AUCKLAND CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 9

AUCKLAND CUP

SOME PAST HISTORY PROSPECTS FOR THIS YEAR BY ARCHER It is seldom that a horse wins the Auckland Cup alter having made an unsuccessful attempt to win the event. Many have tried after being beaten one year, but they have almost without exception failed again. One of the exceptions is Muraahi. He was unplaced in 1922 and ran a dead-heat for first with To Kara in 19*23. Most people who remember that contest will agree that Muraahi was lucky to make a deadheat. Te Kara was carried out in the straight by Boomerdav and that enabled Muraahi to get up on the inside. There have been a few horee/» who have won the race more than once. The record of wins is held conjointly by Ariel and Nelson. Both won three times, Kelson scoring throe years in succession. In the C.%e of Ariel there was a break between his first (187(5) and his socond (.1878) success. Ariel also won in 187!). Nelson was successful in 1885, in 18S(> and in 1887. Nelson held the weight-carrying record for the Cup, having won with 0.12 in 18S7. until Kindergarten put up the superlative performance of winning with 10.2 in 1042. Kindergarten also ran a race record of 3.22 for the two miles. It may he a very long while before Auckland racegoers are privileged to witness such another performance as that of Kindergarten. What a real champion he was! Until soreness affected him Kindergarten could both sprint and sta.v and that is real lost of greatness. Besides Ariel and Nelson, there are fiye other horses with moro than one victory in the Cup. Bluejacket won in 1880 and in 1000, All Red in 100S and in 1000, Cuddle in 1 0.'!5 and in If),' 10 arid Cheval tie Voice in 1038 and in 1030. To Kara ran a dead-heat for first, with Muraahi in 1023 and he won outright in 1021. The feat of winning two years in succession is therefore within the capabilities of a good stayer and there are many who anticipate that last year's "inner. Lord Chancellor, will score again this j year. Win of Lord Chancellor I When lie won last year as a four-year-i old Lord Chancellor carried O.J and this year he has 0.8. There have not been inan.f winners of the race with as much weight. .Actually the race, the history of which goes back to 1874, has been won only nine times by horses carrying over 0.0. Aparl from Kindergarten and Nelson, the best weight-carrying feats have been those of Wniriki and Rapine. Both won with 0.8. Lord Chancellor will therefore join a very select hand if he wins this year. The contest on Tuesday should find him in fine form in spite of the fact that his work has not been quite as brilliant as it was before ho was successful last year. Lord Chancellor is undoubtedly ono of the best horses Auckland has produced in recent years. The field this year number 18, but there may he one or two defections when the final payment of £lB has to be made at the post. Several of the candidates besides Lord Chancellor were anions the runners last year. They were Lou Rosa, Battledress, Merry May and Town Survey. Therefore if Ihe theory (hat if a horse fails one year he does not win in another year holds they may be passed by. However, it is practically certain that Lou Rosa and Merry Mav will be two of the favourites and justifiably, too. LOn Rosa has made four previous attempts to win the race nnd he has a irood record in it, although he has been unsuccessful. Three Times Placed Lou Rosa made his firsl attempt (o win the Cup in 1040, when, as a three-year-old, he was unplaced with 7.1. In 1041 he was third with 8.3, in 1042 he was second with 0.0 and in 1043 he was third with 0.0. Here is proof that he is one of our best stayers and under 0.4 lie should make another hold bid for victory, on Tuesday. Lou Rosa is now seven, but he is seemingly as good as ever. Already this season he has won the Mitchelson Cup. IV, miles, with 0.-1, and been second in the Waikato Cup. IV? miles, with 0 12. The fact that he ran unplaced in the To ■Awamutu Cup just recently may be overlooked because the turning course (here would scarcely suit a horse of his type. Lou Rosa is probably in better condition that for any of his previous attempts at the .Auckland Cup and he galloped pleasingly on Thursday. Merry May ran second last year with 7,0. beaten a head by Lord Chancellor. She has 7.4 this year and will inert Lord Chancellor on two pounds better terms. It is a long time since Merry May was successful, but she is a genuine .stayer who should run the journey out better than most of the field. She will be bracketed with Wafer Vixen, who recently won the Waikato Cup. Water Vixen likes to run her races out in frotif and she may possibly make the race a real test, of staying if she cracks on the pace early. That would suit her sfablemate Merry May. whose nrospects of healing the tnpwejghts may be enhanced if the race is truly run jn the first mile. Merry May is a five-.year-old mare by Tidal from Cay Marigold. Good Staying Blood Like Merry May, Te Hinemoa is also n five-year-old mare. She is by Mr Standfast from Prodice and she has first-class staying blood both sides of her pedigree. Te Hinemoa has become favourite since her handsome victory in the Te Awamutu Cup last Saturday. Besides her good breeding she has fitness to assist her and what beats her should win. Te Hinemoa ran second to Merry May in the Great Northern Oaks in 1043. Tn the meantime Te Hinemoa has made great improvement and has been one of the best handicap winners in Auckland in the past 12 months. Te Hinemoa has 8.0 ii> the Cup and she has earned her weight by virtue of her good performances. In her present form Te Hinemoa is a bright prospect in her first attempt to win the Cup. Improvement ujwn last year's running will be necessary from Battledre.se and Town Survey if cither is to succeed. However, both look well and Battledress galloped well on Thursday. Battledress has been placed previously at two miles. Landveyor and Air Port are sued handicap horses with nood form. Both may run well, although on past efforts they scarcely appeal as stayers. Tara King is a good four-year-old handily placed at 8.0. That is 141b under weighl-for-age and if he is relatively us good at two miles as he is at shorter distances he should lake beating. Tara King is by a staying sire Bean Pere and there is some good staying blood on the distaff side of his pedigree, although his dam is by Chief Ruler, whose stock were more notefl for speed than stamina. Chief Ruler, however, sired two Auckland Cup winners, Admiral Drake and Cold Trail. The four-year-old Foxwyn is a possibility. Still, he has not had a ereaf deal of racing the past year and his effort in the Te Awamutu Cup was not altogether encouraging. Whether Abbey can run two miles may be doubtful, and the six horses on the minimum are only moderates and are not likely to ai>peal greatly. Possibly the improving five-year-old Foxchase may run well. He is splendidly fit and is bred to stay solidly. Present indications arc that the favourites for the Cup will come from Te Hinemoa, Merry May. Lord Chancellor and Lou Rosa. SCRATCHINGS POSTED ROYAL SLIPPER WITHDRAWN Scratching? posted yesterday foi* the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting were:— Robinson Handicap.-*-Beau Volo, 1.0.55 a.m.; Spearfast, 11 a.m.; Princess Doria, 3.25 p.m. Nurserv Handicap.—Take-a-Lot, 11.50 a.m. Great Northern Foal Stakes,—Royal Slipper. 2.45 p.m. LATEST ARRIVALS REORAPA AND CLARICE Arrivals at Ellerslie yesterday for the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting included Clarice, Mr Rosa, Town Survey, Foxrose, Bramble Song, Red King, Aguilo. Knthshara. Bronze Night, Air Port, Gold Spot, Lord Dink. Swift Quarry, Lo '/An. Reorapa, Hunting Camp. Tho Dude, Colonel Vaals, Diatomotis Girl, Homespun, Captain Courageous, Bedivere, Cairnwhin, Flowerburn. and Yours and Mine The trotter Paul Parrish also arrived.