Cup Day

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 12

Cup Day

GREAT SPORT AT ELLERSLIE

38,000 Enjoy Turf Thrills

AVAST throng numbering 38,000 -witnessed Concentrate win the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie yesterday, this being the star item staged at its racing headquarters by the Auckland Racing Club on the opening day of its sinner meeting. The weather was of the humid kind, but drizzling rain set in prior to the sixth race and continued with brief intermission for the rpniflinrlfr nf the aft 01*110011

! An overcast sky, with only an ocI casional glimpse of the sun. did not , promise well for the opening of this, the ] Dominion’s premier, racing: fixture, but the rain fortunately held off until after five races had been disposed of. Apparently all roads led to Ellerslie, most 'of the vehicular and pedestrian traffic j being of the one-way variety. The racing was first-class, several very spirited contests being witnessed, which result must have given considerable pleasure to the handicapper, Mr. F. J. McManemin. There was only a head and half a length separating the first, second and third horses in the Auckland Cup, these being Concentrate, Star Stranger and Count Cavour. That good three-year-old Hunting Cry captured the chief sprint, the Railway, from Great Star and Siivermine. The winner is still on the improve, and his success yesterday draws attention to the £3,000 Great Northern Derby to be run on New Year’s Day. The Two-Year-Old Classic There was a shock for backers when : the odds-on favourite Praise not only | went down to defeat, but actually finished last, after getting all the best of the start. The winner turned up in Gesture, who thus added another classic to the fast growing record of the Wanganui sire, Chief Ruler, a son of the famous “rocking horse,” The Tetrarcli. This made Gesture’s fifth win on end. Cylinder impressed with ! his good run into second money, while Biddy’s Boy and Set Fair also ran excellent races. Vali defeated Richfield and Count Palatine in the Queen's Plate. and Eager Rose created a mild surprise when she showed the way home to Eaglet and Amor in the Christmas Handicap. The versatile King’s Guard won the Grafton Hurdles in an interesting and close finish. The Totalisator From the returns on the very first race it was apparent that the totalisator investments were going to soar, and they did to such effect that a splendid increase of £25,633 10s was recorded. The machine yesterday handled the large sum of £121,417, against £95,783 10s last Boxing Day. A word of praise is due to the officials for the splendid management of the opening day’s arrangements, chief credit without doubt being due to the secretary, Mr. W. S. Spence, whose executive ability and succussful organisation had a good deal to do with this happy state of affairs. The course and its appointments weer in excellent order, and the beautiful disi play in the gardens brought many congratulations for the racecourse manI ager, Mr. A. J. Hill. Notes on the racing (with the ex- | ception of the Cup, dealt with separi ately) and details of results, follow. Queen’s Plate j A dozen came out for the Queen’s I Plate, and there was good betting bei tween Richfield, £2,382, Count Pala- | tine, £2,175, Duellona, £2.IGS, and Vali, I £1,683, and they were the first four home. At the start Carlaris was hopelessly left and Sports King and Storm were also standing up the field a long start. Vali led out from Pedestal, Imperial Prince, Kawainga, Count Palatine, Duellona, Micrometer, and The Sun. At the five, Kawainga had taken up the running from Vali, Imperial Prince, Richfield, Count Palatine, Duellona/ Pedestal, and Sports King. Vali was eased crossing the top, and was behind Kawainga, Count Palatine, Imperial Prince, Richfield, and Duellona. at the home turn, with The Sun, Micrometer, and Pedestal following. At the distance Vali had a slight advantage, and Richfield went with him, the former winning by a neck. Count Palatine was two and a-half lengths away, a length in front of Duellona and Imperial Prince, with Storm Fiend. Kawainga, Pedestal, The Sun, and Micrometer following, and then at intervals Sports King and Carlaris. Foal Stakes Seven started in the two-year-old classic. Praise was a hot favourite, being entrusted with £4,987, while Gesture (£2,955), Royal Ruler (£2,175) and Cylinder (£1,868) were well backed. Praise got all the best of the dispatch, jumping away clear, whereas Set Fair and Open Cheque dwelt slightly. Praise was followed out by Cylinder, Royal Ruler and Gesture, but

Royal Ruler dropped back quickly and joined Open Cheque at the rear. Approaching the half-mile Set Fair had gone to the front from Biddy’s Boy, Praise, Cylinder, Royal Ruler and Open Cheque. Set Fair was still just clear at the home turn, with Biddy’s Boy, Cylinder, Gesture, Royal Ruler, Praise and Open Cheque following in that order. Gesture gathered in the leaders below the distance, and she came away from that point. Cylinder challenged strongly, but Gesture held her off comfortably and won by half a length. There was two lengths back to Biddy’s Boy and Set Fair was right up fourth. Next to finish were Royal Ruler, Open Cheque and Praise, the last-named having run very wide at the turn. They ran the first ■furlong in 14 3-5 and the two in 26 1-5, the last halftaking 49. The winner did her work very nicely and is a really nice filly. She cost only lOOgns as a yearling. Cylinder ran a good race and Biddy’s Boy and Set Fair went surprisingly well. Royal Ruler was not himself. Robinson Handicap

