NIGHTMARCH’S TASK

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 5

NIGHTMARCH’S TASK

AUCKLAND CUP TOPWEIGHT HIGH-CLASS FIELD UNDER REVIEW VALUE OF NEW ZEALAND CUP FORM — - : Not for many years has.such interest been manifested in the . Auckland Cup weights. With ft . the Melbourne and New Zealand Cup-winner Nightmarch at the fop of the list And proven stayers of the calibre of Concentrate, Star Stranger, In The Shade and Corinax engaged it is little wonder that “ the public attention has been so focussed on the Dominion’s richest handicap, and there appears to be every prospect of a wonderful race being staged at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The meeting of these giants of'the Turf would be worth travelling from all parts to witness. z ' Since nomination day everyone who is even slightly interested in racing has been making wild conjectures at the weight Mr. F. j. McManemin would allot Nightmarch, and, when everything is considered, the topweight is set a big task with 9.13, ■ evfen though it seerried probable he would get .two or three pounds more. When Nightmarch wbh the Melbourne Cup he carried 9.2, Arid the maximum weight, 9.6, could not stop him in the New Zealand Cup. However, Star Stranger has 91b the better of the deal here, Concentrate improves 41b. and In The Shade is 61b. better .treated. The latter pair were not very far from the chhmpiOn in the two-miler at Riccarton, but I do not think he was at the peak of his form that day. Star Stranger showed improved form each day of the New Zealrind Gup meeting and, with the racing he has had and the harder fracks, his prospects are considerably brighter. Then there is' Concentrate, who won this race last year. It was only the last bit that found him wanting in the New Zealand Cup, and everything points to his being nearer his best form this month. He favours the Ellerslie course and should again finish in* front of Star Strahger. Historic is definitely a non-stayer and can have no. chance against the good horses over this distance. He can be ruled right out of the question. /Aucklanders still claim that In The Shade should have Won the New Zealand Cup last month, but, while one is forced to admit he should have been kept closer to the field, it is not very likiiy he would have beaten Nighimarch. / Ridden as he was, he was Able to finish on strongly, but I seriously doubt whether the Australian Sun gelding is an out-and-out stayer, and had he been asked to gallop all the time he would probably have collapsed just as. Concentrate did. * Nightmai’ch has a wonderful finishing run, and at the end of a solid two miles it is heart-breaking to the majority of horses. » * Hunting Cry would have to be considered if he was in racing condition, but the fact that he had to ,be eased in his work after returning from Australia - does not tend to enhance his prospects. Corjnax mqst be given a chance at the weights, for his staying / ability • cannot be doubted. He won this race two years ago. PaquitO s form this season has been execrable and Seatown will not ruri out the full distance. It is a long time since a three-year-old won the Cup, the last victory credited to a horse of that age being in 1893, when Pegasus won. Cylinder and Sargon are given their chance with 7.6 and 7.1 respectively, but Cylinder, good though he is; would never beat Nightmarch over this distance. - Sargon is also above the average, but he will be required tb do mhch better than he has done so far. Of the remainder Count palatine is the only one worthy of consideration, and he certainly looks the pick of those under eight stone. In summing up the Auckland Cup and carefully weighing the chances of every horse weighted, the field becomes a poor one, inasmuch as only seven or eight are entitled to be con-, sidered serious contenders for prime honours. Nightmarch, Star Stranger, Concentrate, In The Shade, Corinax, Cylinder, Sargon and Cburit Palatine comprise the dangerous division and, at, this the quartette that will make most appeal are— NIGHTMARCH, CONCENTRATE COUNT PALATINE IN THE SHADE