TROTTING Royal Cheval in dashing win at Timaru meeting

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33230, 21 May 1973, Page 9

TROTTING Royal Cheval in dashing win at Timaru meeting

Royal Cheval showed that she will be a worth-while second string in a bracket with Royal Belmer in the $5OOO New Zealand Standardbred Stakes this week at Addington Raceway when she won at Washdyke on Saturday.

. was going strongly in the lead. , Gay Rose joined Kentucky Hanover early in the run ■ home, with Speedy Guest coming fast between them. Just when Speedy Guest looked likely to win, Gay I Rose made a renewed bid to i shade him. ; Kentucky Hanover held on [for third after a gap, with •jßon Hanover a fair fourth, i shading Shakey Valley. Then ■■there was a long break to the favourite, Ros Beiaard, II which had his tongue over ■ i I t t I i : r

The manner in which she came from about the fifth line on the home turn to win easily in the Raceway Handicap suggested that the rise in class at Addington will not stop her making another bold bid. The leaders came their last half-mile in 61 1-5, with the final quarter in 30, showing that Royal Cheval was at better than two-minute speed for quite a section of the last half. Star Guest, the pacemaker, held on for second, ahead of the rather unlucky Lancer Hanover, which had trouble clearing a pocket, and Fuse, which had his chance. Royal Cheval was one of six three-year-old pacers to win at the Timaru meeting. There were three of this age group in the President’s Handicap, the main event, and they filled the dividend-bear-ing placings. Gay Rose became the first of three winners from J. W. Smolenski’s team — Jondor Hanover also won at Washdyke and Arapaho at Auckland — when she responded gamely to beat her stablemate, Speedy Guest, by a nose. Both were well back starting the last half-mile, where Kentucky Hanover

the bit. He was driven by K. D. Townley as his usual driver, W. R." Townley, was indisposed. Approved, a candidate for the big race at Addington next Saturday, finished last and would not have broken 4:30 for the two miles. The race was run at a true pace, (the opening mile taking 2:10, with the last half-mile in 60 4-5 and the two miles, 4:20 'l-5, a splendid run in the [bitterly cold conditions. HIGHLIGHT Jondor Hanover provided a highlight of the day when he was successful in the Second Members’ Handicap in 3.32 3-5 for the 13 furlongs. He was driven competently by J. W. Smolensk! and gathered in Tama Chief and Master Terry with ease and won with a lot in hand by half a length. Raced by the Hanmer Syndicate, he has been as impressive as any recent maiden graduate and looks certain to take a high ranking. A whirlwind last furlong by Deeside enabled him to shade Cornwallis in a spectacular finish to the Farewell Handicap in which only three

lengths covered the first 12 past the post. Armbro Brent, Tactful and Seafield Dauphine were other three-year-olds to win among the pacers, all giving the impression that they will extend their records in the next few weeks.

One of the most popular wins during the day was that of Sir Peiver in the May Handicap. He gave hs Winchmore trainer, C. H. T. Morrison, who races him in partnership with Mr B. R. Smith, his first success as a trainer. Mr Morrison has enjoyed considerable success as an owner with the few horses he has raced. One of his best has been Morpheus. Sir Peiver was the first of three winners driven on Saturday at Washdyke by Smolenski. He paced and broke not long after the start, but did not lose more than a dozen lengths. He improved wide out on the turn and came on to win easily. His success is one of the first credited to his sire, Lord Pelser, a good winner some years, ago when trained by J. L. Behrns.

Hole in one.—J. Bradford scored the second hole in one at the Coringa course at the weekend. Bradford used a 3 iron on the 174 yard fifth hole.

Tennis.—Miss E. Goolr-gong (Australia) won the womens singles in the Mercedes Benz tennis tournament at Lee-on-Sclent, England, when she beat Mrs Q. Pretoria's (South Africa), 6-3, 6-2, in the final.