FEATURE RACES AT PUKEKOHE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27213, 3 December 1953, Page 4

FEATURE RACES AT PUKEKOHE

CUP TRIAL VALUABLE GUIDE

CLASS GALLOPERS IN FRANKLIN PLATE Widespread interest will be centred this Saturday on the Franklin Racing Club's meeting at Pukekohe, where two feature events are the £l7OO Auckland Cup Trial, of one mile and a half, and the £7OO Franklin Plate, weight-for-age, of six furlongs. The Auckland Cup Trial was first run in the 1948-49 seasbn, and it has usually proved a valuable guide to the big event at Ellerslie. In 1948 Lord Revel was the beaten favourite in the trial, and he finished fourth in the cup, three horses which beat him not having contested the trial. The following year, Swanee finished second to Conspiracy in the trial and then won the cup. In 1950 Beaumaris won both events. Zenith was an easy winner of the trial in 1951, and' went under by one length and a half to Classowa in the cup. Last season, none of the first five horses past the post in the cup had started in the trial, but Gay Sari, which had won the trial, was a fast-finishing sixth in the cup race. Only two of the acceptors for* this year's Cup Trial (Gillace and Patuone) are not entered for the Royal Auckland Cup. Mt. Denby, top-weight with 9st 31b for the Auckland Cup, is weighted at 9st 61b for Saturday’s race. This five-year-old Beau Vite entire came right back to his best with a solid performance to win the Foxbridge Plate at Waikato on November 21. He has beaten some high-class fields of handicappers. and his performance under his big weight on Saturday will be closely watched. Next in the Cup Trial Handicap are Arawa and the Riccarton-trained Valescure, both with 8-5. Arawa is a smart handicapper with a good record this season. Since beating a good field in the Motion Handicap on the Pukekohe course last August he has retained his form to finish third in the Avondale Cup, and second to Gendarme in the Ralph Somers Memorial Cup, in October, from his three other starts. South Island Contender Valescure is one of the South Island’s better performed Royal Auckland Cup entrants. A proved stayer, the Treasure Hunt gelding was in good form last month, when he won the Buchanan Memorial at Motukarara, and then finished fourth in the New Zealand Cup, and third in the Metropolitan at Riccarton. He will be ridden during his Christmas campaign by C. McDonald. On 8-4 for the Cup Trial are Winslow Boy and Niblick. Winslow Boy is a smart handicapper when at his best, but he has done nothing of note recently. Niblick will be the better favoured of this pair. He is consistent, and his efforts last season indicated that he would probably develop into a sound stayer. A five-year-old gelded son of Gold Nib and Fame Bian, he has started only twice this season, his latest effort resulting in a fourth placing over one mile at Waikato on November 21. Master Proven has 8-2 for the Trial. This Isaac of York gelding has not found form so far this season. He had a good record last term, particularly on wet tracks. Merrywa has 7-13 for Saturday’s race. He is another which has no form recommendations this season, and he is also partial to wet tracks. The Wingatui candidate, Royal Tower, is on 7-9 for the Trial, and a lot of interest will be taken by southern racing enthusiasts in the running of this Nightly gelding. Royal Tower will be having his first start since returning from his Australian campaign, where he raced consistently well, but with only moderate success, amongst the best stayers over there. Light-weight Prospects Several of those lower in the handicap for Saturday’s event are being considered as good light-weight prospects for the Auckland Cup, and their performances in the Trial should provide the best line to go on. They include Sobriquet, Brushwood, Freeland, and Brue. Sobriquet's most important success last season was the Mitchelson Cup, one mile and a half, and that effort stamped the Beau Repaire gelding as a stayer above the average. His efforts so far this season have not been up to what was expected of him. but it is probable that the Auckland Cup has been his main mission all along. In the open handicap at Te Aroha last Saturday he was seen to issue a strong bid early in the run home, and then weaken slightly near the end to finish fifth. That could be an indication that he is returning to his best. He has 7-6 on Saturday. Brushwood, a four-year-old Underwood mare, has won three races this season, and, with a sound performance for third placing in the two-mile Waikato Cup last month, showed that she will be capable of winning major handicaps this summer. She is to carry 7-3 on Saturday. Freeland is similarly weighted. This five-year-old Fete de Neuilly gelding's performance this season cannot be faulted. Securing a third and a fourth from his first two starts for the season, he then won three consecutive races. The last of these was the Waikato Hack Cup, one mile and three furlongs, on November 21. Freeland will be making his first appearance in open company in the Cup Trial. He is a determined front runner and a courageous finisher, and it will be interesting to see how he will measure up to the stronger class. Brue, with three successive wins in hack company, up to one mile and three furlongs, made a rapid rise to fame this season. For his first race in open company, the two-mile Waikato Cup was chosen for him. To finish fourth in that race was a particularly fine effort for a newcomer to the higher ranks; and on the strength of that effort he was made second favourite for the open handicap at Te Aroha last Saturday. He did not appear to be favoured in the running, but was putting in good work at the finish for ninth placing. A four-year-old Golden Souvenir gelding, he appears an up and coming stayer. He is weighted at 7-1 on Saturday. Mt. Denby, Arawa, Valescure, and Brushwood should all carry solid support for the Auckland Cup Trial. Whatever the outcome, it should be kept in mind when discussing Royal Auckland Cup prospects. Franklin Plate The Franklin Plate has proved a successful innovation, attracting a class field. Gendarme will probably be the favourite, but with gallopers of the calibre of Archbishop, Gloaming Prince, Paper Strip. Wakatu. Nonpareil, and Seven Bells also engaged, a brilliant sprinting contest should result. Considerable interest will be taken in the efforts of the three-year-old colts (Nonpareil and Seven Bells) against their older rivals at weight-for-age. Seven Bells, a brilliant two-year-old last season, won the Wellington Guineas, and was second in both the Great Northern Guineas and the Waikato Guineas this term. His latest appearance was in the Foxbridge Plate last month, but he was denied a chance of proving his worth at weight-for-age when he had his legs over the side of his starting stall when the barriei- was released. Even then he finished fifth. Nonpareil won the Avondale Guineas and was third in the Great Northern Guineas. He is also endowed with great brilliance, and should at least assist Seven Bells in the attempt to bring the first Franklin Plate honours to the younger brigade.

