COMMENDATION V. RAPINE AWAPUNI GOLD CUP DUEL KEEN RACE ANTICIPATED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 29, 27 April 1927, Page 6

COMMENDATION V. RAPINE AWAPUNI GOLD CUP DUEL KEEN RACE ANTICIPATED

Probably the most interesting race of the season is that to come up for decision at Awapuni, Pal merston North, to-morrow afternoon. This is the Awapuni Gold Cup, run at standard weight-for-age over a course of ten furlongs. Among the acceptors are Commendation and Rapine, and their duel is being eagerly anticipated.

Some great horses have had their names inscribed on the handsome gold cup that goes with the stake money, and Desert Gold, Sasanof, Ballymena, Thespian and Rapine are a quintette easily recalled to mind. The Awapuni Gold Cup is not an old-established race, and yet of these five Rapine is the only one racing to-day. Sasanof and Ballymena are numbered among the defunct, and Desert Gold and Thespiap are endeavouring to have their names perpetuated at the stud. A RARE FIELD There have been some splendid fields doing battle in this event, run as it is so late in the season, and to-

morrow’s struggle promises to be in every respect as keen as most of its predecessors. Take a look at the list of starters, with their weights under the scale, and, even more important, their pilots:

It will be observed that at this stage of the racing year there is not. a great deal separating the* three-year-olds from the older horses, a matter of ten pounds only. , Twelve months ago Rapine won this race, and the writer contends that this was probably the best performance of his career, not overlooking his Summer Cup success a few months ago under a big impost. WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF? In this connection a dip into the history of that event will not be out of place. The week previous Rapine had won the Trentham Gold Cup, two miles, and it was considered that the mile and a-quarter event at Awapuni would be too short for him. However, to show how sanguine his party were the Martian gelding was sent out a short-priced favourite, and how Rapine and his jockey, R. Reed, pulled the punters through makes a fascinating story. From the start there was nothing to make the pace. Everybody expected Reremoana to do so, but for once in his life at least L. G. Morris made a bad error of judgment. He was on a horse that could not see out ten furlongs, and it was quickly realised that he wanted a slow pace so to conserve Reremoana for a sprint home. This no doubt reads all right on paper, but in drawing up a plan of campaign, in sport as in war, one must consider the opposition. This is where Reremoana was beaten. RAPINE AS A SPRINTER The field came loping up the straight, and on a fast track the first couple of furlongs took nearly half a minute. Reed quickly took in the position, and he sent Rapine to the front, and it was one of the most wonderful things ever

seen in this event. Rapine shot ahead like a sprinter, and over the last mile set such a warm pace that even Reremoana was surpassed. At five furlongs —the half-way peg-—the Martian gelding had a break of four lengths on the field, and the advantage that he thus gained he maintained to the judge, to win easing up. It was a remarkable performance, and the crowd was not slow to recognise it. The writer has not his records with him, but he remembers that Rapine cut out the last mile of that race in under 1.39, which was phenomenal going. But to get back to the forthcoming contest. REREMOANA AND PIUTHAIR So far a mile and a-quarter has proved beyond the compass of Reremoana, and it still remains to be seen if he is possessed of more stamina than he could lay claim to as recently as 12 months ago. Even were the race a mile affair one could not pick the Hallowmas gelding to beat such a three-year-old as Commendation, who is without doubt the horse of a decade. Royal Divorce will most likely be outclassed, and it is hardly likely that Joy King will be started, unless it is to ensure a true run race, or if the track is wet, for Rapine is apparently only a commoner in soft ground. Piuthair is a game sort, and if she can go with the field over the first mile she will take some shaking off. However, one does not look to her to spring a surprise, unless the conditions are bad. Then she would possess an undeniable chance. THREE-YEAR-OLD FAVOURED On a firm track, the race therefore fines itself down to Commendation and Rapine, and in all probability they will fight out the issue. Last November it will be remembered that Rapine defeated Commendation in the Stead Gold Cup, run over the same distance as tomorrow’s contest, but there was much diversity of opinion as to the way the race was won. However, it is certain that the three-year-old got into trouble at a critical stage of that race, and finally went under by half a length. Ever since then the prospect of another meeting between these two brilliant horses has been eagerly discussed, and the fortunate racegoers present on the Awapuni course to-mor-row should see something for their

money. - Commendation has had recently just what has been required, a race or two to sharpen him up, and he showed in the St. Leger last week that he is at present in a class by himself among the three-year-olds in New Zealand, if not in Australia, Rampion and Limerick not excepted. Therefore, in the Awapuni Gold Cup, so far as Rapine and Commendation are concerned, one has no hesitation in declaring whole-heartedly for Commendation. It is to be hoped that the conditions are worthy of such a meet-

Rapine, R. Reed 9 2 Reremoana, J. Barry .. .. 9 2 Royal Divorce, R. J. Mackie 9 2 Piuthair, R. Manson .. .. 8 12 Commendation, B. H. Morris 8 6 Starter.