La Roue looks safe bet at Timaru

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 7

La Roue looks safe bet at Timaru

By

G. K. Yule

La Roue, one of the most promising pacers produced in Southland this season, should make her first appearance in Canterbury for the term a winning one. She will contest the Clarendon Hotel Handicap, to be run over 3200 m at Washdyke tomorrow.

A five-year-old mare by Scottish Hanover from Roue, she has had nine starts this season for four wins and

five platings. Her latest start was at Invercargill on January 15 where she won easily over 3200 m in the smart time for her class of 4min 19sec. The field La Roue will meet tomorrow is of very mixed quality and if she reproduces the fine form she has shown in the south this season, she should be the hardest to beat.

There are few more capable pacers about than Palmdale, but two thirds have been his best efforts from his last four starts. He was in trouble in his race at Addington on February 11 at his latest appearance, so that failure can be overlooked. He can sprint and stay, but it is over the longer distances that he is at his best. This race should suit him admirably and he could well put La Roue to the test. Southland stables will have another capable pacer

in Roseland Knight to represent them. He has failed in three starts since winning at

Forbury Park on January 27, but could well redeem himself in this field. However, he should be held safely by the Washdyke mare, Avon Song, a winner over 3200 m in fast time at Addington Raceway last month. She was checked and lost her driver at Forbury Park at her only other start. Armbro Song is another prospect, in spite of some rather disappointing efforts at Alexandra Park earlier in the month. He returned home in great heart and cannot be left out of calculations now that he will be back on a left, handed track. Carmel returned to form with a fine win at Addington last week and she should go close to winning again in the

, Washdyke Handicap, the second leg of the main double. The stablemates, Graduand and Loch End, second and third behind Kishmul at Ashburton last Saturday, have both drawn the second line. However, both are in great order and they are expected to make Carmel work hard to gain her second win | for the month.