KING REY BACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1938, Page 15

KING REV BACK

NEWCOMERS AT MATAMATA

(Special from '"Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, July 4

King Rey is due to make his reappearance at Matamata on July 20. He ran a capital race in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie, being close up to the placed division, and in the weaker and smaller field at Matamata he may be able to hold his own. However, among his opponents may be Enge, Airam, Te Hai, General Ruse, and El Meynell, all of whom are engaged at Trentham, and as they will have a fortnight to get over the trip they should come up fresh at Matamata. VALPEEN'S TRY-OUT. Valpeen will. probably be given a race in the Corbett Steeplechase at Matamata and will then go on to Riccarton to contest the Grand National Steeplechase, an event he has already won on two occasions. The Matamata contest should serve as a fitting final try-out in public for his more important engagement, and it would not occasion surprise should he again play a prominent role in the Grand National. Royal Mimic fell at the last fence in the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie a month' ago when holding a slight advantage over Kinkle, but he was a tired horse and it took him several minutes to muster up strength *to regain the perpendicular. However, the outing indicated that the ex-Gisborne-traingd gelding has possibilities as a performer over country, and his next outing should see him better fitted for the task. This may be at Matamata, where he is entered for the principal steeplechase contest. A horse who a few seasons back was showing great speed up to a mile in the best company round. Sydney was Silver Jubilee. He was sent to the Hawke's Bay district to spell after his efforts on the other side and only recently he was tried over hurdles, with promising results. He has been entered for two events at Matamata, the ! seven and a quarter furlongs flat race, and the Okauia Hurdles, and if he stands up to his work this fine galloper should be an acquisitions to the | ranks. Good performers of a season or two ago who have not been seen in action lately, but who have been entered for the Matamata fixture, are Cromwell, Penzance, Sir Tommy, Valueless, En Tour, Roxy, Impasto, and Royal Dance. An interesting entrant in the Corbett Steeplechase is the Awapuni-owned-and-trained Riotous, and if brought north for this event he will find the conditions to his liking; The opposition is fairly good, but should not be too formidable for the Birkdale gelding if he is back to his best* In his recent visit to the north he has found the best cross-country fields a bit too strong, but he may be better suited at Matamata. After her decisive win over Inness Lad at Te Rapa last month, Lady England has come back into favour, for her effort on that occasion indicated that she is almost back to her best. She is engaged at Matamata, the surprising feature being that she has been entered for the minor steeplechase as well as the hurdles. Always a fine jumper, this mare should have possibilities as a 'chaser, and it would not be surprising to find her endeavouring to equal the dual steeples-hurdles effort of Inness Lad at Tauranga. PROSPECTS OF KILBERIS. Kilberis was an excellent performer on the flat before being tried out as a jumper last year, and it draws attention to his chances if he is started in the Highweight event on the second day of the Wellington Meeting. The class does not appear to be out- of the ordinary, so the Te Rapa-trained jumper can be classified as a place proposition. Earlier he gave promise of development into a good handicap horse, but after his spell he changed hands and was then tried as a jumper. Highland Queen made an exhibition of a good hack field at Matamata last April, winning by several lengths despite running off the course at the home turn. She was heavily supported in her succeeding outings but failed to live up to her reputation. She has not raced for some weeks and she may come up fresh at Matamata, the scene of her famous runaway win three months back. An interesting nominee for the Matamata fixture is the three-year-old filly Penzance, who has not raced for nearly two years. A bit on the small side when first produced, she revealed an abundance of speed and at her first appearance acted as runner-up to Aiwai in the Avondale Stakes. Two days later she defeated all but Airam in the two-year-old handicap at Avondale. Little has been heard of her in the interim, but if she gets back to her early form she may .be capable of launching a surprise, although, she may not be back to her best until she has had a race or two.