Rapier is in Favour for Next Week’s Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 10

Rapier is in Favour for Next Week’s Cup

MAY OUST STAR STRANGER SURVEY OF THE FIELD (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The racing over the week-end has caused rapid changes in public fancies for the New Zealand Cup. Several fancied candidates who failed in their engagements, thus indicating that their chances in next week’s big race have been slightly overestimated, and leaving their admirers lamenting, have receded in public estimation, but new horses have come into prominence. Perhaps the horse who created the most favourable impression was Rapier, and he is now pressing Star Stranger closely for favouritism. Mis was the outstanding performance of Monday’s racing, and his amazing defeat of Laughing. Prince and Star Stranger at weight-for-age throws a new aspect on the Cup. Not often do backers under-estimate the chances of a good horse like Rapier, but Trentham racegoers allowed him to run against them in the Harcourt Cup. apparently being under the impression that he was in want of racing. But Rapier is not likely to be at such a long price in any of his remaining engagements this spring or summer, for his recent success drew pointed attention to his New Zealand Cup chance and any other race that ho might contest. Not Out-weighted In last year’s New Zealand Cup Rapier scored a brilliant victory with 7.12, and subsequently triumphed in the Auckland Cup. With only 41b more than he carried successfully in the big Ellerslie race last year, he must have a wonderful chance in next | week’s two-mile contest. A striking i thing about Rapier’s New Zealand Cup preparation is that his trainer, Hugh Nurse, has allowed him to race into form rather than prepare him on long-distance gallops, which on the concrete-hard tracks might have culminated in the stallion contracting shin soreness. Indeed, the short dashes he has been restricted to have improved his speed, but his Harcourt Cup victory showed that his stamina is not impaired in the least. He was* always in a handy position in the 10furlong weight-for-age race, and when it came to racing over the last furlong was too good for his opponents. Many people thought that a sprint home would have found Rapier wanting, but he proved beyond doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with in even shorter weight-for-age races, and in his present form it would be foolish to underrate his chances. In any event he looks none the worse for his Trentham exertions, and if Nurse can win the Cup again this year with Rapier he will have the honour of training the first horse to win the historic race on two occasions. It matters not whether the track is wet or dry on Cup Lay, for Rapier is a proved galloper on top of the ground, and the best mudlark racing in the Lominion to-day. The Others Star Stranger remains favourtie for the Cup, but the general impression is that Rapier will oust him from that position on the day of the race. Hoylake did not lose any admirers through his failures at Wingatui early in the month, but his Rangiora Cup success has now brought him into a prominent position. Indeed, he is firmer now than a few weeks ago. and present indications are that he will be one of the favourites on the day. Under his light weight he might nearly win the Cup. His victory on Monday was pleasing in more than one way, and though he has yet to be tried out over two miles, admirers of the Englishbred stallion have little fears of his failing to go the distance. Black Mint showed a bold front in the Harcourt Cup till the straight was reached, but was a long way behind Rapier at the end. Still he will appreciate the drop from 9.4 in that race to 7.5 in the New Zealand Cup, and if the track happens to be damp will not lack support. Solid in condition after his frequent racing through the winter months, Black Mint should be thoroughly seasoned for the Cup, and if he fails to see out two miles it will simply be because lie is not a born stayer. Rotor failed in the Rangiora Cup when he looked to have excellent prospects, but though he has eased slightly since Monday the chances are that if he runs a good race in the Akaroa Cup on Saturday he will gain additional admirers. He is in the 10furlong race with only 7.9, and if he is a Cup possibility that race should be a good thing for 1 him. The downfall of Battle Colours on the opening day at Trentham came as a shock to his supporters, and no doubt his running must have left his connections thinking. His withdrawal from the New Zealand Cup yesterday was not unexpected after his recent failure. Apparently the Solferino gelding is suffering from complete loss of form. Pink Note’s Chance

Pink Note could get only third in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, won by Goshawk, but he still is susceptible to improvement, and with another week’s solid training he should be fit to run the race ol his life. In last year’s Cup the Paper Money gelding ran a fairly good race, and as he has improved in stamina since then he might see out a fast run two miles. Count Cavour’s poor effort in the Rangiora Cup can be ignored, and he is certain to put up a better race at Motukarara on Saturday. He is carrying himself particularly well at present, but he may not reach his best till the Auckland summer meeting, when he will have another shot at the Auckland Cup. BIRCHWOOD HUNT ACCEPTORS FOR WEDNESDAY Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Sunday. The following- acceptances have been 1* Miss Tattler, Blue Rock, French Fleet, Pa'£s"q°o- Re°, k i? antdica P’ 6 furlongs.— £\uis, 9.0, Red Racer, 8.6; Fenham snkin? e 7.12; Remindful, Joan'Per* Gardner Memorial Hunt _„, ?l b< TO* oS,.- n ], iles - —Cassells, 11.12; P Nvlotis’ Ippolyru , u' i ? rmere ' U ’ 3; Ramanu’whiri, bSEEW SS** si; Apache, 7.12; The Harp, Some Rose, 7.4; Flying Mist, 7.2; Soltoe, Solzia, Divinial, _ Hunters’ Flat Handicap, 1?. miles Cupidon, 31.12; Calibration, 10.12; Whifner, 10. b: Soldier’s Dream, Finham, 10.3; French Flute, 10.0. Otautau Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs.— Cupid s Dart, 9.0; Insolence, Cetchela, 8.4 Ba*- 01 7 11 B '° : Full Flisht * 1.12; Raffin Birchwood Hack Steeplechase, about 2 miles.—Windermere. 11.0: Soldier’s Dream, 10.9; Ellesmere, 3 0.7; Blue Rock, Balvasco, Miss Tattler, Appolyn, Barn Door, 10.0. Kennells Hack Handicap. 6 furlongs.— Despot, 8.8: Red Racer. 8.1; Sparkling Eyes, 7.13; Some Signal, 7.8; Night Maid. Attractive Lady, 7.7.