The respective division winners were the best backed, Hunting Day £2,550 being favourite over Royal Parade £1,609. There was also solid support for Sea Song £1,556. In the first division Luminary was first to show out from Hunting Day, Tetrachate, Treasury, Neil, Joy Girl, Te Apurangi and Greenaway. With two furlongs covered Treasury raced to the lead and opened up a good gap across the top, his attendants being Hunting Day, Luminary, Joy Girl and Te Apurangi. Approaching the home turn the leader was coming back to the field, but was first round the corner from Joy Girl, Te Apurangi, Hunting Day, Tetrachate and Greenaway, all being well bunched. In the run to the post

Hunting Day came right out to win easily by two lengths from Greenaway, with Joy Girl a similar distance back third. Then followed Te Apurangi, Luminary, Tetrachate, Gay Cockade, Antique, Some Lady, Frothblower, Neil, Treasury, Nassau Lady and Sweet Whisper. Currajong was the early leader in the second division, being attended by Roman Pearl, Avoncourt, Sea Song, Red Lion, Tuku and Hannibal. Sea Song and Red Lion moved up along the back and crossed the top in advance of Currajong, Hannibal, Tuku, and Royal Parade, Roman Pearl and Indolent, and it was a bunched field that swept into the straight, Sea Song and Red Lion still holding a slight advantage. Once straightened up Royal Parade, Roman Pearl and he passed the post a length and aquarter ahead of Roman Peari, with Tuku half a length farther back. Sea

Boy was fourth and then came Indolent, Red Lion, Cynique, Diamond Queen, Avoncourt., Measurer, Hannibal and Currajong. Grafton Hurdles Pangolin, £2,397, was a better favourite than King's Guard, £2,032, and Importer, £2,014. Rahepoto was left at the start, Prince Lu leading Catonian, Pangolin, Red Comet, Importer, Kamehameha and King’s Guard, Catonian losing his rider at the first obstacle. Passing the stand the order was Prince Lu and Pangolin at intervals in front of Red Comet, Importer, Rahepoto, King’s Guard and Kamehameha, but at the hurdle at the seven furlongs the favourite fell, and Kawini also came to to grief. Prince Lu then led from Importer, Red Comet, Kamehameha and King’s Guard, arid the latter moving up across the top was handy to Prince Lu and Importer into the straight. In a desperate finish King’s Guard got up to beat Prince Lu by a neck, with Importer half a length away third. Kamehameha was fourth and then followed Glenotus, Rahepoto and Red Comet. Railway Handicap Toxeuma, £2,749, was made a better favourite than Siivermine, £2,241, with solid support for Cimabue, £1,767. The eventual winner, Hunting Cry, carried £970 and paid a fine price. The favourite was first out, followed by Awarere, Cimabue, Great Star, Siivermine, Vallar and Refresher. At the half-mile disc Great Star had charge from Siivermine, Toxeuma, Cimabue, Awarere, Vallar, Hunting Cry and Aspiring, very little separating the lot. Siivermine headed Great Star as the field turned for home, Cimabue, Aspiring (on the outer), Refresher, Awarere and Lady Quex and Hunting Cry also being well in the picture. The last-named put in a solid finish and got up to defeat Great Star by half a length, with Siivermine threeparts of a length away third. Toxeuma was right up fourth, and then came Awarere, Leitrim, Lucy Rose, Refresher. Aspiring, Lady Quex, Lady’s Boy, White Fang and Vallar. Nursery Handicap

Hampton Park, £2,411, was the elect of backers, with good support for Awaken, £1,760, and Sight Draft, £1,600. Nimble £441 was at very long odds. Nimble and Sight Draft were the smartest out from the barrier and led from Awaken, who was succeeded by Betterment, Drastic, Hampton Park, Grand Talk and Thespis. Nimble was still in the van as heads were turned for home, Sight Draft, Drastic, Betterment and Awaken being in hot pursuit. Nimble hung on gamely, but Awaken finished with fine dash to gain a length and a-half verdict, with Sight Draft third half a length away. Betterment was fourth and then followed Drastic, Dunraven, Hampton Park, Tenterden, Caviare and Grand Talk, the last pair being Thespis and the cream youngster, Arabesque. Christmas Handicap

