Trotting Cup Will See Keen Contest

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 13

Trotting Cup Will See Keen Contest

WORTHY FIELD FOR RICH PRIZE WILL AUCKLAND RETAIN STAKE? When Dinny Harford piloted fnmrnodore to victory in the AuckS 3 Cup of 1890 which marked L foundation of an event that .now second only in importance the New Zealand Cup. the jour- “ was over three miles, for a stake worth £IOO. ~.>30 was the value of the event, v" vear the distance was reduced two mile*, while the stake flopped \° £i2l), but Sandal was again to ta _ or e,* to collar the thick end with During the next three years the .. n nrize-money increased at the rate a century a year, but in 1894. when Ted Sandal won with Tom Hicks, old Judge. In 1896 Fibre won over •hree miles, but this was the last time tne Cup was run over such a journey. When it came back to a two-mile contest C- C. Miles’s Awahuri, by Corbett and driven by E. Murfitt, was the’ first winner, the prize being a round century. When W. C. Hird won with Billy Wilson in 1899, the value of the race was £2OO, and this was the ricure till 1912. when Hird again drove t winner in Mandarene, who registered 4-40 2-5, a fine go in those days. This gave Hird his third victory, having won in 1904 with Rebel Chief. Dan Nyhan was the man to touch his cap to the man in the box in 1913. when the prize was £SOO. Jewel Chimes being the candidate, and the following year the card showed the race to be worth £650, at which figure that fine grey mare. Steel Bell, owned and trained by Tom Roe, and driven by Jimmy Lynch, led the field home. Increased to Four Figures Scotty Bryce had the distinction of landing the Cup next time, when it was made a thousand. Cathedral rhimes being the pacer to do the trick. Tartar Julian won with Admiral Wood and then Steel Bell gave J. Lynch his second successful drive in Epsom’s great event, the mare tramping 4.33 4-5. Ud went the stake to £1.350. and A. Brown put in and took out with Harold Junior, and then followed W. orange with Nora Creina. who found

the stake further advanced to £1,500. Bill had a previous winning record with Scotia, who landed in 1908. Still the cheque soared higher, and in 1920 the Cup contest was responsible for more than one record, the prize reaching £ 2,000, and Man o’ War winning in 4.29 2-5, a record only equalled by Nelson Derby in 1925, when the prize was again bumped up an extra £2OO, and lowered last year by Ahuriri, who registered 4.25 3-5. Not satisfied with his 1920 success, Man o’ War returned the following year and gave J. R. Corrigan his second Cup victory. Peter Riddle landed in 1922 with Minton Derby, and the following year the money remained in Auckland, McKendrick Bros, scoring with Blue Mountain King. Talaro, engaged in this year’s Cup, won in D 26, and last year Scotty Bryce drove Ms third w r inner in Ahuriri. Fine Field To-morrow

With its 4.27 limit, it was only natural to expect that the cream of the Dominion's light-harness horses would be engaged in the 1928 Auckland Cup, an d no one can profess to be disappointed with the calibre and size of to-morrow’s field.

Of the 15 billed to parade for the *'ig stake. Talaro is the only one that has previously won the event, and Aucklanders have not forgotten the resolute fashion in which he accomplished his task. That C. Lindsay's horse is in form was demonstrated ut Addington last month, when he ' leaned up a good field over two miles *' n the concluding day. Jack Potts, Machine Gun. Great Bingen, Pete.rw*h. Cardinal Logan. Jewel Pointer and Kohara all faced the starter last year, and the first mentioned made an 'mpressive showing, only suffering a head defeat, at the hands of the great Ahuriri, after a bad trip. C. Donald’s horse ran a solid ra«ce in the recent New Zealand Cup, to finish close up hfth, and the last day he came from the clouds to get second to Talaro. He is a wonderful finisher, and should he prove equal to beginning smartly he will have a big say n the final decision. Machine Gun "as the elect of the public last year, •tnd the local-owned pacer made a Jold bid to pull his army of admirers °ut of the fire, but the last little bit told its tale. Machine Gun has the Tr ont to himself this time, and as he appears to be in great shape his prospects cannot be overlooked. Great "ingen got the fourth slice of last

year's prize, and he is a far better horse than when he contested that heat. He showed a fine return to * or m at Christchurch by securing • s econd berth in the Cup in time that Quailed his Auckland record, but Respite this, the champion is set a nerculean task. Cardinal Logan is setter than ever, and his fine track uls Plays since arriving here have brought him well into favour. His secu,nu to Kohara in the 1927 New Zealand '-up will not be forgotten. Kohara only requires to be back to form to n iake things interesting. When right “* is a real Cup horse, as he proved A Christchurch just over 12 months ; l B°. After his victory he appeared £° to pieces, but since joining the orrigan stable the black fellow shows of “coming back," so that he ; ÜBt be given a chance of success. pointer is doing well again at ,® p * since his short respite, and the cannot treat him lightly, a horse with his brilliancy and *:/ nen€ ss is always dangerous. Ankfier local candidate in Gold Jacket * s Well fancied, and there is no getting rfy from the fact he is a genuine » ce r* His form for nine months past as been a revelation, and if he has c ®ived the right training necessary .J * ta -nd a Cup test, L. McMahon s K wiU be one o£ lhe hardest to Champion Trotter * reat trotter. Peter wall, who !? enced th© new season with a ouderful two-mile record. only c , t b© race run to his liking to ..rh hom ® with the very best, but the ©f -knowing now the capabilities ln * Gisborne trotter, will certainly

aot make it “to order” for R. Fisken’s | horse. Terence Dillon is a bonny ; P a cer with youth on his side, and he can always rely on a good following at Epsom, when he was the happy j knack of putting up dazzling perform- ; ances. Queen’s Own is a mare that j cannot be taken cheaply, and under the guidance of Ossie Hooper she will ; do well.

Then there is Padlock, who was such a big tip for the last New Zealand Cup, in which he failed badly, not because he wasn’t good enough for the high-grade company, but through being out of condition. It is doubtful if the Longburn pacer can be produced at his best even now, but if O.K. then W. Hughes's charge will be a pest to the remainder. Peter Bingen, with his Addington laurels still fresh upon him, and under new’ colours, will attract a lot of attention, but he is another that will probably not be at his best. The once mighty Imprint is again on the scene, but unfortunately he is suffering from leg trouble, and he may not see the post. Prince Pointer is no stranger to Alexandra Park, and it was on the right-handed grass track that the sturdy black put up his record of 4.22 for two miles, a record he again equalled at Christchurch last month, when, finishing fourth in the New Zealand Cup. His performance in the two-mile go was eclipsed by his effort in the Free-for-All, which landed him almost a winner in record time for ten furlongs. W. J. Tomkinson nas the black horse in splendid condition. and he promises to be a good favourite. It will be a great race to witness and will create the keenest speculation, and who ever is fortunate enough to be returned the winner will know it has been to the races.