Royal Sceptre wins Hororata Cup in famous colours

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 28

Royal Sceptre wins Hororata Cup in famous colours

By

J. J. BOYLE

Royal Sceptre carried famous colours to win the Pyne, Gould, Guinness Horcra’ta Gold Cup at surprisingly generous odds at Riccarton yesterday.

A foar-year-oid raced in partnership by Grey Ways owner. Mr Peter South, in partnership with Mrs Colleen Corboy, of Washdyke, Royal Sceptre was making a welcome and not surprising return to winning form after a close second in the Waimate Cup the time before.

Las: autumn the sale of Royal Sceptre to the Perth merchant banker. Mr Laurie Connell was almost finalised — until it was found that he had chipped a bone in his knee. The bone chips were removed in an operation last winter, and the chestnut son of the champion stallion, Noble Bijou, came back to racing in December. His win in the Hororata Racing Club's feature yesterday was his fifth from 18 starts, and he will have opportunites to improve that record a: Easter, probably at the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting. The Washdyke horseman. Raymond Bruce, found the best possible run for Royal Sceptre before they went far 'yesterday. He was closest to the pacemaking Ariage for a start, but a little later Bruce had him in a snug spot in third position on the inside, at the girth of All Trebles. Ariage continued to dictate what for want of a better word must be called the pace around the home turn, but the challenges soon came from All Trebles and Royal Sceptre, and the favourite, Samasaan, was taking closer order from a little further down the field. Those that had ridden back could not find enough to get back into the act when the speed went on. But Royal Sceptre. All Trebles, and Samasaan made amends with a tight three-way finish. There was only a long neck and half a head in it.

A little way up the straight Samasaan did not seem likely to get so close, but he appeared to rally close to home, and just missed second.

It was a courageous run second start back from a

spell by the favourite. His rider, Ron McCann, thought the result would have been more rewarding if the chestnut had relaxed to his race a little earlier.

Double Lang the second favourite, never got into the race after settling second last in the running. He got into a tight spot alongside Donizetti when attempting to improve on the home turn, and his rider, Jim Collett, looked as if he might be unseated for a stride or two. Double Lang wound up eighth. Donizetti did little better, he was sixth. Brilliant run “He's unbelievable,” Ron McCann said of Reingard after he brought the top weight powering home for a brilliant win in the Amalgamated Packaging Handicap. second leg of the T.A.B. double. Reingard closed a sizeable gap to Tim Lea from the home turn, winning by three parts of a length, a lead he would have widened by as much again in the next two or three strides. McCann said he had only to hit Reingard down the shoulder to stop him from loafing. It was a most reassuring fresh start by the Riccarton-trained four-year-old. which was sidelined by a virus almost on the eve of the Auckland Cup. Brydon Mills, who is a part-owner of Reingard and trains him at Riccarton, will now point the star of his stable for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s 3ZB Easter Classic on Easter Monday. Then, if a flight is available later in the week, Reingard will be at Ellerslie for the Television Stakes the following Saturday.

David Walsh, who had gambled on putting a break on the field with Tim Lea

on the borne turn, got enough out of the five-year-old near the end to ’save second by a neck from the Gore-trained Nipper’s Son. Sea Fort and Dreamnlle were the best of the others.