FINE HANDICAP FIELD

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21040, 16 February 1940, Page 9

FINE HANDICAP FIELD

PROSPECTS OF ROYEVRUS GOLDEN SHEILA FORWARD WELL-BALANCED CONTEST The Storey Memorial Handicap contains all the elements for a fine contest. Golden Sheila has a good record on the Te Rapa course and at the last November meeting here, after running third on the first day with 9.0 she made amends by winning the Hamilton Handicap (1£ miles) with 9.1. Subsequently she won the Alison Cup at Ellerslie and if produced in similar fettle tomorrow she will make a bold bid to extend her account. Royevrus is a bold galloper when attuned and as good reports are to hand of his condition he can be expected to make his presence felt. Our Jean, from the same stable, won over the distance in the Takapuna Cup and she should not find her rise of 81b a barrier to further achievement. King Rey has been racing consistently but unluckily in recent months and only twice in fourteen starts he been further back than fourth. In the event of the going being reasonably firm nothing will make greater appeal than Beau Repaire, whose latest form has been most impressive. Following his good form at Ellerslie over the holidays he was taken south to contest the Wellington Centennial Cup (1£ miles) and his brilliant finishing

effort into fourth from a seemingly impossible position saw him at short odds the following day, when with the handy impost of 7.9 he prevailed in a spectacular finish with Royal Chief. The best performance of Royal Appellant this season was his narrow defeat of Catalogue in the A.R.C. Handicap on New Year’s Day and he won in a manner indicative of further success. While he failed in recent essays at the mid-summer meeting he was noticably finishing on over a mile and a quarter. Lady Montana is likely to improve on Rotorua running and Mintlaw, who has been working well, has been racing well of late. Following his success in the Goldfields Cup at Thames he ran third to Our Jean and Fils de Vaals in the Takapuna Cup. Eastern Heir won over hurdles at Thames, while Racecamp has been racing so consistently in hack class that he is assured of a measure of support. Saccone should account for Scotland. It should be a great betting race and in the event of Beau Repaire being an absentee owing to the state of the track the betting lists may be headed by— ROYEVRUS KING REY ROYAL APPELLANT