ROYAL DELL DOUBTFUL
If Royal Dell contests the Christmas Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday lie wiU be ridden by the Riccarton horseman, Maurice Thornley. But at present the Washdyke stayer can be regarded as a pretty doubful starter.
Royal Dell’s trainer, BarryJones, said last evening that when he accepted with the horse for Riccarton he was under the I impression that the Dunedin ! Gold Cup was run on the first day of the Otago Racing Club’s summer meeting and the Christmas Handicap would have been an excellent lead-up race. “I have since found out that the Dunedin Cup is on the ; second day at Vingatui,” said ! Jones. “He w’iU certainly need a | race before the cup but he can Set that on the first day of the tago meeting.” Although Royal DeU has had a fairly easy time since he last raced — in the Sandown Cup on November 13 — the journey home from Australia helped to keep him in trim. He was flown home last Friday week but did not get back to Washdyke until the following Monday. “I have not made up my mind definitely yet but I think it wUI be pretty safe to say at present he will be a doubtful starter on Saturday,” said Jones.
If Royal Dell drops out of the field the Jones stable will be represented by Ambrose Lodge in the Christmas Handicap. Graeme Heaton has been engaged to ride Ambrose Lodge and also his stablemate, Scotch ttilliam. an acceptor for the Peninsula Handicap second leg of the main double.
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Press, 9 December 1976, Page 26
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257ROYAL DELL DOUBTFUL Press, 9 December 1976, Page 26
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