FOOTFALL’S GOOD FORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 165, 3 October 1927, Page 7

FOOTFALL’S GOOD FORM

rapier finishes on well HIS CUP PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT

A last C “ P pros P ects - th e Ashburton Handicap on With th 1 * trc ,“® lhened the claims of the favourite, Footfall, and his performance" he " aS decidetf1 -'- unlucky not to have won, Raoier ar,mh« CC e- WaS lndeed a meritorious one. near the tail end of th P d > d fairly well to get fourth after being suggested hat wti 11)6 !j e d flve f urlon Ss from home, and his finishing run Hit form on LT‘,a an °‘ u her furlong to go he would have been hard to beat, for his liior- tl ?? ro ughly justifies the heavy support accorded him ms more important November engagement.

Prior to the race for the Ashburton , Handicap it was argued in racing circles that the mile and a-quarter handicap ] would not be a New Zealand Cup test, | for two of the runners, in Footfall and \ Rapier, were not in condition to do ] themselves justice. However, the result < proved contrary to expectations, as tbe two Cup favourites both put up attractive performances, and in Footfall’s case it can be said that he was extremely unlucky to lose. Footfall Unlucky. ! 1 he Autumnus gelding got away well, 1 and for the first two furlongs was well up with the leaders. Passing the seven- i furlongs post he dropped back a little, but appeared to be travelling with com- i parative ease. He moved up approach- * ing the five-furlong post, hut a little farther on he collided with Margaret Limey, and lost at least two lengths. His rider quickly got him going again, and once into the straight he came through with a determined challenge, ’ and was only a neck away, third. .. But r . f °r meeting with interference, the Riccarton-trained gelding would have given Chickwheat a lot of trouble, and under the circumstances his third was a great performance. ro have lost an advantage at such a critical part of the journey, and then to come on again and run third with scch a welter weight, proved that the Autumnus gelding possesses a heart made of steel. That interference cost him the: race there is little doubt, and those supporters of Footfall who have already backed him to win the New Zealand Cup must have been highly elated with his wonder! ul performance. It was a good Cup trial, which showed him up in a very favourable light, and as he will be a ™uch fitter horse by Cup-time, his highly-encouraging form on Saturday last warrants his position at the head oi* the quotations for the big Kicearton two-miler. Winner Does Well: From the start of the betting on the Ashburton Handicap, Chickwheat was always first or second favourite, but 1 towards the end so solid was the support for him that he wound up a firm favourite, v/ith Royal Game. His attractive efforts on the track during the pasit few weeks led manj' to pin their faith to him, and his win was in keeping with his brilliant track work. A long way out of his ground: in the early stages, he gradually wended his way through the field, and just after entering the straight dashed into the lead and was never afterwards headed. At one stage he was giving the leaders a big start, but over the last half-mile he was always going like a winner, and though he won by only two and a-halt lengths, he could have increased that advantage slightly had he been required to. The Buckwheat gelding still holds his ground in the New Zealand Cup, and notwithstanding the fact that he won well on Saturday, he will experience great difficulty in defeating his stablemate, Rapier, at a difference of only 111 b. Rapier’s performance was a good one. He was a long way back early, but over the concluding half-mile he finished j with great, determination, and was only

a neck behind Footfall in fourth place. As it was his first outing for some considerable time, he should be greatly benefited by the race, and at bis next start he will be hard to beat. His Cup admirers must have been pleased by his impressive performance, and it he continues to progress as at present, be will be very hard to beat in the big November race. A Non-stayer. Royal Game, as a result of his win over a mile and a-quarter in the north, was always second favourite on Saturday, but after having every chance he failed to see out the 10-furlong journey. He was well up half a mile from home, but before the straight entrance was reached he was a beaten horse. When the weights for the New Zealand Cup first made their appearance a good many gave the son of Royal Stag a chance with the minimum, but after his miserable failure on Saturday it seems fairly safe to pass him over. He was at the top of his form, had every chance, and was fairly and squarely beaten. At the National meeting he finished like a stayer, but his form on Saturday revealed that at present a mile is quite far enough for him in good company. The surprise of the race was the poor effort of Beau Geste. He got away well, and after two furlongs had been covered he w'as in the middle of the field. After passing tbe seven furlong post hs was being hard ridden to hold his position. but he dropped farther and farther back till at. one stage he was actually last. Four and a-haif furlongs from home he tried to get through on the inside. but was blocked, and had to be checked. Three furlongs from home he slipped up on the rails, but it was not till half-way down the straight that lie got clear, and putting in a fast run he was close up in fifth place at the end. He was certainly running on at the finish, and can be expected to improve at an early date. Ophir ran a surprisingly good race. He was always in a handy position, and at the straight entrance it w r as obvious he would have had to stop badly to be out of a place. A furlong from home Chickwheat headed him, but he hung on gamely and just managed to defeat Footfall by a neck for second place. Flaming Ray showed great, speed for seven furlongs, but she tired badly towards the end, and was nearer last than first at the finish. Margaret Birney ran a really good race. Always in a prominent position she was nicely placed entering the straight, and it was only the last bit that found her out. She should be improved by the race, and in minor company she should soon credit her connections with a win. Thorndale was a long way back early, but he finished fairly well, while Courtly Rose never appeared to be travelling like a lace-getter at any portion of the journey. The form of Footfall and Rapier at Ashburton was certainly encouraging to their New Zealand Cup supporters, and as that pair are almost sure to be vastly improved horses in November it is reasonable to suppose that they will hold their positions at the head of the quotations right up til! the day of the j race. BERAGOUN.