RACING Royal Blue And Harold Bank Strong Prospects

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 5

RACING Royal Blue And Harold Bank Strong Prospects

Royal Blue and Harold Bank should be Riccarton’s strongest contenders for the Gordon’s Gin Handicap at Ashburton tomorrow.

If both have held the form which earned them notable placings on their home course last month they should be heavily involved in the finish of the first leg of the Ashburton County Racing Club’s T.A.B. concession double.

Royal Blue and Harold Bank have both shown versatility and the qualities required to manage a mile successfully during their latest campaigns.

Royal Blue came through the Christchurch Hunt and Grand National meetings with two seconds and a fifth on his record. He chased Shipboard home over a sprint distance at the Hunt fixture and rounded off his campaign at the National meeting with a second to Sailing Home over a middle distance. His fifth was among the milers in the Winter Cup.

The Winter Cup was the starting point of Harold Bank’s Riccarton campaign. In that event he probably covered more ground than any other runner but still battled gamely into fourth. When tried over nine furlongs on the second day success eluded him by a nose—Princess Mellay just lasted it out —then he switched back to a mile at his third attempt and had to settle for third behind Trelay and Shipmaster. Since the Grand National

meeting there has been nothing to suggest any deterioration in the fitness of either. In fact, the track gallops of Royal Blue and Harold Bank during the last week have been in keeping with their best standards.

Problem Horse Riccarton’s problem horse in tomorrow’s field will be Quarto. He is undeniably an excellent galloper but because of unsoundness he is showing a distinct dislike at having to work at all now the ground is beginning to firm. On a track with the sting out of it he would be an excellent chance but as things are, he would have to be taken very much on trust.

Although Glamis Lad failed to run within a stone of his

best at the Grand National meeting one of bis peak runs as a miler would be adequate to get him into the finish. He and his stablemate, Red Carpet, might be Washdyke’s best

Red Carpet does not run them all alike but his best is very good. He managed a middle distance successfully at Ashburton in June. Another sound run close up on his record was his third behind Shipboard and Royal Blue in the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt meeting.

The prospect of the winner coming from further down in the handicap does not look bright but if Harold Bank’s stablemate, Quetta, ran up to some of his recent training gallops he would add interest to the finish and the same applies to the recently-pro-moted hack Warrington.

It is generally expected that the Flying Handicap, second leg of the main double, will develop into a match race between the two highly-regarded three-year-olds Susan Jane and Igloo. Their first encounter is likely

to be one of the major features of the meeting.

Susan Jane, rated the South Island’s top two-year-old last season, will be going for her sixth win in this, her first race since April. Igloo will be trying to improve on an outstanding patch of more recent form. His last three starts have yielded three wins, the most recent being at Trentham in July. Of the older horses Grippie, a sprint winner at the Grand National meeting, and Watchman and Lloyd, which were both placed there, will probably have the strongest backing.

Fields, with form, for T.A.B double:

2.15 p.m.— GORDONS GIN HANDICAP 11200: Im.

3.5# p.m.— FLYING HANDICAP. #900: «f.

st lb 2200 Glamis Lad (1) 8 5 3252 Royal Blue (16) 8 5 1423 Harold Bank (3) 8 1 0400 Capasco (17) 7 13 7295 Quarto (0) 7 13 2006 Beau Supreme (9) .. 7 12 4487 Flower Girl (10) 7 12 8396 Red Carpet (15) 7 12 2100 Stephanair (8) 7 12 0000 Aconite (2) .. 7 10 3000 Autobank (14) 7 10 4100 Beau Leigh (12) 7 10 8009 Dory (11) 7 10 4235 El Shub (2) .. 7 10 8880 Golden Promise (19) 7 10 7115 Grey Satin (13) 7 10 2198 Lord Macquario (7) 7 10 6600 Overnight (4) 7 10 0070 Quetta (18) 7 10 2891 Warrington (5) 7 10

st lb 2830 Watchman (1) 8 10 1768 Grippie (5) 0760 Aeolian (3) 8 8 8 7 9050 Chota (9) 8 6 1028 Lloyd (4) 8 6 2411 Susan Jana (2) 8 6 3111 Igloo (7) 8 4 3777 Kiowa (8) 8 4 Scratched: Kindle (6).