Cup Candidates at Riccarton

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 152, 17 September 1927, Page 6

Cup Candidates at Riccarton

INTERESTING WORK REGISTERED WITH the spring racing in the South Island commencing at Ashburton next week, training operations at Riecarton are becoming very interesting. Many New Zealand Cup candidates were seen out on Thursday, two of them, Footfall and Rapier, shaping well.

(Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday.

I'low that conditions for training operations are ideal, most of the horses at Riccarton are being sent along in fast work and are preparing for their spring engagements. On Thursday morning some interesting gallops were recorded, the star performer of the morning being the New Zealand Cup candiate, Footfall, who traversed nine furlongs in attractive style. EYEES ON THE FAVOURITE

All eyes were focussed on the Cup favourite when he trotted over to the starting point, and breaking into a gallop before he reached the nine furlongs post he was going at a good steady pace when picked up by his stable mate, Star Flight, at the seven furlongs disc. The pair kept together till the three f urlongs post was reached, and at that stage it was apparent that Footfall was travelling at his ease. Up the home stretch Footfall was going better than his companion, and when the post was reached the Au turn nus gelding was about three quarters of a length in front of. Star Flight. Footfall’s sectional times for the whole distance were: First two furlongs in 26, three in 41, four in 55, five in 1.8, six in 1.21 1-5, and nine furlongs in 2.1 1-5. In the early stages he was travelling at a steady gait, but over the concluding half mile he settled down to his work and was going strongly when the deciding line was reached. AT HIS BEST FOR THE CUP It was a good effort on the Cup candidate’s part, for with F. E. Jones in the saddle, he must have carried round about 10 stone. He will certainly be improved with racing, but the manner in which he is getting through his work suggests that he will be at his best by Cup time. If the present itinerary is adhered to, he will be a competitor at the Ashburton meeting next wek, and though he lias a big burden to carry in 10.6 he should give a good account, of himself. However, as he will be in need of racing, it is not expected he will win, but all the same his running at the southern meeting should show him up in a favourable light. SMART SPRINTER

Paperchase, in the same stable as Footfall, left; seven furlongs behind her in good style, the time for that journey being 1.34 3-5. She began rather slowly but increased her speed when nearing the six furlongs post. She ran the first half mile in 92 1-5, but was slowing up nearing the finish. Sagittarius, who claims an engagement at the Ashburton meeting, was going strongly at the conclusion of seven furlongs run in 1.34 1-5. He ran the first four furlongs in 52, and the remaining three in 42 1-5. The Arrowsmith gelding is very well at present, and with only 8.7 in the Farewell Handicap at Ashburton he may be hard to beat. He will probably be more forward than a good many others in that race.

INTERESTING TRIAL CANDIDATE Scoff rattled over five furlongs in 1.4, and completed his task in taking