Eaglet £4,097 was a warm favourite, but there was good support for Prince Val £2,920. Eager Rose, who captured the stake, carried £1,131. and gave nearly a double-figure return. Prince Val was badly left and Pegaway broke the line first, followed by Eager Rose, Amor, Gemlight and Flying Prince, with the favourite last. At the five furlongs Eager Rose had taken charge from Amor, with Prince Val, who made up lost ground at a great rate, next. Eager Rose showed the way round the final bend to Prince Val, Flying Prince, Amor, Royal Doulton and Eaglet. The last-named made a bold bid for victory, but failed by three parts of a length to overhaul Eager Rose, with Amor two and a-half lengths away third. Then came Flying Prince, Pegaway, Royal Doulton, Prince Val, The Hawk, High Pitch and Gemlight (who was badly interfered with). Following are the results: THE QUEEN’S PLATE Of £500; 1 mile A —VALI (Colin W. Anderson), b c, by Valkyrian—Potona, 3yrs, S.O, H. Goldfinch ..' 1 1— RICHFIELD (W. Patterson), br g, by Acre—Pargola, syrs, 8.9, A E. Ellis 2 2 COUNT PALATINE (Chas. Elgar)-, ch c, by Paladin—Per Anna, ' 3yrs, 8.0 (car. 5.3), B. 11. Morris 3 Also started: — 11— Calaris, 8.9 0 10—Sports King, 8.9 0 6 Storm Fiend, 5.9 0 9—Kawainga, 8.4 0 7 Micrometer, 8.4 0 s—lmperial Prince, S.O 0 8 — Pedestal, S.O 0 12 — The Sun, S.O (car. 8.2) 0 3 Duellona, 7.9 . . 0 Winner trained by J. T. Jamieson, Pa pakura. Won by a neck, 2£ lengths between second and third.* Time, 1.40 2-5. G.N. FOAL STAKES Of £1,250; 6 furlongs 2—GESTURE (A. F. M. Symes). b f. by Chief Ruler—Xottaya, 2yrs, 5.5, H- Wiggins 1 I—CYLINDER (A. B. Williams), b c,

l*y Rimond —Cymene, 2yrs slO S—BIDDY’S BOY (Wm. MonteVth and “ S’, by Illumination —Lady Biddy, 2yrs, $lO \ iEllis .. .. .. ... . ; 3 Also started:— 2—Royal Ruler, S.lO .. n t.—Open Cheque, S.lO .. n 1 Praise, 5.5........ * ’ 7—Set Pair, 8.5 X PahAeSon 1 Xortl by Ml ' S ' A ‘ lengths b Zway! f ‘ l ° rSe tWO ROBINSON HANDICAP Of £600; 7 furlongs. (First Division.) I ~, h t l U n N T' N & D^ Y (A - B - Williams), ch c b y Hunting Song— Gav, Syrs _ S.l), R. Reed -t S?^ E Ji A WAY (G E>. Greenwood), £ .-> f ’ T —Oreenstreet, Syrs, 20 JOY GiRI, (E. Edwards),' c’li m" bv Some Boy 11.,—st. Louis. 7 2 .T

(Winner trained by J. H. Jefferd, Hastings.) Won by two length?, similar distance between second and third. Time, 1.27 (Second Division.) 2-ROYAL PARADE (L. McKenzie), ch g, by Chief Ruler—Paoanui, 3yrs, S.O, IT. Wiggins 1 ° ROMAN PEARL (A. Cole), br m by Romeo—Pearl de Mont, 4vrs, 8.0.’ R. McTavish o 11—TUKU (R. Hannon), blk g, by KingLupin—Lady Quin, 4yrs, 7.0, D Connor “ * o Also started:—

Hastings.) Won by one and a-quarter lengths, half lif n f - bet ’' veen second and third. Time, AUCKLAND CUP Of £3,000; 2 miles 7—CONCENTRATE (R. J. Murphy), b S, by Kilbroney —Oratress. 4vrs

Won by half a length, three-quarters of a length between second and third. Time, 1.14 3-5. NURSERY HANDICAP Of £450; 5 furlongs. 2 AWAKEN (A. Alexander), br f, by Chief Ruler—Wake Up, 2yrs, 7.5, L. J. Ellis 1 B—NIMBLE (A. F. M. Synies), b f, by Lord Quex—Chancery, 2yrs, 7.0, H. Wiggins 2 3 SIGHT DRAFT (I. G. Duncan), br f, by Paper Money—Gaze worthy,

Winner trained by J. Brown, Haw era. Won by one and a-half lengths, third horse half a length away. Time, 1.5 3-5. CHRISTMAS HANDICAP Of £500; 1 mile 7—EAGER ROSE (W. Alexander and A. Kemp), ch Day Comet —Wee Rose, syrs, 7.0, A. Eastwood 1 1-EAGLET (F. Earl, K.C.), b f,' bv Chief Ruler—Dovelet, Syrs, 8.5, 11. Goldfinch 2 S—AMOR5 —AMOR (P. Williamson), br g, by Archery—Warlove, syrs, 7.2, C. Eastwood z Also started:—

Won by three-quarters of a a length. 25 lengths between second and third. Time, 1.39 4-5.