WOODVILLE BRACKETS (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, Dec. 2. Brackets for the Woodville Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday are:— Trial Plate: Patti and Lady Help, Black Oak and Fashionable. Ruthin and The Trappist. Lady Tregenna and Golden Desert, Kashandi, Subterfox, and Turmoil, Lady Broi and Old Perce, Geelong and Retreat. Partisan and Aerogram, Marsine and Belle Bourne, Allure and Haiown, Ticino and Bugs One, Ocean Bound and Leeside, Hesitation and Special Edition. True Gold and Gahl, Sirene and York's Girl, Diecast and Aviette, Renette and Übique. Foxborough and Lovelight, Karessa and Rexdale, Silver Foya and El Sabio, Triple Royal and Glitterwings. Gothard Handicap: Lord Alope and Mahogany, Probational and Red Ruler. Juvenile Handicap: Tusia and Brown Heath. Stewards’ Handicap: Lady Stylist and Pilgrim’s Star, Silver Scholar and Talio. Westland Acceptances.—The handicap of Whitecombe Jack, top weight in the Radford Memorial Handicap at the Westland Racing Club’s meeting, should be 9-0. not 9-9.—(P.A.) BAXumMTt Scratchings.—Reformed and ftflyal Tower have been scratched from the Wetherstones Handicap, the open event at the Beaumont meeting on Saturday. This will allow Royal Birthday to re-enter the field.—(P.A.) Ho ror ata Racing Club Acceptances (racing), withdrawals (trotting) for the Hororata Racing Club’s meeting to be held at Hororata on Saturday, December 12, Z 953, close at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 7, 1953, with the secretary, P. J. Byrne, 193 Cashel street. Christchurch. Advt. To our many men friends! You’ll be at home this Xmas letting us choose your Dreamwear gifts l This year more than ever everything’s a gift at Dreamwear. New Regent street and Hereford court. —Advt,