WELLINGTON CUP

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25390, 13 January 1948, Page 4

WELLINGTON CUP

AN OVERSIZED FIELD The 1948 Wellington Cup has drawn an overlarge field of 28 and not by any stretch of imagination can it be said that every one of those 28 acceptors has an equal chance in the race. With such a large field it is far too ’ probable that luck in the running will play a not' inconsiderable part in the result of the race. It is only natural that when big prizes are offered, owners are keen to compete for them, but as in the New Zealand Cup and the Auckland Cup, some owners are endeavouring to achieve the major honours with horses that are not up to the best class. While the conditions of entry for the best class races allow such horses to be entered this will continue. Big fields may indicate a healthy state of affairs in racing, but stakes are on such a level to-day that clubs may well impose more stringent conditions for entry for the premier events* of the season. This year’s Wellington Cup has drawn most of the best staying talent in the country and the top half of the handicap alone would have provided the material for a fine race. The top weight, Beau ie Havre has earned his weight of 9-9. He put up a sterling performance with 9-3 to win the New Zealand Cup, and shares with that great stayer Nightmarch, the honour of being the only horse to have won the race with 9-0 or over. In a fast run race he put up a gallant performance to run fifth in the Auckland Cup with 9-11, and with 21b less to carry next Saturday, will have to be respected. He has thrived since that race and on. this occasion an even greater handicap than his big weight may be the oversized field. Fine Form at Ellerslie King’s Ransom’s fine form at the Auckland summer meeting has earned him 9-2, an increase of 101 b on his Auckland Cup weight. At Ellerslie, where King’s Ransom has shown some of his best form, he was awarded second place in the Auckland Cup, and on the later days won the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, of one mile and a half, and the Clifford Plate, in which he beat Howe in a race run at a muddling pace. King’s Ransom is built on massive lines, but he is riot by any means fully furnished, and there may be a good deal of improvement in him yet. He showed fine form at the Wellington spring meeting, disappointed in the Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton, and again at Otaki a fortnight later, and then regained his form at Ellerslie. That was sufficient proof of his qualities and he may prove capable ofs mastering 9-2. Howe dispelled any doubts about his ability to stay when he was first past the post in the Auckland Cup. With 8-11 he has an increase of 51b on the weight he actually carried in that race. The two miles at Trentham may or may not prove a more severe test than the Auckland Cup, but after his performance in the latter race Howe must still be considered quite well treated with 31b less than weight-for-age. Whether Balgowan would have won the Auckland Cup outright but for being carried wide by Howe in the straight is only a matter for conjecture, but the fact that he finished only a neck behind Howe was sufficient proof of his ability to run out two miles solidly. He failed in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap with 8-12 and with only 21b less in the Wellington Cup, which represents an increase of 101 b on his Auckland Cup weight he looks to have a difficult task. It also has to be remembered that in racing the left-handed way round at Trentham, he meets the southern horses at the same disadvantage as they met him at Ellerslie.

In his two trips to Ellerslie, Signal Officer has never been quite at home galloping the reverse way round, and his prospect scan best be assessed on his form at the New Zealand Cup meeting. His fourth in the New Zealand Cup after taking charge of his rider with six furlongs to run was no mean effort, but it is useless to speculate on where he would have finished had his run been delayed another 'few furlongs. His form in the Metropolitan Handicap and the Canterbury Cup established his class, and though he has so far failed in his attempts to win over two miles, Signal Officer may still prove that the distance is not beyond, him. Unfor.tunately he has suffered an attack of kidney trouble since he returned from Ellerslie, and he may not parade at the same pitch as he was at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Consistent Performer

Success for Royal Tan in the Wellington Cup would not be out of turn as he has raced consistently and well in big handicaps this season. He ran a sterling race when he suffered a neck defeat at the hands of Beau le Havre in the New Zealand Cup, and a repetition of that effort would go very near to bringing success at Trentham. He failed in the Auckland Cup, but that was his first race on the Ellerslie course. He showed better form when he was narrowly defeated by King’s Ransom in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap and by Lord Revel in the Nathan’s Memorial Handicap. He also appreciates easier going than that at Ellerslie. If Royal Tan has freshened up after his holiday racing he may go close to emulating his brother Bruce, which won the face last year.

Langue d’Or ran fourth in last year’s race and second the previous year. This season he failed to regain his form for the New Zealand» Cup meeting but he won the Marton Cup on January 1. So far Langue d’Or has found the task of gaining the major honours over two miles just beyond him, and he is at an age when it is not going to be any easier. The same may be said of his stablemate, Broiefield. He was second to Bruce last year, but his form this season has been indifferent. He failed in the Auckland Cup, in which Langue d’Or did not run. Regal Praise gave promise of fine staying form last season but she has not come up to expectations so far this season. She may be due to show improvement. Robin’s Reward was prominent for a good part of the journey in the Auckland Cup, and he may alschimprove on his effort, although so far he Was not impressed as a two miles prospect. With 7-11, Indian Dawn has a handy weight and her showings over a mile and a half entitle her to be classed as a definite prospect. She is not exactly bred on sound staying lines, but her whole nature and the manner in which she races are those of a stayer. Royal Victor has already* proved his ability to stay, but he is a one-paced type of stayer these days. Indian Gold made a good showing when he ran fourth in the Auckland Cup and looked one of the best prospects in the field, but he is now a non-starter. He had been very carefully raced this season. Improving Young Stayer Spare Part is one of the few improving young stayers in the lower half of the nandicap and will have a strong following. His form in hack company at the New Zealand Cup meeting was most impressive and he went on to confirm these good impressions with an easy victory in the Invercargill Cup. The two miles should not prove beyond him. and with 7-9 he may present a real danger to those higher in the weights. Lord Elgin has shown 1 good form up toa mile and a half, but it is problematical whether he will see out two miles. On his day he 'is a good galloper. Merry Robin has just failed to live up to his earlier promise. Most of the remainder look to fall below the required class. Desert Fox, the winner of the New Zealand St. Leger last season, should prove the exception. He took time to find his form this season, but at his last start won the New Year Handicap at Hastings. Wellington Scratchings Scratchings for the first day of the Wellington summer meeting are:—Wellington Cup: Indian Gold (11.5 d.m., Saturday). Pencarrow Hack Handicap: Reveller (12.10 p.m. yesterday).—(P.A.)