EXCITING CUP RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21067, 29 December 1931, Page 9

EXCITING CUP RACE.

MISHAPS IN FINAL ROUND. SEVERAL HORSES CAPSIZED. ROYAL SILK'S GOOD WIN. by archer. The Auckland Trotting Cup was a sensational race and an ugly mishap occurred when the field was racing in close order about five furlongs from home. The trouble was brought about *by Torpedo Huon. who was racing fairly well up. breaking and interfering with the horses behind him. Besides having his 6ulky damaged and beintr put out of the contest, Torpedo Huon brought down Machine Gun and Wrackler. There was also, more trouble when Stanmoor broke at the half-mile post and capsized Auto Machine in addition to interfering badly with Golden Pedro, who had been in trouble earlier. Speculation was spirited and investors were well on the mark when the favourite. Royal Silk, scored decisively from Muriel de Oro, an outsider, who cut Pluto, the second fancy, out of second place in the last hundred yards. The field moved away in good 6tyle, although Torpedo Huon and Royal Silk were just a trifle slow to go. Nelson Tasker began early and he led Meteor and Muriel de Oro for two furlongs, when Meteor skipped and Royal Silk ran up second on the outside of Muriel de Oro. Nelson Tasker showed the way past the stands the first time to Muriel de Oro and Royal Silk, with Stanmoor and Genuine together next, and then came a bunch comprising Golden Pedro. Meteor, Torpedo Huon end Mountain Dell, who was wide out. Winner's Determined Finish.

The positions underwent very little change in the second lap and Nelson Tasker just led Royal Silk and Muriel de Oro as they entered on the last lap. at which stage the colours of Stanmoor, Mountain Dell, Golden Pedro, Torpedo Huon and Pluto were prominent in the bunch just behind. So they raced until Torpedo Huon broke rounding the bend out of the straight and when the back was reached Nelson Tasker. Royal Silk, Muriel de Oro Mountain Dell and Pluto, who were racing in close company. were practically the only ones left with chances. Nelson Tasker retained the lead across the top. where Pluto made a, sharp move on the outside that took him up almost level with Royal Silk. There was little between Nelson Tasker, Royal Silk, Pluto and Muriel de Oro as they straightened up for the run home. Royal Silk then asserted himself and he finished with ' great determination to win by three-parts of a length from Muriel de Oro, who outstayed Pluto to beat him by half-a-length for second. Nelson Tasker was two and a-half lengths away fourth and then followed Jewel Pointer, Mountain Dell, The Abbey, Gold Jacket, Peter Bingen, Golden Pedro and Florent. It was a spectacular contest, but the field of 21 was a shade too large and there would have been no loss of interest if there had been fewer runners. The winner was nicely handled by J. S. Shaw and, although he was outside a horse almost throughout, he was always going well in a position where he escaped all trouble. Nearing the turn, where Pinto moved up sharply, it appeared as if Royal Silk would be hard pressed to win, but lie finished in the manner of a true stayer and was going away right at the end. Solid. Pace All the Way.

Muriel de Oro was 111 second position on the rails most of the way and she did not leave the fence until reaching the straight, where she stayed 011 solidly to beat Pluto for second. Pluto was not so fortunate in the running, and it was not surprising that he weakened at the end after having to make his run 011 the outside.

Kelson Tusker went a surprisingly Rood race and mad" all the running until about a furlong from the post. Golden Pedro was going well until lie struck trouble and Mountain Dell .just failed in the last quarter after covering more ground than anything in the race. Auto Machine also paced well and he was apparently full of running when lie was capsized. Xeeoro was pulled up with a round to go. The race was run at a solid pace all the way. although the winner's time. 4.2;) 2-5, was only three-fifths of a, second under his handicap time. Thr sectional times for the race were as follows First half-mile, 1.0 2-5: mile, 2.16 2-5; mile and a-half 3.24 1-5: and the fuU distance, 4.23 2-5. Royal Silk ran his last half-mile in just, a shade under 1.1. "I had a comfortable drive behind Royal Silk," Shaw said. "1 was anxious at one stage lest I might be left, in front, where Koyal Silk does not race well, but when Nelson Tasker kept on making the pare solid for the first mile and thrc-e-ouarte.rs 1 was confident of success. It was my first Auckland Cup win and, naturally, I was delighted after a number of unsuccessful attempts with good horses. Royal Silk is a genuine racehorse and he did his work well at the. finish after having the race run to suit him." KEWHE'S GUY BEATEN. SUCCESS OF PETER PIRATE.

Kewpie'? Guy was a hot favourite for the Grandstand .Handicap, being o\er twice as well b.-icked as Sir Voyage, but. she had <•> lower her colours to Peter Pirate, the fourth fancy, who pot. to the front about two furlongs from home to score narrowly. The winner was trained and driven by J. S. Shaw, who was also associated with the cup winner, Royal Silk. Stoney refused to strike a gait at the start mid took 110 part in the race. Master Huia went out fast, and soon had a lead of nearly 50yds. from Warspite, Peter Pirate and Kewpie"s Guy. Master lluia began to come back after going a mile and when the field passed the stands the second time he just led from Peter Pirate. Warspite. Kew pie's Guy and Benefice. Peter Pirate assumed command crossing the top and was first into the straight, two lengths clear of Kewpie's Guy, with Warspite, Benefice and Master Huia next. Peter Pirate stayed on at the finish to score by a long neck from Kewpie's Guy. Warspite was four lengths oway third and Sir Voyage finished on to cut Benefice, pulling up, out of fourth position. Master Huia and Nimble Direct were a good way back. Peter Pirate raced like an improved horse, but he. was all out to bent Kewpie's Guy. who veered out in the run home and finished very wide out. Warspite just plodded on into third place, but Sir Voyage was going great guns at the end after being very slow to settle down in the early stages. Benefice went well for about a. mile and three-quar-ters, but Nimble Direct was never in the picture. CUP WINNER'S BREEDING. Royal Silk wis bred by Mr. S. J. Thomas and he is by Mr. ,T. R. McKenzie'a American importation, Silk Thread, from Glimpse, by Logan Pointer (imp.), from a Prince Imperial mare, who also left Logan Princess, the dam of Regal Voyage, the holder of the New Zealand two-miles record for mares, 4.19 4-5. Glimpse won a few races on the West Coast some years ago for D. Withers. Royal Silk has performed well ever since he commenced racing, and. although lie was unluckv in the Derbies as a three-year old and was also off the scene for 12 months as the result of disqualification. he is now a first-class p^cer.