CUDDLE'S THIRD WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 13

CUDDLE'S THIRD WIN

THE TREBLE AGAIN AUCKLAND'S BIG TURNOVER (Spccial from "Early Bird.") AUCKLAND, January 2. Fine weather favoured the concluding day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Ellerslie today. The track was greatly improved, although still slow. Cuddle and Round Up were the only favourites to win, but all the winners were well supported with the exception of Legatee, who won the first race, showing improvement upon his two previous efforts at the meeting. The attendance was 20,000 an increase of 6000 on the same day last year. Altogether 93,000 passed .through the turnstiles during the meeting. The totalisator investments today were £60,943, compared with £42,329 last year. The figures for the four days were £266,134. against £208,854 lasc year, an increase of £57,280. LEGATEE SURPRISES. Backers started poorly in the Goodwood Handicap, the favoured division being properly routed. The winner was Legatee, who paid over a score. He was at the rear of the field with the first quarter covered. Then he went fast on the outside to be up seventh at the turn, and he finished too well for Greek Gold, Kilonsoa, and Winlona, with Gay Broney and Lofty handy. The winner's performance was a solid one and he looks like returning to his best form. Greek Gold and Winlona went good races, and Kilonsoa might have been harder to beat had she begun better. Lofty, too, was a bit slow away and he is one to remember. Martara led to the distance, where he compounded badly. BEATEN BY WEIGHT. The weight beat Brunhilde in the Sylvia Handicap, and perhaps the heavy track also had something to do with it. She began brilliantly and was still in charge at the distance, where Trilliarch ranged alongside her and then narrowly beat her home. Trilliarch has been racing like an improving youngster and his stamina carried him home today, but he was receiving 231b from Brunhilde. Relatiye ran a fair race, and Aero King did remarkably well to finish fourth after a very slow beginning. Money Raid was always nicely placed and then faded out in the stragiht. KING REY AGAIN. King Rey proved himself a good horse by' the manner in which he won the Grandstand Handicap, for he gave all of his opponents weight and a decisive beating. He enjoyed a good run throughout, being about fourth for most of the journey. He was going very well behind Ponty, Kelly, and Royal Appellant at the home turn, and then in a few strides he got to the front and survived a determined challenge from Ponty. The • favourite. Royal Appellant, also had a good passage just behind the leaders, but apparently was not quite good enough. Scotland was in the ruck early and moved lip along the back, only to drift again and then be up sixth at the home turn, his finishing effort .afterwards being rather disappointing. Armacourt, who finished fifth, did not receive a good passage, so when next she strikes a soft track her turn will come. Ponty pulled very hard in the middle stages and after the winner headed him lie came again and ran him close. A feature of the racc was Master Briefly, who was flying at the end, even if he was only sixth. ROXY'S HURDLES. Started from behind the field. Roxy did well to win the Auckland Hurdles. After the first fence he ran up to the leader. Modern Maid, the latter dropping in behind six furlongs from home. Nearing the turn Modern Maid shot to the front again, but Roxy caught her half-way up the straight and defeated her narrowly. Irish Comet came from well back to be up with the leader at the last fence, but then tired. Valpai went only moderately. Roxy should make good as a hurdler, but this was not his first success as a jumper, for he scored over country at Ellerslie last Easter. TABLES TURNED. The Royal Stakes saw Francis Drake reverse the placings with Royal Chief, the latter being the actual favourite. Francis Drake jumped out smartly and in a few strides was two and a half lengths ahead of Royal Chief, the latter drifting back. Making the home

