THE ROYAL COLOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 6

THE ROYAL COLOURS

TWO WINS IN ENGLAND

ENTHUSIASTIC SPORTSMEN

Xot since Weathervane (now at the stud in New Zealand) won the Royal Hunt Cup in 1023 has one of the King's horses received such a reception as did Limelight when winning the Newbury Spring Cup last month, says a writer in "Sporting Life." Eleven years ago lv's Majesty visited the Berkshire course, and on that occasion he registered two successes, with John Green in the Chieveley Handicap and Weathervane in the Greenham Stakes. Thus, the presence of their Majesties the King and Queen was accepted by the public'as a hint that Limelight: was expected by the Egerton House trainer to run with some prominence. The crowd, was seething with excitement as the horses reached the line, and the cheering was terrific when Tso: 2 was hoisted in the frame. • ' The'applause broke out afresh as Limelight entered the enclosure, and there was a rush from the rings to -see Joe Childs unsaddle.. . I am in full accord with those who think that it was one of the finest finishes that Joe. Childs has ever ridden.' . It was only his determination and great strength from the saddle that enabled the Royal colt to win. ; Solenoid had to knuckle under to Limelight's stout challenge in the last hundred yards, but the top-weight's defeat was an honourable one. ' ' * •' . Mrs.' Mackean'scolt was so well drawn that his jockey could not afford, to lose his place on the stand''rails, and therefore he made a little more,..use o£ the four-year-old . than he would otherwise have done. ' . \ . • ■ . Moreover, Dick was riding to orders, as the- colt's connections. ' think Solenoid would have won the Lincolnshire Handicap had he been taken up to the leader sooner. ■.'..•'.:: " . .His' Majesty left the Royal Box* after Limelight's .win .and .went into' the. paddock: to congratulate Joe -Childs upon- his masterful finish. The King and Queen remained to .see Whitehead- contest the- Spring Maiden Plate. The son of Gay Crusader is as yet very green. He neighed like a yearling when brought into the paddock. A. bay with three white socks, Whitehead is, a little pn the ?eg,, and maybe he will-never be .a handsome, colt. • He does not possess the bloodlike head of Limelight,' who/will make: up. into a grand-looking stallion should ifr be decided to stand tile son-of-Pharos at Sandringham. '. ■ ' * : ■

THE i? SECOND SUCCESS.

■ The Newmarket season, .commenced In Royal style when.his. Majesty's four-year-old; Fox-earth supplemented tlie Newbury Cup victory of Limelight by the Swkffham Plate. ; It is'/.a" source of great satisfaction ■■ to eyery racing man that the Egerton House horses, are'in'such excellent form, and the only .. regret - expressed wasl that his Majesty cojild not be present to see the stirring1 finish in which his jhorse prevailed. ■ >.■.; ' \ ■ .. • ■•■.. .. ■.. 'Willie 'JarViaia reaping\the|-reward of having his horses .well forward in. condition.' ■'■ .. .' " , ■..'■.-.' ' :''. V' ' He has .succeeded..in .doings this by getting at them early- on.- and1 setting weather conditions at defiance.) ,' - : Had not Fox-earth been hard trained he , would,".not '.-have.\reaisted Truncheon's strenuous -..-.-challenge' "froni ■; out1-of : the Abfngdon Mile' Bottom in tho} Swaffharo Plate.- ■• ■•; ■ ' ...:-. , i;. ■■ , ■;■'■•■- The :finish was so desperately close that the cheering which commenced a furlong or two out was hipped in the bud, and as no one ■ b^ut' the judge could say which had won it, did not start in earnest until the numbers went into the frame.

GOOD FOR THE SPORT,

The people who go racing, regularly at Newfliarket take the sport mdre sedately; thanS-iph'/'.'tlie park courses, biit,1 th'e.-etts thusiashi is the same where the'•3£in"g!s: horses are concerned. '■' v ■' \ --; They realise also that successes-for his Majesty mean prosperity "for racing..v ,: Fox-earth is riot in! the same- class as Limelight,-, but is - a genuine stayer, . and he put in atout work on the .final climb to hold ■ off ■; tlie vof ' the top weight. .•; '. '..- ■■.■; ■' ' : : .;'-: ; : As they ■ pulled.1 up" after; the race,

Michael Beary remarked to Eickaby: "1 think you have just beaten" me." He was right, though it was only by a matter of inches. Little Riekaby rode a. capital finish, sitting down to it in the last hundred yards in workmanlike style. He was up against an artist in* Beary, who timed his run to. perfection. From the stands it appeared that when he drew his whip he would just "pip" Fox-earth. ./. Rickaby was alive to the move, and he felt for his flail at.the same time. A tan caused his mount to pull out the extra that made the difference between defeat and success. It was, I believe, W. Rickaby's first mount for the King, and maybe after this fine display it will not be his last. J. Childs, who watched the race from the jockeys' stands.'remarked to me afterwards in, the paddock: "Didn't the boy ride well?" (The racing livery of H.M. the Kins, colours so popular in Great Britain, ;s purple jacket, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap with gold fringe.) ,