RETURN TO FORM

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1940, Page 8

RETURN TO FORM

(By "Hurry On.")

DEFEAT OF HIGH CASTE FUTURE PROSPECTS

It has taken Beau Vite time to strike form in Australia, but his defeat of High Caste over a mile at Rosehill on Saturday indicated that he was back to his best. Twelve months ago Beau Vite, on the strength of a fine second, to Defaulter in the Chelmsford Stakes, was sent out a hot favourite for the A.J.C. Derby, but missed a place. His subse- j quent Australian form was disappointing and he was brought back to New Zealand- . j i After being beaten into second place in the King's Plate at Ellerslie by Beaulivre, Beau Vite reversed positions in the Great Northern Derby and admmistered another defeat to Beaulivre in the Clifford Plate on the final day of the gathering. These two performances stamped Beau Vite as a class colt, and this impression was confirmed at Trentham where, carrying 8.7, he was only beaten by a head in the Centennial Cup by Old Bill, who carried 8.0. Beau Vite's was a great effort for a three-year-old and on the final day he won the Watkins Handicap in easy fashion from a big field. , . After a short spell Beau Vite made his reappearance in the Taranaki Stakes at New Plymouth when he downed a good field of sprinters in brilliant fashion. He followed this by wins in the New Zealand St. Leger and Challenge Stakes at Trentham, the Great Northern St. Leger at Ellerslie and the Gold Cup at Awapuni. His New Zealand record of eight wins and two seconds in ten starts made him the outstanding performer of the Beau Vite will now go on to tackle the weight-for-age events at the coming Randwick meeting, the Spring Stakes, the Craven Plate and the Randwick Plate. On his form of Saturday his prospects appear bright, but in the Craven Plate he will be faced with his old rival Beaulivre, who is likely to be suited by the mile and a-quarter journey. Nevertheless those who saw the pair meet over this distance in the Clifford Plate at Ellerslie will not be surprised to see Beau Vite again finish in front.