Cup Form May Be Shown At Trial

Press, Volume C, Issue 29684, 30 November 1961, Page 4

Cup Form May Be Shown At Trial

*'The Press’* Special Service

AUCKLAND. Nov. 29. Interest in the Auckland Cup is growing and with the declaration of handicaps next Tuesday it will quicken considerably. A good many of the likely candidates are to compete over a mile and a half in toe Auckland Cup Trial at Pukekohe on Saturday. Their form will attract the widest attention. The Cup trial was first staged in 1948 when the Franklin Racing Club came into possession of a summer date after being restricted to racing in the autumn and winter. Conspiracy won the first running and the second but tackled the Auckland Gup only in 1940 when he finished unplaced. Except for Conspiracy in 1948 and Big Blow, in 1958 each of the Cup trial winners has run in the big Ellerslie event a few weeks later and most have done well. Exceptions were Gay Sari (1952), and Brushwood (1953). Both won the Cup trial, but failed altogether at Ellerslie. The other Cup trial winners have been Beaumaris (i 960 Zenith (1951), Arawa (1954), Sonnetary (1955), Llanisfair (1956), Red Eagle (1957). Aircraft (1959) and Volitime (1960). When it came to the Auckland Cup, they were first (Beaumaris), second (Zenith), first (Arawa), fourth (Sonnetary), third (Llanisfair), first (Red Eagle), second (Aircraft) and seventh (Volitime). Beaumaris and Red Eagle were four when they won both races and Arawa was a six-year-old. From his Cup trial handicap, Beaumaris dropped sib to 9-3 in the Auckland Cup and Arawa went up 21b and Red Eagle, 81b. The four-year-olds in the Cup trial this time are Chatsmore (7-8), Jovic (7-4), Old Parr (7-3), Serretta (7-0) and Special Terms (7-0). The six-year-olds are Vitapointe (8-4), Climbing (7-6), Count Filou (7-0) and Special Man (7-0). Weight-for-age for the four-year-olds is 9-0 and for the six-year-olds, 9-4, with an allowance for mares, at this time of the year, of sib. None of toe six-year-olds looks as good as Arawa and it will be a great surprise if Chatsmore, Jovic. Old Parr, Seretta and Special Terms approach the heights attained by Beaumaris. Old Parr and Climbing might nevertheless run the cup trial course well.. A win

for Old Parr would be deserved because he has managed two close seconds this season in worthwhile middledistance handicaps. One was at Rotorua and the other was in the Spring Handicap, a mile and a quarter, at Ellerslie. Last week he came about eighth in the Waikato Gold Cup, a mile and a half. In the Waikato Gold Cup, Old Parr was forced over extra ground so his effort was creditable. Unless he is lucky in making a very quick beginning, Old Parr might have to run over extra ground again this Saturday because he has a very wide position at the start. So has Climbing and Count Filou is another at a similar disadvantage. The long spell of fine, hot weather and baked tracks have been against Climbing, which might show quick improvement as soon as there is a break in the weather. In the early spring, at Avondale, Climbing twice went 11 furlongs well for a third and a fourth. He has since started once, in a mile at Te Rapa on November 18 when he finished about tenth. With th» conditions to suit him, during the next few weks, Climbing might become a light-weight chance in the Auckland Cup, and that is mote than can be skid for most of his opponents in the cup trial on Saturday. Sound Stayers Because of their sound form in the Waikato Gold Cup, Jim’s Count and Bemuse have won a good deal of consideration for the staying races ahead. In the Gold Cup they finished second (Jim’s Count) and sixth (Bemuse) Frojn what he carried on that occasion, Jim's Count is up 41b to. B-4 on Saturday. Bemuse has the same weight—7-10. Jim’s Count was well out of form beforehand, so his good showing in the Gold Cup was a surprise. Bemuse’s sixth followed a very fair effort over 10 furlongs at Te Rapa on November 11, so it was not a surprise. Jim's Count is big and seems to need plenty of room so his chance might depend on the luck of the running. If there is further rain to take the hardness from the ground, his prospects would improve a good deal. Bemuse, on the other hand, does not mind the going being very hard as he showed last January with two middledistance wins. One was at

Pukekohe, over a slightly shorter course- than he will be running this time, in the Hosking Handicap. Woodlore, the top-weight, with 8-6. has such a liking for Pukekohe that he is bound to be a popular runner. Summer Morn is in winning form and nicely placed with 7-4, so she might be dangerous.