Roydon Glen goes north on Friday

Press, 19 December 1984, Page 50

Roydon Glen goes north on Friday

By

G. J. YULE

Canterbury’s star pacer, Roydon Glen, will travel north by air on Friday to contest the New Zealand Messenger Trial at Alexandra Park the following night. That will be the highly talented four-year-old’s lone lead-up race to the $70,000 final of the event on Saturday, December 29. “There will be a suitable race for him on the second night of the meeting on December 27, but I fee Fit’s too close to the final to risk giving him a hard race at that time,” commented his trainer, Fred Fletcher, yesterday. “I think he’s every bit as good as he was when he raced at Addington last month,” said Fletcher, who had just finished giving the son of Smooth Fella his final serious work-out before Saturday’s race.

Roydon Glen had tracked two stablemates in a run over 3200 m in 4min 26s and he had sprinted his final 400 m in a little worse than 295. "That's as good as ever he's gone and I was completely satisfied with his run,” said his trainer.

Fletcher intends giving him an easy run over the same distance tomorrow.

Last Sunday Royden Glen was jogged between races at the Hororata work-outs. He was not after time as he strode three times round the grass circuit. Roydon Glen will be accompanied north by Murray Steel, with Fletcher booked to travel north immediately after he drives Spangled Pride in the D.B. Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara on Saturday afternoon.

Roydon Glen is a dominating early favourite for the Messenger. He will be at cramped odds on Saturday when he will start from No. 3 at the barrier. He is now unbeaten in five starts this season, the two most recent being at the New Zealand Cup carnival. He astounded everyone when he was successful against the older horses in the Firestone Cavallino Pace on Cup day, rating Imin 59.1 s for the mobile 2000 m after sitting wide for much of the race.

He then raced against his own age group on November 13, starting from 20m and winning untested by five lengths from Lord Louie and Freightman.

This brought his record to 37 starts for 11 wins and 11 placings worth $141,954 for his Wellington owner, Mr Roy McKenzie.

The Southland gelding, The Gun, a C 6 pacer, is the only other South Island contender in the Messenger. He has drawn rather wide, but will come in for strong support if for no other reason than the fact that Peter Wolfenden will be his driver.