N.Z. CUP TRIALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1937, Page 13

N.Z. CUP TRIALS

ELIMINATION BOGY

ROLLO GIVES IT A JOLT

(By "Ribbonvveod."} The class of the Wellington Trotting Club's New Zealand Cup Trial, lor which nominations close tomorrow, is the same as that of the Beach Handicap, which was won brilliantly at New Brighton on Saturday by War Buoy. Several Cup hopes must have been heavily discounted by Saturday's showings, and much interest will attach to their performances at Wellington and Oamaru, for the added reason of the overhanging threat of elimination, the right of which the committee ox the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has reserved to itself. Because of this reservation in the Cup conditions the form in the Beach Handicap has some interesting features. In the first place the runnerup, Rollo, is one of the oldest horses in the field, and has failed to make a showing in past Cups. Then the favourite De Soto, was not impressive, and it was disappointing indeed to find ali the Cup horses except War Buoy and Rollo finishing behind Supertax and Village Guy, neither of whom is eligible for the big November event. The elimination bogy is not regarded seriously by many trainers, and the fact of a horse like Rollo putting the younger set in the shade in a race that must bt accepted as a Cup trial will only increase their contempt for the restriction . clauses. If an old horse like' Rollo can continue to justify himself, which of the others can the committee hope to eliminate? Interest in the New Zealand Cup trial, however, will now be very keen. War Buoy's mark will be 12yds, and his stablemate Gamble, who has raced poorly this season, will be on the limit. He has small opportunity now of redeeming his tattered reputation. Others who are handicapped on 2min 44sec are Graham Direct, Lucky Jack, and Ung's Warrior, all Clip candidates, and Llewellyn's Pride, Smooger. Village Guy, and Nervie's Last. The 2min 43sec division, besides War Buoy . comprises Bonny Azure, Pot Luck, Rey Spec, Bingen Palm, Glenrossie, and Willow Wave; also George Rey and Rocks Ahead, who are not in the New Zealand Cup. A second further back are De Soto, Tempest, Worthy Light, Blue Mountain, and Supertax, and on 2min 41sec are Cloudy Range, Grand Mogul, and Reporter. Roi l'Or, according to reports, has been retired, and Red Shadow now has the 2min 38sec mark to himself. Indianapolis, who is on 2min 37sec, was not raced at New Brighton, and probably the only race he will now have before the New Zealand Cup Meeting will be at Oamaru on Labour Day. TROTTING BREVITIES Nominations for the Wellington Trotting Club's New Zealand Cup Trial Meeting close tomorrow at 8 pjn. Among the horses on the brink, of New Zealand Cup Trial company are U. Scott. Double Great, and King's Play, but none of them will have the chance to qualify this year. Bill B. has cost backers a mint of money lately. No excuses are offered for his failure at New Brighton. Southern Chief, who went a good race under difficulties at New Brighton on Saturday, is handicapped on 3min 35sec, and may be nominated for the Wellington Borough Handicap. By the time Worthy King had fin. ished dancing on the mark in the mile saddle event at New Brighton, the rest of the field were nearly out of sight. Worthy King can go fast as well as go to market, but market days are all too frequent with him. Gerfalcon was never going like a winner at New Brighton on Saturday, and, like Sea Gift, this highly-rated young trotter is taking time to strike his true form for E, J. Smith. There can be no doubt that this four-year-old is better than most of his class, and it is only a matter of his settling down. The imported mare Trix Pointer, who won the New Zealand Cup in 1919 and the Free-for-All in 1922, has foaled a colt to Rey de Oro, and will be mated with Gaillard, the six-year-old stallion by Rey de»Oro from Bonny Logan. Another great race mare of a few years back in Bonny Logan has foaled a filly to Rey de Oro and will visit him again. Both mares and foals are doing well at F. Holmes's stud farm at Upper Riccarton. The Auckland' Trotting Club offers to contribute £30 towards the expenses of any horse from the South Island which competes in the Auckland Trotting Cup and another race of 1 the same class at the meeting. Much will depend on the replies the club receives to its circular to owners as to I whether it will carry out its proposals, which include a 4min 25sec class event of £1500, and a 2min 43sec class of £1000. From opinions obtained from owners of cup horses in Christchurch. the Auckland officials will be encouraged to carry out an ambitious programme.