THE CUP

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 195, 7 November 1927, Page 6

THE CUP

Rapier Wins Brilliantly

EULALIE NEVER HEADED IN STEWARDS EXCELLENT racing and a welcome increase in the totalisator investments marked the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting on Saturday. Rapier won the Cup in the style of a good horse, Star Stranger confusing his detractors by proving himself second best. Eulalie won the Stewards’ Handicap, and, of course, Childsplay cantered away with the Welcome Stakes.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. The Canterbury Jockey Club - commenced its spring meeting at Riccarton in glorious weather. There was a large attendance and the course was in excellent order. The totalisator handled £65,509, which was £8,123i in excess of the sum handled on the first day last year. Comfortable Win Aberfeldy was always favourite for the Spring Hurdles, but let his supporters down badly, and was well back at the end. Bachelor Gay had a big lead early, but broke down at the fivefurlongs post, and was pulled up. Beauty Light, who was a good way back early, ran up with the leaders along the back and leading into the straight came on to win comfortably by a length and a-half from Kaikahu, with Koauau six lengths away third. Tarleton and Aberfeldy failed badly. At no stage did they appear to possess a winning chance. Kaikahu should be an improved horse at his next start. Bachelor Gay broke his leg near the fetlock and was destroyed. Duke Abbey Easily There were no fewer that 15 scratchings in the Spring Plate, and Duke Abbey wound up a solid favourite, with support for Teri, Singleton and Sudden Storm. Soon after the start Wild Pigeon lost her rider. Sarchee went out smartly from the barrier, being followed over the first part by Latin Quarter, Teri and Singleton, with Duke Abbey, on the rails, lying sixth. There was little alteration among the leaders coming across the top, but the favourite had dropped back. Sarchee led into the straight from Latin Quarter, Teri, Singleton and Sudden Storm. The first two were done with at the bottom of the straight, where Sudden Storm and Teri flattered. Here Duke Abbey was lucky enough to get a good run on the rails, and he went on to score comfortably by a length from the Derby candidate, Teri, with another Derby representative in Singleton a couple of lengths away. Talisker, Satrap, Sarchee, Sudden Storm, Datin Quarter and Lady Killer were next. Satrap was unlucky. Paper Boy at Last All started in the Linwood Handicap, there being 21 runners. In a good betting ra.ee most money was forthcoming for Kalos, Vigilance, Ploylake .and Paper Boy, the last named being at a very fine price. A great start saw the big field get away in a perfect line, and at the end of a furlong Amor went out in front from Tennadice and Tembroney. Money Peer met with a mishap, his saddle slipping, and he soon tailed off. The field was quickly strung out at the end of the second furlong and Amor showed the way to the straight to a bunch, in which Bronstell, Paper Boy and Vigilance were prominent. At the distance Paper Boy took charge and came on to win by two lengths from Rotor, Bronstell and Vigilance, who were in a line. The last-named finished strongly, as did Fee Simple. Stirring Cup Contest The defections from the New Zealand Cup were Beacon Light, Clarinda and David Garrick, and of the fourteen runners Rapier was made a good favourite, while there was also plenty of money for Piuthair. Others heavily supported were Star Stranger, Footfall and Te Monanui. At the barrier Lady Desmond did not behave at all well, and played up badly. Royal Game and Footfall at times were disinclined to face the barrier. There was not much delay, however, and the field got away together, stringing out coming up the straight the first time. Passing the stands Royal Game and Bennanee were together, making play from Footfall, Te Monanui, Lady Desmond, Rapier and Battlement (both pulling hard), with Star Stranger, Piuthair and Pink Note following, the last three being Yoma, Count Cavour and Equerry. Running past the mile and a-quarter post Royal Game and Bennanee were still in the van, Footfall, Battlement, Rapier and Te Monanui, with Star Stranger Improving his position, and Count Cavour and Yoma still last. Passing the mile

