ENGLISH RACING

FORM OF SEA BEQUEST

Prior to the Two Thousand Guineas test at Newmarket early this ruonthj in which the Aga Khan's Babram Yijnd: Theft finished first and second ahi Sea Bequest third, the second horse was a point 'better favourite than the eventual winner )>( with Sea Bequest at a doublefigure quote. The latter made an impression at Newmarket last month in extending the well-performed Easton and 'in view of: Sea Bequest's Derby engagement next Wednesday English reports of this early race are interesting. In the opinion of Gordon Richards Lord Woolavington's Easton was an easy winner of the Lingfield Pavk/ Spring Stakes' last mouth, but the general opinion. of those who, viewed, the raco \yas that Sea Bequesbt - gave the' Beckbampton colt ■ a good race, and that the son of Legatee, beaten; a neck only,, must come into consideration for ■'. the Guineas and Derby. Sea Bequest easily proved the master of ■ Tiderace.--. at Liverpool, and at Headquarters Tiderace won j the .Column Produce' Stakes, vthereforerj'ack Jarvig'g' colt is"in-great form and Hvill have- many adTnirers.for the classics.'.Easton's nest.race will be the.March Stakes,at the Newmarket First Spring Meeting, after which .he will contest the Coronation Cup at 'Epsom;-;.-'-.." -V:■•..-■..'■ ;.;' ■ "■;. ._■ ~•■.-;':,' ■ "We shall not see. a more . handsome four-year-old saddled this season than Easton," comments a "Sporting Life"- writer; Lord Woolaviugton's. horse- .has built-up and on weight.,in the- right places durinu the recess. 1 should, say -he is 2st ■heavier.than.when.-he ran second in the Two -Thousand: Guineas last year. . .-' "It is difficult to imagine a better-piitr ' together, horse r symmejbrically, '.and • class is i stamped'upon^Kim- %verywhere.; iHe was full of himself- in the paddock,' aa was Badruddin; both being free .with then: . heels \vJhe-i their sheets., were removed. I "Sea Bequest is a nice, hssome colt, all activity. Blacks Devil was the biggest horse in the field, ..bat he has not the same freedom of movement as Easton and Sea-Bequest. The.latter,had the advantage of the weight-for-age scale, over Fred Darling's. charge, and was also favoured 'by having had a.race this season. - "Easton was therefore attempting something pretty big tor give him Ist 101b, but he succeeded in doftig so with some celerity: Gbrdbn Richards'never once* had occasion to really move on him, and did not'have to use his flaili Commando 111 ran an entirely different horse to his form in the Lincolnshire Handicap. He .was lin blinkers, and when Sarah Churchill and Hyndford Bridge were done with halfway, ■■ Commander 111 momentarily went on from Easton'.- ... ■■,-'. -: ■■': : : I "When Richards, let the favourite have more.rejn. Jie. shot 'to the front without .being pressed.' Sea:Bequest,fat' the disitance, drew up on. his offside, and put in such a stout challenge that from cantering • Easton ■ had to .stretch himself. /His big*! weight^of ,?st' 111b began to ,tell on Jiimj in ;tbe last hundred yards, and, although he always'appeared to have the 1 race/well w6n; the' Verdict was only a : neck in.his favour-as the judge was reached. • Easton and. Commander 111 ran true to ',their Select Stakes form of last season." ' . . . '

In a subsequent commentary on this feyent-the tsame writer said:—"After Sea ■^Bequest's fine effort at Lingfield on Fridayt,! drew attention*.to the colt's excellent :• opportunity, oohf h winning the Esher Cupitander 8.9 Prior to the race at Line'fieldl'M*. C. Gordon's colt appeared fairly handicapped, but the fact that he was 'capable of running- Paston to a neck at 241b: puts a different complexion qp. the subject. '( r , !> '"Even if wet allo-v that Easton won more 'eaßijythan the narrow verdict impli^Sea wequest can be rated no more than: about a stone behind the five-year* oldS;'iCommander.ni and Caymanas, which: stamps him as a -useful and muchamnKiyed three-year-old. So much so, in fact, -tliat Sea Bequest has, in my opmio^fc|bnly to run at Sandown'to be vir'tuaMyfrissured of success, i '(However, since^the race is within a few'days of the decision of theiTwo ThousandH Guineas, Vit wonld he unreasonable to expect'him tb run. for both'events, and "I^anil .prepared fo? %he -Park Lodge stable 'te-Jpursue its usuaT^bold by decid-ingMio-'hpld Bea%"Bequesfe in. reserre for "thejjplassic. ,Thi9j-,1. understand, is the plan o^ campaign." >••i ?• v i