RACING ROYAL ORDER GOOD PROSPECT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 4

RACING ROYAL ORDER GOOD PROSPECT

Sprint At Waimate Today

Royal Order, winner of six races in 16 starts so far, probably has enough ability to improve that record at Waimate today. She is engaged in the President’s Handicap, the race for open sprinters on the programme.

The President's Handicap will be Royal Order's first start since Ashburton in November. There she was runner-up over seven furlongs to Gold View, one of the top-ranking three-year-old fillies of the season. Three starts earlier Royal Order won against the open sprinters on her home track at Orari when having her first start in the higher grade. Royal Order is trained by P. H. C. Stock, who has prepared three members of his strong team for the Waimate Cup Any one of the three— Compensate. Phil's Choice or Persuasive—could win on form. But 'Persuasive may be the best of them at the weights, although a newcomer to this type of racing in open class. ’

Persuasive's form since she was bought in the North Island for Mr J. Milliken, of Winchester, has been hard to fault, and the only thing surprising about her win against the sprinters at Ashburton last week was her generous odds. At the weights Persuasive is selected to beat Compensate and the best of the others. But success will be hard earned in a good-sized field, for the track will be at least holding after rain yesterday.

Second Leg Washdyke may supply the winner of the second leg. the Waitangi Champion Hack Handicap, in Night Sock. This Cassock gelding will almost certainly be favourite after solid races for seconds in his only two earlier starts this season. Strategy, from Wingatui. and Goodbye, from Gore, are two southern hacks held in fairly high regard in this class, and no-one will be surprised if they are two of the stronger contenders. Riccarton's brightest hope will probably be Last Link. He has been placed in four of his last five races and has pleased in his training since his latest appearance, which was at Nelson on April 24. The- Avondale-trained By Arrangement re-entered the field on Thursday when the club scratched Topa. But none of the other reserves has a chance of getting a run; there were no more scratchings by 4 p.m. yesterdav Ths three horses affected were Legal Credit. Galina and - Kerami. None of the reserves for the Morven Intermediate Hack Handicap gained reentry. Reserves for that race

were Breaker, Hullabaloo, King Lear and Royal Return. Hopes of a Southland victory today look brightest in the Morven Handicap. The Gore-trained Filwood made a big impression in winning a maiden race by seven. lengths on a heavy track at Invercargill last Saturday. She could be very good under winter conditions, and should take beating on a soft track today. Filwood is trained by R. J. Cochrane, who won the Waimate Cup with Demolish and the Morven Handicap with Kinsimm at this meeting three years ago.