RACING Roman Maid Will Be Favoured In Cup

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 4

RACING Roman Maid Will Be Favoured In Cup

The Belfast owner, Mr R. D. Molyneux, stands to win a handsome birthday present tomorrow.

Mr Molyneux owns Roman Maid, which will earn £350 in cash and a £35 trophy if, as generally expected, she comes out on top against the open sprinters in the Amberley Cup.

Roman Maid is assured of favouritism, and will probably be at cramped odds, after her very easy win in stronger company at the North Canterbury meeting at Riccarton last week. Roman Maid won the Ronald Macdonald Handicap, seven furlongs, at her leisure, yet she had five lengths on the best of her rivals.

She stamped some fast front-runners for early speed, leading from the start, and she should capitalise on her fast acceleration to greater advantage on the small Amberley track. Roman Maid had drawn the inside position from a starting point where horses drawn out have heavy work to do early. Top weight of 9-3 should not dull her speed to any extent over seven furlongs but at the weights she could get opposition in some strength from two or three smart sprinters in the middle of the handicap Roman Maid’s strongest rival could be her former stablemate Gabelle. Gabelle is a small but brilliant Gabador mare owned by Mr H. D. Greenwood, an official of the Amberley club. She brilliantly won at her first start in open company the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Craven Plate, seven furlongs, at Riccarton in February. Tn the meantime she has raced only three times, and her latest race, the Waltham Handicap, showed her speed to advantage. Fast Finish She did not reach one of the places, but was sixth after a slow start in a strong field. Gabelle has almost invariably started slowly from starting gates, and she has been left at times to give leaders long starts. That she has managed to do so as often as she has done this season speaks highly for her gameness and finishing brilliance. Royal Order is another smart mare in a field noted for the sprinting strength of the females She has been rested since she last raced, a spell following her second to the class mare Gold View at Ashburton in November. A little earlier in the season Royal Order outclassed a field of open sprinters on her home track at Orari. Royal Order is a 'Tablemate of Persuasive, another form runner.

Persuasive made a good impression first-up in open class for a second behind Roman Maid at Riccarton last week. But rt would be expecting too much for her to turn the tables on the Riccarton mare at the changed weights.

There has been promise in some of Matauwhi’s recent performances, but he seems to have one level of performance. one not quite good enough to g : ve him a win He was fifth, close to the minor place-gette-s. but far behind Romen Maid, in the Ronald Macdonald Handicap last week. Hopeful has had his moments, but his form has not been solid. He won at Nelson two starts back, but was a well-beaten tenth on his home track last week. Medbury will probably have stronger backing than his stablemate. Clean Heart.

but these two members of P. H. Andrews's Waimate team could be better when tried over more ground. Second Leg Slatey’s fast-finishing fourth close to the outside fence was a minor feature of the race for hack stayers at Riccarton last Saturday. On that run he looked like an early winner, and he has his chance in the G. B Starky Memorial, the second leg of the double. Slatey is top-weight with 9-0, 41b more than he carried last week. This time he will meet Golden Howe on 51b worse teams than last Saturday when there was little between them. Golden Howe was fifth last week. He ran an even race. ■There was certainly nothing spectacular about it. as there was about Slatey’s finish, but he is the one most likely to beat the West Coast hack. Golden Howe shapes as if he could develop good form. He won in good company at Riccarton at Easter. He was also placed in another start there, after being galloped on during the race, and he was still bandaged on the injured leg last Saturday. Golden Aureole showed pluck and doggedness to wear Paua down at the end of a mile at Riccarton last week, and this distance should not beat her. Her chance might depend finally on how she handles the turning track. If it is to be a lightweight’s victory, Corowa could be the one. He came from secoond last for a close fifth against the hack sprinters at Riccarton last Saturday when starting another campaign. Corowa likes the ground soft as well as being able to run well on firmer tracks, so if there is any deterioration in the going he will firm in favour. After an attractive trial yesterday, following close on some solid races that have been marked by strong finishes, Gambol will also have a better-than-average chance.