CRACKS MEET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 24, 21 October 1937, Page 15

CRACKS MEET

"Early Bird.")

Royal Chief & Smoke Screen in Trentham Stakes THE PAIR COMPARED

(From

If Smoke Screen has made considerable -improvement since his narrow victory in the Great N.orthern Guineas a fortnight agot then he will still have to be recboned with in the Trentham Stakes on Saturday nest. The danger to the Fordell gelding will coma from Iioyal Chief, who was undoubtedly very unlucky to meet dofeat in the Guineas at Ellerslie. The story of that mile classic at Ellerslie illustrated that lloyal Chief should beat Smoke . Screen next time they uieet, and in this eonneotion one will have to look ior improvement in Smoke Screen if ha is again to defeat the Riccarton colt. Any comparison between this pair of smart three-year-olds must uecessarily lead to another analysis of the Great Northern Gujneas contest, in which Royal Chief was not QUly caught napping at the barrier, but he was slow in getting into top stride, with the result that at the end of three i'urlQUgs he was half a dozen lengths behind Sxnoke Scxeen, who was traiiing the pacemaker, Royal Bacheior. This advantage was slowly diminished by Royal Chief until at the liome tvirn he was within a iength and ahalf of Smoke Screen, who had the Igader collared. Both these smart youngsters here swung wide, with Royal Chief well out and becoming unbalanced. Remembering this and then to know that Royal Chief finally got within a head of Smoke Screen and the story is told; further amplification of Rdyal Chiefs bad luck is unnecessary. The Riccarton colt was more than t#ice as well. backed as the winner and on the actual running that difference in the betting was more than justified. Without the glightest doubt ltoyal Chief should never have been beaten. He was a bit sore after that contest, but got over it again very quickly and it is to be hoped that he can be landed at the post fit and well so that a true-run race in the Trentham Stakes mile will see the question of supremacy settled. Tlie Trentham course should certainly he more favourable to Royal Chief, for he is not exactly brilliantin the early part of his races, for this was evident in both the Avondale and Auckland Guineas contests. It is ver likely that these three-year-olds will meet again on Monday in the Harcourt Stakes, and while Smoke Screen inay go a good te» furlongs Royal Chief geems certain to, so that all other things being equal the Riccarton colt may succeed in reversing positfons with Smoke Screen if Ellerslie runiiing is any criterion,