TROTTING Southern Horses Should Dominate Auckland Cup

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30940, 22 December 1965, Page 5

TROTTING Southern Horses Should Dominate Auckland Cup

The six South Island horses engaged in the Auckland Cup next Tuesday evening should prove superior to the great majority of their 10 northern rivals in the £5OOO two-mile event.

Most South Island sapport will no doubt be centred on Orbiter and Robin Dundee, but Gay Robin, Disband and Garcon d’Or will all have their admirers. The sixth southern representative is Avante, a pacer with the happy knack of upsetting strong fields.

The bulk <rf Auckland support wHI go to the bocal farourite. Great Adkn, a pacer with an outstanding record at Alexandra Partr Raceway. Orbiter, an unlucky runner in the New Zeeland Cup in November, h*, aH the attribute* needed to win a race such a* the Auckland Cup ; Orbiter recorded a u>tendid trial when he best Robin Duodee in the Peeoro Memorial Handicap last Saturday. In that race be was in the open for moat of the way and he fought on gamely to win convincingly. Orbiter ia a much better horse now than when he contested the New Zealand Cup. He i* unbeaten in his last three start* and hi* ruggedness ia expected by most to carry the day for his Bapanui tratner-drtver, W. L. Bagrie. Robin Dundee meata Orbi-

ter on 12 yards more favourable teraw (ten when ate fioieted secoaxl to ten lest Soturdey. Hoeaemer, the extra two tarimpr and a half is cone Mered by many to prove too far for her. Many data that her stentoe woe found wanting in the New Zealand Cup when she was soundly beaten by Garry Dillon. Robin Dundee’s other racing hardly been out tint contention and it would be unwise tn discard her prospects. In the New Zeeland Cup she was forced over a considerable amount of extra ground over the last six furlongs whereas Garry Dillon was coasting along without encountering any of the jostling which must hwve affected Robin Dundee’s chances. Fine Mare If M. Holmes can keep her covered up dose to the teed until near the straight entrance, she will make Orbiter wort hard for a win. No mere has won the race since 1953 when Thelma Globe was successful. Holmes has not enjoyed great luck in the Auckland Oup, a race he has won only once. That waa to 1926 when in hie teens he drove Talero to win in 4.31. Gay Robin, a usually reliable beginner, made one of hie rare lapses at the start of the New Zealand Cup and showed outstanding ability to run fourth, a p he Ailed last irdey in the Petaro Memorial Handicap. He was a good way back until late in that race and ran on In grand style.

Goy Robin W a son of Johnny Globe, who shrsd lost year's wtaoer, Lordship. Dtebsnd has had an interrupted preparation for this raofc She has nA Masted at a totatestar meeting atoce October when she was a narrow wtaoer over 13 furlongs. However, she has gone ptawingiy at trials lately. Unfortunately she lost some skin off a leg when she kicked a hole in the side of the float carrytag her to last week’s Methven trials. If Disband has not missed too much wort atoce then, she could give a good account of herself. She is a splendid stayer and is regarded as one of the most promising stayers in oxnmißsion. Garcon d’Or will represent the Yaidhurst trainer, G. B. Noble, and Mr R. A. McKenzie, of Welington, for whom Scottish Command won thia race in 1959. Mr McKeusie went within a nose of winning 12 months ago when 7*y Ar was shaded in the last stride by Lordship. Garcon d’Or** form background is not particularly encouraging, but he is better than that suggests and a forward showing from him will not surprise. Won In August Avante haa not been successful since he won the National Handicap at long odds at Addington Raceway to August. His most recent efforts have done little to suggest that he warrants a second thought in a race such aa this. Avante’a wins to the last

two jrart hoiv* in tin nrain been well spaced. V caught in one of Mb generous moods* he oouM easily upset cifcutachjos m onta duo. Northerner* JustMteMy iwte highly the chances of Greet Ariton, a moat untuckr third tn Lordship and Jay Ar in this race 12 months ago He did writ to finish fifth in the Pesaro Memorial Handicap after receiving a poor run and coining home strongly from well back at the three furlongs. Garry DiHon will have a chance to prove whether his New Zealand Cup win was a fluke or not His form since that win has been extremely poor and he has been nearer last than first on most occasions.

On a fast track, Garay Dillon’s chances from 3d yards cannot be taken seriously. But, if he is the true stayer claimed by his northern admirers, he should be able to make a reaeonable showing. Oakhampton is another highly regarded Auckland contender. His times have not been exceptional; nor has he hud tn encounter very aptarited opposition as he has graduated through the classes. Oakhampton writ find Tuesday’s race vastly different from anything else 1 has encountered and unlees he is much better than his record suggests, his chances cannot be taken very.sertously and, like moat of the northerners, he win find it extremely difficult tn keep with Orbiter and Robin Dundee over the Anal furlong of a truly-run nwra.