RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 April 1927, Page 12

RACING

(By "EARLY BIRD.”) THRILLING RACE AWAPUNI GOLD CUP HOW COMMENDATION WON PIUTHAIR MAKES BOLD SHOWING The contest for the Awapuni Gold Cup yesterday was full of thrills, and Commendation, a warm favourite, was ridden out to win from Rapine and Piuthair. That in a nutshell sums up this important weight-for-age race. The public went very solidly for Commendation, and at one stage of the proceedings the crack three-year-old was at as short a price as eight to one on, afterwards to drift to a much better price two minutes before the market was closed. SHORTENED Then it was that the big money went in, and in consequence Commendation wound up a hot fancy, carrying a little more than three times as much as Rapine, who was entrusted with £9l more than Piuthair, and so far as the only other starter, Royal Divorce, was concerned, it was a case of write your own ticket. The public summed them up exactly, for the quartette finished as backed. As expected Joy King was left at home, the stable relying on their old champion, Rapine, and Reremoana also was missing. No doubt it was a wise policy not to risk the Hallowmas gelding, for he is useless in soft ground, and although the track was not particularly bad, it was wet along the back, where the tall timbers prevented the sun and wind drying the turf. In

addition Reremoana has failed whenever asked to go beyond a mile. THE RACE There was little delay at the start, the four moving off together. Commendation was in front at once, without a great deal of pace on, while Rapine and Piuthair were promptly pulled in behind. In the early part the favourite was content to lie in behind Royal Divorce, and so they raced to within three furlongs from the judge. Then L. G. Morris—to the general surprise he was able to ride—considered it opportune to get away from the opposition, and there was a roar of anticipation as the favourite drew up to Royal Divorce and quickly settled him. If Morris thought that he would be able to walk away and leave the others standing, as was done in the G.N. Derby and G.N. St. Leger, he was very much mistaken. TAKING NO CHANCES Both Reed, on Rapine, and Mansuii, on Piuthair, were watching the move, and as soon as Commendation began to draw away, they went after him. Reed, taking no chances, had the whip out in his endeavour to keep his place a length behind, and Piuthair was also in the fight, holding her place. So they came into the straight, and with the favourite failing to come away, the spectators settled down to see a battle royal. Threequarters of a furlong from the judge both Rapine and Piuthair had got up to within threequarters of a length of Commendation, and then Morris had recourse to the whip. Commendation responded well, and away he went, slowly but surely, until 50 yards from the post he was a length and a-quarter to the good, and certain victory seemed assured. TO THE DEATH However, both Rapine and Piuthcir, as game a pair as ever looked through bridle, took up the challenge again, and slowly they again commenced to overhaul the favourite. Then the line was crossed, with Commendation very nearly a length in front of Rapine, and Piuthair was only a short head behind the old Martian gelding. So ended a thrilling race, and although the margins between the placed horses was exactly as stated, those on the members’ stand—situated at the .bottom of the straight—were in doubt as to the actual result. The track was a bit soft in parts, and that may have had something to do with the actual result. PIUTHAIR’S GREAT RACE Commendation took the honours, but on the day he was very little superior to either Rapine or Piuthair. The former appeared to meet with one check during the running, which however, affected him slightly. Piuthair’s rider afterwards stated that his mount would have won but for the fact that she could not go in the ground along the back, where she was getting into it. That Piuthair should finish almost level with Rapine—perhaps the small margin was the result of superior horsemanship—rather tends to support Manson’s opinion as regards Rapine. It was in reality a great struggle between three real good horses. The pace was on for most of the way, first quarter taking 27sec, five furlongs 1.4 3-5, six furlongs 1.17 3-5, and the last half-mile 51sec. COMING EVENTS FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON April 29. 30—South Canterbury J.C. April 30, May 4—Waikato R.C. May 6, 7.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES May 5, 7.—Forbury Park T.C. May 7. —Cambridge T.C. Mav 21.—Oamaru T.C. June 3, 4. —Canterbury T.C. June 11.—Ashburton T.C. June 18, 22.—Auckland T.C.