Centennial Trotting Cup To-morrow

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 10

Centennial Trotting Cup To-morrow

International Flavour: Red Flush Popular In Open Race

The Auckland Centennial Gold Trotting Cup is to be raced for to-morrow, and the contest should be worth going a long way to see. There is no denying the fact that the field, international in its flavour, not only comprises pacers of class from America, Australia and various parts of New Zealand, but also retains a balance not excelled in recent years. Naturally it is the principal event at the Christmas carnival of the Auckland Trotting Club, but, in addition to other important handicap events during the meeting, there will be attempts by the champion Lawn Derby to lower the world's grass track records over a mile and a mile and a half, while the straight-out trotter Nell Volo will seek to set new figures in the Dominion for a mile.

TTie Cup is nil intriguing problem, for Marlene, one of tho>e on the limit, has run two miles recr-nllv in 4.17 4-3; Isabel Derby has covered the distance in less than 4.20--but that was a considerable time ago—mid every other horse in the race has gone considerably better than their handicap times. Red Flush won the Auckland Cup trial at Cla udela lids on December !1 in such convincing' style that he is the logical favourite, while Uenukii. holder of the course record of 3.13 2-3 for a mile and a half, and u proved stayer, must have a great chance, despite recent failures. He should take all sorts of beating, liainer VV. J. O Shea is nuictlv confident with his two representatives. Lawn Derby and Springfield Globe, but Marlene and Icevus make a great appeal to the writer. It is not unlikely that l Red Flush, Marlene arid (Jjnuku will I fight out the finish, and if there is a lurprisc, it may come from Sandusky. |

The programme will be opened with the Selby Handicap, which has attracted eight runners, the smallest field of the day. Elliotvale won well to the end of last season, and if he trots kindly this aged son o4 Kelson Derby will be hard to run down. Milestone has come from the South Island with a record of two successes in one day at Methven, and it is significant that he is engaged in the Rowe Memorial Handicap later in the day at a present handicap disadvantage of five seconds. Both Air Pilot and Black Native are working well, and Mattie Herbilwyn showed pace at Claudelands. Those most popular may be Elliotvale, Air Pilot, Milestone.

A number of comparatively unknown quantifies figure in the first division of the December Handicap, but on track wol'K Cavalryman cannot be paxsed over. He ran the final hulf-mila of a workout on the glass at Alexandra Park latft week in 1.7. When heavily supported at Kpsom a few months ago he stood on the mark. His sire, Nobleman, was often erratic at the barrier. Maratua. demonstrated at the lbst Waikato fixture that he is on the improve, while Xeon Oro and Sir Echo havfi private reputations. The back-marker. Clay Pot, usually runs into a place, but the favourites will probably be Cavalryman. Honniedene - Xeon Oro bracket and Maratua.

Betting should take a wide range in the Grandstand Handicap, i'etor Smith, who won at Claudelaiuts eariy iu vile month, wm at the top of his form at this meeting twelve months ago, winning a double. He is a good pacer and will go to a tighter mark. Fortex and Adversity make a powerful combination from M. Stewart's successful stable, and Vanora, Tmngatu and Francisco are doing well in their training. The last-named would win it ahe were to leave the mark promptly, put even though successful on two occasion* since ner in Auckland some months ago. she cannot be preferred to Peter Smith, the Fortex bracket and Vanora.

.Twenty-four horses are engaged in the Akarana Handicap, and they include some young pacers who have yet to reach the top of their pacing ability. The Jnck Jrotts mare Revision lias won at her only two start* since coming to the province, end should go on improving. She will be coupled with Molly Dinect, who promised well on her last showing here. Honestus, khe Jack i'otts breed, ran 3.2}_3-a from 3.37 to win at Forbury Park on November 23, and this is a 3.33 class lace. Both Amy win and Lady Vasclyne *T e . doing well, and Axminster, limit, and Kete Kura, and Hillcnest are on the upgrade. In the final run to the judge those prominent should be HevisionMollv Direct bracket, Lady Vasclyne bracket, and Honestus.

When Great Surprise Was defeated by Worthy Merit at Alexandra Park in October, he was not at his best, and he should Hive a jtood account of himself in the Rowe Memorial. He is meeting Worthy Merit on yards better terms. Sir Tony won a double at Waikato at the beginning of the month, and is one of the most promising young trotters in these parts. However, he might be held safe by the Wrack mare Decoy Bird, whose second to Canadian at Claudelands just over a fortnight a«o, wa« nothing if not impressive. Gay Moko and VVorthy Merit add to the interest of this contest, which might be fought out by Great Surprise, Decoy Bird bracket, Elissa braclvt and Sir Tony. Although Tsana has failed to run up to expectations during recent months it is almost certain that Stewart's bracket in the Christmas Handicap will be favourite. His other representative is Belfast Jack, a winner at Epsom not so very long ago, and an improver. Te Koto, who got on the winning list at Wellington, is a very fit horse, and possesses a decided chance, while Grand Dame may do better here than she did at Claudelands. where she disappointed her connections. Of >the others, Kewpie's Jewel went well at her lust start, and she might decide to pace evenly on this occasion. Popular fancies are likely to be Belfast Jack-Tsana, Te .Roto, and the Kewpic's Jewel-Orby Lad bracket. That brings us to the la*t event on thft day. Francisco, Joeedale Grattan and Nervie's Lust make a powerful combination, of which Josedale Grattan may prove to be the best. Bold Venture is not far off the winning list, while Kewpie's King and Token have excellent recent per-