post the order of the leaders was Royal Game, Bennanee, Battlement and Footfall, with Rapier, Star Stranger ai\d Te Monanui showing up. A little further on Royal Game had had enough, and he began to drop back, while Footfall also drifted. At the six furlongs Bennanee led Rapier and Battlement, and coming into the straight Bennanee was in front of Rapier. Piuthair. Footfall and Battlement. Half way up the straight Star Stranger and Rapier oegan to fight it out, but the favourite finished best, and coming on full of running won by a length from Star Stranger. Footfall made a second run in the straight and was third, only a head behind Star Stranger. Bennanee finished on much better than was expected, and was a good fourth. The weight beat Te Monanui over the last couple of furlongs. The winner and his rider received a wonderful ovation on their return to the birdcage. Jockey Emerson's Story Bennanee was only a neck behind Footfall, and Te Monanui was another neck away. Following them were Battlement, Pink Note and Yoma. Rapier looked like winning very easily a hundred yards from home when he stumbled, and lost easily a length, but when he was got going again he quickly settled down, and with the vigorous riding of Emerson, was going away from the field again. After the race Emerson said: “My mount was pulling hard for the first half-mile till he settled down, but along the back he was going so* nicely that I knew he would be hard to beat. When we entered the straight Rapier was going comfortably. A hundred yards from the post my horse stumbled and lost a little ground, and when he got going again I knew he would win. Nearing the post he was drawing away again.” CHildsplay Easily Childsplay was at a short price in the Welcome Stakes, coming in for very heavy support and carrying more than twice as much as Tea Miss, with Goblin Market third choice. The race needs very little description, for tli^

brilliant filly went to the front at the start and was never afterwards headed, finally winning with the greatest ease by over three lengths. Silver Paper was always prominent behind the leader, and finished second, three lengths ahead of Silver Rule, who also showed some pace. Royal Duke iinnished well in fourth place. Childsplay, like Rapier, was met with a great reception. She outclassed the opposition, and is obviously the smartest youngster seen out for very many years. The Apprentices Money Peer was withdrawn from the Apprentices’ Handicap, and Wanderlust was a pronounced favourite, with Don Jose and Avro also well-backed. Gay Bird was left at the post, and Master Clarence lost his rider soon after the start. Grand National and Don Jose were the early leaders, but after going a couple of furlongs Don Jose, Starflight and Wanderlust were in the van, and they were still prominent as the field swung into the straight at the head of a bunch. At the false rail Wanderlust was in front with Starflight, and Avro commenced to make his run. In a good finish Wanderlust won by a length from Starflight, and Avro was third, half a length away, and Arikiwai next. Eulalie AH The Way Booster and Reremoana were the scratchings for the Stewards’ Handicap, there being a fine field of 18. Comic Song, the winner of this race for the past two years, drew the rails, and alongside him and across the course from him were Paperchase, Shirley, Joy King and Kiosk. Gas-

