THE AUCKLAND CUP CONTEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 434, 4 January 1890, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND CUP CONTEST.

Like many other good things,the Auckland Cup ie now' numbered with the past. Leopold’s victory, can. take rank with the easiest that has recorded in the history of the eventV for he had his field beaten half way down the straight, and I never saw. a mere straggling tail than was behind him. Mr Stead’s times show that the race was nm at a sound pace throughout, the mile and a-half being compassed in 2min while the last half-mile was rattled over in 53sec. Under a light impost Leopold has proved that he can both stay and go fast, hut in appearance he is not the bemi ideal of what a Cup horse should be, being too diminutive. However, those behind the colt thoroughly deserve ' the victory, and on all hands it was very popular. There was a tinge of the Bravo episode about Lady Norah’s running, and Hilda failed to finish it out, due, I think, to wanting a few more strong galiops. Raglan finished where the great majority thought he would—in the rear. The horse was certainly not in his spring form, but those who declared him the “ slaughtered ” one of the handicap have the best of it on their side. Jet d’Eau proved a disappointment to his supporters, and Harry Thompson, who wasted to ride the colt, had anything but an enviable mount. Renata ran a good colt for about a mile and a-half, and then melted away. Summed up, Leopold was the best-conditioned horse that started, and helped by his nice impost he simply ran over his field at the finish.