OLD BILL’S CUP

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 98, 19 January 1940, Page 6

OLD BILL’S CUP

Class Prevails In Fighting Finish ONLY LEADING HORSES HAVE CHANCE Turnover Is Record For Trentham Old Bill was always favourite for the Cup, and he won very meritoriously after being one of the leaders throughout; in fact he went to the front six furlongs from home and stayed there. For most of the journey he was travelling very smoothly, 'but when be was tackled by Beau Vite in the straight he showed distinct signs of stallion temperament and was turning his head to reach his challenger. But for this he would have won more comfortably than by the long head by which he gained the verdict. It is unusual fot a mile and a half winner to go to the front so soon, and the fact that he outran and outstayed all his opponents testifies to his class. Beau Vite proved himself a high class and solid three-year-old. He did not carry Defaulter’s weight by 41b., but he met a better field, and had he not been disappointed in an opening, when Old Bill moved to the front after Laughing Lass had tired, he would have given the winner much more trouble. Beau Vite was perfectly ridden, occupying a nice position on the rails in behind the two leaders throughout, and but for the disappointment mentioned he got a good run. Gladynev was also one or the leading bunch in the running, and he moved un more prominently as they left the back stretch, but the two that finished ahead of him were too good. Beau Repnirc put up a fine race, being well back early, the big field hampering him in the run home. Laughing Lass made the pace for six furlongs, being heavily restrained by Wiggins, and she then had pulled herself to a standstill, and she retired. Globe Trotter put in an appearance on the outer of the leading bunch as they rounded the turn, but he did not run on. Centrepoise was about seventh throughout, a position he still occupied at the post, the order of those that followed the placed horses borne being Thermldor, MOorsotis, Centrepoise, Queen of Song, Norseman, Royal Chief, and Siegmund. Royal Chief was always toward the rear but finished on. Malagigi, Fils de Vaals, Siegmund and Beaupartir were the last four horses in most of J the running. Malagigi turned away slightly as the barrier rose and was never afterwards able to get up, and he got carted olf the track going out of the straight. Sly Box nearly fell in the first two furlongs, and after making a fast run down the back faded out again at the end. Willie Win was never sighted, hut Lady Montana was a possibility for JO furlongs, up to which stage Raeburn was also in the picture. Thermldor was the only southerner to make any showing, finishing strongly into fifth place. Winner’s Career. Old Bill was bred by his owner, Mr. H. H. Pharazyn, of Hastings, who is at present in the Channel Islands. He

is a four-year-old horse by Siegfried from Liaison, dam also of Quadroon and Florence Mills, both good winners in the same colours. Old Bill was II good three-year-old, but he was not quite the class of Defaulter and Bea upartir. Beaupartir beat him in the Queen’s Plate, and he was only fourth in the Great Northern Derby to Defaulter, Beaupartir and Peerless. He won his first race twelve months ago on the second day of the Wellington summer meeting last year, in the Trilli Plate on the second day, when he was ridden by Tattersail, who rode him in yesterday’s Cup. He won again at his next start at Woodville in February over a mile and a quarter, and then ran third to Beaupartir and Peerless in the St. Leger at Trentham in March. He was unplaced in the Awapuni Cup, won by Beaupartir from Royal Chief and Peerless, but finished the season with a win in the Feilding Cup from Oratory and Hunting Cat.

This season he has been very carefully raced. He was unplaced at Wanganui in September, won the Wainui Handicap at Trentham in October, ran third over six furlongs to Brunhild and Race Call at Feilding in November, and won over seven furlongs at Manawatu last month. This preparation for a mile and a half handicap against the best company in the country may be unorthodox, but it has been successful, and is a great tribute to his trainer Luke Wilson. Wilson, some three decades back, was one of New Zealand’s leading horsemen. He had no peer as a rider of distance races, being patience personified, and he has taken the same demeanour into the training business, with outstanding results. Old Bill was let into the Auckland Cup with 7.9, at which weight Wilson recognized that he had .a chance second to none, but it was the Wellington Centennial Cup on which he had set his mind, and the happy result which attended his policy yesterday was a high tribute to his ability. The totalizator turnover on the Cup was a record for a single race at Trentham. The total was £17,032 (win £6467/10/-; place £10,564/10/-) which, so far as can be gathered from the records, is £2OOO ahead of the previous record total in the years immediately following the last war.