the New Zealand Cup and then won the Metropolitan, although the fact that it took him all his time, to beat Mandane —a fair hand.capper only—is not encouraging. Furthermore, lie has no, always oeen reliable, and yet he has only to improve and do his best to be dangerous. Piuthair was one of the most improved handicappers in the country IS months ago, and it is douDtfui whether she will be ready by Christmas. The Hawk is not fancied over tne journey, and First Bight is a bold ga;kper well up .o weight, and capable cf getting the distance. Tresham has a chance at the weights, but Seatown looks as if it will be some time yet Delore he strikes his best form. The Mdnawatu Cup would suit him better Transformer is in fine order, and of the light-weigh«... w . no Dv the -rst, for no has finished strongly in his last two engagements. However, his owner now has to pay for putting up overweight to win the Alison Cup last week. It is strange to find the A.J.C. Derby winner, Prince Humphrey, let in at 3ib under weight-for-age, and if he were to start he would be a sound proposition. However, it is on the cards that rhis racing days are over—more’s the pity. Nicely Treated Of those further down, Valkon is under orders for Australia, and if kept here for the Cup the journev may prove his downfall. In the Shade is a good one, and Talisker, from the Vertigern stable, is in form. Corinax looks the best treated horse in the race. One can safely ignore his run last Friday, for on Saturday he put up a splendid performance in running third in a big field on the Takapuna track. He should stay, and if the probable winner is to come from well down the list Corinax may be the one to do the job. Bisox, too, is in nicely, and her Avondale Cup success showed that she can stay. Of those on the minimum those that appeal most are Catkin, Desert Glow, Blimp, Concentrate. Historic, Mint Deaf, Papatu, Pink Note and Tidal. The best of this lot may prove to be Catkin, Desert Glow, Historic and Tidal, for the lastnamed has been shaping like a genuine stayer. Indeed. Tidal reads as well as anything in the race. He is French bred, and they know how to get stayers in Vive la France. At this stage a half-dozen that make most impression at the weights are, in the order of the handicap;Rapier Laughing Prince Mask Goshawk Corinax Tidal An acceptanrce is not due until December 14, bo that it will be some time

yet before the field becomes reduced to reasonable proportions. THE RAILWAY AUSSIE NOT OUTWEIGHTED ; As in the Auckland Cup, the horses ; near the head of affairs in the big sprint, the Railway Handicap, are not altogether put out of it. With 9.9 Aussie will be favourite in what early business is transacted, and this brilliant customer may make amends for his failure of 12 months ago, when his stable companion, Awarere, pulled backers out of the fire. The latter is now within 111 b of Aussie, and on his form at Takapuna last Friday must be a strong second fiddle. Paganelli continues to do brilliant things, and in being rated as within 61b has been paid a tribute by the handicapper, who has not been too harsh on the brilliant Lord Quex gelding. The j latter’s form last Friday at Feilding i was high class, and he is a posibility. Out Of Form Cimabue, as brilliant a sprinter as there is in the country when in form, has apparently lost his punch. Silvermine won the C.J.C. Stewards last month, and is therefore to be considered, for it was a fine performance. Crown Area, now in new ownership, is one of the best, and Joy King must be coming back to form. Lysander has been on the up grade this season, and the handicapper has decided to take no risks with him. The Hawk must be a back number so far as big sprints are concerned, but Bright Glow is a horse of a different colour. Her third

The top-weights in the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap.

in the C.J.C. Stewards was good form, and she should now be able to reverse positions with Silvermine. Tea Time is now at his best, although he is not fancied in such a hard race as this always is. Booster has not shown any great form, and another Southerner, Money Order, has been running badly. Goblin Market has all the speed of the Absurd tribe, and with Golden Armour the Mason stable holds a splendid hand. If one may judge from the result of the last Railway Handicap, it is not always safe to go upon the latest form. For instance, Awarere and Nancy Bee, first and second 12 months ago, were running like second-raters round the country meetings. The latter failed badly at Takapuna, and \4st she cannot bo ruled out altogether, especially with 7.5. Paperchase showed signs of returning form toward the close of the New Zealand Cup meeting, and Red Heckle, a candidate for Great Northern Derby honours, is well spoken of in the South. He scored on the final day at Riccarton. beating Benzora. Consent is the elect of Tilley’s stable, but his Riccarton failures were costly, the gelding apparently having gone off On the same mark is White Wings, who is now racing up to the form she showed on the tracks prior to the spring meeting at Ellerslie Oration is always a possibility, and of those further down Banket, Billikina, Gold Money, High Finance and Staghunter are likely, the last-mentioned in particular if he could be persuaded to do his best. Like the Cup, the sprint is always a difficult race to sort out, but just at present a fancied half-dozen are AUSSIE PAGAN ELlll CROWN AREA BRIGHT GLOW NANCY LEE WHITE WINGS.