Riccarton Next For Royal Blue

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 4

Riccarton Next For Royal Blue

Royal Blue was scratched for tomorrow’s McDonald Handicap at Orari soon after he won the Amberley Cup on Saturday.

Mrs W. H. Williamson’s four-year-old will now be prepared for the main race at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Riccarton next week.

A keen finish compensated for a field of disappointing size in the Amberley Cup. Royal Blue won by three parts of a length, but half a neck was the widest margin separating the other runners. Sabell, the lesser-fancied of two runners for J. L. Barr’s stable, was second by half a neck from the Southlandowned The Medico. Kalimera, the each way favourite, was the only runner not to earn a prize. In cramped quarters on the rails in the straight, Kalimera was inches behind the fourth horse. Red Chips.

Kalimera and Royal Blue all but dominated double, wagering on the race, carrying $14,703 ot the total pool of 523.117.50.

Early in the race. D. N. Hadfield found himself left three wide on Kalimera. Then when he eased her to the tail ot the small field and the pace was stepped up quickly the Red Jester mare struggled vainly for a time to stay close to the trailing runners. Closer to the end. when Kalimera was getting closer and had a likely run In her, Hadfield was unable to ride her out In a tight spot down on the inside. SETBACK Backers of the favourite. Tumble, alee had a setback tn the G. B. Starky Memorial, won by Mister Bud. Tumble, which finished third, bad to be eased after about two furlongs. His rider. N. Cowles, explained that Tumble was about five wide at that stage and that he was endeavouring to get eloser to the rail when the favourite got on to the heels of s runner ahead ot him. Cowles was unable to ride Tumble right out near the end because of the horse's tendency to shift ground towards the inside. Mister Bud made nearly all the running, and his only challenger was the hardy Reefton mare, Debbie Marie, which ran him to a neck. _ Tumble was only a neck better than Talic, which was one of the last away. Morris Francis did net shape at all well on the turning track and was a distant eighth.

Lady Fort, the third favourite, was tenth. The only successful win favourite on the programme was Herndale Lad. This Trovato gelding was the strongest fancy for a win, but only fifth choice for a place in the Glasnevin Handicap, which he won by a length.

Herndale Lad waS ridden by E. G. Low. who would have completed a hat-trick If Debbie , Marie had beaten Mister Bud. Low won the Amberley Cup on ‘ Royal Blue. THREE WINNSRS The most successful boraei man was the apprentice, G. R. Gullery. Bls winners were Ex-

pel (Lelthfield Handicap), Mister Bud, and Kowhai Princess (Seadown Handicap). The Seadown Handicap produced one of several setbacks for followers of form runners.

Starless, the second favourite, struch the running rail about three furlongs and a half out, and unseated her rider, J. Kerkvllet. The Bleearton apprentice escaped Injury. After a spell ot fine weather the track provided good footing, but betting figures slumped.

Investments on and oH-course totalled 864,357.50 compared with 8105,730 last year. Club officials took some slight comfort from the faet that there was one more race on last year's programme.