AWAPUNI GOLD CUP

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 18

AWAPUNI GOLD CUP

Many Good Horses Have Won In Past TO-MORROW’S CONTEST Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, March 23. The institution of the Awapuni Gold Cup in 1915 is the greatest contribution the Manawatu Racing Club has made toward racing. Ten furlongs is unquestionably the best testing distance under w.f.a. conditions, and this race, ever since Chortle downed Balboa by the narrowest of margins in 1915, has drawn the best class horses of the year, and provided contests of unusually high merit. It can be said with assurance that no bad horse has ever won the Awapuni Gold Cup, and tile 23 contests so far decided have seen the defeat of many great gallopers. To-morrow's race is certain to be one of the most interesting of this season’s racing, for extraordinary interest is being taken in the clash between Royal Chief and Smoko Screen. But these line three-year-olds will not have matters all their own way, for they will be doughtily opposed by several handicap horses with more than pretentions to class’. Ben Deeley’s Good Riding. Chortle won the first Awapuni Cup thanks mainly to Beu Deeley’s masterly horsemanship in driving the brilliant son of Multifid home by a head from Balboa, with Merry Roe but another head away. Ventura, Warstep and Pavlova made up the field for the first contest. The late Jack O’Shea had the mount on Balboa that day. but he gained his revenge in the next three years, when he piloted that wonder mare Desert Gold home on each occasion from Wishful, The Toff, and Menelaus respectively. The year 1918 will be remembered in particular by the reason of the fact that sportsmen came from all parts of New Zealand, as well as from Australia, in expectation of witnessing a duel between Dft'ert Gold and Biplane, the latter of whom had won the two Australian Derbies. The racing pilgrims were doomed to disappointment for Biplane was withdrawn at the last minute, and great dissatisfaction was felt. Desert Gold was on the down grade when she contested the race for the fourth time, but the Melbourne and New Zealand Cups winner Sasanof was_required to run a course record of 2.4 3-5 to beat her by three-quarters of a length, Bonnie Maid being the only other starter. Aniythas v. Arrowsmith. Interest in the race was again aroused in 1920 when attention was centred on a duel between Amythas and the imported Chaucer horse Arrowsmith. Earlier in the month Arrowsmith had won the Great Easter Handicap, and Aniythas had scored in the Challenge Stakes, but on the day rain fell to suit Amythas, and the brilliant son of Demosthenes downed Arrowsmith by a length, the Now Zealand Cup winner Vagabond being third. It was a great field which lined up for the next contest, when Sasanof won for the second time. In a fine race the Martian gelding beat the dual St. Leger and Canterbury Cup winner Duo. and the third horse was Rouen, who had won the Thompson Handicap and was destined to win the New Zealand Cup. Unplaced were Maihoa and .Sunart, who later won the Wellington and New Zealand Cups respectively. That good handicap horse Marqueteur scored a surprise win in 1922, when he prevailed from another outsider in Trespass. The actual favourite, Aniythas, who'had signalled a return to form the previous week to win the Ti "'nthnni Gold Cup. suffered interference in the running, and finished outside a place. Thespian's task was made easy the next year, when the field was below usual strength, hi/': 12 months later that great but unlucky three-year-old Ballymena, who had won the A.J.C. Derby, very decisively bent”two other great gallopers in Pilliewinkie and 'Winning Hit. Ballymena had come up from victories in the St. Leger and Gold Cup at Trentham. Rapine All the Way. Suggestion heat a weak field in 1925, but the next year Rapine, a wonderful stayer, was taken to the front to win all the way. These unorthodox tactics beat the otlier riders in the race, and Reremoana and Grand Knight, who were better qualified to win at the distance, failed to catch him. Commendation was more than a match for Rapine a year later, though the Martian gelding did well to finish within a length' of the colt. Another Trentham Gold Cup winner prevailed when Star Stranger, who had so significantly bridged a seemingly impossible gap to catch the three-year-old Satrap on the post when Australasian figures for the two miles were hoisted at Trentham. again beat the Paladin gelding, Mask being third .’.nd Ilynanna and Laughing Prince unplaced. Once more Trentham running guided the public when Rapier cut down the Derby winner Nightmaich. but the 1930 contest saw Vertigern fluke a win oyer Waterline by a neck. Historic, Rapier. Concentrate. Star Stranger, Eaglet and My Own followed them home. It was a field of wonderful quality and, though Vertigern was lucky, he was a good horse on his day and a Wellington Cup winner.