style. He was not all out by any means, and his efforts during the past few weeks point to him running a big race in the Trial Plate at Ashburton, in which he is weighted at 8.0. However, there are a lot of good hacks engaged in the five furlongs event, but Scoff’s great burst of speed will be a factor toward success. Bolero and Lady Swinton hopped off from the six furlongs post, and the pair ran to the winning post in 1.18. Bolero appeared to move freely throughout, and he was the better of the pair at the end. A SLICK SEVEN Don Jose, assisted by Paper Boy over the last five furlongs, recorded 1.30 3-5 for seven furlongs. The Dunedin Guineas candidate was travelling well all the way, and in running the last six furlongs of his work in 1.16 2-5 he put up a good performance. The hurdler Aberfeldy is a mass of condition, and though he still holds his ground in the New Zealand Cup, it is improbable he will be a starter in that event. However, there is nothing amiss with the Quin Abbey gelding, and in company with Tarleton he got to the end of six furlongs in 1.18. Aberfeldy was going smoothly throughout, and it was obvious he could have easily defeated his mate had he been required to. RAPIER’S TRY OUT Chickwheat and Rapier were evenly matched over seven furlongs, which they left behind in 1.31. They ran the last six furlongs in 1.17 1-5, and were going well at the end. Rapier has come on a good deal lately, and is more forward at this stage than his connections expected him to be. Solferite and the three-year-old Wreath of Myrtle strode over three quarters of a mile in 1.20. The pair went nicely all the way, and finished up their work in pleasing style. Assurance, I-loy lake and Master Clarence got to the end of five furlongs in 1.4. Master Clarence was half a length clear of Hoy lake at the end, with Assurance about a length and a half away. Master Clarence is galloping particularly well at present, and he should soon pick up a race. Centrepiece, who is doing really well, was picked up by Sky Quest, and he ran the last six furlongs of his work in 1.16 2-5. Greyfinch was three lengths in front of Martian Spear at the conclusion of five furlongs, which they covered in 1.3 1-5. Greyfinch, who is in H. Nurse’s stable, accomplished his task in an attractive style. CLASSIC CANDIDATE Martarma, assisted by a three-year-old stable-mate, galloped in taking style over seven furlongs in 1.32 3-5. The Martian colt could have done far better, but his mate was of little use to him. A few weeks ago it was announced that Martarma would have his first race this season in the Dunedin Guineas, but F. Christmas stated this morning that if the weather was fine the colt would be a runner on the opening day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting. • Margaret Birney on her own did well to register 1.45 1-5 for a mile. The Riccarton mare is in good buckle now, and under the lighter scale of weights she should soon show to advantage. THE BEST HALF MILE

Arrowmir, accompanied by Note, took the honours of the morning over four furlongs by rattling over that distance in 49 1-5. The pair hopped off evenly and made the pace warn from the commencement, but at the end Arrowmir appeared to hold the ex-West Coast mare safely. It was a good effort on the part of Arrowmir, who is very well and should pick up a race in the near future. Note did not lose any friends by her performance, and she should be hard to beat in whichever race her connections decide for her at Ashburton. Beau Geste has not been set any serious tasks since the Grand National meeting, but he is m good order and has got through any amount of solid work. In company with his stable mate, Streamer, he was Boin *j c ?™" fortablv at the conclusion of six fui longs, which took 1.21. The New Zealand Cup candidate is better than many racegoers think, and he is going to take a power of beating in the Ashburton Handicap, in which he has been weighted on the minimum. If he reproduces the form he showed here at National time he should nearly win.

READY TO WIN Amorist, an inmate of J. McCoombs s stable, is working satisfactorily, and the first time he is stepped out he will be 6 extremely hard to beat The Australian bred three-year-old has done exceptionally well during tfa e last month and has built up into a strong horse He will be a competitor at the Ashburton meeting, and he will beat more than will heat him. P ach Finora is coming on with eacn gallop, and the manner in which she reeled off six furlongs on Thursday in 1 16 3-5 indicates that she is in good order She gave Diana s Lad 10 lengths break, |nd when the winning post was reac\ed she was only a length behind her companion. TARLETON AS HURDLER

During the week Tarleton gave one of the best exhibitions of schooling seen at Riccarton for a long time, and though the Nassau geldmg failed to live up to expectations on flat he should make a name for himself in his „ onhere He is inclined to run abcuC but when ridden into the hurdles he jumps very fast and clean. GOSSIP FROM THE TRACKS

In the south Footfall is still favourite for the New Zealand Cup, but Rapier’s displays on the track have been so attractive that he is giadually Arming in the betting. J Beale has been engaged to pilot Eulalie in the Dunedin Guineas, and that horseman will do the rest of the riding for the Mason stable. On Tuesday morning last Eulalie was given a stirring gallop over six furlongs and she accomplished her task in lood style. The Absurd filly is very well and many expect her to thoroughly test the Martian colt Martarma in the Dunedin Guineas. The McLean Stakes candidate. Silver Paper, is doing really well, and if he is beaten at his initial start it will not be through lack of condition. He has been sprinting attractively of late, but he will have a formidable opponent to contend with when he is pitted against the likes of Rigmarole, by Absurd— Makepeace, in Mason’s stable.