ATTEMPTS TO WIN HIS THIRD BIG CUP

NZ Truth, Issue 1151, 22 December 1927, Page 9

ATTEMPTS TO WIN HIS THIRD BIG CUP

Southerner Rapier Tackles Ellerslie's Rich Two-Miler With Many Firm Friends

STAMINA AND GAMENESS THE CHIEF FACTORS

AMONG those engaged are at least two— Star Stranger and Ridgemount — which have proved capable of showing their heels to the best of their class m other lands. All the great classic and handicap winners of the N.Z. Cup carnival— with the exception of Limerick— also others of note, are already on the scene awaiting some mighty clashes threatening m the rich classics and handicaps. \ Nothing better can be looked for from the racegoers' point of view than the battles promised m the Foal Stakes, Auckland Cup, Railway Handicap and Royal Stakes particularly. The appearance of Agripn m the Great Northern Derby will ensure a monster gathering of enthusiasts On January 2, despite the fact that the race is generally regarded as next door to a certainty for Mason's three-year-old. Some great racing is on the programme with such an array of thoroughbreds billed for competition. THE CUP CANDIDATES But to get down to the real thing — the Auckland Cup, an acceptance of 20 must be regarded as entirely satisfactory and a great race for the Dominion's richest flat handicap should eventuate. It is worth 3000 soys. (including a gold cup of 100 soys. value) the winner to take 2000 m cash, second 600 and third 300 aovs. There is still a final payment of 10 soys. due at the post. Close students of the game admit that with such a re-shuffling of the poundage since the best handicap performers last met over two miles at Riccarton the solution is no easy matter. Certainly, Rapier is deserving of the greatest respect even with 8.10, for that is far from an impossible poundage to carry to victory at Ellerslie, especially when it is realized that among his successes of the last 18 months are such important events as the Parliamentary Handicap, Wellington and N.Z. Cups. The son of Greyspear has Musket blood m his veins and those who took keen notice of his N.Z. Cup display formed the opinion that he may yet have a bit to spare. Rapier has so far shown himself possessed of the necessary gameness when gameness is most required and

) < | (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) | j The thud of hoofs and the rustling of the satins as ] | the best available thoroughbreds m the land fight for | 1 victory is going to prove a great magnet for the j 1 approaching summer carnival at Ellerslie, which opens | | on Monday next § =TiiiirMtTiiiiiiiiiiittiiifii»iiiiiiiiitiiiiittiitiiiititiiiiiiiiiiiiittiiiitii>tiiiittiiiTiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiif iiiiiiiiiiitiiiititititiiif iiiitiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiriitif iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrTfiiiiiiiiiiTT

he evidently retains some reserve power from training efforts till race days. Monday next should divulge his real quality, for he will certainly be tested. Star Stranger is the handicapper's tip, for he has allotted the son of Martian top impost. For an A.J.C, IVletrop. victor Jefferd's charge must claim attention, for he is now a lot nearer his

Riccarton rival than when he finished second down south. He is a stayer, but may not get the same handy position early to help him as Rapine did two years back. However, he will be fighting on. Count Cavour always does best at Ellerslie and is an improved horse since finishing unplaced m the November Cup. I Quite a few alert "heads" expect him

to go one better this time than his two previous seconds up north. The task is still before "The Count," however, as it is before Te Monanui, which stripped at Waipa all muscle arid activity. This candidate is m the condition of his life, but so far has just lacked the necessary finish at the close of twomile bouts, though he has two thirds to his credit m the big Ellersllcu event.

Footfall is full of grit if he is himself on the day, but his preparation was interrupted slightly and there will need to be no weak spot if he is to carry 8.12 home m front. Te Kara may surprise a lot of people by looming up toward the close, for at Waipa last week he was keeping his place towards the end of ten furlongs and presented a fit appearance to go a journey. He may not possess all his former vitality, but down, at 8.7 he can be counted on not to disgrace himself if he remains sound. Mask must be somewhere near his best, but whether he will go the last

bit of the journey at top remains to be proved. He failed last season with 21bs. less. Grand Knight won the mile and ahalf Great Autumn and is m light enough for a horse of his quality. As for Satrap, easier game presents itself m the Quegn's Plate on the same afternoon. If Bennanee could reproduce his N.Z. Cup form — when he was a handy fourth — he would be In the fight. However, Bennanee will probably find a more troublesome lightweight division at Ellerslie than at Riccarton, though most of them — like himself — have yet to show that they will hang on for two miles. Transformer is a mile-and-a-half winner of the past with no real form of recent date. Battlement 5s unreliable. Phaola has given out some prospects to her party m recent events. Eden Hall is expected by admirers to be m the picture at some part with 7.1. A LIKELY STAYER Ark Royal has paid up and i£ a starter is regarded as the makings of a stayer. Delightment may hit the front, but will hardly relish the journey. Papatu is m the right condition to battle on for most part. ' Desert Glow's win at Waipa was nothing out of the prdinary and was not thought good enough by the handicapper to make an elevation m poundag-e for Monday's Cup. So much for most of the lightweights. But there are two others — Great Charter and Royal Mint. Great Charter has speed to be with the leaders, but whether he can see it out is another question. As for Royal Mint, he is- generally regarded as a moody customer and one which is averse to hard going. There is evidently something m these beliefs, but nevertheless he should have won both the Avondale and Waikato Cups, m each of which he was going on at the end of a mile and a-half. Those performances showed Royal Mint up as a likely stayer. Though he will carry firm support on a damp track, his great racing condition may stand to him when a lot of the others are tiring even on the firm going. When the judge is called upon to decide, a likely trio to be m the picture are RAPIER, STAR STRANGER, and ROYAL MINT.