FROM THE TOP HALF

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 13

FROM THE TOP HALF

Sir Roy and Rapier Are Fancied Runners For Midsummer RICCARTON PROSPECTS

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurcli Eepresentative). With the Midsummer Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday confined entirely to South Islanders, there is plenty of form to guide the public.

'T'HOUQH acceptances have not been 1 declared at the time of writing, it is unlikely that many will drop out Rapier's two runs at Dunedin will "work an improvement m him, and though he has 9.9 to carry, the field is not very strong, and he is not harshly treated when his weight is viewed through his New Zealand Cup form. Hoylake's bubble burst at Auckland and Trentham, and as ho was off the scene for some time after Wellington, he will probably require a race before he can show his best. With an appreciable fall m poundage In the Dunedin Cup, Count Cavour was never sighted o.n the journey. The handicapper has expressed bis opinion that the "Count" is slipping by pulling him down to 8.11. At anything like his old form, the "Count" would romp home with .this handy weight, but m his recent racing he has fallen from grace and i's regarded by all but super- optimists as a shadow of better days. Battle Colours Ist another which has failed to show true form since he ran so well m the C.J.C. Metropolitan- j With 8.5 on Saturday he is given a chance to reinstate himself with the public. • i

Sir Roy ia also' in the picture with 8.4, and if he repeats his Marton perI fdrmance he must trouble most of those above him. The latest is that he will not run. Beau Geste ran poorly at Wingatui, and would have to improve a lot on that performance to be m the hunt at all on Saturday. Amor ran well m the hacks at Dunedin, but should find the open company a bit beyond him. If Moorgas takes on this Handicap he might prove troublesome with his light weight, for he has given indicationg of ability to coyer a distance of ground. Rotor, on Dunedin Cup running, would have to be included m possibilities if he were sound, but at Dunedin he ran without luck, and was very tender m the hard going there. Were he sound on the day, and providing he ran up to Wingatui form, he would be the pick of the handicap. Pride, Prickles and Toawai have nothing to recommend them. The top half of the handicap looks like providing the winner, and two that appeal are RAPIER, BATTLE COLOURS.