CARNIVAL RACING AND THE AUCKLAND CUP

NZ Truth, Issue 1043, 21 November 1925, Page 13

CARNIVAL RACING AND THE AUCKLAND CUP

LEVIN RACES TO-DAY Recent Form and Prospects CANWAETEAWINTHECUP? The Levin Club will hold its annual meeting to-day, and with good fields all that is needed to make the meeting a success is a fine day. Principal interest will be evinced m the Cup for which a field of a dozen has paid up.

Last year's winner, Imperial Spark, is m pride of place with 9st. to carry. His form last season was outstandingly good, but so far this year his running has only been moderate. On several occasions he has been expected, only to fail. Lucius has given no indication of running out ten furlongs and he may be allowed to forego his engagement for one later m the day. Waetea is the pick of the handicap, and on her splendid perform- ; ance m the Otaio Plate at Riccarton she should be the winner; A sort that is improving is Euphonium who can go ' a good 'ten furlongs. Askari has been mixing it of late, and he does not appear to be up, to the necessary form. Lady Joyce is a good mare who has never had a fair deal., ' Printemps does not stay out a good ten furlongs, but on the small course he may, and the same re- » marks apply to Beaumont. Euchre was m a place last year, but he has done nothing to write about of late. Stream and Treadwell appear to be outclassed. . To s.um up, those, with , best chances appear to be ' / , Waetea Euphonium and Lady Joyce. The Mako Mako Handicap will see Bevis carrying the coin, but Sole Mio

Is staying on better nowadays. . First Acre, if reserved for this event, would take a power of beating. McDonald welter The field m the McDonald Welter Is a good one of its class.

The locally-trained Lucius is called on to give aWay a lot of weight, but hft should be capable of doing it. The rest of the field is comprised of hacks, for, m the ordinary sense, they are nothing more. Lipsol has plenty of weight, but to counter-balance this his gameness should have some effect. On his running at Trentham, where he won a double, Birthmark has to be considered for he was finishing: on there both days. Miss Hupana was a good hack and so was Papaponga, but they should have to fight hard to get the money. First Acre did not run a bad race at Riccarton, where he met good class company. Lucius Birthmark and First Acre should show out prominently at the finish. HACK HURDLE RACES Hack hurdle races at. minor meetings do not usually fill too well, but the race at Levin to-day is well enough filled. 'On recent running, there should be good enough money for Strategy, Bonecto and Lady Gay. This trio should be giving the judge some trouble at the end of the race, and if anything is going to upset them it may be Slump. The minor races have drawn fair fields, and though .there may be surprises m store, taking them right through, the public should be near the mark m the maiden races. Tnere are a number of unknown quantities, but Crissarto, Sasham and Desert Knight should run well. The Hack Welter is a bit of a puzzle, for the crowd accepted are not worth the proverbial two btfb. Cat Call has good running to her credit m her' last two runs. She may make it three on end m the Lake Handicap at Levin to-day. Revel is better than most people think and given a' decent rider he will shake them all up. Rahgi Sarto once had a reputation. THE FIVE FURLONGS. The five furlong nutter finds quite a number of the acceptors with pi'evious engagements and a lot will depend on how they shape earlier m the day. On paper the race looks an absolute draw from the hat stunt. Horses that go fast are Megalo, who will probably be favorite, Kyla and Star Shell. It is just possible there is a surprise m store. ■ Te Monanul is back on the New Plymouth course and looks a picture. His races m Auckland seem to have done him good nnd he is already ticked off by many as the Auckland Clip winner.

