Golden Defoe Pick For Auckland Cup

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 6

Golden Defoe Pick For Auckland Cup

“The Press’’ Special Service

AUCKLAND.

In spite of Sobig’s fine win in the Clifford Plate and fine training gallops by Kandy and Lucky Son, Golden Defoe remains the most popular fancy for tomorrow’s £15,500 Auckland Cup.

If Golden Defoe wins it will be the second time in five years that R. T. Cotter, a Te Rapa trainer, and an Auckland rider, D. A. Raklander, have combined to take the big prize. In 1962 they won with Floutulla.

Golden Defoe tried in the cup race last year and finished seventh. In the Wellington Cup, a few weeks later, he was near last. In those days he pulled too hard to have no chance of getting a well-run two miles.

Lately Golden Defoe has run more kindly and with Raklander delaying him unttl the last furlong he ran the mile and a half of the Queen Elizabeth Handicap last Monday like a good stayer. Whether Raklander will be able to “smother” Golden Defoe as well over the first mile and a half of the cup, and the riding plans of G. F. Hughes, on Sobig, are two of the main considerations for betters tomorrow.

Another is Kandy’s style of running and his very wide barrier position. It seems that the way in which the pacemakers run the first mile will bear heavily on the result. (Golden Defoe will start

from the outside of the field, which is expected to be a limit number of 24. Kandy drew No. 22 and Sobig No. 9. The riders on Golden Defoe and Kandy will be anxious to improve their positions before the first bend, after about two furlongs. They might have to sprint their mounts initially. Both Golden Defoe and Kandy have the speed and physique to hold their own whatever the battle for early positions. From the outside Kandy took the pacemaking almost immediately in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap and when perhaps short of a gallop he lasted until about half-way down the run home. Kandy has improved in the meantime. His trainer, G. W. Smith, is pleased With the gelding’s condition. Sobig has been pronounced in excellent shape by his trainer, G. W. B. Greene, and Gotter is equally pleased with Golden Defoe.

Sobig’s usual manner of racing is to get away quickly and lead or run very close to the pacemaking. He has run a mile and a half successfully in that fashion and in fast time.

Hughes might well be reluctant to try the same tactics in a handicap of two miles. Whatever the outcome he is certain to get the best from the top-weight. Sobig has 8-10, which is 41b less than weight-for-age. Kandy, another four-year-old, has 8-4, and Golden Defoe, a six-year-old, Will carry 8-1. The amount on Sobig is more than most four-year-old winners have carried, but half a stone less than Beaumaris won with at the same age in 1950. Another four-year-old which won with a big weight was Lord Chancellor (9-2) in 1943. Four-year-olds, five-year-olds and six-year-olds win most Auckland Cups and it will be a big surprise if one from another age group is successful tomorrow. Besides Kandy and Sobig the notable four-year-olds are Creolian and Arbroath. The best of four five-year-olds is likely to be Creemore and the best six-year-olds, except for Golden Defoe, seem to be Lucky Son and Honourable. Warm Weather The return of warm, sunny weather yesterday raised hopes of favourable conditions tomorrow. Midweek, squally showers, however unpleasant to holidaymakers, freshened the track which will be at its best. Unless there is unexpected dawdling the cup gallop should be well up to the average for a good track—a little better than 3min 22sec. The prize for first is £9600 and the cup which is valued at £l5O. The winner will have earned about £2BOO a minute. The second leg of the cup double will be the £3OOO Railway Handicap, in which Impresario, Hilldale, Silver Sunset and Pheroz Pride look the best chances. Impresario, the top-weight with 8-13, was lucky in the draw for barrier positions. He has No. 6. Hilldale with No. 9 and Silver Sunset, No. 7, are also well placed. Other major attractions on cup day ere the Great Northern Foal Stakes and the King’s Plate. In the Great Northern Foal Stakes everyone will be looking for a winning performance from the Awapuni visitor, Prince d’Amour. Noon—

GRAFTON HIGH-WEIGHT, £l6OO . Ilf.—Blue Beard (4) 10-11: All Smoke (7) 10-7; Ashbourne Blue (18) 9-10; Fans (17) 9-8; Hermaion (9) 9-6; Bombay (3) 9-4; Gold Myth (16). Lee Anne (11), Something Special (3) 9-2; CroiU well (5), Good Time (10), Grand d’Or (6), Make Way (15), Pinza Boy (12), Regal Minstrel (8), Rimu-Rapa (1), Talia (2), Triple Wyn (14) 9-0. 12.40 p.m.— MIDSUMMER HANDICAP, £1000: two-year-olds; sJf.—First Division: Unpainted (6) 8-5; Delta Queen (2) 8-2; Gay Garden (12) 8-1; Ahwahnee 131)’ 7-13: Royal Personage (14) 7-12; Irish Rover (1) 7-10: Ticotat (9) 7-9; Count de Cuddles (11), Kalaspira (5). Likewise (7), Some Count (4) 7-8; Fairzami (8), Foxeda (10). 7-7. Second Division: Cambridge Fair <6) 8-4: Star Belle (1) 8-1: Dantana (8) 8-0; Juliet < 10) 7-13; Abbey’s Son (12) 7-10: Lynaire (11) 7-9: Mala Marina (2). Fair Annetta (4), Kathey’s Son (7), Messene (5) 7-8; El Tobo (9), Fine Spirit (3), Karine Belle (14), Nautical (13) 7-7.

