TROTTING CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22596, 8 December 1936, Page 7

TROTTING CUP

VERY FINE FIELD

STRONG SOUTHERN TEAM GRAND MOGUL EARLY FANCY

BY ABAYDOS

The field for the Auckland Trotting Cup is strong numerically and in point of quality and the increase of prizemoney to £IOOO, with a limit of 4.28, hits attracted 12 pacers of high calibre, with South Island stables holding a strong hand. Southern candidates include Graham Direct and II ey Spec, winner and runner-up respectively of last year's Cup, Bingen Palm and Grand Mogul, both recent winners, and lied Shadow* who (showed a return to form at the Addington meeting. North Island aspirants are Bonny Azure, Glenrossie, King's Warrior, Smooger and Auto Machine, all good winners at two miles. The other two candidates, Emilius Way and Evicus, have boon in the Dominion for about two months, but they have not struck form.

Emilius Way is on a 4.30 line, from which ho failed at New Brighton, and Evicus may bo the stable hope. The Globe Derby mare gave a taste of her quality la«t season, when she was twice .second in two miles to register 4.20, and, going on to Wost Australia, she won tho championship events on points. Smooger is giving away 12 yards, but, in spite of this, he cannot be passed over. For several years he has raced consistently well and last season ho won four good handicaps and was placed six times, displaying rare stamina and taking a 4.25 record. King's Warrior and Bonny Azure arc two fine performers who took a high place last season. Bonny Azure's Record

Glcnrossio is also engaged, but at the marks L. 0. Thomas may concentrate on Bonny Azure, who has proved her worth as a stayer and before the Forbury Park meeting had an unbeaten sequence in five races and a record of 4.26 3-5. She is good under any conditions, which will enhance her prospects. King's Warrior won eight races last term and was three times second in 13 races, his fastest effort being 4.24 to win the Alexandra Park Handicap. He was twice beaten by De Soto, whose continued successes showed that King's Warrior was not disgraced, while at the spring meeting he was twice defeated by Lady Fame at a mile and a-quarter. The other Epsom candidate, Auto Machine, does not appeal, but his chances may improve in the next few weeks.

Off the same line, Rey Spec and Bingen Palm read a more likely pair. Jley Spec won the Champion Handicap last December, besides being second in the Cup and President's Handicap. This season he has missed a place only twice, and won the Hornby Handicap at Addington. Key Spec handles the Epsom track well. Bingen Palm, who won the Premier Handicap last year and was placed in two other events, did not show the same confidence as Key Spec when racing the right-handed way, but he is in splendid heart, as was demonstrated at Addington. Bingen Palm in Form Although he failed to win in August, Bingen Palm showed his best form at the New Zealand Cup meeting, where two successes put him in lino for the Auckland Cup. From 4.29 he narrowly defeated Willow Wave in 4.23 3-5. Graham Direct, winner of the Jast Cup and President's Handicap, did not score again during the season, but was second to Gamble in the Easter Handicap and just failed t-o give Pot Luck 72 yards in the All-Age Stakes, registering 3.14 4-5. Ho won the Weston Handicap recently at Oamaru, but when mado second choice in the New Zealand Cup he lost all chance by a bad beginning. A third to Blue Mountain and Tempest in the Ollivier Handicap was his best and he ran 4.19, his fastest record. If he get« back to his best, Graham Direct will count many friends in Auckland. Grand Mogul has the best form of the field. From a third in the August Handicap to De Soto and Polio, ho won the King Edward Handicap in 4.23, beating Do Soto, who ran 4.21 1-5. After running in the New Zealand Cup, won by his stable mate Indianapolis, Grand Mogul scored in the Louisson Handicap in 4.21, wliilo he won the Recovery Handicap at Dunedin. lied ShadoAV, in view of his effective display in running Indianapolis so close in the New Zealand /Cup, must bo treated with respect in spito of his 12 yards penalty. He also ran. third in the Free-for-All, finishing very strongly after getting clear. .J. Bryce, who hoa a great record .in cup races, has evidently got him right. At this stage the South Island horses Grand Mogul, Graham Direct, Rey Spec, Red Shadow and Bingen Palm will bo the most discussed, but, fit and well, King's Warrior and Bonny Azure should make it very interesting. Fine Sprinters

The St. Heliers Handicap contains many line sprinters and some of those who are not in the Cup should keep the others very busy. Of those engaged in tho big race, Hey Spec has shown excellent form at a mile and a-quarter, and, except for an unplaced effort in the Free-for-All, has not been out of the money this season. Bingen Palm has also won at tho distance, while the speed of Evicus can bo gauged by her Australian milo record of 2.3. Sniooger's last success was at this distance, but Bonny Azure has lately failed repeatedly in sprint events. Guy Junior has been racing with such consistency at all distances that ho must bo very difficult to keep out of tho money. Nervie's Last, and Lady Fame have winning form, and the splendid manner in which the latter won the two sprint events in October showed her to be a brilliant mare. Nervio's Last ran a first, third and fourth in three starts at tho distanco at Adding;ton and there is 110 doubt about his ability as a sprinter. Great Parrish has not done much racing for some time, hut when attuned is high class. Some to find early favour may bo Nervie's Last, Lady Fame, Rev Spec, Guy Junior and Great Parrish.