Auckland Cup Favourites Include Three-Year-Olds In Beaumaris And Sweet Spray

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 2

Auckland Cup Favourites Include Three-Year-Olds In Beaumaris And Sweet Spray

AUCKLAND, Last Night (Special).—Those keen form followers who favour either Beaumaris or Sweet Spray for the Auckland Cup on Boxing Day should not be dismayed because it is 53 years since a three-year-old won the big Ellerslie two-miler.

One fact has to be emphasised in connection with the record of two-year-olds in the Auckland Cup. Few horses of that age have contested the event ov6r recent years, owners apparently being more keen to win the Great Northern Derby, run a week later, rather than run the risk of “knocking” their horse by the severe preparation necessary for a two-mile test.

When Nestor won the Auckland Cup in 1896 as a three-year-old he carried and the minimum in those days was 6.7. In recent years few of the leading three-year-olds have been asked to take on the task in the intervening years, though Reputation carried 8.1 in 1914 and ran the great Warstep to a head, following that up with a win in the Great Northern Derby. After that Affectation, Ballymena, Peter Jackson (later a Caulfield Cup winner), Gold Trail and Nightly failed to gain a place, but Beau Lepn and Lou Rosa, as three-year-olds, filled the places behind Kindergarten. The moderate youngsters who were weighted at or near the minimum could not obtain the services of strong horsemen, and over two miles experience counts in race-riding. Beaumaris, however, will have the services of L. J. Ellis, a master at distance riding, who pan make the necessary weight. N. Eastwood, who rode the Caulfield Cup winner this year, will have the mount on Sweet Spray. Incidentally, Eastwood was on Kaitawa in the Freyberg Gold Cup at Paeroa last Saturday and he was un lucky in not being better than second If the three-year-olds are good enough and are properly served or.

top there is little reason to suggest that they cannot win the Auckland Cup, which after all is not quite so severe a test of stamina as the Melbourne Cup. The record of horses ot this age in the Melbourne Cup should also encourage admirers of Beaumaris and Sweet Spray. Beamaris has weight-for-age at Ellerslie and Sweet Spray 31b below, and they can both stay. Many who have seen her race declare Sweet Spray will show more stamina than her elder sister Sweet Nymph, whom Aucklanders will remember as the outstanding filly two years ago. They saw her win the Great Northern Derby, running clear at the end to win by five lengths. Every consideration suggests that Beaumaris should win the Auckland Cup and that Sweet Spray will be close up at the finish. But what of the opposition? TOPWEIGHT’S CHANCE King’s Ransom, the topweight, has run some great races at Ellerslie and elsewhere. He was behind Howe and Balgowan in that jostling finish of two years ago, finally being placed second. Last year he was handy at the turn and then failed in the straight. Conspiracy, a model of consistency, will literally "bring down the house" if he scores, for he has endeared himself to northerners. Furthermore, he is going to be one of the hardest Beaumaris has to beat. Lord Manna is a newcomer to Aucklanders, who do not doubt that he is good. Sylis knows how to stay. He is a fit horse and a previous Cup winner. Mountain Glory is a free goer, but the distance? Quick March should stay as well as anything else, and so, too, should a St. Leger winner like Foxbay. Swanee has proved at her last two outings that she is good at a mile and

a-half, so why not the extra four furlongs, As her owner said when receiving the Freyberg Gold Cup on Saturday, “You can be with her in the Auckland Cup.” This is a straight tin, but it is a peculiarity of speculators that they do not generally accept anything as straight as this. They take more notice if a tip is given them in a stage whisper and with a knowing look in the eye—whatever sort of look that might be. Blue Seal, winner at Otaki and second at Levin, on his three-year-old showing is possibly as good a stayer as there is in the field.

USEFUL WONDER BOY

The second half of the Cup field is headed by Wonder Boy, a useful galloper who has won twice only in his last 23 starts. Some rain might make it three out of 24. Distinction up to the present has scarcely proved himself a genuine stayer. Bobby Dazzler has to show something to live up to his name. He has speed and if it is planned that he is to go to the front he might manage it, for did not Cuddle and Cheval de Volee win in this manner?

Vice-Chancellor will be one of the best backed of the northern contingent. His seven starts this term show 3-1-0-0-3-2-1. That indicates plainly that his programme has been so framed as to land him at the post at his peak on - Boxing Day. He will probably be ridden by R. L. Parker. By a coincidence, this horseman, who has proved himself good over distances if not in the “fashionable" jockey class, rode Sylis to victory in the Auckland Cup at 7.6, the same weight as Vice-Chancellor. Broadway is a better galloper than thought, as witness his great race against Vice-Chancdllor in the Te Awamutu Cup. Foxfable can stay, but is much too "iffy.” Calibrate is a grand sort of horse. How good he is has yet to be discovered. With 9.0 in the hack class at Te Aroha, over 11 furlongs, he came from last at the three to win going away. His next start was in the Freyberg Gold Cup. He again tailed the field to the three furlongs, then

ran round the whole bunch —he must have been at least six horses 'out on the bend—and finished up not much more than two or three lengths behind the winner and hugging the outside fence. He is by no means a Cup "long shot" but a definite possibility. Having gone completely through the field, it can be said at once that Beaumaris still looks the right horse. Ii Kindergarten, champion and all that he was, could win by five lengths —he left his opponents anchored—in the still record time of 3.22 and carrying 10.2, then Beaumaris, if only a near-champion, with 351 b less to carry this time and L. J. Ellis up, must go close to winning. Incidentally again, it was another of the Ellis clan, A. E. (Bert) who rode Kindergarten. Beaumaris is expected to win and those that should be nearest him at the post are Conspiracy, Blue Seal, Sweet Spray, Quick March, Swanee, Calibrate and Bobby Dazzler,