AUCKLAND RACES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23688, 21 December 1938, Page 16

AUCKLAND RACES

RICCARTON TEAM (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 20. Riccarton stables never fail to give their support to the summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, and as a rule the horses from this quarter can be relied on to secure a fair share of the prize money. It is realised that races are hard to win at but southern trainers meet that problem by taking their best horses. The team that will represent Riccarton on this occasion looks up to the average

There will be six horses from this end at Ellerslie, drawn from four stables, with a possibility that another trainer will have one representative.

H. and A. Cutts have sent three of their team, with H. Cutts in charge. They planned to have a fourth but the two-year-old Ally Winning Rival is suffering from a strained muscle, which has made a spell necessary. Her absence from the Great Northern Foal Stakes is a matter for regret. She made up a lot of ground in the final stage to win the Welcome Stakes from speedier beginners, and her admirers were anxious to see how she would shape against the best of the northern juveniles at six furlongs. Trench Fight should do well on the trip, as he is at the top of his form, He represents top class at a mile, and may be ready to run out a mile and a-quarter before the season is much further advanced. A year ago he won the Christmas Handicap with 9.0, but is set a more difficult task this time with 9.3. It should not be beyond him, however, to put up a good performance. Paper Slipper failed last year in the Railway Handicap, his only start. He has plenty of weight this time, but if the race were run down the Riccarton.straight six-furlong track he would be a fancied candidate. How he will fare round the turn at Ellerslie is another matter, but he is very well. Good Passage will be the hack of the party, and she looks a useful prospect. She has plenty of speed to gain a position early and can run out a mile solidly, so will be worth keeping in mind.

F, A. Roberts has gone north with the three-year-old Defaulter. He is a picture of good health, and he will command a lot of attention from the experts at Ellerslie. His admirers hail him as the best colt seen here for some years, and there is no doubt that his form entitles him to rank high He will strip in'great order for the Great Northern Derby, and it will take something out of the way to beat him over a mile and a-half. As a preliminary, he will have the Christmas Handicap, and has been given a rare chance with 8.11 in this mile race. Mrs J. Campbell has Willie Win as her sole charge. He has disappointed in his races for some time past, including his efforts at Riccarton last month. There is nothing wrong with his condition, and he has never galloped better than he has done lately, so he may be due to get some money very soon, though he will need to improve on his recent form to win in the best company.

A. McAulay took Dictate north early, in view of his engagement at the Waipa meeting. He is in good fettle, ready to show his best form. His moderate display at Hororata need not be considered at its face value, as he was very unlucky, being knocked back when Rebel Chief collapsed at the home turn. Dictate is a likely horse to pay his way on the Auckland trip. * In addition to the horses that have left, it is possible that C. C. McCarthy’s stable will be represented at Ellerslie by Argentic. This Silverado gelding, now in the veteran stage, was intended by his trainer for Awapuni and Stratford, but the owner’s wishes may result in a change of plans. He has not won for a long time, but he has run well previously at Ellerslie. His condition is right and he is galloping freely, so that wherever he goes he may race prominently in distance events.