Day - " ou,s - ‘- z . J- „ Also started:— 9—Gay Cockade, S.4 (car S G) 4 —Luminary, 8.0 .. * Sr-£ e H'grv hate ' 7 - 6 (car - 7 i o> k—Frothblower, 7.6 (car. 7 i:j) 19—Some Lady, 7.3 2e>—Treasury, 7.0 .. . IS—Antique; 7.0 (car. 7.2) .. .. 10 —Te Apurangi, 7.0 .. . 10—Nassau Ladv, 7.0 (car 7 3 ) 22—Glittering Gold, 7.0 (car. ’74V 22—Mon Star, 7.0 . 21—Sweet Whisper, 7.0 . . .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 21 —■Tftaiau Lady, 7.0 (car. 7.4) .. .. .. 0

24—Avon Court, S.4 15—Indolent, 7.9 3—Sea Song-, 7.6 (car. 7.S) .. 13—Red Lion, 7.3 (car. 7.4) 1G—Diamond Queen, 7.2 11—Currajong-, 7.0 23—Valorient, 7.0 .. . . 2 i —Negress, 7.0 12 —Hannibal, 7.0 (car. 7.5£) .. 1*—Merry Lu, 7.0 (car. 7.12) .. 19—Measurer, 7.0 (car. 7.3) 11—Cynique, 7.0 .. (Winner trained by W. C Griffith,

7.10, E. Ludlow . ’ 1 —STAR STRANGER (A. B. Williams), b g, by Martian—Star Lady, aged, 8.12, R. Reed . 8— COUNT CAVOUR (J. S. Barrett), ch g, by Solferino—Bon Bord, aged, 7.7, C. Eastwood Also started:— 6—Historic, 8.12 6—Panther, 7.1 (car. 7.3), (bracketed with Historic) 9— Paquito, S.l 3—In the Shade, 7.13 . . . . 5—Corinax, 7.9 1 9 10 12 4—Prodice, 7.3 .. . 11—Merry Mint, 7.0 9—Shrewd, 7.0 (car. 7.31) Winner trained by H. B. Lorigan, Heretaunga. Won by a head, third horse half length away. Time, 3.27. GRAFTON HURDLE RACE Of £500; 2 miles. 2—KING’S GUARD (R. Hannon), b g, by Quin Abbey—Gipsy Lass, a aged, 9.12, J. Smith 6—PRINCE LU (A. Coubrough), br g, by Lucullus—Elysian—Graceful 1 mare, aged, 10.5, N. Syme .. .. 3—IMPORTER (N. G. Donald), b g, by The White Knight—Golden Im2 port, aged, 9.2. R. Syme Also started:— s 1—Pangolin, 10.11 (fell) 0 S—Kawini, 10.10 (fell) 5 —Red Comet, if. 13 0 4—Catonian, 9.9 (lost rider) 0 7—Glenotus, 9.0 0 10—Kamehameha, 9.6 0 9—Rahepoto. 9.0 0 W inner trained by owner, Cambridge. W 7 on by neck, half a length between second and third. Time, 3.43. RAILWAY HANDICAP Of £1,250; 6 furlongs

10— HUNTING CRV (T. Fraser, br c, by Hunting Song—Natalite. tiyrs, 7.5, J. Burgess 1 S—GREAT STAR (J. IT. Prosser), b g, by Solferino—Theda, 4j r r A. Eastwood s. 7.7. O 2—SILVERMINE (A. Alexander). br h, by Catmint—Silver 5yrs, S.10, L. J. Ellis Link, Also started:— 3 —Cimabue, 9.2 0 1—Toxeuma, S.S 11—White Fang, S.6 . 0 4—Lady Quex, S.O 9 —Lady’s Boy, S.O (5—Vallar. 7.7 5—Aspiring, 7.5 0 12—Awarere, 7.0 14—Leitrim, 7.0 13—Lucy Rose, 7.0 7—Refresher, 7.0 (car. 7.2). 0 Winner trained by J. M. Camert ings.

2yrs, S.O, H. Goldfinch .. .. Also started:— .. .. 3 1—Hampton Park, S.2 11—Arabesque, 7.9 4—Dun raven, 7.9 5—Tenterden, 7.6 6—Betterment, 7.4 6—Grand Talk, 7.0 I —Thespis, 7.2 9—Drastic, 7.0 10—Caviare, 7.0

3—Pegaway, 9.13 6—The Hawk, 7.13 (ear. S.l) .. 2 —Prince Val, 7.13 (car. S.O) .. S —High Pitch, 7.13 4—Royal Doulton, 7.8 10—Gemlight, 7.1 9—Flying Prince, 7.0 (car. 7.21) 0 \\ inner trained*by owner, Onehunga.