AGA KHAN'S TRIUMPH

RICH ST. LEGER PRIZES

(From" "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 9th September,

For the St. Leger Stakes, which was run at Doncaster on 7th'September, there were originally 320 entries, and the forfeits and entry fees of the twenty-one final acceptors amounted to SB3O soys. To this sum the Doneaiiter Race Committee added 4000 soys., making a total of 12,830 soys., apportioned thus: Winner, 10,305% soys.; second (10 per cent, offtake), 1283 soys.; third (5 per cent, of stake), 641% soys.; and breeder of winner, 500 soys. When the contest took place a feat without parallel in; the history of racing had to 'be recorded, for the Aga Khan ran four horses and they finished first, second, fourth, and fifth. The winner was Firdaussi, the: • chestnut colt by Pharos— Browhhylda, by-Stedfast, which had been fifth in-the Derby. He got in by only the shortest of-heads.from Dastuv (Solario —Friar's, Daughter), with Mrs. C. Rich's Silvermere (The Winter King—Demurrage) depriving' Udapuir (winner of the Oaks);pf third place; Taj Kasra was fifth. In, the market'both pastur and Udapuir had■'-been ..preferred to ' Firdaussi. M. Beai-y, the stable jockey, had his choice, and. took Dastiir. F. Fox was on the i winner..-. .The Aga Khan bred all his four runners, vaud-so he took the £500 allotted to the ■breeder. •■'"•■'

I There, were1 nineteen runners, the favourite .being Mr.. W. M. ,G. Singer's Orwelly'tho beautiful^ Golden Hair colt of 1931, who failed, so disappointingly in the I)erby this year. He ran seventh.

The distance of the race is-about one mileT.six furlongs and 132 yards.- Mr. Tom Walls".let April the Fifth take.his chance, and he ran quite well considering that he had notibeen able to appear on a racecourse since winning at Epsom because he had' hurt,a'leg. He had been subjected to a considerable amount of sea-bathing on the Sussex coast; with beneficial elfeet, but he naturally, was in need of a race or two:•' He was: a popular fancy, but he was. not-placed;... ..: ■ .

... One cannot say that Firdaussi's triumph was popular, f.or he,was not seriously considered by- the-.'crowd. Dastur and Udapuir had been preferred, before him, so,-,-as one: of: --the /local .correspondents writes, "when a Yorkshire crowd at Doncaster is to .g.. silence that "isi dramatic .\in its intensity, when yorkßhirenien forget;to .cheer the winner of the /Eeger,' s6methin'g.must ; ha,ve happened. Something happened 'without.', comparison: hi .'the Kr^aussi. cotild.'. have ridden Firdaus^Jiad>lie!jj>r^erred: to- do so, but he '.nbv|ir:':&pugU^'of : i!i£..'.'.'He-''-'Tra9'':'.conc'e'rned wnly;, / Dastuit^ and; Udapuir.".. i,'.'^Tbe:'-A'^';'E&an?,-was/V''repo^ted;-t6°.:Uave said:'''l: bred vail these-;horses who have done so.;^11. .but I confess my heart is with; Dastur. --Perhaps you think that is because^,; of betting.' ■. It is "not. so. I do not bet much;_. I love-this game/of racing. I am afraid before evefy big race and rejoice afterwards^ To-day it is wonderful, aridXl: ;do notiorget the •• man Avho' has trained- my iifiurr^MrV Frarik; Butters—the man:who:'said;j.'Eet: them' all run; th(»y all haveva'chance/":^^:,''!.:!:^ j-:i,.. ..... :;;: ; ;'

. .The:start for the race was k, good, one. Lord Woolaviiigton's Wilto-the-Wisp made-'the': :ruuningf from Silvermere and Royal-Dancer, who at half-way were followed closely by April the Fifth; Fog Horn 11. (French horse), and Gavelkind. Koy ( al Dancer broke down and may never run;: again.' Gavelkind and Hesperus both tookV a prominent place .for a brief period in' the straight.

Three furlongs from the finish April the Fifth, Orwell, Loaningdale, Dastur, and Silvermere were all' very prominent, but about a furlong from the finish Orwell and Mr. Tom Walls's colt were finished. Then Dastur came to the front, but was soon joined by Firdaussi, wh(j came with a fine run-and got in first by a neck. Silvermere, the third horse, was never out of the first three. He had, won a longdistance race at Ascot and'is bred to stay. Udapuir did not get a clear run in the straight. . .

Brownhylda, the dam of Krdaussi, cost the Aga Khan ?51(fO-guineas eight yeai-3 ago. She Had in the year previous Tvon ■the.?..''o&^s^iitiyi!W:{;-:i6bloijrs.v'ot'^icomte dei iFontacre,/;::,",::•,. :.'v;;V-.'/,.;/';:).;,-' '~ . : ,'