GOLD CUP FIELD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 22 March 1939, Page 6

GOLD CUP FIELD.

BIG AWAPUNI EVENT. AUTUMN FORM CLASH. (By “Spectator.”) The Awaptmi Gold Cup race, of £450, w.f.a., H miles, which was run in the record time of 2.3 first year, is to he decided on Friday, and it again should ho a great race, worthy of all the traditions of past encounters. Autumn form is generally most consistent, and the clash of 6ome of the best horses in tho Dominion on a weight-for-ago basis is an event of note in the sporting world. This year’s field of ten runners is re- . markable for tho fact that it includes six of the leading three-year-olds of the Dominion and three of the field who contested the event last year, the latter trio being Royal Chief, Smoke Screen, and Oratory. Stretto, who won a memorable race last year, is absent in Australia. She is to lie retired to tho stud at the end of the present season. Beaupartir, the brilliant Awaptmi colt, who is engaged this year, and is owned by Mr T. 11. Lowry, will carry the gold and blue jacket made famous by Desert Gold, the only horse ever to win the Awaptmi Gold Cup three times, and that successively, first as a three-year-old in 1916, then as a four-year-old, and finally as a five-year-old. Beaupartir will carry the same weight as 1 iis forerunner, Desert Gold, did when she scored her first success. Precedent for repeating flic deeds of former horses who raced under tho Lowry colours lias already been established by Beaupartir in winning the St. Leger at Trentham, as tho same owner's Balboa won this race away back in 1915. Beaupartir lias won twice in ten starts, and lias seven times been second, earning £I3BO in stake money to date. lie was very unlucky to lose the Taranaki Cup. Unlike most of Beau Peru’s progeny, Beaupartir is a plain-looking customer, although liis robust stature makes him appear smaller titan lie actually is. Ho is 11 io first foal of April Fool, who was a very speedy galloper herself a few seasons ago. April Fool is by Chief Ruler from the English-bred mare Miss Cute by Charles O’Malley from Canny by Seaforth. , Last season Beaupartir started only once, that being when lie ran the much I more seasoned Ivar to a neck in a nursery event at Napier Park. lie showed such great promise on that occasion that his connections wisely decided to set him aside for this season. Beaupartir was very much above himself in condition when at Trentham, in t.he spring, lie ran seconds to Lord Cavendish in the Trial Stakes and to Good Passage in the Spring Novice. Those two races worked a big improvement in him, and in ordinary years his subsequent form would probably have been outstanding. However, lie was unfortunate enough to have a champion in Defaulter as a rival, and his record has suffered accordingly. At lliccarton, Disdain beat him by a neck in the Spring Plate and Defaulter downed him in tlm Now Zealand Derby. Beaupartir won his first race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, when lie led the field homo in tho Queen’s Plate, but in the Great Northern Derby Defaulter beat him for tlie second time. Beaupartir ran the closest of fourtns when, in a blanket finish for the King’s Plate, Smoke Screen won from Strotto and Gay Son in New Zealand re cord time for tho mile. Beaupartir, on his home course, a proved stayer and exceptionally fit, must be a hard horse to beat in tlie Gold Cup. j This three-year-old easily beat in the St. Leger a smart filly of his own age in Peerless, who won tlie Rangitikei Cup in record time and then beat Royal Chief, who was conceding her 231 b in the Autumn Handicap on the final day at Trentnam. Fearless won the New Zealand Oaks and w'as third in both Derbies. Site has bad 21 starts to date and won about £2500 in slakes. She was second in the St. Leger to Beaupartir when in receipt of 31b from him, and meets him on exactly tho same basis in iho Awapuni Gold Cup. Bred for staying and from one of the most successful families in tho Dominion in modern tunes, Peerless is by Beau Pere from Prestige (u sister to the Derby winner Honour and a naif sister to Heritage), by Limond from Homage, by Absurd from the Cicero mare Eulogy. A NOTABLE RECORD.

Royal Chief, equal topweight with Smoke Screen for file Cup, ill which he was second last year, lias a great record behind him. Royal Chief is another New Zealand St. Leger winner and, during the spring, won tho Chelmsford Stakes, Stephens Stakes and Metropolitan Handicap (in record time) in Australia, being beaten by Ajax in tne Melbourne Stakes and subsequently failing in tlie Melbourne Cup. After a long sjiell ho was recently recommissioned, but failed is tlie Dunedin Cup. However, next day he won tlie Hazbstt Gold Cup, over one mile. He ran a fairly good race in tho Thompson Handicap and thou, carrying 9.7, was second to Peerless in the Autumn Handicap, lie has not had a long preparation, and should be about tuned up to concert pitch for the Awapuni Gold Cup. Uramry, last year’s Thompson Handicap winner, has always had to carry big weights in sprint races, but lias a splendid record behind her, and was recently second to Smoke Screen, with whom jointly she holds the New Zealand mile record, in the Taranaki Stakes. This may be Her last race, and more Rian usual interest will be taken in the appearance of this gallant mare. Smoke who won the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes in 1937, failed signally, in the Awapuni Gold Cup last year, finishing lust. Yet lie has a great record at Ellerslie, and recently won the Taranaki Stakes, only to fail in tlie North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham. His form at this period of last year was uncertain, and it may prove so again. Queen of Song recently returned to form after a long run of “outs” to win the Dunedin Cup, and this former fine handicap performer is a true stayer. Gay Soil and Old Bill are a proved pair over a distance, but Homily has never yet reproduced tlie form she showed as a two-year-old in Australia. Taurangi, who took the place ol her stablemate, Smoke Screen, irt the Thompson Handicap at Trentham last week and won tlie race, has great ixtssibililics. She lias a very fast finishing burst of speed, and her unlucky third In the Morton Cup will not be forgotten. Tlie three-year-olds will offer formidable opposition to the older horses in this year s Gold Cup. Six times on the 24 occasions that the C’up has been run it bus been won by three-year-olds, the last two being Greek Shepherd in 1936 and . Wild Chase in 1937. Four-year-olds, who include Stretto, have won it five times, 'i he last aged ltorso to succeed was Rapier, ten years ago. . Sasanof (1919 and 1921), Nightmaroh (1931 and 1932) and Silver Ring (1934 and 1935) have each won the Cup twice. Autopay, Star Stranger, Commendation, Ballymena, Thespian, Rapine and Morqueteur are other previous winners, and all have been notable performers on tho New Zealand turf.