Royal Lancer, N.Z. Cup Winner In 1942, Dead

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30172, 2 July 1963, Page 4

Royal Lancer, N.Z. Cup Winner In 1942, Dead

•'The Press” Special Service

INVERCAiRGiILL, July 1. Royal Lancer, one of toe greatest gallopers ever bred in Southland, died last week. He was 27 years of age. Since he ended a brilliant race career in hds nine-year-old season Royal Lancer was retired to toe district in which he was bred by toe late Mr W. Swale, of Limehills. In hds colours he won 17 races for £7450 in stakes including toe 1942 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton. Royal Lancer was one of New Zealand’s greatest stayers and weight carriers during the war years. He raced at a time when stakes were much below their present day level —toe New Zealand Cup in 1942 was worth £2OOO when he beat Gladynav and Rakanud—otherwise his winning total could have been trebled.

Royal Lancer was bred by the late Mr Swale, who bought his dam. Winsome Sister, with a Balboa colt at foot, for £5O from Mr A. Chisholm, of Otautau. Besides Royal Lancer. Winsome Sister left Rhine Lord. Invulnerable and Heroic Girl which became the dam of Suphero, an InvercargiV Gold Cup winner in Mr Swale’s colours.

As a four-year-old Royal Lancer won 11 races and

was four times placed. In that season he won a treble a>t Riverton—the Riverton Cup, Easter Handicap and Fiord Handicap (under 9-9). He was lightly raced at five years, winning once, but toe next season he won four times—including toe New Zealand Cup. He aiteo won toe Invercargill Gold Cup under 10-1, from Macedoine and Secret Flight, and toe Jamee Hazlett Gold Cup at Wingatui. The same season be was beaten by a head by The Joker (7-2) in the Wellington Cup when carrying 9-3 He also carried 10-3 into third behind The Joker and Macedoine in toe Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton.

Royal Lancer did very liittOe racing at seven and eight years but as a nine-yeer-oid toe veteran Riverton trainer, J. ’Hitetderton, got him back to winning form in the Winton Cup.

Royal Lancer was trained practically throughout his career at Invercargill by F. W. Ellis wjio always maintained he was the “finest weight carrier and stayer he ever trained.” Coming from EUis, one of New Zealand’s most successful trainers. this was no mean tribute.