No New Light on Auckland Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 539, 17 December 1928, Page 12

No New Light on Auckland Cup

DESERT GLOWS SUCCESS

LITTLE light was shed Oil the Auckland Cup as the result ot* Saturday's racing at Te Awamutu. and we will have to await the Ellerslie trials on Saturday and Monday next for anything in this direction. The Te Awamutu Cup itself was chiefly remarkable for the failure of the Derby favourite. Prodice.

An interesting performance was recorded when Desert Glow won the Te Awamutu Cup on Saturday, for ; that success was the third in sueces- j sion registered by trainer Frank Loomb, who seems to be carrying all before him this season. Two years ago Phaola landed the Te Awamutu Cup. 12 months ago Desert Glow did the trick, and the same horse repeated the performance on Saturday, completing a splendid hat trick. There was much rejoicing among local sportsmen when F. Loomb received the handsome trophy on behalf of the owner, Mr. R. D. "Walker, of Auckland, the presentation being made by Mr. D. S. Reid. Saturday’s contest was quite an interesting one. more so perhaps than last year’s, which by the way was marked by a sensational incident, Desert Glow cannoning into a couple of other horses and falling a chain beyond the winning post. But he had already won, and little damage w;;s done to any of the horses and the rider of the winner. Siaosi Unlucky •Probably the unlucky horse of the race was Siaosi. who by the way beat Civility in the Great Easter Handicap of four years ago. He was not allowed to miss any bumping that occurred, and into the straight for the run home he was on the outside of Mervctte, who carried him out wide. That was where Desert Glow got the opening on the rails, and he shot through to make no mistake about it. However, there were only necks between the first four horses —Desert Glow, Siaosi, The Lover and Mervette. Both Mervette and The Lover ran excellent races, but the former pulled herself about a lot in the early stages, and when under pressure carried out Siaosi and The Lover. The latter’s showing in open handicap company was splendid. Disappointing Prodice Both Mervette and Prodice were lighting for their heads over the first couple of furlongs, the time for which was 27 1-5, which was slow, but the first half-mile was carved out in 52 1-5, the last mile by the way being covered in 1.40. fair time on a turning course.

I‘rodice had every chance on th occasion. being handy throughout" especially at the home turn, where she petered out. Although covered » bit of extra ground the filly should have won had she been at her best, but it looked as if she required the race. She was heavily bandaged, and-this fact in itself suggested that her owner- train*.has not had an easy time of it with her on the hard tracks. Fortunate it was for supporters of Prodice that Desert Glow was able to rise to the occasion. The Failures After his two previous successes, and despite his weight, it was expected that Transformer w’ould show up. But h« didn’t, for he was always making heavy weather of it and eventually had only the tailed off Eh Timi behind hint* It is difficult to understand the presence of the latter horse in the Auckland Cup. Papatu has once more to be written down as a failure; apparently he is a difficult horse to ride, but that fact in itself is poor consolation for his followers. Komak. obviously out of his class, went a very fair race, and further improvement should see him a contender for handicap events on the country circuit. which commences next month. Beaten—But Lost no Friends Admirers of Tidal for his Auckland Cup engagement have no reason to bdismayed by the failure of the Frenchbred horse to gain a place. It was Tiot expected by the writer that he would, for the turning course such as Te Awamutu would result in defeat for horses like Tidal 49 times out of 50. He was tailed off from the start, and did not make any headway until seven furlongs had been covered, so that as he was not a great distance away from the placed horses at the finish could be regarded as a satisfactory effort Thiis not intended to point to Tidal as th* winner of the big Ellerslie race, but as illustrating that he will do better n‘, Ellerslie. As a guide to the Auckland Cup the Te Awamutu Cup was a failure, despite that Desert Glow is engaged therein But only in this connection was the race a failure; it was a splendid contest, providing a thrilling finish. What more could one wish for?