RACING WINTER CUP TRIAL AT AWAPUNI

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 4

RACING WINTER CUP TRIAL AT AWAPUNI

Wide Draw Should Not Hinder Mukupai "The Press" Special Sereice PALMERSTON NORTH. Plans to campaign Mukupai at the Grand National meeting next month probably will be settled at Awapuni tomorrow. If the good miler wins the Winter Cup Trial as expected, he is almost certain to be taken to Rice ar ton for the Winter Cup.

For a horse capable of finishing a close third in the Whyte Handicap with 8-9, Mukupai, although the top-weight with 8-12, has not been harshly treated in the Winter Cup Trial, first leg of the Manawatu Hunt Club’s T.A.B. double.

Mukupai has a wide barrier draw, but this is not a marked disadvantage, for there is a long run to the first turn and the going against the rails will be very heavy by the time the first leg is run. In his latest racing Mukupai has proved himself one of the best milers in the-Mana-watu district. Three starts ago he won the Waikato Flying Mile by a length and a half from Wonderbar and Wairere Lass. Next time out he was a fine second to Gus in the Members’ Handicap at Awapuni when giving the younger horse 81b. Then he ran Maria Mitchell and Queen’s Post to a neck and half a head in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham. « Outstanding Form As both Wonderbar and Gus have enjoyed further success, Mukupai’s form is outstanding. Having won also the Summer Cup at Awapuni, the gelding will attempt his third success on the track which seems to suit his style.

Lady Wild is an automatic choice for the second leg, the Tararua Hack Plate, for she has returned to hack class after racing prominently in open company. This is because of a disqualification after a positive swab. But she has paid the penalty in weight and has 9-5. The Red Mars mare earned the weight with impressive wins In the Victoria Handicap at Awapuni and Strathmore Handicap at Trentham,

although it was the latter event which she subsequently lost to Cephas. In open class, Lady Wild has run second to Fleeting Moment in the J. A. Betts Memorial at Trentham and fourths in both the Palmerston North Handicap at Awapuni and Walter Weston Handicap at Hawera. Formerly trained at Bulls, Lady Wild is now with E. Temperton at Awapuni. She appears to have thrived on the change. Cup Steeples Beside the T.A.B. double races another attraction tomorrow will be the Hunt Cup Steeplechase in which Gold Tie looks an outstanding prospect.

Gold Tie’s proven ability to jump country in the worst of winter ground will make him a popular choice in what seems to be a lamentably weak field. Not one horse in the race has won a jumping event this winter and this makes Gold Tie’s form attractive. He was third in the Manawatu Steeplechase on the same track last month. Now he is preparing for the Grand National next month.

Gold Tie is one of only two horses assessed above the minimum. The other is the top-weight, Saturnian. All the others have 9-0 and little to recommend them. Gold Tie and Saturnian should have the finish to themselves. The veteran of the field at 10 years. Gold Tie has a rather attractive record over jumps. He has never excelled in top-flight company, but is invariably hard to beat in smaller races during the winter. A son of Golden Souvenir, Gold Tie is a mudlark. He is able to plough through the heaviest of ground with little apparent discomfort

Although he has failed repeatedly this season, Saturnian must be one of Gold Tie’s main adversaries.

Last term he was the outstanding jumper in the district and the biggest moneywinner at Awapuni. It is obvious that he needs only to < regain his peak to again record good form. This will be Saturnian’s first start over country and he has been schooling satisfactorily. The easier pace could be an advantage for him. In this type of race he should be in or near the lead. 1.25 p.m.— WINTER CUP TRIAL, £600: Im. st lb

2.55 p.m.— TARARUA HACK PLATE. £500; Im.

2440 Lady Wild (11) ..9 5 3120 Janeen (22) .. SO 4313 Mystery Man (12) .. 8 9 4142 Recharge (8) ..8 8 5661 Persian Sea (10) .. 8 3 2028 High Sky (7) .82 6353 Count de Seine (21) 8 1 9040 High Fllou (4) ..8 1 8734 Regal Keya (9) ..8 1 3664 Lenoman (14) .. 8 1 3604 Avelyn (24) 8 0 9428 Comitls (2) ..8 0 0000 Dark Watch (19) ..8 0 7950 Excite (3) .. ..8 0 0008 Frozen Gold (17) 8 0 Galpln (20) .. ..80 0090 Identification (15) ..8 0 0001 Major Luca (5) ..8 2 898 Papaitonga (6) ..8 0 0074 Red Dean (23) ..8 0 0000 Sapphire Ring (16) .. 8 0 0007 Spey Royal (26) ..8 0 0355 Vicki Leigh (25) ..8 0 Balloted out with right of reentry:— _ _ 9090 Sue (1) .. ..8 0 3577 Quinella (18) ..80 Brackets: Recharge and Regal Keya; Sue and Vicki Leigh. Scratched: Caplin (12).

6123 Mukupai (2o> .. 8 12 1502 Le Pfus (1) 8 10 0018 Fleeting Moment (13) 8 7 6000 Cantus (22) 8 4 0164 Monty'* Gold (15) 8 0 2150 Bljali (3) 7 12 3105 Sir Juvante (10) 7 12 2652 Summer Flight (7) 7 12 0604 Acts (2) 7 10 8700 Toureg (21) 7 10 6660 Beira (16) .. 7 9 0380 Corina (24) 7 9 3500 Pomare (19) 7 9 6570 Carnbeg (23) 7 7 0000 Comrade (9) 7 7 0077 Count Carmel (12) 7 7 5187 Mangaroa (11) 7 7 7180 Matea (6) 7 7 509 Mossburn (14) 7 7 8607 Peter’s Pride (17) 7 7 4700 Pursuit (4) 7 7 3000 Sir Blue (8) 7 7 7989 That’s It (5) 7 7 Bracket: Monty’i Gdla Bftjaii. Scratched: Monetary (18) and