Brackets: Some Count and El

Tombo; Fairzami and Fine Spirit; Foxeda and Karin Belle. Scratched: Lady Sasanof (13).

1.30 p.m.— AUCKLAND CUP, £15,500; 2m.

st lb 1221 Sobig (9) ...8 10 3900 Lucky Son (18) ..8 7 0812 Tatua (28) . ..8 7 2020 Elkayel (20) ..8 4 1436 Kandy (22) .. ..8 4 0311 Golden Defoe (29) ..8 1 9090 Calm Comet (16) .. 8 0 2600 Yardstick (2) ..7 13 0471 Aapa (3) .. 712 2103 Creolian (5) ..7 11 1313 Arbroath (15) .. 7 10 1140 Fieldmaster (13) .. 7 10 5110 Tilka (27) .. 7 10 6190 Umpah (26) .. 7 10 5630 Tardini (25) .. 79 7049 Kiwi Fox (8) ..77 5000 Blue Lodge (24) .. 7 6 1800 Tawa Mahal (23) ..7 6 0527 Ravenwood (4) ..7 4 7044 Clipjoint (19) ..7 3 2320 Creemore (11) .. 7 3 0085 Honourable (7) ..7 3 0048 Kamikaze (12) .73 8000 Earl of Foxwood (14) 7 1 Balloted out with right of reentry:— 4025 Lucy Gray (6) ..7 0 70 Ironbark (17) 7 0 0908 Magician (21) 7 0 7000 Geyser Land (10) 7 0 Brackets; Clipjoint and Creemore; Honourable and Kamikaze; Lucy Gray and Ironbark. Scratched: Sparkling Maid (1). 2.15 p.m.— GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES, £2500; two-year-olds: 6f. —Beralian (15), Bostock (9). Dantana (1), Foxvale (6), Prince d’Amour (11), Re-offered (4), Valiant Knight (12), Valiant Rebel (8) 8-10; Dee Dee (7), Even Break (10), Gay Garden (21), Star Belle (14), Unpainted (5) Gay Marilyn (3) 8-7. Scratched: Rag Doll (13). 3 p.m.— RAILWAY HANDICAP, £3000; 6f. st lb 0561 Impresario (6) .. 8 13 0752 Hilldale (9) ..7 13 8001 Misere (20) ..7 9 3345 Alkaid (19) .78 010 Gina Lollobrigida (8) 7 7 074 Karinx (15) ..7 7 0862 Maria Mitchell (1) .. 7 7 1121 Pheroz Pride (14) ..7 7 1241 Silver Sunset (7) . 7 6 4743 Special Request (17) 7 4 0903 Nasella (10) ..7 2 0350 Prince Manu (12) ..7 1 2305 Tavern Time (2) .. 7 1 36 Tuam (3) . ..71 5124 Ursinus (5) ..7 1 573 Greymoon (18) .. 7 0 5000 Loval Ruler (4) ..7 0 8405 Nicodemus (13) ..7 0 0270 Rohe Potae (11) ..7 0 04 Royal Fair (16) ..7 0 3.50 p.m.— RESOLUTION HANDICAP. £1000; 7f.—Tipperary Tom (7) 8-10; Aqua Pura (5) 8-4; Belle He’ene (18) 8-1; Dr. Simon (24) 7-11; Our Gem (21) 7-10; High News (11) Kopia (19), Straddle (10) 7-9: Captain Andy (17). Count Serene (16), Great Companion (4), Sir John (2). Teuira (9), Undercounter (25). Headsiwin (8) 7-8; Arragon Queen (6). Count Two (22), Danny’s Cold (26), Evana (1), Il Tempo (3), Pop’s Choice (23), Sabre Jet (13) 7Balloted out with the right of re-entry: Harbin (15), Domino (12) Enfield (14) 7-7. Scratched; Lady Wilkes (20), Double Image (27). Brackets: Captain Andy and Teuira: Sabre Jet and Harbin; Domino and Enfield. King’s PLATE, £1525: weight-for-age; Im.—Clarendon (5). Copper King (8). First Tax (1). Ted Count (9) 9-2; Sonya’s Pride (6) Trueman (4) 9-0; Admiral Donnington (2), Might (3), Peterman (7) 8-4; Urupukapuka (10) 85.15 p.m.—

QUEEN'S PLATE, £1500: Im.— Terrific (3) 8-9: High Voltage (12) 8-0; Charter (8) 7-10; Blue Veil (7), Piakonui (2) 7-8: Fontura (1) 7-7; Draco (4) 7-4: Big Beau (11) 7-2; Cinita (9). Bright Mvth (5), Pinza Boy (10). Ship Shape (6) 7-1; Keylock (13) 7-0.