Royal Charter's Meteoric Rise

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1948, Page 6

Royal Charter's Meteoric Rise

By winnrng tlie Taranaki' Gup at New, Plymoutli last Saturday, Royal Charter proved himself one of the best stayers of this season. Ridden a well judged.race hy W. J. Mudford, "he was always within striking distance •- of the leaders, and on challenging White Blaze a furlong from the post, strode away to a comfortable victory, winnrng by one and a-half lengths." " Sinc€ winning a non-totalisatbh race at Waikato f on Pctober ^2,i 1945, Royal Charter has made' a' meteoric . rise into open company. -He rac-ed six times as a hack to gain one first, two seconds and one third. At the Waipa meeting op. December 15, 1945, he was first past' the post but was" dis'qualified, the raee being awarded to Laddie Boy. In open compafiy ftoyal Charter wbn at his first start, scorv ing in the Goldfields Cup of: 1% miles and recording 212 for the. race. Among those beaten wer^ Mr. Rosa, now racing in Australia,and/Airport:" His next win v(as at Ohinemuri, where he scored in the, Shaw Handicap, defeating Balmacara. v ' -1 At Waikato in May 1946, Leigh; Hark defeated him but the; vefdict was a very close one. When jmaking a > f orward move entering = thestraigjit, Royal Charter was cliecked by a tiring horse who was dropping back. Oh getting clear^ how-f: ever, he flashed up, just fa'iling tb: haul back the winner. By this time northern sportsmen were . beginning to notice the efforts': of' this Foxbridge gelding, ' and were. tipping him as a Jikely Auckland Cup prospect.

At Avondale on Jply 20, 1946, he put up a grand performance to dead heat with Rulihg Master in the Plumton Handicap, The winner was Our Gold. The following Week, hbwever, he left no doubt about the issue in . winning the Churchill Handicap. The rich Te Awamiitu Cup, of U- miles, was the next success to come his way. In the A.R.C. Services Handicap, Balmacara beat him by a nose after a great tussle in the straight. When he failed badly in the Nolan Cup, Royal Charter was given a spell and did not sport silk again until July. At Pakuranga in August he showed a glimpse of his old form by finishing third to Master Ted in the ? .• 'Jellicoe Handidhp. Three unplaced ■ performances followed, when he, had a change of stables and was transferred to T. Verner's Qharge. ..At his. first start for the Mew trainer, Royal Charter brilliantiy won • -the Alison- Cup 'in November • of , :last year, beating Ascot , Lad and Foxwyn. The time for- -the.. 11 furlongs was 2.18 1-5, Which is a gbod performance. The. Waikato Cup was Royal Gharter's. next mission, and he ; yiPh, beating Ostentatious. This w'as his first win over U miles and ; it broughfc him into favour for the fetg .Northern ; Cup. After running .qnplaced in. the Foley Memorial ■ the , Roxbridge gelding repeated his .Te Awamutu victory in a particuiarly. stylish win. He ran ninth in the Auckland Cup and fifth in the A.R.G.'s Handicap/- >Won, ..by. -King's Ransom. .. . f 4 \

. Royal .Charter's next f-ictbrV ivas the Takapuna Cup. After a bad performance in the Sertices' Handicap, at Auckland, he disappointeS his followers by running a poor race in which Gay Fault was the winner. He redeemed this defeat by his victory on Saturday, how-

iefterK' •*' ; ma . ■ . : : Aitogetheb in -his three seasons of racing, Royal Charter has won 1.3 "times and was nine times iii a minor placing, bringing a total of £9000 in stake winnings. By Foxbridge from Shirred Ribbon, Royal

Charter is trained by T. Verner, pf Takanini, for N. Hookeer, of Ham- •' ilton. •