THE WINTER CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 158, 6 July 1937, Page 14

THE WINTER CUP.

OVER FIFTY ENGAGED.

FORM OF CANDIDATES.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER ENTERED. With over 50 horses nominated, the Winter Cup at Riccarton. hae drawn a good field, and eorne good onee are engaged. However, several of them will be racing at Trentham this week and their form there may throw further light on the position. The top-weight will probably be Silver Ring, but he has been off the scene for some time, and one would not expect him to be quite ready. Royal Gallant was a winner at Oamnru on Saturday, while Sweet Agnes has been unplaced in her last three starts, but she is a very smart mare when at her best. Monipere has been showing useful form on the West Coast and al.-'o in Canterbury, but whether he is class enough for this event remains to be seen. Le Touquet and Gold Mission are engaged at Trentham this week. The former raced fairly well as a two-year-old last season and was placed the other day, while Gold Mission has scored over six and seven furlongs during the last few weeks and was second in the Connolly Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Wanganui. Tiger Gain wns third in that event, while Queen Dorothy was a winner over seven furlongs at South Canterbury recently and annexed the King George Handicap, one mile, at Dunedin last month with 0.6, and Dictate was the only one to head her off in the Maronan Handicap, seven furlongs, at Ashburton. Grey Honour has won three races during the last few weeks and hie Trentham form will be followed with interest. Amelita has been placed on several occasion* recently, but Pelmet hae

no recent form. Will Bβ Considered. Concertpitcb, however, will be one of the elect if started. He won the Great Eaeter Handicap, seven furlongs, at Riccarton last Eaeter and subsequently won the Coronation Cup, one mile and a quarter, at Ashburton, beating Queen of Song and Ponty. Vulmint, who is competing at Trentham, ran two excellent race* at the Great Northern meeting, and if he performs well at the Wellington fixture he will have some friends at Riccarton if taken there. Pakanui, another Wellington competitor, has previously raced well at Riccarton and wae recently successful over eix furlongs at Napier. Hie running at Trentham will be followed with interest. Royal Appellant, who won over a mile on the last day of the Great Northern meeting, is also entered, but whether he will make the trip is problematical. Trench Fight was a good three-year-old earlier in the season, when he .won the Spring Plate, one mile, and the Jockey Club Handicap, of similar distance, at the laet New Zealand Cup meeting. If he was in the came form he would be one of the favourites, but he has not had a race for some time. Silver Streak showed that he had not lost anything of his brilliancy when he was second at Oamaru last Saturday. This was his first race for some time, and he should be about right when the Winter Cup comes up for decision. Bay Duke has performed well in the south and is due to race at Trentham to-day. Lady Ina was successful over seven furlongs at the recent Pahiatua meeting and was narrowly beaten at Feilding over a similar distance. Pukeko has raced most consistently recently and should be one of -flit? fittest horses in the field. Myriam and Arctic King are in at Trentham. The latter won the Mcßae Cup, one mile and a quarter, at the last Egmont meeting. Epris has no recent j form, but Ciitnlogue won in great style at Manuwatu on Saturday, and if he does well at Trentham he will not be neglected.

An Auckland Entry. Armacourt failed at Waipa, and wa* not I sent to Trentham. High Olee wae successI ful over u mile and a quarter at Dunedin I last month, while Greek Gold, who is getI tint; on in years, will require to do better than he did at Ellerslie to have a ghow. I Korero ie a recent winner over a mile and a quarter, while Warehi ran second over a I similar distance at Awapuni on Saturday. .':■.■• Wino won the Winter Cup last year and 1 scored over a mile and 35 yarde at South 1 Canterbury in May. Rebel Chief won over BJ seven furlongs at Oamaru in May and later scored over a similar distance at Amberley. Half Note wae successful over seven fur- . longs at the last Dunedin meeting, beating Mount Val. Top Rank has shown good : form during the last few months, winning at Nelson, Marlborough and Amberley, while he was second to Pukeko at Otaki. Ponty was third in the last Winter Cup, K while Queen of Song, may prefer a longer , distance. She was placed over a mile and a quarter on two occasions recently. Dictate is a likely sort, for he won the Yald- . hurst Handicap, seven furlongs, at Easter, beating Miracle, who is another good hack engaged, while he also beat Miracle .over a mile and 35 yards at South Canterbury : and won .over a similar distance some weeks later on the same course.. Hfe won the Miiromin Handicap, seven furlongs, at Asjhbui'ton last month, beating Queen Dorothy, Greek Gold, Epris and others. I Miracle- won over a mile at Oamaru in '-April and also over a similar distance at Ashburton in May. Davolo annexed the Midsummer Hiindicap at Riccnrton, and in April last he was third over a mile and ;> a 'quarter, at Oamaru. Passion Fruit and r Knhikatou nre at Wellington, the fprmer * being placed on two occasions recently, I while the Intter .has not raced for a long t* time. However, he won the Winter Cup (in 1931. I There will be further opportunity of denling with these liorsce after the Wellington I meeting, when .the weights are declared.