Another . wonderful field lined np in 1931 when Nightmareh beat Vertigern, Historic, Laffghing Prince and Limerick and the Night Raid horse repented the win the next year to beat Gay Crest.

Autopay beat the St. Leger winner La Moderne to win in 1933 and Silver Ring succeeded with consummate ease in the following two years. The last two contests, however, have been won by three-year-olds in Greek Shepherd and Wild Chase, both of whom were the best of their years and up to Awapuni Gold Cup standard.

The 1938 contest gives every promise of being as thrilling as the best of the races which have preceded it. and it is gratifying to the club to he able to stage a race which justifies the continuance of weight-for-age racing.

ACCEPTORS FOR SECOND DAY AT OAMARU By Telegraph—Press Association. Onmaru, March 23. Acceptances for the second day of the Oaniaru Jackey Club’s meeting on Saturday are:—

1.45— WAIKAURA TROT HANDICAP, of £120; 3.5 class. One mile and a quarter. Battlevale .... scr Mandrel! scr Charles Russell scr Kamingo scr Dancing Pirate scr Peter Bee .... scr Devotion scr Sylvie’s Best . scr Don Acron ... scr Token scr Guncase scr Wee Potts .... scr Happy Drin .. scr Smile Again .. 36 Johnnie’s Hope scr King Potts .. 48

4.20 — OAMARU TROT HANDICAP, of £135; 3.3 S close. One mile and a half. Cyrano scr New Ideal ... 12 Francisco .... bct All Kings .... 12 Idlealong .... scr Jambo 12 Maudrell scr .bineworthy .. 12 Oasis scr Tanina 24 Paraurl ecr King Drueus . 3G Slnbad scr

12.30— NOVICE STAKES , of ’ £100, Six furlongs. Atalanta Laes 8 8 Columbia 8 8 Fa vo 8 8 Sheeny 8 8 Lisnacree ... 8 8 Quick- Return 8 8 Master Dingle 8 8 Donrov 7 11 Steer Clear . 8 8 Lady Kirin on 11 7 11 Strip 8 8 Netherlea ... 7 11 Shnnv Dawn 8 8 Pink Lad ... 7 11 Maza march . 8 8 Poetic 7 11 Bahama Maid 8 8 1.10— PUKEURI HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP, of £130. One mile. 11 o Rabble 10 1 MeHeath ... 10 10 Balmenter 0 13 Dareeourt .. 10 7 Bright Superex .... 10 5 Prospect 9 3 Survey 10 4 Rebel Fashion 9 0 Poniard .... 10 2

2.25— GARDINER MEMORIAL HANDICA p, of £200. One mile. Silver High Glee .. s 1 Streak 9 7 Mnngatoon 7 11 Dictate .. 9 2 Linguist 7 9 Queen Dorothy 8 9 Rebel Lad 7 6 Ponty .. 8 2 WAITAKI HACK HANDICAP, of £130. Seven furlongs. Snllent Knight 9 4 Balmenter ... 7 13 Norseman .. 9' 2 Drlnkup 7 9 Wagner .. 8 11 Coatette .... 7 6 Dracula .. 8 7 Bellerive 7 0 Therniidor .. 8 3 A taianta Lass 7 0 Rabble ... 8 1

ELDERSLIE HANDICAP, of £150. Six furlongs. Rebel Mate . . 8 0 Silver Sail .. 7 5 Royal Gallant 7 13 Volo Dale .. 7 0 Vai march . 7 H Acceptable .. 7 0 Double Gift 7 fi

5.0— FAREWEDL HACK HANDICAP, o-t £120. Six furlongs. Silver Sail . 9 Epic s 1 Balin <1 .. 8 7 Golden Vision 7 7 Cocksure . .. « 7 Glenaere 7 7 Thermidor H 4 Bellerive 7 0 Amount .. 8 3 Flame Queen 7 0 New Note , 8 2 Bad News „ 7 0