WHO’S WHO EN THE NEW ZEALAND CUP

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 2

WHO’S WHO EN THE NEW ZEALAND CUP

7.—RAPINE.

Of all the hordes engaged in the New Zealand Cup, there is nohe with the good record that can be claimed by Rapine. The fact that he heads the list is of itself the best tribute to his ability. He ranks among the best New Zealand performers of recent years over long courses. Rapine, now seven years old,, started racing in the autumn of his two-year-old season. At his second start he scored a surprise win in a handicap at Trentham, Gold Light finishing second. He won another handicap and then captured the Great Northern Champagne Stakes. ‘He started well as a three-year-old bywinning the Avondale Guineas. Enthusiasm beat him in the Great Northern Derby but he won the Auckland Plate. In the autumn he won the Great Northern St. Leger (Enthusiasm second), New

Mr A. B. Williams’s b g RAPINE, by . .cirtian—Pineta, aged, 9.0.

Zealand St. Leger and Trentham Gold Cup.

Mr D. R. Walker’s br g DESERT GLOW, by Day Comet—Lady Winsome, 6yrs, 7.0. on he beat a big field in the Foley Memorial Handicap, at the Avondale; 1 autumn meeting, held at Ellerslie. Ilis best placed performance was to run third, with 7.6, in the Auckland Autumn Handicap, won by Income 8.11, with Rapine 9.13 second. He was unplaced in the Auckland Cup, his only start at two miles. *1 his season he was second to Te Monanui in the Plumpton Handicap at the Avondale spring meeting. That was a good performance. Desert Glow has useful form to recommend him up to a mile and a half, and with his light weight he may race well, but Rapine seems to hold him safe on the form the pair showed last season. 9.—GOOSESTEP. Goosestep, who commenced his career in the colours of his breeder, Mr C. G. Dalgety, was unplaced in his only start as a two-year-old. while at three years he got a second and three thirds, in modest company. He had changed owners when he commenced his four year-old career, and since then he has raced for West

The following spring he went to Sydney. but after winning the Chelmsford Stakes he failed in his other engagements, while he ran badly in his Victorian races, including the Melbourne Cup. He raced a few times in the Dominion in the autumn, winning the Napier Cup under 9.7. Three weeks later Ballymena beat him in the Trentham Gold Cup. He was then shipped to Sydney, where he started in three weight-t’or-age races at Randwick, winning the Autumn Stakes, Cumberland Stakes and A.J.C. Plate. Leg troubles kept him in retirement during the whole of his five-year-old season, but he reappeared last season as well as ever. He was not at his best when he ran third in the Champion Plate. Then he came to Riccarton, where he won the Metropolitan Handicap under 9.7. Runnvmede beat him in the Canterbury Cup and Stead Gold Cup, but there was a strong opinion that Rapine was unlucky. He won the Auckland Cup under 9.8, beating Count Cavour. 8.13, by a head, but the Riccarton gelding turned the tables in the Auckland Plate. In the autumn he won the Trentham and Awapuni Gold Crips. , This season Rapine did his early spring racing in Sydney, where he failed to land a stake, though he was placed more than once. Being now in his seventh year, it seems probable that Rapine is not so good as he was earlier in his career. He looks in good order, but he has not had a particularly strenuous time since he has been at Riccarton and the fact that he has had serious leg troubles more than once will prejudice many people. His great stamina is a big asset but 9.6 will prove a steadier at the end of the journey. B.—DESERT GLOW. Desert Glow started his racing career at. three years. He ran eight times prior to the Takapuna summer meeting. at which he ran second in the Trial Handicap, and next day won the Moana Handicap, seven furlongs. At four years he won five times, but his successes were all scored in unimpressive company, the last of them being in a mile welter at Ohinemuri, when receiving 41b from Gold Jacket, who ran second. He had a busy time last season, as h« took part in twenty-five races earning money ten times. lie ran a dead heat with Muraahi in the Hamilton Handicap. Next he won the Takapuna Cup, one mile and a half, and later

Coast sportsmen. He won five races that season. Four of them were run over six or seven furlongs, but his last success was gained over a mile and a quarter at the Kumara autumn meeting. Last season he ran twenty-three times. After several placed performances on the West Coast he came to Riccarton for the summer meeting and won the Hornby Handicap, a ninefurlong hack race. At the Kumara autumn meeting he Won the Goldfields Jubilee Handicap, one mile and a quarter. His next success was over the same distance at Nelson, and he also scored in the Waterlea Cup. at ' the Marlborough autumn meeting. In none of these races, however, did he meet strong opposition. lie was third to Deucalion and Tarleton in the Ashburton Cup. Hs best effort, however, was his second to Full Swing in the Dunedin Birthday Handicap, one mile and a half. He was beaten a neck when trying to concede 51b. Overdrawn being among the field behind the pair. This last performance was very attractive. but during the present season Goosestep has failed, after his first two races, to live up to the reputation then established. On breeding lines he lias much to recommend him. His sire. Nassau, got stayers, while his dam. Warstep, found no difficulty about, a two-mile journey. One performance of Goosestep—at Wingatui last June —was quite attractive from a Cup point of view, but it hits not been repeated.