CUP HORSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 544, 22 December 1928, Page 10

CUP HORSES

The first of the Cup aspirants to show up was Catkin, who was accompanied by the filly Briar Root. Six furlongs was their task, which they got through very evenly in 1.20, the last half-mile in 54. The former is well and had little difficulty in beat- ’ ing the Chief Ruler filly. Next on the scene was Talisker, who had as a companion the Derby candidate Perception. They went a mile and a-quarter, keeping almost together to the first three furlongs, which took 42. the half in 54, six in 1.22, and seven in 1.35, but they were not bustled to run home in 2.17. It was a fair work-out, with neither pushed along. Corinax (Cammick), Hoylake (C. Eastwood), Goshawk and Papatu (Day), started off over a mile and aquarter, galloping out from the rails in the order named. This was a very interesting affair, the pace being on throughout. They kept together for the first three in 41 2-5, and half-mile in 53 4-5, when Hoylake and Goshawk dropped a bit behind the other pair. The five was left behind in 1.7 3-5, six in a good 1.21 2-5, seven in 1.34 3-5, and Corinax here forged ahead, the local horse coming home over the final three in 40 4-5, finishing two lengths ahead of Papatu, with Hoylake a length and a-quarter back, and Goshawk, who was eased at the end of a mile, a long way back. It was a slashing effort on the part of Corinax, who did his work well at the finish and came back fresh. Papatu was on the outside of the other three on the bend going out of the straight, but as against this he had a good pull in the weights, and was ridden out. Hoylake. not a good track horse, also pleased, and will not lose any of his admirers. The honours were certainly taken by Corinax, with Hoylake next. As for Goshawk, a decision as to whether he will run in the Cup (which appears extremely doubtful just now) will be arrived at on Monday.

Vertigern, accompanied by Toxeuma, was sent seven furlongs, which he cut out in an even 1.32 4-5, and could have done better. Oratrix and the Derby horse Concentrate were partnered from the finishing post in a round, but they did not start to go fast until they arrived at the seven furlongs. From here they ran the first two in 26 3-5, three in 41 1-5, and the seven in 1.35 3-5. They were not out after time. Count Cavour (W. Brown) and Mask (J. Rayner) went once round, the distance being nine furlongs and about 70 yards. The trip took them 2.4 4-5, which was a brilliant gallop, with Count Cavour finishing a bit stronger than his companion, Mask having much the better of the weights. The final seven furlongs took 1.35 2-5, the last six in 1.18 1-5, and the last halfmile in 54. This was a rare try-out. and showed that the Count is by no means a spent light, but a force still to be reckoned with. Mask was on the outside of him all the way, and it can also be regarded as a particularly useful effort on his part. Laughing Prince (R. Marsh) had Transformer (C. Brown) as a companion over a mile and a-quarter. They were on terms, with Laughing Prince on the outside, for the first three furlongs in 41 3-5. four in 54. five in 1.7 2-5, six in 1.21 1-5, and seven in 1.34 1-5, by which time Laughing Prince had drawn away, completing the journey impressively in 2.15 1-5, being hunted along over the final furlong'. Transformer was not persevered with from the twolurlong peg, his time being 2.18 1-5. After breakfast, Prodice and Desert Glow were sent a mile and a-quarter, and they accomplished a useful task in businesslike fashion without being unduly hurried. They covered the first half-mile in 54 4-5. five furlongs in 1.8, six in 1.22, seven in 1.34 3-5, and the ten furlongs in 2.16, both pulling up well.