RACING Stablemates Win Timaru Double

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31563, 28 December 1967, Page 4

RACING Stablemates Win Timaru Double

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU. z Royal Master and Red Chips carried off the TAB. double for C. McDonald’s Riccarton stable on the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s cup meeting at Washdyke yesterday.

None was backed with any confidence to beat Red Chips in the second leg, the Gordon’s Gin Handicap, and the combination returned only $13.65 for $l.

Royal Master led from outside the final furlong for an easy win in the Timaru Cup.

After being ridden patiently in the middle of the field while Count Down was setting a solid pace Royal Master made a sharp run to challenge eariy in the run home, and he had the race as good as won at the furlong. It was Royal Master’s third win this season for Mr and Mrs M. B. Savill. It was also his second win in open class, his other success having been against hacks at the Grand National meeting, A rangy six-year-old gelding by King’s Command from Call Me Madam. Royal Master is trained at Riccarton by C. McDonald and was ridden by E. J. Didham. Royal Encounter, El Beka. and Seminole made an allRiccarton finish of the Timaru Cup by filling the next three places behind Royal Master. Royal Encounter had to make a big run from the tail of the field for his second.

It was a strung out field, thanks to a hot pace set by the Reefton-trained Count

Down, which shot away to a lead of three lengths near the seven furlongs. Clipper, a stablemate of Count Down, was a clear second for a good way, and several of the others formed a straggling procession. But it was clear six furlongs out that Royal Master was going well in the middle of the field. He was then a good way from Count Down but Didham showed no signs of unease. A moment later it was clear why Didham should be riding so confidently. When he asked Royal Master for a little extra the big bay quickly started to reduce Count Down’s lead. On the home turn Royal Master was a fast closing third. At the furlong he was clear and nothing short of a sensational collapse could | have beaten him then. Tail Ender Royal Encounter was a straggling last at the seven furlongs, so there was obvious merit in his second. El Beka also made a big run for his third. He was not far ahead of Royal Encounter half-way through the race. Seminole carried top-weight of 8-10 into fourth two

lengths behind El Beka. She just beat Gingerbread, which had been in closer touch with the pace. Count Down tired to sixth, la head from Gingerbread. General Gilbert, fourth starting the last half-mile, tired to seventh, just beating Kalimera and Baal Hanan. Clipper weakened to tenth, beating only Sir Limond and Benefice Red Chips’s win in the Gordon’s Gin Handicap was his tenth for the partnership of McDonald and Mr J. A. Randle, of Dunedin. He won his first race for them at the South Canterbury cup meeting 12 months ago. “That’s pretty good value, about one race every month,” said Mr Randle yesterday. E. J. Didham had Red Chips in close touch with the pace from the start. Billy Joe was hurried into the lead in the first furlong but Red Chips was at his girth at the three furlongs and the favourite held a short lead around the turn.

A furlong out there was no i doubt that Red Chips had the race safely won. But there was a spectacular finish 'or the minor places. Jayess got up for second by a neck from Fairlane, which was taken wide after running close behind the leading bunch on the inside to the straight. Billy Joe was pegged back to fourth but was only a head away. There was a neck to Debbie Marie, which appeared to have her chance. Warm Up was the best of the others.