RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 617, 20 March 1929, Page 13

RACING

(Continued.; RACE^ITH^IiIsFoRY AWAPUNI GOLD CUP TO BE RUN TO-DAY During the 15 years in which the Awapuni Gold Cup has been in existence. this annual contest, which graces the programme at the meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club to-day, has been instrumental in bringing together ?ome of the finest specimens of horseflesh which have figured on the green sward of the Dominion turf. Not only has the race attracted great horses, but it has provided some highly stirring battles. Instituted in 1315, the battle for supremacy in that initial yoar saw Chortle, one of the best middle-distance performers of his time, annex ihe honours by a head f rom Dal boa. with Merry Roe another head away, figuring among the also rans was vVarstep, ihe previous Auckland Cup winner—a n event which Balboa was to go on and win that year. Twelve months iater marked the appearance of that s reat mare. Desert Gold, who duly won, and she again demonstrated her superiority in the two succeeding contests for supremacy. There had been considerable speculation prior to the nay as to the outcome of her third rssay, for meantime there had loomed upon, the horizon another turf chaml>iol in Biplane, and people came from all quarters of the Dominion and, indeed, from Australia, to witness the battle for honours. However, the contest did not materialise, for Bipiane was •lestined never to fulfil his engagement, being scratched for the event at 7.30 o’clock the evening before the race. The crowd gave natural expression to tnelr disappointment and the Lowry roiours received great receptions by nay of contrast on the day itself.

An Idol Falls The fourth successive appearance of Desert Geld was fated to be marred by uefcat when, in 1919, Sasanoff beat the wonderful mare in the record time of 2.4 3-5 —a race record which still -tands. Neither Sasanof nor Desert Gold presented themselves the followng year, new stars having loomed up in the racing firmament of the Dominion »n Amythas and Arrowsmith. Rain spoilt the contest to some extent unfortunately, and Amythas, finding the conditions to his liking, won by a length from Arrowsmith and Vagabond, ike last-named having won the New Zealand Cup earlier in the season. Sasanof again proved supreme in 1921 when he accounted for the New Zealand St. Leger winner. Maioha, and other high-class performers. The 1922 uontest was remarkable in that in marked the defeat of Amythas. who had just previously won the Trentham Gold Cup. by two outsiders in Marquet»ur and Trespass, the favourite having met with interference at the home turn. Thespian went on to win from a moderate field the following year, while in 1924 Ballymena decisively de•eated Pilliewinkie and Winning Hit. Unfortunately Ballymena ivas fated to meet with a premature end "men building up a great record across the Tasman, but which Limerick has been tarrying on for the same owner. The i u2S* field was somewhat poor m quaiit*. Suggestion proving to be the winner but 12 months later saw anothei select field brought together.

Rapine Enters Willi Rapine, Reremoanu, Grand Knight and Mask included among the miners in 192t> a great race was assured, but while the distance was considered to be somewhat snort for Kapine, the Martian gelding surprised patrons by jumping into the .an and leading throughout to b ? a U:;Y-hTright by a length, with Grand Knight right up in the fast time of “ IQ-5, wtnen As but one-fifth of a second outside sasanof’s record. Rapine made a bold bid to add yet another coiitest tc his credit the following year, but the bask nf giving 101 bto the Limond -deling, Commendation, proved to be just too much, a length separating the pair. * Piuthair finishing on gamely in third place a head back. On the strength d_£ his wonderful performance in t‘' tham Gold Cup immediately ureced g when the Martian gelding stal ®L tral W aaccounted for Satrap and m «» th 3 e 22 . AUSt^r a Stinger was*installed favourite for the Awapuni Hold Cup of 12 months ago. ana he duly carried his backers through... from parts of a length separating hull trom Satrap, with Mask in third Rapier not having been a competitor on this occasion.

A Select Field While the names o£ Rapine. Star Stranger and possibly a f®" from notabilities o£ the turf are missing from to-day’s held, it is nevertheless a classy one. Commendation is sole representative, but hopes are en tained that the handsome Limond beld ing will show a return to that form of his early career when he placed Avondale Guineas (dead-heating Lysander), the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, the New Zealand Derby, Groat -Northern Derby. New' Zealand 1 Ureat Northern St. Leger and the A punt Gold Cup in 1927 to his credit. On the same scale of poundages as the Limond gelding are the New Zealand. Wellington and Auckland cup winner. Rapier, who is likewise pmising a return to liis tormer form. Lysander—the Absurd . representative having proved some c of a disappointment since his briina three-year-old career when he reg tored victories in the Wanganui. Avondale and Great Northern Guineas, ana ihe King's Plate —and the brilnan Northerner. Pegaway. who at the P asl summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club won the Christmas Handicap. Summer Cup and A.K.C. Handicap overdistances from a mile up to a mile ana a-halt. ♦v* q n The sole representative on_ tne mark is Laughing Prince, the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes. Mitchelson Cup. Canterbury Cup and G. G. Stead Gold Cup winner. . rtf Figuring as the younger member, o the field are Nightmarch. the winner the last New Zealand Derby stakes, the Marton and Dunedin Cups, an Concentrate, who has a fund of stay mg Mood in his veins, although his record is not a formidable one as Ko ' ' ®ver. it should be a great battle tor supremacy.