KINGCRAFT AND AHURIRI

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 259, 1 November 1929, Page 12

KINGCRAFT AND AHURIRI

CUP FAVOURITES CAREFULLY NURSED. .

ROI I'OE AND IMPRINT IN FOR3VL :

NO PENALTIES INCURRED,

If careful nursing and setting a horse for a race can bring about the' desired result, then Ahuriri has a great chance of capturing his third New Zealand Trotting Cup. No pacer raced in the Dominion has been so well looked after by his owner as the son of Cathedral Chimes, and for the little racing he has done, compared to other horses, the policy adopted has proved very profitable. It takes a good horse to win either the New Zealand or Auckland Trotting Cups, but Ahuriri, specially set for these races, has a remarkable record, lie having two New Zealand Trotting Cups to his credit and one Auckland Cup. It is generally admitted that he should have even a better record, as only bad luck in running prevented him winning the Cup at Addington last November, when he was beaten a couple of heads into third place. Some will contend that Ahuriri may be in need of racing when he takes on his heat in the Cup on Tuesday week, but that is not likely, as his trainer, J. Bryce, lias had so many successes in important races that he is not likely to allow a meeting like that at Wellington on Saturday to pass by if he thought there would be any doubt about Ahuriri being tuned up for the Cup.

Another to bo well looked after is Kingcraft, who rules with Ahuriri at the head of the market. Kingcraft's form would not suggest he can be regarded as a "good thing" for the Cup, but good judges who are in close touch with every move will not hear of him being defeated. His.failure at the August meeting they dismiss as being not worthy of consideration, and go so far as to say that if the son of Quincey leaves the mark right that will be the end. Tuesday week will show, when he contests his heat, whether, he is as good as claimed, but he will require to be little short, of a champion, as he has to beat the cream of the Dominion's pacers. Horses who can go two miles in anything between 4.19 and 4.26 are not easily beaten.

The only items during the past few days which could be considered as having any bearing 011 the Cup were the wins of Imprint at Greymouth and Eoi l'Or at Oamaru. Imprint has been racing a long way below his true form for a year or so, but his win at Greymouth shows that he has returned to form, but whether sufficiently so to have a chance in the Cup remains to be seen. At his best he is a speedy horse and a fine stayer. Eoi l'Or is one that must be given at least a good chance in the Cup. 111 August he comfortably settled a good field,.including Dundas Boy, and later at the meeting Dundas Boy went 4.22 3-5, which is sufficient to" prove that Eoi l'Or is good. Certainly he has no fast record for two miles —his best time is 4.28 —but he has often beaten horses with better records, and that is the true test of a horse's ability. Eoi l'Or is not likely to be greatly fancied in the Cup, but he certainly appears to possess a chance. May Alter Postion. j

The contest for the New Zealand Cup Trial to-morrow at Wellington may pos-i sibly cause the market to undergo a change, but this is hardly likely, as neither Aliuriri nor Kingcraft, the ruling favourites, will be competing. Again, the Cup Trial distance is only a mile and a quarter, which is perhaps not a very reliable guide to two miles. However, should Padlock succeed in winning it would cause no surprise were he to supplant Ahuriri and Kingcraft as favourite. Padlock has always been more or less unsound, but when right he is liable to go anything in a race. Gold Jacket is another who would shorten considerably in the market were he to score at Wellington, because he is a better stayer than a sprinter, and if he can win at a mile and a quarter on Saturday he must be given a great chance in the Cup.

Linkman Loses Favour. Unless Linkman can do much better than he did at the Auckland meeting on Saturday and Monday, V. Alborn's pacer can be counted out of the New Zealand Cup possibilities. For some weeks past reports from Christchurch have been singing his claims in a high key, but they were not warranted on the form he displayed here. He failed to get a place on teh opening clay in the mile, won by Joy Bird, but on Monday beat all but Wracklcr in the Alexandra Handicap, but there was nothing impressive about the. performance, as there was nothing of any account behind him at the end. There,

were only eight starters, and of these The Abbey took no part in the race. Native Prince would not settle down till his chance was hopeless, and Torpedo Huon, who filled third place, also was slow to get going. Of the others, Jean McElwyn cannot stay two miles in good company, Great Delight is only a moderate, and Gold Dial was out of her class, despite what she may have done twelve months ago at the Waikato meeting. It may be that Linkman can finish in the first four of his heat in the Cup, but the odds are against him doing this. There are a few in the Cup who could give Wrackler 12yds and a beating, and this is what Linkman failed to do.