THE FINAL WORD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 545, 24 December 1928, Page 13

THE FINAL WORD

FOR AUCKLAND MEETING LATEST FROM ELLERSLIE It is expected that the field in the Auckland Cup on Wednesday will be further reduced by starting time. Goshawk has not recovered from a bad knee received last week, and his gallops here have been far from convincing. Vertigern is reported to be a doubtful runner, for lie is to be kept for one of the shorter races. The stable is going to rely upon Talisker, and the fact that the Lord Quex gelding has given every satisfaction makes the stable move not difficult to follow. With Goshawk’and Vertigern likely to drop out, there will be 14 left in the Cup. It is expected that Awamutu will start in the Nursery Handicap instead of the Foal Stakes. With Count Palatine also missing from the classic the field will tine down to eight. Doubtful starters on Boxing Day are reported to be Bombarder, Bulolo and Macroom. Training Operations After the breakfast interval at Ellerslie this morning there was a little' galloping. The most important was that in which P.rodice and Desert Glow figured over a mile and a-quarter, repeating their Saturday programme. Without being at all pushed the pair covered the 10 furlongs in a nice 2.17 3-5, the final round taking 2.5 1-5. Desert Glow is now looking and galloping better than ever, and it would not surprise were he to run a fine .race in the Cup. Much interest will be taken in Prodice’s form in the Christmas Handicap on Boxing Day, in view of her Derby engagement to-morrow week. A fair performance was that recorded by Arikitoa and Air King, who got to the end of six furlongs in 1.18 3-5, both shaping well. Another fair effort was that by the two-year-olds Flying Prince and Awamutu, the latter having the better of a five-furlong flutter in 1.5 1-5. Lady Cintra (who looked a. bit big' when she contested the hurdles at Te Awamutu last Saturday week) is coming along nicely, and had little difficulty in returning 1.34 2-5 for seven furlongs. Scratchings The following scratchings have been posted;—• Kerry Dance (all engagements), at mid-day to-day. Royal Line (all engagements), at 10 a.m. to-day. .. Hunting Cry (Nursery Handicap) at 10.35 a.m. to-day. Master Arch (Grafton Hurdles), 10.50 a.m. to-day. Golden Armour (all engagements) 9.40 a.m. Saturday.