WEEK BEFORE BATTLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1150, 15 December 1927, Page 11

WEEK BEFORE BATTLE

Not Much Doing In Auckland Gup Market

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

With only Waipa on Saturday for the public appearance of candidates, matters in connection with the Auckland Cup are reaching - the interesting stage, i : ''

, the present time, nothing much to brag ;■ about. i Footfall's .movements seem; uncertain—so he is being passed by.- .''-"•"■' Apart from Rapier, punters are . somewhat "hopeful'about the lightweight' division turning up this '■' year. . l Among those being, nibbled at may s be mentioned Great Charter, Phaola, Royal Mint, Transformer, : Papatu and s Ark Royal. , : . • ;.. \ There.is a payment due to fall toj morrow, when there will. be. a large : falling off from the nomination list. ■ .At time of writing,'there is no doubt r that Rapier is the ruling favorite, and he is cei'tainly entitled to the honor. : He has won mostly when expected. : What more can be looked for?

AND to get right down to solid facts, there is more money forthcoming for Rapier than anything else" in the race. ~. :< And not without reason, for. he has already proved that he can go the distance. - , He is not.saddled with 1 a real topnotch horse's weight, and has gone on the right way in.his preparation since his New Zealand Cup achievement. At their difference in poundage since they last met, Star Stranger is meeting with spirited support against his southern rival. Te Monanui (owing/to not being regarded as a real two-miler) is only being half-heartedly nibbled tit. There is always money for Count Cavour in an Ellerslie event, but, at