Seven cup horses in Ellerslie feature

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 24

Seven cup horses in Ellerslie feature

Special correspondent Auckland Seven of the horses left in the Auckland Cup are due to compete in the Nathans Memorial at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie today. Several of them, it would seem, need a first or second placing if they are to keep their places in the big one next Wednesday. Of the seven horses, Castaneta, Delarenne, Kotare Chief and Twelve Gauge are weighted with 51kg in the D.B. Auckland Cup — which could well be the cut-off point of the field after today’s final acceptance.

The other three in the Nathans are Dreamawin, Zamarino, and Macloud. Their cup weights are 50kg (Dreamawin), 49.5 kg (Zamarino), ana 49kg Macloud).

Under the conditions of the summer carnival horses which finish first and second in the Nathans become exempt from any ballot that might be necessary to reduce the cup field to the starting limit. It seems, then, that only by finishing first or second today can Dreamawin, Zamarino, Gold Lomond or Macloud get a cup start. Castaneta, Delarenne, Kotare Chief and Twelve Gauge might not be in the same precarious position but their connections could well be looking for the

assurance of a cup place that first or second would afford. Twelve Gauge, a four-year-old gelding from Levin, made a good impression when in Auckland 12 months ago for the Avondale Guineas, galloping attractively at Takanini then all but winning the Avondale race. It seemed reasonable to assume that Twelve Gauge would be better with age and that seems to be the case. His form lately has been very sound, with a last-start close second at Otaki over 2000 m on December 14 and, the previous time, a 2200 m win at Trentham. Twelve Gauge has been running his races out solidly, a winning or similarly good performance today could bring him right into consideration for the cup. From his 55kg this time Twelve Gauge is down 4kg on Wednesday, though a win would make him liable to a rehandicap up to I.skg. Dreamawin, claiming a last-start fourth placing at Avondale on December 14, is one which could give Twelve Gauge plenty of opposition in the Nathans. Another is Castaneta, which came in two platings behind Dreamawin at Avondale but very close up. Now seven years old, Castaneta looked decidedly use-

ful last season. She has not looked as good this time in but another middle-distance win is well within her capabilities. An attraction besides the Nathans Memorial will be the weight-for-age King’s Plate, over 1600 m. While the field lacks one of the brilliance of Burletta — she won last year in a New Zealand record 1:32.72 — it contains Solveig, Clear Gold and Greatness, each a galloper of class. Clear Gold, at seven years, has taken a new lease of life, with wins in his last two starts, the latest a 1600 m handicap at Te Awamutu on December 21, with 57.5 kg. Clear Gold gave Burletta a good race last year and he seems certain to run again well.

Solveig, after winning three on end, failed last time, in the Avondale Cup. She ran creditably though and, to all appearances, has freshened nicely.

Greatness, without any luck, finished third behind Kingdom Bay at Te Aroha and meanwhile he came sixth over 1600 m at Te Awamutu, behind Clear Gold.

Greatness might be more comfortable on the bigger Ellerslie track. He is a gelding of considerable abil-