SPRING RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 254, 26 October 1932, Page 13

SPRING RACING.

THE AUCKLAND MEETING.

WEIGHTS FOR FIRST DAY.

PRINCIPAL events reviewed.

The Auckland Racing Club's spring meeting Trill open at Ellerslie on Saturday wee k and interest in the fixture will be quickened by the declaration of the weights yesterday for the handicap events to be run on the first day. Most attention will be given to the Mitchelson Cup, the Shorts Handicap and the Flying Handicap. The Mitchelson Cup. Antique is placed at the head of the jfitchelson Cup with 0.12, or a similar impost to that which he had in the Avondale Cup, in which he finished sixth. He also carried 9.12 in the Members' Memorial, one mile and a quarter, at Cambridge on Monday, but was never dangerous. Hunting Cry (9-9) was third in the Avondale Cup and is now 21b closer to Antique, but unless the former shows considerable improvement Hunting Cry should beat him again. Protomint (8.13) won the Plumpton Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Avondale, with 7.9, Hunting Cry being set to concede him exactly two stone, but the latter did not start. Since then Protomint scored just as decisively with 8.3 at Cambridge. He should again go well in this race. Volimond (8.10) was a good performer over a distance last season, winning the Alison Cup, one mile, three furlongs and' forty yards, with ,7.13, and running second to Antique in the.yTakapuna Cup, of similar distance, with 8.13. Sue had a couple of races at the recent Avondale meeting, which were her first starts this season, but she failed to get into the money. View Halloo (8.7) has shown to advantage in sprint races this season, winning at Wanganui and Trentham. Last season he showed that he could stay by finishing second to Peter Jackson in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes, one mile! and three-quarters, and third to Peter Jackson and Gibraltar in the Great Northern St. Leger Stakes, He should go well. Gibraltar (8.1) was in the picture in the Wellington Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, on Saturday till the straight was reached, but then retired. The race is likely to. improve him. Te Hoia (8.1), if produced- fit and well, would have to be considered-after his victory in the Jellicoe Handicap. Korokio (8.1) won the New Zealand Oaks, one mile and a half, and recently has won three on end—two sprint races and the Masterton Handicap, one mile and' a quarter, -in - which she beat Cluny easily. The latter accounted for the Wellington Racing Club Handicap on Saturday, and, taking a line through Cluny, Korokio should be hard to beat. However, she is engaged in the New Cup, and may take on that event, which is run on the same day. Lord Val (7.11) finished third in a sprint at Wellington on Saturday, but failed in the Pearce Handicap, one mile, at Trentham on Monday. He does not appeal; neither does Valroe, with lib less, after his Avondale performances. Eoyal Artist (7,10).. was JoTiiih?in^the: ;^ Wellington Handicap on.. Saturday "'With 7.3, and he cannot be entirely left. out. Tigerism proved himself a good hack last season and way third over a mile at Trentham on Saturday, while Great Emblem was second in the Plumpton Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Avondale recently with 7.3. He may be one of the best lightweights. Some who may appeal just now are: Korokio, Protomint, View Halloo, Hunting Cry, Great Emblem and Royal Artist. y The Shorts Handicap. Tradesman (9.5) heads the Shorts Handicap field. He has raced most consistently this season, beingfthird in the Plying Stakes, six furlongs, with 8.1 at Avondale, while on the second daylhe won the President's Handicap with 8.3, and on Monday accounted for the Bollard Memorial, six furlongs and a half, at Cambridge with 8.12. He has won his races so easily this season that even with such'a steadier he is not out of it. Golden Wings (9.0) proved himself a good sprinter last season, but he has not raced this season. If produced at his best he would be troublesome. Huntingdon (8.9) was third in the President's Handicap, six furlongs, at AVoiidale with a similar impost, and he should be greatly improved. He should cause Tradesman a good deal more trouble on this occasion if they both start. High Comedy (7.12) has disappointed, while Gold Day (7.9)_ failed at Avondale. Royal Hunting (7.5) is very speedy when at his best and he was a good performer .over sprint distances last season. Eoyal Bengal and Imamint may be the best .of the.remainder. Those most fancied at present may be: Huntingdon, Tradesman, Golden Wings and Royal Hunting. The Flying Handicap. Both Hunting Cry (9.8) and View Halloo (9.6), who are the top-weights in the Flying Handicap, are engaged in the Cup, but if reserved for this race they should be in the picture: . Tradesman (9.5) has the same weight as he has in the Shorts Handicap, and probably he is to be preferred in the shorter race, though he stayed on well over sis and a half furlongs at. Cambridge on Monday. Chief Link (8.11) had his first race this season at Trentham on Saturday, but did not impress. Korokio (8.9) is in the Cup as well as this race, and would be a likely, sort if started. Chrysology (8.8) has nothing to his credit for some time, but King's A re her (8.8) raced ■well over seven furlongs at Avondale. Imperial Prince (8.3) won oyer a similar distance at the Avondale meeting with a similar impost. Gay Lap (8.2) had his first race this season at the Waikato Hunt meeting on Monday, when he was third in the Bollard Handicap, six furlongs and a half. He will be considerably improved. Pomp (7.10) should be suited by the distance, while of the others Chromadyne (7.9) and Soloist (7.0) may be the best. The most discussed ones just now may be: Gay Lap, Korokio, View Halloo, Hunting Cry, King's Archer and Imperial Prince. ACCEPTANCES ON FRIDAY. : Acceptances for all handicap events to be decided on the first day of the Auckland Racing Club's spring meeting, and final payments for the Welcome Stakes and Great Northern Guineas, are due with the secretary, Mr. W. S. Spence, at 5 p.m. on Friday. AN IMPROVED FILLY. The form shown by Fast Passage at the Wellington meeting was particularly good and will gain her additional friends for the New Zealand Cup, in which she is handicapped .at 8.0. This filly lias registered several 'good performances during the last few months and should strip in first-rate condition for the big two-mile event at Eiccarton. In the past most of her successes have been recorded over distances ranging from eight furlongs up to a mile and a quarter, but she should in her present condition be capable of seeing out a longer journey. At Riccarton last November Fast Passage ran second to Korokio in the Oaks, one mile and a half, and as she is now an improved filly her prospects in the Cup contest next month appear'to <be excellent.