ELLERSLIE "DOUBLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 8

ELLERSLIE "DOUBLE"

FAVOURITES IN AUCKLAND

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, December 10.

There have been very few developments in connection with the Auckland Cup, and this race, and also the Railway Handicap, retain their open aspects. So far four Cup candidates have won since the declaration of the handicaps, 'and they have not been penalised, these being Werohia, Gay Broney, Sir Abb, and Tybalt: Railway Handicap candidates in Diatomous and Sinking Fund have also succeeded without being made to pay by way of increased poundage. There was nothing really outstanding about the three handicap winners at Avondale last week, the best effort being that of Gay Broney, whose thrilling finishing effort in the Dargaville Cup must have surprised even his owner, while it probably caused him to look ahead to the Auckland Cup. So far as Sir Abb is concerned, there has been, just a suspicion about his wind, although he finished well enough in the two outings over a mile and a quarter he had last week. • Tybalt did not defeat a very strong field'when he won the first day at Avondale, but he did his task very well indeed and scored with, a good deal in hand. It remains to be seen if he can stay the two miles, but going on the game manner in which he finished from the back in the Mitchelson. Cup his chances at Ellerslie on Boxing Day should not be lightly assessed. Tybalt has been racing a little' more than twelve months and it is asking a lot of a comparatively green horse to win an Auckland Cup practically in his first year's racing. Nevertheless his form to date has been distinctly promising, and he is being given a thorough preparation for the two-mile contest.

After his two fine winning efforts at Woodville, Werohia is certain to come in for some support for the Auckland Cup, and he is not without a chance, for the fielH is regarded as likely to be the weakest for some years, notwithstanding the presence of the three placed horses in this season's New Zealand Cup. Werohia may emulate the performance a few years back of Gay Crest,-for history has an uncanny habit Of repeating itself in every walk of life.

Five years ago Gay Crest won the principal handicap at Woodville with 8.9, prior to which he had won at Randwick over a mile and three-quar-ters, and his weight was not increased by any rehandicap, remaining at 7.1. It was said at the time that trainer T. Lloyd was hoping for a rehandicap in order to be able to get a strong horseman, but in this he was disappointed. Arid that was how he lost the Auckland Cup. The late A. H. Eastwood piloted Gay Crest and the horse bored out badly in the run home, so that although he was first past the post he had obviously meted out severe interference to Motere, and the latter was given the first placing by the judicial committee.

Now Werohia has, to the extent of winning the handicap at Woodville, emulated Gay Crest, and also in the fact that he has not been rehandicapped, and it would be a brave man who would say that the Greyspear gelding had no chance at all of being first past the post at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. His sire produced a fine stayer in Rapier, winner of the New Zealand, Auckland^ and Wellington Cups, so in this respect'he should not be found lacking in stamina at the end of two miles. However, on the dam's side there is room for doubt in a staying connection, although Werohia in all his races has given marked evidence of being able to stay on. It is scarcely likely that the Te Awamutu Cup next Saturday will throw much iight on the Auckland Cup, but it may serve to show which Cup candidates have progressed most in their preparation. There will be considerable interest taken in King Rey, for his runaway win in the Waikato Cup stamped him as a very much improved performer. Next Saturday he will be carrying 9.3, or 81b more than at Te Rapa, where he won with something like a stone in hand. He will be hard to beat at Te Awamutu, unless the circular course does the trick.

Argentic, Cuddle, and Vanestep, the place-getters in the New Zealand Cup, retain their position as prime fancies for the Auckland Cup, and it may be an interesting sidelight on their prospects that none of the trio has as yet raced the reverse way round. Many good horses have failed at Ellerslie, puzzling their connections, but generally the defeats could be attributed to the right-handed way of galloping. Most visiting horses go better the second time out at Ellerslie. Incidentally, Werohia, has raced several times at Ellerslie. If the Auckland Cup is still open, the same can be-said of the Railway Handicap, and it is difficult to find an absolute favourite:' There is a tendency to favour the three-year-old filly Galilee, who is very nicely placed, and 'while it is not an easy race to win for horses of her age she looks like being the one for this year's task, seeing that" there is no outstanding sprinter engaged. Galilee is engaged at Te Awamutu next Saturday and a great winning 'chance there should see her firm in the quotations.