GOLDFIELDS CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 9

GOLDFIELDS CUP

Prospects At Thames To-morrow ROYAL TRAY’S CHANCES NOTES FROM AUCKLAND Special to “Chronicle.” AUCKLAND, Jan. IS. A lightweight coming into favour for the Goldfields Cup at Thames on r Saturday is Royal Tray, who at her last start won one of those popular “hack classics” at Ellerslie in the late , spring. In all her races this three-year-old filly has given evidence of running on, and the distance of this , week’s handicap event will not be beyond her. The only two winners engaged in the event for two and three-year-olds on the opening day at Thames are Heroic Maid and Biddy Girl and it is probable that they will carry most money, although the former has fail- . ed a few times this season after hav- , ing been a brilliant galloper at two years. Biddy Girl impressed when she won her first race, at Te Awa- , mutu a month ago, and she may be , the hardest to beat on Saturday. Chances of Penzance. One of the best propositions among the hack sprinters at Thames on Sat-

urday will be Penzance, for this turning track will be right in her favour, as she has brilliant speed. Her most recent success was scored in most convincing fashion at Te Rapa a couple of months ago and a repetition of that display will see her again extending her winning record. She promises to be in the first flight of sprinters next season. Several ne' :omers to hurdling will be seen out at Thames on Saturday, and one that may make good is Dauber, whose form on the flat under stiff imposts has been very good over middle distances. He is schooling well at Takanini and as thp fences at Thames are not really formidable he should make a bold showing. He is up against two good ones in Hopalong and Inquisitor, but pace rather than fencing abiTty tells most here. A two-year-old galloping well at Takanini is Gold Money Son;* a colt by Hunting Song out of that one-time smart .-printer Gold Money. This youngster showed early speed in the spring, and if he reproduces his track form he may be a possibility in the juvenile events at Thames over the week-end. It is a long time since Mon Acre showed any real form, and she will be at long odds if she turns up at Thames over the week-end. She claims two engagements on Saturday —the open six and seven furlongs events. She has galloped well at Ellerslie, evidence of returning form, and it is just possible that she will be in the money once again, for she has previously raced prominently on this track. The Trial Handicap. It is difficult to know what will be made favourite in the Trial Handicap at Thames on the first dr.y, for there are several with placed performances to their credit. Perhaps this honour will be conferred upon Merry Vaals, the topweight, for he has been placed on two occasions, at Tauranga and Te Awamutu, and was fourth at Ellerslie in the spring in similar company. Fortunately this event will not have to be divided on Saturday, although the field totals nineteen. High Sea has always given promise of being good horse and now it is probable that he will show an early return to form, as disappointing performers do when they have a change of stables. High Sea is now in charge of the successful trainer F. D. Smith, and the Australian-bred gelding is nicely placed in the Borough Iv/.ndicap on Saturday at Thames. His best performance this season was his second to Orate over a mile at Whangarei in the spring, and he followed this up with promising efforts shortly afterwards at Te Rapa.