ibend Francis Drake was slightly in I front of a bunched field, but he was | boring out badly and giving his rider 'a lot of trouble. Francis Drake be|gan to bore over to the outside as soon las they straightened up, and he finishled strongly alongside the outside fence, I the official margin being hall a length , over Royal Chief. But for this pronounced boring tendency Francis Drake ! would have won very easily. | Chief did not appear to be travelling smoothly, and he was going properly only in the final furlong. Golden, !Blonde ran a good race for third, and. |Bachelor King, after being a possibility iat the distance, failed to run on. ■ j CUDDLE UNBEATABLE. ! Cuddle, hard held, won the Clifford j Plate very easily. Argentic in the | last stride cut Oratory out of second imoney, a length behind the winner. Cuddle ran her last half in 50sec, and could have done better. Oratory made I the pace solid all the way, and her appearance in handicap company should prove interesting. AT HIS SECOND START. Having his second start during the j 'day, Greek Gold improved on his secjon'd in the first race to win the Bowen I Handicap in a good finish. He was always handy to the paccmakers and he came through in the straight with Impasto, defeating the latter narrowly. Solaria weakened in the final furlortg after having every chance, and in another few strides both Sweet Rose and De Friend would have deprived him of the minor money, for De Friend in particular finished very fast. Greek Gold has always run well at Ellerslie, and his price was good after his second placing earlier. EASY FOR ROUND UP. The Grey Handicap was an easy thing for Round Up, who had his head in the air at the home turn, when he was on the heels of Survoy and Respectful. When he was let go he had little difficulty in running past them and scoring a very convincing win. Respectful gave a glimpse of form, and Survoy went his best race to date. Sunny Downs was running on in fourth place. RESULTS IN DETAIL. Goodwood Handicap, £350; 1 mile. — 10 Legatee, 7.7 (C. G. Goulsbro'), 1; 6 Greek Gold, 8.0 (P. Atkins), 2; 1 Kilonsoa, 7.7 (S. Tremain), 3. Also started: 2 Tybalt 8.3, 7 Sinking Fund 7.13, 3 Martara 7.11, 4 Haut Monde 7.11, 5 Lofty 7.7, 11 Keith Lu 7.7, 8 Winlona 7.7, 9 Gay Broney 7.7. Time, lmin 41 4-ssec.

Sylvia Handicap, £350; 5 furlongs.— 5 Trilliarch, 7.10 (R. E. Home), 1; 1 Brunhilde, 9.5 (W. J. Broughton), 2; 2 Relative, 8.7 (P. Atkins), 3. Also started: 6 Airam 8.12, 4 Money Raid 8.8, 7 Aero King 7.8, 3 Royal Bachelor car. 7.13. Time, lmin 3 3-ssec. Grandstand Handicap, £650; 1J miles. —3 King Rey, 9.0 (J. Winder), 1; 2 Ponty, 7.9 (P. Atkins), 2; 1 Royal Appellant, 8.11 (G. Cameron), 3. Also started: 4 Scotland 8.10, 7 Master Brierly 8.5, 6 Armacourt 7.13, 5 Kelly car. 7.10:J, 10 Knight of Australia 7.7, 8 Light Comedy car. 7.9, Wait and See car. 7.8. Time, 2min 10 3-ssec. Auckland Hurdle Race, £350; 2 miles. —2 Roxy, 9.7 (R. K. Smith). 1; 1 Modern Maid, 10.11 (R. E. Thomas), 2; 4 Irish Comet, 9.0 (N. Watson), 3. Also started: 3 Erination 10.10, 6 Valpai 10.7, 5 Merry Lap 10.0, 7 Kanapa 9.1, 8 Mio Lume 9.0. 9 Gay Cavalier 9.0. Time, 3min 46 3-ssec. FORTY-SECOND ROYAL STAKES, £500; 6 furlongs. 2 Francis Drake, 8.2 (W. J. Broughton) 1 1 Royal Chief, 7.13 (L. J. Ellis) 2 3 Golden Blonde, 8.11 (N. McKenzic) 3 Also started: 5 Bachelor King 7.9, 4 Elanage car. 7.2J, Privy Seal 6.10. Time, lmin 15 2-ssec. Clifford Plate, £400; wcight-for-age; li miles.—l Cuddle, 9.0 (L. J. Ellis), i 1; 2 Argentic, 9.3 (G. Humphries), 2; 3 Oratory, C.ll (B. H. Morris), 3. The only starters. Time, 2min 7 3-ssec. Bowen Handicap, £450; 6 furlongs.— 7 Greek Gold, 8.2 (P. Atkins), 1; 4 Impasto, 9.4 (J. F. Fergus), 2; 5 Solaria, 7.13 (.W. J. Broughton), 3. Also started: 6 Star Artist 8.7, 1 Trench Fight 8.4, 3 i Royal Dance 8.3, 2 Sweet Rose 8.1, 10 Mangukaha 7.7, 9 Johnny Walls 7.7, 8 |De Friend car. 7.8. Time, lmin 14 l-ssec. Grey Handicap, £300; 1 mile. —1 Round Up, 8.5 (H. Wiggins), 1; 2 Respectful, 8.6 (G. Cameron), 2; 8 Survoy, 7.7, car. 7.8 (P. Atkins), 3. Also started: 5 Pennycomequick 8.8, 3 Small Boy 8.8. 6 Sunny Downs 8.5, 4 Fox Moth 7.12, 7 Ring Shot 7.11, 9 Full o' Scotch 7.7. 11 Speedfast 7.7, 11 Crooning 7.7, 10 Salva 7.7. Time, lmin 40 3-ssec.