BIG CHRISTMAS RACE Auckland Cup Possibles PROSPECTS~REVIEWED

At this early stage it may seem a little premature to talk of the Auckland Cup, with the event five weeks oft 7 and the handicaps not yet out. ,

However, the running of several horses nominated for the big Christmas race occasions more than a little interest, especially the performances of competitors at the just concluded New Zealand Cup meeting. The Auckland Cup is the big cup of the - year, m all ways. It has the stake-money, it .draws perhaps the most select field of the season, and it is witnessed by the biggest crowd that congregates on a course during the year. The nomination list this year shows that sixty horses have 'been accorded an entry, but if half that number make the final payment the club will be much annoyed, for , it would mean the event being run m divisions. There does not seem much likelihood of that being necessary, and possibly the field will be well within the safety number. As far as the Riccarton meeting is concerned, the horse who attracted most attention by his displays was Haze, one of the Mason stable. An ideal cup horse, he stays well, and has the pace to get a position m the' early stages of the race. He is going to be one of the antepost favorites, and when the charts come out he will not be at extended figures. Perhaps next on the list of Riccarton candidates who showed up is Rapine, but he may not be asked to go to the post. It will all depend upon the weight, which is sure to be well over 9 st. .. . The ground found Te Kara out at the Southern course, but he has time to get over that ? providing it is not serious, but once again he will have a ton to carry. Count Cavour ran a good race at Riccarton, when asked to. do the impossible, and he would be favored if the rider were changed. It is even whispered m Chffstchurch that such will be the case. Runnymede, following on his deeds, is not likely to get m light, and as his trainer likes the classics he may be allowed to drop out. The Banker is to be serit after the double (and to succeed he will make history); but after his performance m the two races he contested at Riccarton he must be given a royal show. He beat Rapine over two miles and a-quarter, but if the race were run again there would be a different story. tKilfaire failed m the ground, and he will hot get jt soft on Boxing Day. Deucalion should do no better m this race than he did at Riccarton, while Tresham, though he went a good race at Riccarton, may again find he is not up to two miles. Tarlteton is m disgrace, and. so is Shining Armour, but Clarinda is an improving mare. Malaga cannot be looked on to win his second cup, while The Polymnian is more or less unsound. His stable-mate, Lucinette, is not the class, and the same applies to Tiega, who goes better over a shorter course. Centrepiece has yet to show any form worthy of this event, but Tanadees js a possibility. That exhausts the horses engaged who competed at Riccarton. Then must be considered the horses who were runners at the Ellerslie spring meeting. Of these Te Monanui and" Musketoon will perhaps claim most attention. The.

'former is improving m all ways all the time, and such a race is not beyond him. Musketoon may feel the ground, and also his weight, which is sure to be substantial. Last year Polonett was the favorite and he missed. This year he will possibly not be so much m the boom, and without it ' he may go a deal better. He should be very well by Boxing Day. Spoony won at Hamilton on Saturday, and coming from the stable he does he is sure to be liked, but to date he has yet to give a glimpse of Auckland Clip form. Star Ranger stays, and likes the course. He is a good sort, perhaps quite as good as some of his arde*nt admirers hold, but he will have to prove it on the day. . Illumination, once a good horse, has not been too sound of late, but m Desert Glow there is said to be the makings of more than a useful handicap performer. J Gold Light can be counted out .at this stage, but it would be folly to do so with Suggestion, who is said to be a sure starter. From the far South Listening Post is talked of, and he is said to be going up. To date he has to show his ability to run out the distance. Waikato thinks a whole heap of Cureaform, and if praise is anything she must be considered. This is only half the number of horses nominated, but the list contains the names of horses who will be most spoken of when the handicaps appear. Which prompts us to say that M \ I F. J. McMenamin, the Auckland ad-

juster, is going to have to do some very solid thinking m preparing his figures. He has a plethora of good horses to weight, and with the form, high form, shown during the last fortnight, he is going to have a puzzler himself before he sends it on to the public to solve. Picking the top weight is a popular game m sporting circles, and here is one to keep the amateur hundicappers busy. "Truth" gives the honor to Rapine. He had 9st 71b m the Metropolitan and won like a racehorse. It will be hard for the Auckland handicapper to pass that by.