LUCKY NUMBER FOUR

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1934, Page 7

LUCKY NUMBER FOUR

AUCKLAND CUP WINNERS [Special to “Northern Advocate.”! AUCKLAND, This Day. There are many ways of picking a cup winner. Some people pin their faith to “systems,” which are as numerous as they are fallible. Others make their bet because of some superstition or inspiration, while some believe that they have a lucky number. Auckland Cup history since the war, and that is far enough back for the average racegoer to remember, reveals a favouring of number 4, which Wednesday’s winner, Gold Trail, carried to victory. Back in 1921 the determined little battler but common-looking Uncle Ned ran second to Malaga when he was number 4. and in the following year Scion went one better to carry the number first past the post. Two years later Te Kara, which had dead-heated in 1923 with Muraahi, was fourth in the book, and this time he won the event outright. The sequence partly continued the following summer in that Count Cavour returned second dividend. The next few years were a lean time for those who were pinning their faith to number 4, and it was not a profitable horse to follow until 1931. Two years previously In the Shade, fourth in the book, had given an inglorious display and had chased all the field home, but Admiral Drake in 1931 gave number 4 another- win. For yesterday’s event Gold Trail and Kiltowyn were both similarly weighted and either could have had the number 4 saddle cloth when the acceptances were posted. However, when the race card was made up it was Gold Trail who was placed fourth in, the list, and again it was a happy omen.