FOUR IN A ROW

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 261, 25 January 1928, Page 10

FOUR IN A ROW

A NEW STAR ROYAL TUNE’S HARMONY Making his debut in Sydney, the Newcastle star. Royal Tune, showed his heels to his opponents in the Berala Handicap, at Randwick, a fortnight ago. It was his fourth successive win, and he has now come into prominence as a possibility for the A.J.C. Challenge Stakes. Royal Tune has risen from obscurity to comparative fame in the space of a few months. It was not until September 14 that he broke into the winning list in a Trial Handicap, at Wallsend, but good judges who saw him in that race marked him off as one # of the most promising horses in the northern district. Nor were they astray in their judgment, as Royal Tune won a welter at Maitland at his next start, and followed it by taking the Newcastle Newmarket, for two days before which his trainer had been unable to work him. JUMPED IN EARLY Sydney racegoers had anxiously awaited Royal Tune’s debut in the metropolis, and many stepped in to support him immediately betting opened. They duly collected, but their reward would have been greater had they not been so hasty. After touching seven to two, Royal Tune eased to sixes. Tune is nothing much to look at, but his galloping ability more than compensates for any lack of beauty, and, taking charge before the field had gone a furlong, he was not afterwards headed. He ran rather wide at the turn, but maintained his advantage, and won from the fast-finishing King Val. KING VAL UNLUCKY

With a little more luck it is on the cards that King Val would have won. Fractious at the barrier, he lost a good deal of ground when it rose, and was second last when the field was fairly on its way. He was forced to go round the field at the turn, and finished almost under the judge’s box. Royal Tune is a Greenstead gelding, and was bred by Mr. H. N. Bell, the owner of Princess Maggie. He did not race as a two-year-old, and was unplaced at his only two run,s last season, but he has won four of his five races this season. He is held on lease until January, 1929, by his trainer, S. J. Gallegos, and he was ridden by the latter’s apprentice, E. Ashman. MUCH-TRAVELLED GALLEGOS Gallegos, who supervises one of the most useful teams in the north, and who won at Randwick with Princess Maggie on Summer Cup day, was once a well-known jockey. He served his apprenticeship with Mr. Richard Wootton, and rode with success in England, South Africa, and India. Hurdle racing was his speciality. Royal Tune is engaged in the Challenge Stakes with 7.5, and as he appears to be improving with every run, he will not lack supporters if it is decided to send him after that race.

CRACK JOCKEY OUT

DAVIDSON, OF SYDNEY By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. SYDNEY, Tuesday. The stewards of the Australian Jockey Club have suspended S. Davidson, last season’s leading jockey, for two months, for alleged interference in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday last, when Davidson was riding Whitta.—A. and N.Z. Back from Sydney The Thorn, Clarus and Solario, after an absence of some months, arrived in Auckland on Monday Ulimaroa. They have now entered J. Williamson’s stable at Ellerslie, and will be prepared for future events. Neither Clarus nor Solario succeeded in winning a race on the other side, while The Thorn was returned a winner on two occasions.

Rowe Cup Winner Rose Bingen, although not showing the dash that marked her successful efforts of a couple of seasons back, gave fair indication during the progress of the Auckland Christmas ear* nival that a stake was not an impossibility again this season. The max* has some good victories to her Ust. including a Rowe Cup, and before retires to the breeding paddock should win another race. After that it is quite on the cards she will b* mated with Peterwah. Hard Luck It was decidedly bad luck for both owner Johnston and trainer Brough* ton to lose ti e services of that goofl free-legged pacer Festive Morn, jest when the season was becoming bus>* Last year the mare demonstrated her ability in no small masure, and gr**jf r things were expected during the l*-** 28 activities. She was showing brilliancy at the time of her breakdown, and would have made the races for unhoppled merchants particularly interesting. Festive Morn should prove a good proposition as a matron. Another for Kelly T. Kelly, owner of that promising pacer Andover, has purchased me Florizel —Spearmint mare, Mint, from N. Cunningham, and she is now at Te Awamutu, where she » creating a favourable impression. Single Mint has yet to prove her worin as a racing proposition, but when sec out at Cambridge last May she U P an attractive performance Andover Should Stay Andover demonstrated at Claudelands last month that he was * ; better than the majority anticipate and it was surprising, in face o* - boom the son of Hova was given season, to see the public p;iss him ov at Hamilton. He won like a good on*, and should be susceptible to ‘ improvement. Just how be will S' over two miles is problematical, he compassed 12 furlongs in such liable fashion last month that it Js „ unreasonable to expect him to do over the longer journey.