FINE CUP CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 6

FINE CUP CONTEST

ADMIRAL DRAKE’S VICTORY

TIME RECORD EQUALLED

New Zealand Cup form worked out remarkably well in the Auckland Cup, when Admiral Drake and Gay Crest, the second and third horses respectively in the lliccarton two-miler, filled the dividend places (writes “ Archer,” in the Auckland ‘Herald’). The race was soundly won, and Admiral triumphed by a length in 3.24 3-5, time that equalled Rapier s race record established in 1927. Speculation on the race was solid and the ten runners all received a good measure of support. Admiral Drake being the actual favourite, with a slight call over Motere, while Gay Crest carried only £1 10s more than Jaloux. When the tapes were released Seatown dwelt slightly and Compris moved first from Gay Crest. Compris was steadied quickly and at the end of a furlong Gay Crest just led Peter Jackson and Great Star, who were followed bv Prince Val and Admiral Drake. With two furlongs covered Gray steadied Gay Orest, who was pulling fairly hard, and Great Star then took up the running from Princo Val and Gay Crest, with Peter Jackson, Tancrin, Admiral Drake (on the rails), Jaloux, Seatown, Compris, and Motere following. Running to the straight Prince Val and Jaloux made a fonvard 1 move and Prince Val was in the lead before the Leger stand was reached. PRINCE VAL’S LEAD. Prince Val then rvent on to establish a lead, and as the field passed the winning post the first time he had a break of six lengths from Great Star and Taneriri,' who were racing together ahead of Gay Crest, Jaloux, Seatown, and Peter Jackson, outside, with Admiral Drake nicely placed on the fence, while Compris and Motere were bringing up the rear. With just over a mile covered Seatown, ■ Jaloux, and Gay Crest moved up sharply, and the pace had increased when Seatown assumed command near the seven-furlongs post from Jaloux and Gay Crest, who were fairly closely followed by Taneriri, Admiral Drake, Peter Jackson, Compris, Motere, Great Star, and Prince Val, the last-named pair havingdropped back very quickly. Seatown was 1 still the leader from Gay Crest and Jaloux at the half-mile, whore Motere went up fast on the outside to take fourth position ahead of Admiral Drake, Peter Jackson, Great Star, and Taneriri. Nearing the turn Seatown began to tire, and Gay Crest assumed command to lead him round tiro bend, where Admiral Drake. Jaloux, Motere, and Peter Jackson were closest of the others. Gay Crest was still in charge at the distance, but Admiral Drake then challenged on the outside and beat him homo by a length. Compris ran on fairly well to get third, two and a-half lengths away, and Peter Jackson, well out from tho rails, was a close fourth. Jaloux was fifth, with Taneriri and Motere almost together next, and theimSeatown, Prince Val, and Great *tar. A CLEANLY-RUN RACE. It was a cleanly-run race, and the winner thoroughly deserved his success, as he finished with plenty of determination when asked for a final effort.. Gay Crest made a great bid for .honours under his big weight, and for the second year in succession had to bo content with second position. 'The fact that ho pulled fairly hard in the early stages did not assist bis prospects, and, as he was conceding the winner 201 b, tho honours _ of tho race were really his. Compris stayed on solidly at the end to get third, and Peter Jackson battled on in tho gamest possible fashion to take fourth position. The three-year-old covered a lot of ground and was being urged a good way from home. Next season, as a four-year-old, he should make his mark as a stayer. Jaloux ran a creditable race, but tho others all failed to stay on at the finish. Tho disppointment was Motere, who stopped at the end after running into a bandy position with four furlongs to go. Tho trainer, C. Gieseler, was naturally delighted with the success of Admiral Drake, who is the third horse he has trained for an Auckland Cup, the previous ones being Ardenvohr, who ran unplaced in 1916, and Battlement, who was third in 1927. Like other trainers, Gieseler lias had lean years in his long connection with racing, but he has been in the front rank of bis profession for many seasons past. That ho understands his business thoroughly is evident from tiro fact that he lias headed the list of winning trainers in New Zealand three times in the last six seasons, as rvell as being well up in the list in other seasons. GOOD RUN ON THE RAILS. Admiral Drake was splendidly handled by K. Voitre, who gained his first Auckland Cup success. “ I had a good ride and was on tho rails practically all the way,” Voitre said. “It was necessary to leave the fence to avoid Taneriri near the back stretch, but Admiral Drake was soon on the fence again and did not have to leave it until he challenged Gay Crest in the last furlong. When Gay Crest went through to the lead about tho threefurlongs post Admiral Drake was going really well, and I felt confident lie would win. Flo finished well when asked to make bis run, and is a good, game horse.” Admiral Drake was hied by Mr E. Armstrong and raced in that owner’s colours until last January, when lie was purchased privately by Mr J. M. Samson, for whom bo ran third at his first start. He was then banded to R. C. Keeper to train, but failed in his next four attempts, after which bo was added to the list and given a spell. Admiral Drake was placed under tho care of C. Gieseler last June, since when lie has registered some good performances, including a win in the Wellington Handicap and a second in the New Zealand Cup. Tho loading lines of Admiral Drake’s pedigree are as follows :

Sire: Chief Ruler (1). by The Tetrarcb, son of Roi Heroclo and grandson of Lo Samnritain, from Jest, by Sundridgo from Absurdity, by Melton from Paradoxical, by Timothy. Dam: Tamo Duck (7), bred in England, by Earla Mor, sou of Desmond and grandson of St. Simon, from Duckshot, by Gallinule son of Isonomy and grandson of Sterling, from Kill Hill, by Kilcock from Flower of Wit, by St. Pierian.