BEAUPARTIR AND PEERLESS FAVOURED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 4

BEAUPARTIR AND PEERLESS FAVOURED

TARANAKI CLP DRAWS FINE FIELD i NO NOTABLE DEFECTIONS MEETING OPENS ON THURSDAY With all of the eleven acceptors practically certain to go to the post the Taranaki Cup next Thursday should provide a tine race, and considering that so many of the leading middle distance performers are a present feeling tne effects of the hard tracks the size and class of the field is very gratifying, A notable feature is that of the original entrants the six horses placed at the top of the weights have all paid up, perhaps the only defection of any importance being Jonathan. Topweight with 9.0, Cheval de Volee has fully earned that weight by his successes in the Auckland Cup and the Ralph Handicap at the Takapuna meeting last month. Cheval de Volee ran second to Sergia in the Taranaki Cup two years ago and has shown a distinct liking for this track, a Taranaki Stakes victory over Oratory also being among his victories at New Plymouth. However, he has run most of his best races when the sting is out of the ground and present indications are that he. will not be so favoured on Thursday. Runner-up to Defaulter in both the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies, Beaupartir has paid the penalty for finishing so close to the champion and seems to have his full share with 8.12, especially when it is considered that he has won only one race. At the same time there is not much doubt that he is a really good colt who would have been ranked as an outstanding three-year-old had Defaulter not been on the scene. Awapuni reports state that he is a very fit horse at present, and he must be given a great chance. Play On displayed excellent form early in the season and although he had a temporary lapse he returned to the winning list in his best style at Wanganui. He did not start at Bulls on Saturday owing to the hard nature of the tracks. However, he is a young handicapper of whom the best ' may not yet have been seen. The victory of Peerless in the Ran- ’ gitikei Cup in record time revealed • that the Beau Pere filly is in great | neck at present. Peerless is a very; honest filly whose defeats at Trentham : in January were in marked contrast I to her previous good form. She is not overburdened with 8.5 (including re- ■ handicap) and is one who sure to run the distance right out, and will ' have a very strong following. Aussie Ra is another who would favour a softening of the tracks; never-' lheless he shoudl give a good account • of himself. After his third to De- i faulter and The Sandwichman in the Wellington Cup he went off slightly, but at his last appearance he impressed by his fast finishing run to be fourth in the Egmont Cup. He will appreciate the extra furlong on Thursday. Two years ago Taitoru went very close to victory in the Taranaki Cup when he ran Martara to half a head, but on his Wanganui efforts he is going to find it difficult to run into the money over a distance. As he won the open seven at Bulls on Saturday, beating such fine performers at Taurangi and Lady Ina, he may be reserved for the open sprint. Rustem also was a trifle disappointing at Wanganui, as a fortnight earlier he was really impressive in finishing fast to beat all but Dungarvan in the Egmont Cup. One of the most improved gallopers about, Rustem would only need to repeat his Egmont effort to be right in the firing line at the finish. Winsome Lu would be seen to much better advantage on a soft track and Hawera reports indicate that because! of the hard going she has not done : quite as much fast work as might be : desired for a thorough Cup prepara- I tion. Namara will be having his first start i in open company after a string of I particularly good performances in the i hack ranks. He sticks on well and under a light weight may keep the ! top division busy. Red Sand also is an outside possibility, for she has been racing solidly in second-rate open company and the drop in weight may suffice to bridge the class. The others on the minimum make little appeal. Beaupartir should be the early favourite, but Peerless will not be far behind, and the pair should be seep fighting it out at the finish.