Double Success is Rapier’s Aim

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 912, 4 March 1930, Page 12

Double Success is Rapier’s Aim

TRENTHAM GOLD CUP AND THEnTcTaWAPUNI? Rapier won the Trentham and Awapuni Gold Cups with comparative ease last season from Nightmarch, who had previously won the New Zealand Derby and the Marton and Dunedin Cups, and if the Greyspear horse continues to improve there is no saying that he will not again be a force to be reckoned with in this month’s race. Rapier’s Midsummer Handicap showing at Riccarton recently was quite satisfactory, considering that it was his reappearance after an absence ot* several months, and with a race in the Peninsula Cup last Saturday, and another run on the opening day at Trentham, he should strip in best form.

I Probably, if he does well at TrenI than), Rapier will again tackle the A wap-uni Gold Cup, and then may go back to Riccarton for the Great Autumn. C. Emerson has been retained to ride the horse in his remaining engagements this season. Of course, Rapier will have solid opposition in the Trentham Gold Cup, and among those that may test him are Star Stranger, Concentrate, In thp Shade, Count Cavour, and possibly Paquito, not to mention the three-year-olds Waterline and Hunting Cry,. Star Stranger established a record Cor two miles when he defeated Satrap in the memorable contest for the Gold Cup in 1928, and his time for the two miles, 3.222, is likely to stand for some time to come. Star Stranger seems to have forfeited some of his former brilliance, but back to his best he would have an undeniably strong chance in this month’s important £I,OOO race. Count Cavour continues to show good form on the Riccarton tracks, and his seven-furlong gallop in 1.30 2-5 on Thursday last shows that he still retains his form. Last year he occupied second place to Rapier in the Gold Cup, and he may again put up a big effort in his coming engagement. Concentrate is certain co run well. His form in the big handicaps this season was sufficient to show that he is a good horse, but tfie Gold Cup will show whether or not he has attained weight-for-age form. In the Shade appears to be in his best form again, while the best of the three-year-olds. Waterline and Hunting Cry. are certain to offer opposition. Paquito may not be class enough. ! but being thoroughly seasoned and fit. he is sure to run a strong two miles. Pie looks well after his recent strenuous racing. Hopes for Limerick Limerick is to his reappearance at Riccarton early this month. He is to be given road exercise on the lead for some time with an occasional visit to the tracks, but it is not expected to join him up with the active brigade until his trainer is satisfied that the champion shows prospects of undergoing another preparation. Stud Dispersal The famous Morphetteville stud in South Australia is to be dispersed. Jt is the only stud in Australia that has ever imported a classic winner. In the days when the late Sir Thomas Elder owned the stud he imported Gang Forward, a winner of the Two Thousand Guineas. Italy’s Hope One of the horses the Australian crack, Strephon IJ., is likely to meet in England this season is the Italian champion, Ortello. His performance when winning through heavy going ip Paris last October caused a prominent English sporting writer to refer to him as “leaving a pleasant memory of a very good horse, and the conviction that, if he goes on the right way, he will be a very doughty Ascot Cup challenger.”