formances in their favour. Three Bells also has a chance, so that this event should provide a keen contest. Maybe it will resolve itself into a tussle between the .Tosedale Grattan biacket. Token, and Kewpie's King. The followl ng are the acceptances: — 12.0—SELBY HANDICAP (Trotters* of £250. One mile and a half, t.lmit 3.4.">. Barney Blngen Lt. Black Native 36 Elliotvale . . I.t. Milestone ... 36 yds. blid. Air Pilot ... 48 frontier Boy . 12 Dick Redmond 60 Mattle Herbllwyn . . 12 12.45—DECEMBER HANDICAP of £200 One mile and a quarter. Limit 3.5. First Division. Alhertlnl ... Lt. Ihi Ihl . . . . Lt. Barbara Scott Lt. Maratua . . . Lt. Blue Crest . . Lt. Xawton Junior Lt. Bold Boy . . . Lt. I'rincens Llnnett Lt. Honnledene . . Lt. Sequoia .... Lt. Neon Oro . . . Lt. Sir Echo ... Lt. Cavalryman . . Lt. vds bhd True Lady . . Lt. Parishioner . . 12 Export Pr . . . Lt. Aerial Bell . . 12 Honey Pot . . Lt. Clay Pot ... 24

I.3O—GRANDSTAND HANDICAP of £300. One lnlle and a half. Limit 3.27. yds. bhd. Battlevale ... Lt. Adversity ... 12 Fortex .... Lt. Great Cbum . 12 Gold Circle . . Lt. Tungatu .... 12 Hearsay .... Lt. Eighteen Carat 24 Munga Tangi . Lt. Equipoise ... 24 Peter Smith . Lt. Loyal Direct . 24 Vanora .... Lt. Francisco ... 30 Ringtrue ... 38 2.15-AUCKLAND CUP Of £1400 and Gold Cup value £100. Two miles. Limit 4.81. Marlene ... Lt. Bill B 12 Bayard ~ . . . Lt. Icevus ..... 12 Red Flush . . Lt. Isabel Derby 12 oandusky* . . . Lt. Kenworthy . . 36 Uenuku .... Lt. Springfield yds. bhd. Globe . . 3fl Battlefield ... 12 Lawn Derby . . 108 3.S—AKARANA HANDICAP.of £275. One mile and a half. Limit 3.33. Amy win ... Lt. Kete Kura . . 12 Axmlnster ... Lt. Luminate ... 12 Chaise ..... Lt. Lucky Love . . 12 . Lt. Monty Chimes 12 Honestus . . . Lt. Silver Watch . 12 John's Last . Lt. Bedford ... 24 Kewpie's Queen Lt. Chill Bean . . 24' ' I'etlte Jewel Lt. IHllcrest ... 24 Revision . . Lt. Isabella Pointer 24 Tommy Molly Direct 24 McElwyn Lt. Resistance . . 24 yds. bhd. Tangaroa ... 3G Forest Jewel . 12 True Trust . . 36 Lady Vasclyne 12 3.SO—ROWE MEMORIAL HANDICAP j (Trotters) of £325. Two miles. Limit 4.52. Big Kauri . . Lt. Great Surprise 24 Black Native Lt. Arapai . . . 36 Milestone . . . Lt. Audo Patch . . 36 Koi Grande . . Lt. Canadian ... 36 Sir Tony . . . Lt. Gay Moko ... 36 yds. bhd. Stalky .... 36 Decoy Bird . . 12 Worthy Merit 60 Elissa .... 12 Waikato Prince 192 Llanvabon ... 12 4.3S—CHRISTMAS HANDICAP of £250. One mile and a half. Limit 3.38. Belfast. Jack . Lt. Silk Lady . . . Lt. Grand uamc . Lt. yds. bhd. Kewpie's Jewel Lt. Double Peter . 12 Xarbada ... Lt. Shadow Boy 12 Novikoff ... Lt. Tsana .... 12 Orby Lad . . . Lt. Our Jewel .. . 24 Radio Queen . Lt. Te Roto ... 24 S.2O—ST. HELIER'S HANDICAP of £300. One mile, and a quarter. Limit 2.48. yds. bhd. Bold Venture . Lt. Kewpie's Francisco ... Lt. Triumph . . 12 Gold Dredge . Lt. Nervle's Last . 12 .losednic Our McKinney 12 Grnttan ... Lt. Our War ... 12 Nawton Parrlsh Lt. Three Bells . . 12 Itingtrue . . . Lt. Tokr-n 12 Sir Frank . . Lt. Kewpie's King 24 Star I'ronto Lt. Springfield Globe .... 38