cony drew number S, and on the outside were Countersign (19), Eulalie (18), Benzora (17) and Father O’Flynn (16). Eulalie was a firm favourite, with Comio Song next in demand, and then there were several strongly-supported, among them Crown Area, Benzora and Kiosk. A great start after some delay saw Eulalie hit the front immediately, Overhaul getting the worst of the good dispatch. Eulalie led into the straight from Lady Cavendish and Gascony, while Kiosk and Crown Area were also prominent. In a great race home Eulalie was always doing it well in front, and she passed the post half a length in front of Crown Area, who finished too strongly for Kiosk, beating him by a neck for second money. Lausanne, one of the outsiders of the field, fan a great race in fourth place. Thus the three big races were won by South Island horses. Laughing Prince at Short Price Black Duke was withdrawn from the concluding event, the Riccarton Handicap, there being a fine field of 16. The 4 three Derby dolts, Laughing Prince, Ark Royal and Paleta, were best backed, the first-mentioned being a very hot favourite. At the start Margaret Birney was hopelessly left. Vesperus, Paleta, Joy Bird, Tiega and Laughing Prince was the order out of the tapes, but Joy Bird ran to the front quickly, being 'attended along the back by Vesperus, Paleta, Tiega, Laughing Prince and Ophir. Joy Bird showed the way into the straight, and at the false rail Vesperus was in charge, but he compounded. Laughing Prince came through at the distance and went on to win very comfortably. Nincompoop and Rowley had a great duel for second, the former getting his nose in front. It was an excellent Derby trial for Laughing Prince. After the race the stewards held an inquiry into the handling of Rowley, and after hearing lengthy evidence postponed the inquiry till Monday morning. If Rowley is produced again at the meeting it will take a pretty good horse to bring about his defeat. Later results: New Zealand Cup Of £1,750; two miles. I—RAPIER (G. G. Holmes), b g, 6yrs, by Greyspear—Anitea, 7.11, C. Emerson 1 3 STAR STRANGER (A. B. Williams), b g, by Martian—Star Lady, syrs, 9.4, R. Reed 2 S—FOOTFALL (C. G. Dalgety), br g, by Autumnus—Warstep, 6yrs, 8.9, F. E. Jones 3 Also started:— Bennanee, 7.0, H. Wiggins 4 Count Cavour, 9.6, F. C. Porter .... 0 Te Monanui, 9.2, L. G. Morris 0 Piuthair, 8.8, T. Green 0 Yoma, 7.8, McCormac 0 Battlement, 7.6, F. Wilson 0 Royal Game, 7.2, R. Reilly 0 Pink Note, 7.0, Goulsbro 0 Lady Desmond, 7.0, J. Potter 0 Equerry, 7.0, L. J. Ellis 0 Vaward, 7.0, T. Metcalf 0 Won by a length, a head separating second and third. Time, 3.26. (Winner trained by H. Nurse, Riccarton.) PREVIOUS WINNERS Previous winners of the New Zealand Cup are as follows: !

WELCOME STAKES I—CHILDSPLAY. 8.0 (C. Emersqn) 1 S—SILVER PAPER, 5.5 2 4 SILVER RULE. S.O 3 Scr.: Staghunter, Flicker, Banket, Pure Gold and Kentish Lady. APPRENTICES HANDICAP ' One mile I—WANDERLUST, 8.13 (A. Murray) 1 5 STARFLIGHT, 5.2 (A. Eastwood) 2 4—AVRO, 9.0 3 Scr.: Money Peer. STEWARDS HANDICAP Of £1,200; 6 furlongs I—EULALIE, 8.1 (T. Green) 1 3—CROWN AREA, 8.3 (A. E. Ellis) 2

S—KIOSK, 8.3 (J. Barry) . 2 Scr.: Reremoana and Booster. Half a length each way. RICCARTON HANDICAP 9 furlongs 1 —LAUGHING PRINCE, 8.12 (L. Morris) 1 8-NINCOMPOOP, 8.2 (R. Mackie) .. 2 S—ROWLEY, 7.13 (A. Parker) .. . . 3 Scr.: Black Duke. Won comfortably, third horse a nose away. Time, 1.54.

Year. Winner. - Weight. Time. 1915—Tangihou .. .. 6.7 3.30 1916—Ardenvhor .. .. .. 7.3 3.25 1-5 1917—Menelaus .... 8.1 3.25 1-5 191S—Sasanof .. .. 8.9 3.27 4-5 1919—Vagabond .. .. 7.13 3.28 2-5 1920—Oratress .. .. 8.7 §.26 4-5 1921 —Royal Star .. .. .. 7.10J 3.25 1922—Scion .. .. .. .. 7.10 3.27 4-5 1923—Rouen .. .. .. .. 8.5 3.27 1924—Sunart .. .. .. .. 8.3 3.26 2-5 1925—The Banker .. .. 8.4 3.25 1926—Count Cavour 8.13 3.26 1-5