THE AUCKLAND HANDICAPS

Otago Witness, Issue 2645, 23 November 1904, Page 51

THE AUCKLAND HANDICAPS

The appearance of the weight adjustments for such important events as the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap ere not the least important of the events which happen in our turf world. In compiling his Cup handicap the Auckland weight adjuster has been more lenient with Achilles than was the C.-T.C. handieapper in the New Zealand Cup. Achilles, however, in the meantime has lost form, and is entitled to some concession, but he is hardly likely to be able to do himself credit over two . miles at Ellerslie next month unless he comes on rapidly. In being estimated at lib better than Cruciform and Martian he is fairly well treated, but the St. Leger mare is at present very well and should prove extremely hard to beat if the stable should elect to start her. Grand Rapids, despite the fact that he has a New Zealand Cup to his credit, is considerably flattered in being placed so close to the three top-weights, but estimated through Mahutonga and Melodeon he is not badly treated, although meeting under a much higher scale of weights. Mahu tonga he meets on 71b better terms than when he beat him in the Cup, and Melodeon meets the Gipsy Grand horse on 6!b better terms. Melodeon, however, is a rogue, and finished very shiftily in the Metropolitan.. Nightfall and Golden Knight displayed attractive form at Ricearton, but both are badly treated, particularly the colt, when measured through those above them in the handicap. There is a bad lot to be found in the tail of the handicap, and Bulawayo should be entitled to a great chance- if he were sent to the post fit and well. Prior to the Oamaru spring meeting, discovering him to be out of condition, Bukvwayo was generally credited with having a good New Zealand^ Cup chance. He meets Grand Rapids on 201b, Mahutonga on 301b, and Melod-eon on 151b better terms than they were to have met at Ricearton, and there is no doiibt the Crest gelding is entitled to a great chance on paper. At the present stage Cruciform and Martian read a pair likely to furnish a winner. Machine Gun at lOst reads to have a good chance in the Railway Handicap, but two others which the writer prefers are Savoury at 8.4 and Rubia at' 8.6. The latter has been kept well up, and has evidently been handicapped as a winner at Ricearton.