A Brilliant Recovery

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 284, 1 December 1941, Page 4

A Brilliant Recovery

ROYEVRUS' WIN

Beau Leon Enhances

Cup Prospects

ALISON CUP RACING

The victory of Royevrus in the Alison Cup was a fitting reward for the patient handling of the son of Surveyor by the Cambridge trainer W. Townsend. For some time now the chestnut, recognised as a fine handieapper when at the top of his form, has not been sound and Townsend must have had many anxious moments when getting him ready for the races. His connections expected Royevrus to race prominently at the recent Te Rapa meeting and the failure of the chestnut to get in the money was a disappointment. However, that there were good reasons for expecting the horse to show something of his real capabilities was evidenced in the Alison Cup when Royevrus, on whom J. Williamson had a busy ride, led round the home turn and scored narrowly from those two fine gallopers, Beau Leon and Orelio. Receiving 231b from Beau Leon and 191b from Orelio, it must be admitted that Royevrus was nicely placed in the handicap, but there was a lot of merit in the win. Drawn wide out, the chestnut had to cover a lot of ground and Williamson had to hunt him along over the first half-mile, going on the outside of the field until he reached the leaders, Lovaals and Regal Fox. Even then Royevrus was given little respite, because, after running along with the pair named for just over three furlongs, Williamson took him into a clear lead and he was still in front at the judge. The margin in his favour was but a neck. The most nleasing feature of the performance was the manner in which he hung on at the end after being so hard ridden in the early stages.

Royevrus has some fine performances to his credit. They include wins in the Mitchelson Cup and A.R.C. Summer Cup; also a second in the Auckland Cup. If his trainer can keep him sound during the next few weeks he will have to be considered a distinct possibility in the Auckland Cup on Boxing Day. Boom Burst The boom which has been associated with the Kincardine filly Silver Mist following her three wins in a row this season was, somewhat exploded when she failed to get in the money in the Takapuna Plate. In a race under hack conditions at special weights, Silver Mist was expected to carry on with the good work. Admittedly she had a 71b penalty, but so had Justina, Town Survey, Betterman, Cherry's Ticket and Neenah. Two of them, Cherry's Ticket and Betterman, ran second and third respectively, the winner turning up in the little-fancied and unpenalised River Plate, who scored rather well by a length and a half. Silver Mist was early in the lead, but was beaten in the straight, and unless it was that the track conditions did not suit her no excuse can be offered for her defeat. All the Honours Though defeated by a neck by one to whom he was conceding 231b, all the honours of the Alison Cup go to Beau Leon. Mr. E. H. Cucksey's four-year-old, weighted at 9.8, was set the job of a reai horse and he raced like one. J. Winder got him away well and took up a nice position (fourth) early, but Beau Leon drifted after that and had to come on the outside of a bunched field at the straight entrance. He finished with determination to fail by only a neck to reach Royevrus. Little Inferior to the effort of Beau Leon was that of Orelio, who, with an advantage of 41b, was a head behind the topwelght. Orelio was not nearly so well placed early as was Beau Leon, but he gradually Improved his position to have a winning chance in the straight.

Win Deserved The Foxbridge horse Sea Law has been somewhat unlucky in many of his races, but his turn came in the Ponui Handicap, in which he scored in good style to beat Expel lant and Silver Quex. A four-year-old, Sea Law sticks on well at the end of his races and he should do further good service for his owner, Mr. J. R. Massey, and trainer, F. Smith. A Surprise One of the surprises of Saturday's racing was the big price returned by Foxola when she won the Cheltenham Handicap. The Foxbridge filly has long been recognised as a galloper in the first flight of sprinting, and though she had 9.1 to carry it was only 51b more than the handicap of the three-year-old Kronos, who had not won a race this season. Foxola/ has been a great proposition to her owners, Mr. O. Nicholson and the Hon. E. R. Davis, whose colours were also carried to victory in the Takapuna Plate by River Plate. • In each instance the dividend was a handy one, and £1 all up would have returned in the vicinity of £120. The price returned by the winning double—£l all up—Royevrus and Foxola, was considerably over 200 to 1. F. Smith Again With opinions divided in the rating of the two-year-olds racing in Auckland, considerable interest centred in the Cambria Handicap. It can safely be said that the general view was that Bonny Pay, Orakau, Royal Merit and Sleepy Fox were the outstanding Juveniles, and it was expected they would fill the leading places. They did finish second, third and fourth respectively. F. Smith, trainer of Royal Merit, provided the winper. This was Beau Vaals, a good-looking gelding by Vaals—Limeen, who jumped out smartly and, after racing in third place behind Transcend and Orakau to the straight, went on to win by a length and a half from Orakau. Sleepy Fox did not finish on as well as expected, but all those mentioned had every chance and at the weights Beau Vaals was best on the day. Smith is doing well with his two-year-olds and has already won with Dash o' Dink, Royal Merit, Kentish and Beau Vaals. Increased Investments The attendance was 11,500, which equalled that of last year. The totalisator handled £58,593, compared with £52,030 on the first day last year, an increase of £6563. WELLINGTON CUP START

As the distance of the 1942 Wellington Cup has been increased from a mile and a half to two miles, the question has been raised about where the race will be started from—the six furlongs barrier on the straight course, or the old six furlongs post on the round course, says the Evening Post. If the race starts up the lane on the straight course it will not be quite the spectacle for the public that it would be if started at the old six. However, there is a barrier at the last-named post. , ANOTHER WADDELL A younger brother of the successful apprentice S. Waddell made his debut in a race at Levin on Monday. He rode Miss Leighon In the open sprint and was first to show out at the start. He is easily the smallest boy at Awapuni. and has always shown ability in the saddle. Under the capable guidance of G. W. New he should do well. RETURNING HOME Mr. F. C. Christie, whose horses Prince Shad, Pioneer and Silver Mask were raced in Victoria recently, has returned home, and the horses are due back shortly in the care of H. Griffith. Mr. Christie Intends training Prince Shad himself at Orari, but Griffith will retain the two-year-olds. Pioneer was a winner at Flemington last Saturday, but the odds about him were long, and it is unlikely that he was supported by his connections. His owner had already returned to New Zealand because of the death of a brother in the Middle East.