THE AUCKLAND CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 15

THE AUCKLAND CUP.

WILL THREE-YEAR-OLD WIN?

BY PHAETON. A special interest may be said to always attach to the three-year-olds engaged in a Cup handicap extending over ft long distance, for anyone -with the slightest knowledge . of racing knows that a two-mile • race against a. field of mixed ages is a severe tax for one of the young division. Up to date 49 contests for the Auckland Cud have eventuated,, and only on five occasions has a three-year-old come out at the head of the field i a the decision of the long-distance race at the Ellerslie summer meeting. It has, however, to be noted that several of the number made a bold bid for victory'."" Some keen judges are found propounding the view that Mr. McManenjin has taken some liberties in letting Ballymena off with an impost Blb under weisht-for-age, and, bearing in mind that the son of Nassau won the Australian Jockey " Club's Derby in a very genuine manner, and that he proved equal to staying out the two miles and a-quarter which the Canterbury Cup called for, valid grounds can certainly be advanced in regarding Ballymena's prospects in .the forthcoming Cup in a favourable light. Three-year-old History. Wiih Ballymena well in the limelight for the impending Cup, it may not prove uninteresting to my leaders to survey the three-year-old record in connection with the Ellerslie race. In the initial Auckland Cup contest, in 1874, a three-year-old filly in the shape of Toi (6.8) .filled the role of runner-up to Templeton (9.11), and two years afterwards Danebury (7.10) came home eecond to Ariel (8.2). The three-year-olds were right out of it until Welcome Jack (7.8-) came on' the pcene in 1882, and how the blook-liko son of Traducer romped over his field is writ largo in the history of the Ellerslie race. If ever there was a. certainty! for an Auckland Cup, such was paraded on that sunny Boxing Day in 1882 when Welcome Jack was on the pcene. In 1884 tho beautiful Woonymph (6.12) came home third to The Poet (6.12) and Normanby (6.12). Woodnymph was a full sister to the Melbourne Cup winner, Martini-Henry, but, though blood-like from the tips of her ears to her heels, she was a fair moderate.

The year 1885 saw a filly make a bid for victory under very unequal terms against a great horse. This was "Waitiri (7.20, who was beaten by the five-year-old Nelson (7.8). Summed up on the weight-for-fcee> scale, this meant that Nelson carried an impost 251b under weight-for-agc, while Waitiri had 2lb under. That Nelson could have won that nay under his weight-for-ago was a popular opinion entertained, and " the science of handicapping." it may be said, was shown up in anything but a taking light as a result of the win; registered by the big chestnut, who, it. is interesting to relate, knocked out all the then existing colonial time records for two miles and a-quarter by galloping the distance in 4m! If ever a three-year-old was unlucky in connection with an Auckland Cup, surely it was Waitiri when she was called upon to meet a great five-year-old like Nelson at a difference of only 6lb. Two years after Waitiri registered her second at three years old in the Auckland Cup against Nelson another filly of a like ige had the bad luck to meet a high-class horse at a disadvantage. This was Hilda (7.3), who was beaten by the doughty Lochiel (8.10). In 1890 Crackshot (8 3) registered a good performance by carrying 81b over weight-for-age home in front, but that performance was quite eclipsed by St. Hippo two years subsequently, when the son of St. Lcger scored under 8.9 in easy style. The chief merit attaching to St. Hippo's performance was that a good five-year-old mare in Merganser (8.0) finished behind him. There are, of course, those who contend that Merganser was not herself the day St. Hippo won, and, summed up in the light of her brilliant performances in the autumn of the same j-eason, it is hard to believe that Norden teldt'e black daughter revealed her true form whert St. Hippo beat her so .easily in the Auckland Cup of 1892. However, the late George Wright, who trained St. Hippo, was one who always stood up in contending that the big son. of St. Leger yould have proved equal to nit demands, and possibly we may have to wait some considerable time yet to see his record under 8.9 beaten. In 1895 Pegasus (7.5), a eon of Nelson, increased the three-year-old record by winning the Cup, but it could not be said that much merit attached to the victory of the chestnut colt. In the Cup of 1896 a trio of three-year-olds figured among the starters, viz., St. Paul (8.2), Daystar (7.11), and Nestor (6.12). The latter, who was the least fancied of the batch, got home first, and, as he subsequently beat both his bay rivals in the Derby on equal terms, the Cup, it might bo said, was thrown at him with, an impost lllb under Y/eicht-for-aje against his name. Explosion (7.4) came homo third in 1898. and in 1901 Nonette (8.0) filled the role of runner-up to the i four-year-old St. Michael (7.4). Two years subsequently Treadmill (8.0) occupied a like position to Wairiki (9.8), and in 1907 Bonny Glen (7.8) finished third.

In 1914 Reputation went very near to interrupting the spell Of ill-luck that had followed the three-year-old division for such * lengthened period, 'for in a great finish with that good mare Warsrep (who the colt was meeting, at a .difference of only 81b) ho ran his brilliant rival to a head in the fast time of 3m 26 3-ss. In the succeeding year Snub (6.13) came home third to Balboa (8.5) and Blackall (7.7) in a close race; in 1916 Bjorneborg (7.0) filled a like position to Depredation (7.5) and Wishful (7.0), and in 1920 Gasbag (7.11) finished a closed third to Starland (6.11) and First Salute (8 4). It will, therefore, be seen that 27 years have elapsed since a three-year-old had the distinction of leading the field home. in the Auckland Cup, and it will be. interesting to note whether Baliymena will succeed in a task that has puzzled those of a like age since Nestor triumphed in, the summer of 1896.