RICCARTON PAIR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 212, 23 September 1937, Page 15

RICCARTON PAIR

'Early Bird")

Royal Chief and Protector Best of Their Age AVONDALE F0RM is

(Special — From '

AUCKLAND, This Dav. The three-year-old situation at the Avondale meeting was entirely deminated by Koyal Chief and in like manner tho two-year-old fields were also dominated by another Riccarton gallopor, Protector. Of the pair ihe- older hor.se is expeetcd to go furthest, although of courso if allowed to take things easy after the Auckland meeting the youugster may como good again •in the autumn. If kept going Protector may jueet the fate of other early two-year-old "chainpions,." to be beaten by others whosa trainers have been ruore patient and have been eontent to wait. Of course. while a two-year-old is fit and keeps in i'orm after coming to hand early it is not to be wondered at that they ara kept up to tlie collar while the really good ones are not ready. Both the horses numed arc trained by F. D. Jonos, and on liis northern tour so far lie has won five races, so the trip has already aiore than paid for itself. Just how the public summed up tho chances of tho Avondale Guineas caudidates on Monday will be apprecihted best by saying that both Royal Chief and Royal Bachclor were at odds on, and that idea of the probable result was perfectly correct. In his preliininary Royal Chief moved a trifle short, but this soon wore off. He was not hurried oarly in tho race, wliereas Royal Bachelor, pulling double, had to be allowed to get to the front. He still pulled there ; aud so it was not really surprising that ! he could not Offer much of a fight When Royal Chief began to assert himself in. .the final furlong. As Royal Bachelor had won the Flying Handicap so easily on the previous Saturday, carrying 7.7$, he was regarded as a real live contender with thck ! Riccarton juvenile, and as previously statod it was quite an interesting race for seven of the eight furlongs. Afterwards Royal Chief went on to score most convincingly and he is going to be difiieult to head off inrf- tho Great Northern Guineas a little over two weelcs hcnce. The only really serious opposition he may meet with will be a» the liands of Smoko Screen, wbo wound up last season as the prem-er two-veaT-old in Ihe North Island on l crf ormances. Incidcntally the Fvt' ueli Irained gelding iooks like adding to his record if fco takes on the Marton sprint this wcek. Pulled Too Hard Royal Bact.elor can be lmproved a bit more, yet much will be necessary to overeome that decisive gap that Royal Chief opened up on Monday. In the first instance the Te Hapa colt has a tendency to pull very hard and fight for his head, which is all against him staying; perhaps he will get over this with racing, for he is still fresh. Out;;ide of this pair, Airain could be termed the best three-year-old seen out at Avondale. Considering the racing she had and the weights she carried last season she has come up wonderfully well so early in the season, and over the last furlong she Btuck to her task gamely while under the whip for a furlong. Bachelor King raced moderately well at Avondale and his fourth in the Guineas was just an average effort. He might not have bonefitted by severai hard races under weight at two years, although of course it is too early to dismiss him from calculations. Of the others of this age, Marie's Acre was decidedly proinismg and he is going to prove worthy of his relationship to Gay Blonde. Only inexperience brought about his defeat by Beseige in the Nihotupu Plate on Monday. Trilliarch made a bold showing in the sprint on the second d.ay and this indicates that he too may be mBre than useful later on. High Sea was noticed finishing on in his race on Monday after being hopelessly out of the running and he too should show up shortly. Barricade was a failufe and he may not be so good as it appeared recently, although he too may want time.

Sir Robin's Prospect# Protector was so easily superior to the otlier two-ycar-olds that it is 1mprobablo that any of tliein will turu ttie , tables on him at Ellerslie in the Welcome Stak,es. Arvakur is the best at presont, but there is a suspicion as to his wind, which is a pity for the son of Beau Pere looked like being good. Namara did not have too good a run on Saturday and ho should do better next up. Yed Prior finished fourth in the Stakcs; slio is a rather nice filly by Surveyor from Lady Coniet aud raccs iu the colours of Tudor's owner, who also raced tlie da.ni aud rode her successt'ully in amateur riders' evcnts. On tho second day at Avondale Eastern Heir ,brother to The Buzzer, made# quite a fine showing, but he was under thc whip for a furlong and a half to hold his position and it speaks volumes for his gameness that he stood up to sucli u punishing finish; ho never up peared likcly to beat Protector, wliose margin of three parts of a length e-ould have boen considerably groatcr. Vitcmeut fmished well in this same race to gct within a head of Eastern Heirv There was somo money for Brazilian' who wras bracketed with Perillus and he raced prominently for three furlongs without being in danger of finishing in tho money. Taken all round, Surmount may bc superior to thc youngsters raced at Avondale, but ho is not in the Auckland Welcome Hlab-. and perliaps Sir IEobin, of whoin soiulhing is thouglit, ma5r offer the niosL opposition to the dual Avondale winner.