LAST OF THE CUPS

NZ Truth, Issue 1220, 18 April 1929, Page 11

LAST OF THE CUPS

Mile and A Half To Cover At Hastings OTHER LEG~OF DOUBLE By the time the Hawkes Bay autumn meetmg^arrives each season the weather is starting to turn, and winter, is not far away.

THE Hawkes Bay Cup is the last of the season's big races. Most of the . handicap horses have had enough through the spring and summer, and for that reason the field is generally of medium class. The club, for some unknown reason, waits till the last minute to take acceptances,, and at time ot going to press these are not to hand. Acceptances should have closed at the latest on Monday. This would have.. given owners at a distance an opportunity to see what , opposition they would have to contend with, and, further, it would have eased the position for the secretary and his staff. Eleven horses were handicapped for the Cup, and the dual Leger winner, Concentrate, is on top with 9.0. It may not be a very good class, but, should he win with this weight, it would do him no. good when it comes to racing m Sydney. For that reason he is looked on. as an unlikely acceptor. = Tresham won last year . and may go well again, but his latest efforts have been' disappointing. Blimp . is small ;and does not . appreciate. weight, but he has it m his favor that he stays on. He won the Napier Cup m a style that suggested he would go the extra two furlongs. Merry Damon ' was unlucky at

Feilding and may make amends this time. He should be able to hold his stable-mate, White Fang. When Cashier won at Bulls he had things all his' own way out m front, but had little m reserve at the finish. Papatu has had the racing to fit him, but only minor money ' has come his way. He was third m the Wellington Cup with seven pounds less, but there is more than this difference m company this week. The issue may be fought out by Merry Damon .and Blimp. There will be a thinning out m the second leg, the .Porangahau Handicap. It is really a flash field." Aussie will no doubt be given a run m view of the Gold Cup, but 10.4 is something to ponder over. Great horse that he is, some of the smart beginners will make his task doubly hard. Toxeuma and Great Charter appeal immensely. Both can get off the mark and the distance should not, find them weakening. Another good beginner is Freehold, but Moa Bird is slow away from the mark. Kaihoro v Helotis, Merry Mint and Fee Simple are all. likely to be m the front m the early part, but they may not succeed m holding their places the last furlong. ' 'There "will.be many wanting to support Great Charter and Toxeuma.