ADAMS CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 5

ADAMS CUP

EYEN FIELD OF PACEES REVIEW OF CONTESTANTS OPPORTUNITY FOR FORTEX BY ABAYDOS Next to the Auckland Trotting Cup, tlio Adams Memorial Cup is tho most important raco decided at Epsom. The 18 contests have not been good ones for favourites, and it was not until Harold Logan scored in 1!);10 that a first fancy was successful. Worthy Light, 19:34, Ironside, 1938, and IJenuku, last year, subsequently scored as favourites. The .field for Saturday is one of tlio strongest numerically and in point of quality. Of the 17 acceptors only Bold Venture, Compass, Kewpic's Triumph and Kcnworthy have not won this season, but Bold Venture and Kenworih.v, who were winners at the l'J.'l!) winter meeting, have been placed. Two of lhe candidates have previously won the race, Kowpie's Triumph succeeding in in:!'! and Our McKinney in ,li):! 7. Kcwpio's Triumph was second to Great Logan in I!);!.") and third to Ironsido and Star I'ronlo in l!>:iS. The recent form of Parauri, Molly Direct and Fortex, who aro likely to bo in demand, has been interesting. At Epsom on April 27 the Fergusson Handicap, with a limit, resulted in Molly Direct, limit, shading Parauri, 12 yards, with Fortex, limit, almost in lino. Tho Matangi Handicap at Hamilton on May 11, a '2.-18 limit event, saw Parauri bout Fortox, with Molly Direct a good third, all being off tho limit. In tho Adams Cup Fortex is in receipt of 12 yards, from Molly Direct and 2-1 yards from Parauri, and tho Man o' War maro may turn tho tables. Sho will bo driven by R. A. McMillan Chance for Josedale Grattan Josodalc Grattan has boon unplaced in his last three starts. However, his previous form suggests that it is only a question of the American horso being fit and well to have excellent prospects. Josedale Grattan left tho maiden ranks only last May, hut ho was on tho fringe of Auckland Cup class by December. Recent racing should prove of groat advantage to him. Ho will have the services of F. J. Smith, who trained earlier winners of tho event in Worthy Light and Ironside. Bold Venturo won two races last May in a manner that indicated she would reach tho best grade. Sho has not won since then, but by sound placed performances gained the t1.2-1 lino, and, having had sufficient racing to attune her, the Great Parrish maro is to bo respected. Compass has not won for some time, hut his opportunities have been limited, lie is just tho typo of heavy ground pacer to crcato a surprise, as was dono in former years by such winners as Undo Bert, Boremai, Peter Pirate and Our McKinney. Vanora is another who handles soft tracks well. In tho winter of 19: iS ho won four races in succession. Vanora regained the winning list when ho beat a high-class field in tho Papakura Handicap in February. Kewpio's Triumph has not raced many times in tho past 12 months, but he retains his form remarkably well for his ago and ho has contested the raco frequently since he won in 1 !>:!!{. lie races at his best when tracks are holding. Form ol Equipoise One of tho most-discussed horses of the season is tlio courageous Equipoiso, who, had it not been for a recurring log ailment, would have been in a much higher fjrade. While suffering from his troublOj this horse ran ii great raco at Clandclnnds in December to separate Francisco and Josedale Grattan in tho Waikato Handicap. Three weoks later, at Epsom, Equipoiso ran,fourth in the Grandstand Handicap in 15.10 and third in the Summer Handicap in 3.15 2-5, improving to win the Bledisloe Handicap off 4.37 in -1.22. Tsana, who will bo bracketed, with Molly Direct, lias revealed fine form this season for a horse who won his first raco only a year ago. After seorimr at Auckland in February, ho won tho Taranaki Trotting Cup in easy stvle and the Waimato Plains Handicap in ■1.20 3-5. Mongolian is a hardy pacer who races well under any conditions. At the Auckland spring meeting ho won two events on the same day. tho Junction Handicap in 3.20 2-5 off 3.32 and tho Insulation Handicap, off -1.<12 in •1.2 G. In tho latter race he beat Josedale Grattan by a head. Since tljon Mongolian has been successful at Awapuni and New Plymouth, whllo his second placings in tho Hawera Trotting Cup and Waimato Plains Handicap were a further tribute to his staying powers. In tho latter event lie ran 1.22 'J-o, a conrse record. Mongolian should be a dangerous contender. Kewpio's Kinir has raced with consistency during the last two seasons, and lie is partial to winter conditions, A f?ood stayer, Kewpic's King can bo rolled on 'to 'make a very 'bolil showing. Ho is "now ia member of tho Kennerley stable. Three Bells Solid In tho same stable is Three Bells, one of the best of Truman - Direct's progeny. Ho has won under all conditions, and his success in tho Otalnihu Handicap in February, was full of merit, and stamped him as brilliant, as well as solid. After a respite Threo Bells is again working well. Our McKinney returned to tho winning list early in the season and was again seen to advantage when ho just failed to conccdo Three Bells 12 yards in tho Otahuhu Handicap. He will be suited by the .winter track. Our* Peggy revealed her best form when sho defeated Marlcne and Kewpic's King in tho Champion Handicap at tho Auckland summer meeting in 3.17. She has been twice placed in subsequent races, and sho should go a fine raco. Konworthy and Bayard are gallant pacers, if a trifle small, and are genuine stayers. Kcnworthy was third in last year's race to Uenuku and Sandusky, and won tho C. F. Mark Memorial Handicap from 30yds, going 3.10 1-5 on a dead track. That he is returning to form Kcnworthy showed wlion ho finished a good fourth in tho Matangi Handicap at Claudelands. Bayard won the Labour Day Handicap and created a mild surprise -when ho defeated all except Marleno in tlio Auckland Trotting Cup. Bayard proved that form when ho won tho President's Hnndicap in 4.21 3-5. Somo to bo fancied may include Fortox, Josedalo Grattan, Molly Direct and Mongolian.