Cup Candidates On Trial At Ellerslie

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31563, 28 December 1967, Page 4

Cup Candidates On Trial At Ellerslie

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. With the $30,000 Auckland Cup only five days away the performances of Pell Mell, Fairfleet, Mac’s Pride, and Tatua (Clifford Plate)and Norma’s Lass and General Myth (Summer Cup) will be given close attention at Ellerslie today.

In the latest dress rehearsals for the cup only Golden Defoe and Amie have emerged as the likely big-race favourite. A winning run today by any of the above six would ensure it a big following, and possibly favouritism, on Monday.

Only six runners will go to the post in the $4OOO Clifford Plate, but it should provide an excellent contest. The other acceptors are Arbroath, the winner of the event last year, and the brilliant Te Awamutu four-year-old, Barellan.

Pell Mell, a Cambridge gelding, must run creditably today to earn himself a start in the cup, his trainer, W. J. Bromby, has said. If he fails he will be kept for the final day of the meeting. At his last start, Pell Mell was a good third to Rescator and Fairfleet in the Queen Elizabeth Plate, a mile and a quarter at weight-for-age, at Paeroa on December 16. On that occasion the track was soft and did not suit him.

Fairfleet lost to Rescator by a nose at Paeroa. Her trainer, R. J. Campbell, said she had improved with that race and subsequent work. CONSISTENT

Mac’s Pride has been one ot the most consistent performers this season and his last six starts have brought him three seconds, a third and two fourths. Success for him would be thoroughly deserved. Mac’s Pride has often spoilt his chances by pulling hard early. Today Barellan is bound to set a strong pace. That will certainly help Mac’s Pride. Super Count, a Matamata gelding, looks an excellent prospect in the Summer Cup, the first leg of the T.A.B. double. His toughest rivals appear to be Garden Place, Sir Barton, Norma’s Lass and the three-year-old Nipowin. Super Count is a newcomer to middle distances. Up to a mile he has held his own against the best class. His laststart fourth over 11 furlongs at Te Aroha on December 9 indicated that he would do equally as well as a stayer. Garden Place has a great liking for Ellerslie. He is a solid stayer and his latest track work has indicated that he is back to his peak. Nipawin finished well for fourth in the Great Northern Derby under Bst 101 b and he will greatly appreciate the drop to 7st 21b today. With that weight he must command respect. Tipperary Tom, from Hawera, Count Two and Travel Alone will have big followings in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the Electric Handicap. Tipperary Tom was a good fourth to Kalgoorlie, Britannicus and Elbejay at Te Awamutu at his last start. The weather has been fine and the track should again be in excellent order. Fields are:—

AUCKLAND HURDLES, $200; Um. and 60yds.—Black Butt (5) 10-7; Sentry (12) 9-11; Idle Lad (6) 9-10; Blockade (7) 9-7; Bright Idea (13), Dukedom (14). Fairylore (1), First Mate (2), Irish Rover (8) 9-3; El Duende (9), Little Stranger (10), Scorn (3) 9-1; Cash In (11), Dontine (4) 9-0.

35 p m NURSERY HANDICAP, $2000; 6f — Cote D’Azur (13) 8-12; Mitamit (7) 8-6; Admiral Dee (16) 8-5; Eradeinee (8), Modicum (4) 8-0; Legal Battle (5), Top Chick (12), Tribute (11) 7-12; Wally’s Choice (3) 7-11; My Companion (1), Russday (10) 7-9; Alomise (14), Sweet Talk (2) 7-8; Das Essen (6), Diatena (9), Proud Queen (15) 7-7.

1.15 p.m.— SUMMER CUP, $4000; Um. Super Count (2) 7-12; Garden Place (13), General Myth (15) 7-11; Punjabi (7) 7-10; Blue Baron (8) 7-9: Roman Consul

(14) 7-8; Corbassiere (12) 7-7; Norma’s Lass (1) 7-5; Ariosto (9), Sir Barton (18), 7-4; Wonderbar (6) 7-3; Nipawin (10) 7-2;. Gold Dowa (16), Head Fancy (11), Royal Poet (3), What You Will (4) 7-0. Balloted out with the right of re-entry: Surgaway (17), High News (5) 7-0.

1.55 p.m.— CLIFFORD PLATE, $4000; Um. —Arbroath (1), Mac’s Pride (5), Pell Mell (2), Tatua (3) 9-3; Barellan (6) 9-0; Fairfleet (4) 8-12.

2.35 p.m.— ELECTRIC HANDICAP, $2500; 6f.—Tipperary Tom (8) 8-1; Travel Alone (4) 7-11: Count Two (5), Lord Ted (2) 7-10; Jackaboy (7), Karin Belle (10) 7-9; Merry Men (6), 7-8; Prince Petary (9), Sharab (1), Sir Oman (3) 7-7.

3.15 p.m.— FERGUSSON HANDICAP, $2000; 6f.—Alcantus (10) 8-7; Zingara (8) 8-1; Even One (18) 7-13; Arragon Princess (11), Gay Garden (7), Prosody (3) 7-12; Lord Mussetu (18) 7-9; Acrylic (2), Final Say (15), Orsino (4), Pontypool (13), Poor Tommy (6), Satin Tone (12), Vondalee (9) 7-8; Arivederci (5), Call Up (17), La Villa (14), Regal Consort (1) 7-7. 3.55 p.m.—

ARDMORE HANDICAP, $2000; Im.—Fair Law (17) 8-13; Silver Sabre (4) 8-9; Sam McGredy (14) 8-8; Harbin (19) 8-7; Taxsonia (9) 8-6: Highland Reel (7), Nice Guy (1) 8-5: Miss Misty (11), Regal Gent (16) 8-4; Double Image (3). Giant Size (2), Libya (15) 8-3; Countess De Blue (20). Kalaspira (12) 8-2; Apolima (6). Arraluca (21), Golden Jinks (23), Mintie (10), Outlawed (18) 8-1; Algamar (22), Miss Amyn (13), Viyella (8), Wood Lark (5) 8-0.

4.35 p.m.— LADIES’ MILE, $3000; Im.— Malpensa (19) 8-8; Chekaro (13). Game Hunter (1), Golden Caen (18), Good Warning (12), Kaluha (10), Lassie’s Romance (16), Lifleux (6), Pacific Cross (23), Rosehill (2), Taraleah (20) Ternarius (22), Trend (8) 8-3; Bonne Fllle (14), Bubba (21) Castellanie (3), Fleece (7). Joy's Way (5), Pualellani (9), Rising (11), Rocheda (4), Smartest (15), Tenterhooks (17, 7-7.