New Zealand Cup Race is Run To-day

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 266, 8 November 1941, Page 10

New Zealand Cup Race is Run To-day

North Island is Well Represented WIN-AND PLACE The Canterbury Jockey Clift’s tour day Metropolitan meeting -will be opened at Riccarton to-day with the New Zealand Cup race as the leature item. Tor the big event there are fifteen acceptors and Wardress and Iceland Spar are the only South Lsland horses in the top half of the handicap. The going has been fast at Riccarton during the week and the prospects are that conditions will be favourable for to-day’s racing. The betting will be win-and-place. Taurangi, second last year to Serenata in th-e fastest-run New Zealand Cup on record, has been given a sound preparation and her win at Waverley and subsequent track work indicate that she is right np to concert pitch. She has 61bs more than she carried last year but sho does not appear overburdened with 9.0. Gladynev, one of the best in the land, has done all that Las been required of him this year. He won over 11 furlongs at Trentham and it will bo remembered that ho was narrowly beaten by Beau Livre in the Caulfield Cup. Gladynev appears to be well in with S.ll and if he is well placed at tjio home turn he will take a lot of beating. Rakanui reads well with 8.8. Ho failed at Motukarara last Saturday but the outing should have sharpened him for to day’s race. He goes well in front and although there are good judges who doubt his ability to go two miles his past performances suggest that he will be going on with it when some of the others have cried enough. Wardress is well in with 8.1. She can stay and she carried 8.5 when she won the Watkins Handicap over 11 furiongs as Trentham, in which race the minor places were filled by The Monarch (8.0) and Happy Ending (7.7) who , went on to win the McKelvie Memorial at Bulls. Iceland Spar and Night Pilot i are weighted at 7.11 and Night Pilot appears the better prospect. Night 1 Tilot was third to Gladynev and Lambourn in the Wellington Handicap and Aucklanders expect him to more than pay his way on the trip. Lambourn, winner of the Harcourt Stakes at weight-for age is particularly well in with 7.9 and he appears to be right at the top of his form. He finished brilliantly and he beat all but Gladynev in the Wellington Handicap, his effort suggesting that the two miles should not be beyond him. The Monarch is improving and if the race is run to suit him he is likely to be there or thereabouts when the acid test is being applied. The prospects of the lightweights are hard to assess. Don’t Forget has won this season and has been working well. Little Robin has been improving all the time and it will be remembered that he finished third to Serenata and Taurangi last year only to lose third money through his jockey being unable to make the required weight. Piastre will be ridden by Stewart Waddell, who rode Serenata to victory last year. Piastre might prove the “surprise packet.’’ Happy Ending won at Bulls. Of the others Night Pal came into favour as the result of a brilliant track gallop at Riccarton on Thursday. His sire, Nightmarch, and dam, Palenta, each won a New Zealand Cnp. To reduce it to four the punters might go most strongly for Kakanui, Taurangi, Lambourn and Gladynev.

Last year the Stewards’ Handicap was won by Enrich (7.13) from Sir Beau and Spanish I-ad. Other first day winners included Pay Roll who beat Salutation and Silver Lily in the welcome Stakes. On the second day Corn Prince won the Irwell Handicap for maiden two-year-olds, Enrich the Derby Stakes, and Kentucky (7.0) the Critrion Handicap over seven. Hearth won the Cressy Handicap over a mile on the fourth day, and Pay Roll the Pioneer Handicap from Corn Prince. UNLIKELY STARTERS It is reported from Christchurch that. the New Zealand Cup candidate The Monarch injured a hock while on the way from the North Island, and he did not gallop on Thursday. Yesterday; morning he was given a strong working gallop over seven furlongs on the! plough, and he hit out freely. Green Gables broke away when being l led from the course on Thursday and j crashed on the bitumen, being burned and losing some skin. She is now a' doubtful starter in the Linwood Handi-j o*p. Other unlikely starters arc Lone Bird and Lord Midas in the Apprentices’ Handicap, Flame Queen in the Spring Hurdles, Scottish Dale in the Spring Plate, and Jolly Time in tnc Stewards’ Handicap. TRAVANCORE AND CHEQUERS The two year-old Travancore, w inner of the Hastings Stakes last month, and Chequers arrived in Auckland from Hastings on Tuesday and will in future be trained at Ellerslie by K. 8. Bagby (states the Herald). Travancore is a brown gelding by BuJandshar from Tea Tattle and is raced in partnership by Messrs A. W. Meikle and J. Jerrat. Wh#n he won the Hastings Stakes he scored very easily and his future is regarded very hopefully.