GOOD PERFORMANCE

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 13

GOOD PERFORMANCE

ROYAL DANCE'S OPEN SIX

•It is not often that Mr..J. Clothier, of Matamata, makes a trip down to Trentham without returning with a winning stake, and his only representative at last week's meeting. Royal Dance, duly obliged by winning the Onslow Handicap. Mr. Clothier formerly owned those two useful winter performers Prince VaL-and Lord Val, though the latter now races in different interests.

Royal Dance put up a creditable performance in-, his success, for he had to come through from'second last. He and Dollar Bill delayed the start and both offenders, as true justice, made a poor beginning. Royal Dance held to the inner passage, and when the usual opening came at the false rail he went brilliantly into the gap. Mother Superior, who had been in, the front line throughout, made a game fight over the last furlong, but the Aucklander was always going a shade better and he drew away at the end to win by a good half-length.

A good reputation preceded Royal Dance on his first visit to Trentham, and though he did not live up to it in his first start at the meeting he was then badly drawn at the barrier and possibly. did not quite understand the unusual Trentham elbow track. He missed the.: recent Great Northern Meeting, but -a week earlier downed a large, field of sprinters at To Rapa. He is a five-year-old chestnut horse by Spear Dahce from the Valkyrian— Lady Marble mare Lady Val, thus being an older full-brother to the promising three-year-old hack Valspear, and he traces to the Rosemary taproot, whose descendants-include the great Trafalgar; the Wanganui Cup winner Truce, and :>also more recently such useful, horses as, Princess Betty, Capitulation, and Cease Fire, .. ."

Mother Superior put up one of her best recent ■showings, . but she had eyery .chance after a smart beginning from the rail berth. She ran. two useful races at the meeting,. with an inconspicuous effort sandwiched in between; in the middle day. •

Dollar Bill, the favourite, appeared a little unlucky, but the winner was nearly as badly away, as' he was. Whereas Royal Dance'waited for the opening on the inner, however, Dollar Bill held to the outside, and it was not: till late that he made his claim, when he finished very fast to secure third placing a length and a half back. It is doubtful if he would have beaten Royal Dance from an even start Prince Acre, alongside Mother Superior to the straight, once again failed to stay, though he hung on to fourth place. His form at the meeting was disappointing, but the tracks were not so heavy as his party anticipated. Grand Score and Tooley Street were almost in line with Prince Acre, but both had every chance had they been good enough. Tooley Street was a surprise second favourite. Miss Hushabye, among the leaders: early, found the pace too hot. Sijk Arrow was never m the real, issue.- '