GREAT CUP RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20758, 29 December 1930, Page 11

GREAT CUP RACE.

SURPRISE BY CARMEL. HAROLD LOGAN RUNS SECOND. FAST TIMES REGISTERED. Success after success hna come the way of the Canterbury trainer-driver, C. S. Donald, in the past few seasons, and he scored another triumph when he effected a mild surprise with Carmel in the Auckland Trotting Cup on Saturday. The race was popularly regarded as something in the nature of a ' certainty for Harold Logan, who had a record of ten wins in 12 previous starts, and ho was backed down to a short price, carrying .53611 10s in a pool that exceeded the investments on last year's race by £142 10s. Whackier £1638 10s, and Kohara £1348, were next in demand, while Carmel was fifth choico at double-figure odds. With the exception of Padlock, who had to bo driven off the mark with the whip, the field began well, and at the end of the first furlong Mountain Dell and Free Advice wero in command. Mountain Dell and Free Advice were together in the lead with half a mile covered, where Logan's Pride and Carmel were racing abreast next, with Harold Logan, Jewel Pointer, Sunshower, Florent, Machine Gun and Reremai following in close order, and Padlock tailed right off. Mountain Dell as Pace-maker. There was little change in the order when they passed the mile post, and at the stands the socond time Free Advice and Mountain Dell were etill racing together in the lead, ahead of Logan's Prido and Carmel together, who wero closely followed by Harold Logan, Jewel Pointer and Machine Gun, with Kohara and Wrackler moving up on the outside. The field was well bunched going out of the straight, and there was a slight change at the half-mile post, where Free Advice and Logan's Prido dropped back. Jewel Pointer and Wrackler improved their positions at this stage, and at the top the order was Mountain Dell, Carmel, Jewel Pointer, Machine Gun, Wrackler and Harold Logan. These positions were maintained into the straight, where Carmel mado u sharp dash. Carmel finished on gamely under pressure and gained the verdict by three-parts of a length from Harold Logan, who came home well on the extremo outside. Jewel Pointer was a neck away third and Wrackler wnj another length bark fourth. Then camo Mountain Dell. Kohara, Machine Gun, Reremai and Sunshower. Harold Logan's Fast Time. Although he was outside a sulky nearly all the way, Carmel had a beautiful run just in behind the leaders, and ho had a nice effort left when Donald asked the final question in the straight. He was under a hard drive all the way up the straight, and had had quite enough at the finish, which was not surprising, considering that he equalled Ahuriri's race record time of 4.25 3-5. Harold Logan registered a meritorious performance in stepping 4.23 1-5, and, although beaten, he again proved his consistency and brilliancy. It looked as if he was unlucky to lose, as he had none the best of the running, and also suffered by being very wide out round the home turn. If his driver had asked for a final effort sooner it is quite possible that Harold Logan would have won. Gold Jacket Pulls up Lame. Jewel Pointer and Wrackler both paced sound races, Wrackler registering the fast time of 4.22, only to be beaten into fourth place. When Wrackler went to make a run on the outside going out of the straight for the final lap, he was carried out extremely wide by Kohara, and only for this he would have been a little closer. Mountain Dell was responsible for a good performance in leading all the way to the straight, and a repetition of the form should give her a chance on the later days of the meeting. Free Advice and Logan's Pride wero both beaten after going a mile and a-half, but Machine Gun and Kohara both made respectable showings, being well in the picture at the home turn. Sunshower, Gold Jacket, Florent and Padlock were never dangerous, Florent breaking in the final lap when he waa well back. Gold Jacket showed no dash at all, and Padlock went as if he were thoroughly tired of racing. As he pulled up lame, it is unlikely that Padlock will be persevered with any further.

HOT FAVOURITE SCORES.

GLENROSSIE'S GOOD EFFORT.

Glenrossie was sent out a scorching hot favourite for the Grandstand Handicap, being well over twice as well backed as the second fancy, Proud Dillon. The favourite duly scored, although he gave his supporters a shock when he stood on the mark for a second or two before moving and lost a good deal of ground. Trustworthy, from 48 yards, ran through to the lead very quickly, and she carried on the running past the stands from Proud Dillon, Warspite, Tony Victor, Explosion and Glenrossie. There was no change in this order when they passed the stands the second time and it was not until Glenrossie sprinted along the back that there was any alteration. Once Glenrossie turned on the speed he soon dashed past the leaders and he was first into the straight from Proud Dillon, Trustworthy and Tony Victor. Proud Dillon issued a strong challenge in the run home, but he had no fchance of reaching Glenrossie, who won decisively by a length and a-half. Tony Victor was two lengths away third, with Sir Guy running on well in fourth position. Trustworthy was fifth and Warspite sixth. It was a slow-run race and the pace was really on only over the last half-mile, which Glenrossie stepped in fast time. The Matchlight gelding is a good horse, but unless he loses his tendency to lose ground at the start'he will find it a handicap when he gets : nto better company. Proud Dillon made a game effort in the straight and may get a race at the meeting. Sir Guy may also do the same, as he is likely to improvo upon his fourth in this race. THIRD AFTER BAD START. MIGNONNE'S RESOLUTE RUN. Mignonne war installed a good favourite over Gold Treasure foi the Christmas Handicap, but she ruined what must have been a great winning chance by losing fully 50 yards at the start Once on the journey she paced in resoluto style, and made up sufficient ground to finish a, very creditable third. All Red was the earls lender and passing the stands he was closely attended by Master Huia and Glcndore, with Gold Treasure, Denier nnrl Country King, who put in a short skip after going two furlongs, right up handy All Red and Glandore carried on the running for another circuit, when All Red broke up badly, leaving Glandoro in charge from Master Huia, Dealer and Gold Treasure, with Mignonne moving up. Thero was little chango in the order until about threo furlong* from home, when Master Huin and Dealei took the load. Gold Treasure made a fast run at the turn and once he took charge at the foot of the straight, ho was not seriously troubled to beat Dealoi by a long neck, Mignonne was five lengths away third, with Master Lluia fourth and Country King fifth. Gold Treasure won well but ho would have had a more difficult task if Dealer and Mignonne had begun better. It looked as if Mignonne would have won with a good start. Country Kinj? put in a couple of skips and never appeared a likely winner.