CUDDLE'S CUP.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19897, 28 December 1936, Page 3

CUDDLE'S CUP.

FOR THE SECOND TIME. A Brilliant Effort. RAILWAY TO ADALENE. LARGE TOTE. INCREASE. In tine weather, and with a record attendance, the Auckland Racing Club opened its .summer meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. A slight shower of rain tell just previous to the start oi! the first race —just enough to take-the sting out of .tho track, which was in excellent order —and some last times were recorded. The lawns, and gardens were in excellent order, and with the bright summer frocks of the ladies, made the scene one of extreme beauty. The programme was carried out in the club's usual high standard of efficiency, to which credit must bo accorded to Mi*. W. S. Spence and his capable assistants. The principal race of the day, tho Auckland Cup, of £1750, drew a field of 19 starters, the favourite, Mr. R. J. Murphy's mare, Cuddle, the winner of the same • event- . last year, putting up a brilliant performance, winning comfortably by a length and a half and lowering-her own record by one-fifth of a second for the two miles. The mare and her rider, L. J. Ellis, were given a wonderful reception on returning to the birdcage.

The- other -event., which created considerable interest was the Railway Handicap, of six furlongs, in which 12 started, Mr. J. Hannon's little-fancied mare, Adalene, just managing to secure the verdict by a head. •

The most brilliant effort of tho day's racing was achieved by the Christchurch-trained colt, Roya) Chief, in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, of six furlongs. The colt was the last to leave the barrier, and on turning into the straight was eight lengths from the leaders. By a great burst of speed on tho outside of the field the colt gradually overtook the field near the post to win by a neck.

The largest amount of investments since 1929 was handled by the totalisator, and reached the huge sum of £102,798, the Cup alone being £21.593. The increase over the same day last year was £25,869/10/-. Results: —

• QUEEN'S PLATE, £350, Im. 4—ESSEX, 8.0 (C. Goulsbro) ...... 1 9—SERGIA, 8.4 (Glading) 2 3-.CERNE ABBAS, 7.12. (.Ellis) .. 3 Head, neck; 1.37 2-5.

G.N. FOAL STAKES, £750; 6f. 3—ROYAL CHIEF, S.lO (Ellis) .. J I—FRANCIS DRAKE, 8.10 (W.

Broughton) - 4—BRUNEHH,D, 8.5 (Atkins) 3 Neck, half-length; 1.13 1-5.

ROBINSON HANDICAP, £300; 7f. B—RULETTE, 7.10 (C. Goulsbro) 1 1-IjACK TAR, 7.7 (Wiggins) ... 2 «—iW-IN-LONA, 8.9 (Ellis) ...3 2J lengths, 11; 1.25 1-5.

AUCKLAND CUP, £1750; 2m. I—CUDDLE. 9.3. (Ellis) 1 15-—ARGENTIC, 8.9 (Humphries) . 2 S—SCOTLAND, 7.7 (Fearn) 3 11 lengths, three-quarters; 3.23—a race record. . . GRAFTON HURDLES, £350; 2m. B—INDOLENT,8 —INDOLENT, 9.1 (Williams) ... 1 3—HiGH QUALITY, 9.7 (Walters) 2 6—VAL WATCH, 11.10 (Baker) . 3 4 lengths,. 2 lengths; 3.39 2-5. RAILWAY HANDICAP, £750; 6f. 12—ADALENE, 8.0 (McKenzie) .. 1 '2—ORATORY, 9.0 (Morris) 2 10—ROYAL, DANCE, S.O (Cameron) 3 Head, same; 1.12 1-5.

NURSERY HANDICAP, £300; sf. S—THE CROONER, 7.12 (W. Broughton) 1 I—AIWAI, 8.10 (Atldns) 2 3—GIRL PAT, 8.2 (C. Goulsbro) .. 3 2 lengths, three-quarters; 1.1.

CHRISTMAS HANDICAP, £350; Im. 7—SWEET ROSE, 7.7 (Mclnally) 1 6—UORNACRE, 7.7 (Long) 2 10—LIGHT COMEDY, 7.6 (C. Goulsbro) 3 Half-head, head; 1.37 -1-5.