RICCARTON TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 14

RICCARTON TOPICS.

CUP FAVOURITISM,

PAPERCHASE OUT OF STEWARDS'* FAVOUR. TILLEY'SS QUARTET COMMANDS RESPECT. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The defection of Star Stranger has brought about some changes in the popular fancies for the New Zealand Cup, for which the Martian gelding looked to be one of the favourites. Oratrix has had an army of admirers since she ran second in the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwiek. Hoylake, after losing some friends, has come back to greater favour than ever since his Rangiora Cup win. Rapier is another who had come into recent discussions, and probably these three will head the quotations when the totalisator closes.

Royal Saxon, who is among the recent arrivals from Wingatui, is a fancied candidate for the Stewards' Handicap. He showed good form during the August carnival, winning two races, and another ■win last month at the Dunedinmeeting demostrated that he had trained on \ >H. He is a resolute galloper, who is likely to race prominently at the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting up to a mile.

Chelone was not worked at Ricearton this morning, having met with some injury to one of his hocks. The trouble is not regarded seriously, and he- should be able to fulfil his immediate engagements. This Leigh ton foal has done nothing out of tie ordinary, ,but may show up prominently in sprint events, although his public form suggests that he is deficient in stamina. He has many warm northern admirers for the Stewards' Handicap, but the final pinch may find him out.

Childsplay has been responsible for some-useful work lately, though she has done nothing out of the ordinary, and in the meantime she has not reproduced the exceptional speed she showed when she first appeared as a two-year-old last spring. It is probable that W. Brown will ride her in the Stewards' Handicap, but her prospects in the big sprint do not look more than fair.

Paperchase was one of tTie early picks for the Stewards' Handicap, in which she was regarded as very favourably handicapped. She has worked along steadily, but has shown no great brilliancy, and she will require to improve on her latest track form to have a winnig chance. Possibly, as was the case last season, her best form will be seen later on.

Some surprise was expressed when the name of the Southland three-year-old Rin Tin Tin was missing from the acceptors for the Stewards' Hadicap, when the list closed on Monday night, as on the same afternoon L. J. Ellis was engaged to ride him.

The Fordell trainer F. Tilley has scored many successes at Riccarton during his career, and usually when he puts in an appearance he has something useful to represent his stable. On the present occasion he has a team of four horses, Laughing Prince, Mundane, Consent and Cashier. They look in great condition, and on appearance they are likely to gather in some money on the trip. Mandane will come in for much support in the Riccarton Handicap, and any other race she contests, while Laughing Prince will have to be reckoned with in engagements over a journey. The other pair are three-year-olds. Consent, the winner of the Wanganui Guineas, is a very smart sprinter and a Stewards' Handicap possibility. Cashier is eligible for hack class, his first dav's engage" ment being the Spring Plate, but he will be in open company very soon.

The Taranaki three-year-old Silvermine made friends by his sprinting effort at Riccarton this morning. He is a brilliant galloper, which is no surprise in a son of Silver Link, who was one of the greatest sprinters in New Zealand in her day. Silvermine has done some racing lately, eo he is well seasoned, and should be seen to advantage in six and seven furlong races at the Riccarton carnival.

Starshooter has been suffering recently from slight lameness, and it is thought to be located in one of his shoulders. He met with a mishap while racing on the first day of the Dunedin meeting, and he has shown evidence of stiffness since then. As a result the Archery three-year-old will not be at his best for Riccarton engagements.

Historic may be allowed to forfeit his first day's engagement at Riccarton, but he should race well later in the meeting. He is a very useful galloper, and he looks in great order, his recent racing having done him a lot of good.