CONCERNING ROYAL FEAST

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 110, 12 May 1927, Page 9

CONCERNING ROYAL FEAST

WILL HE BEAT AGRION?

How much superior Royal Feast is to any other two-year-old that has been seen out this season would be difficult to estimate. Nor do there seem to be many in sight that are likely to challenge his favouritism for the Derby (says the "Sydney Sun ).

Of all those that finished behind Royal least few are bred on lines which suggest the slightest .probability of developing sufficient stamina to run decently in a mile and a half, classic. One that may is the Rossendale filly Jocelyn. Although her dam, Maltine, did not win a Derby she was able to carry off a Metropolitan (then run at a, mile ; and a half) in excellent "jne. The determined way she has finished m her few races suggests possibilities for Jocelyn as a three-year-old. Other Australian youngsters' that are bred on staying lines will need to make a wonderful improvement to enable them to be upsides with Royal- Feast. ■ 3^!^ Ne™ Zealan<l Agrion, who finjshed like a stayer when he won during the Christmas holidays, was beaten a few days ago at six furlongs by his stablemate Jimlahe, but at the same meeting he won the Challenge Stakes, seven furlones> at w.f.a. against a rather weak held. As he is by Litnond, the sire of •Limerick and Commendation, both classic wrnneiß, if R. J. Mason thinks it worth while to bring him across in the spring he may be Royal Feast's most formidable opponent. Latest reports from the Dominion state that Agrion has not grown up at all, but is broad and strong, With all the action of a stayer. So far as Royal Feast is concerned, it may be well to remember that his brother, Mercian King, a slashing big fellow, who had the bad luck to be out in Heroic's year, could not go a yard beyond a mile. He, however, had ugly forelegs, which gave a good deal of trouble. Although Royal Feast may grow no higher, he is already strong enough to make light o£ his Derby weight. His very size. may be against his staying. ■ An experienced English trainer.has said, "a good big horse may beat a good little one over a short course, or even at a mile or so, but over a long distance, a good little one would beat the best big one I ever saw." Of course, the Derby is not a "long" distance and it is going to take an uncommonly good little one to stop the run of Royal least. .