SIXTH IN SUCCESSION.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 12

SIXTH IN SUCCESSION.

BROWN JACK'S PERFORMANCE RACE AT ASCOT. QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES. .

For the sixth year in succession the 10-year-old gelding Brown Jack, on June 22, won the Queen Alexandra Stakes, run over two miles six furlongs and 85 yards, at Ascot, and thus registered a feat that had not previously been accomplished in the important handicaps in the history of the English turf. While it cannot be claimed that he has met the best of the stayers of his year, it nevertheless emphasised the remarkable constitution of this aged son of Jackdaw and Querquedilla. The record is the more remarkable when it is considered that he did (not make his first appearance in the Queen Alexandra Stakes until he was five years old, being successful at his first attempt. In each of his victories in this longdistance event he has been ridden by S. Donoghue, and it was on the advice of that rider that Brown Jack, who, as an early three-year-old, had been racing successfully over hurdles, was subsequently reserved for flat races.

Brown Jack did not begin racing until a three-year-old, but since. then he has covered in his races 125 miles, three furlongs and 139 yards, of which 17 miles were over hurdle courses. He has started in 65 races, of which he won .25, was second on nine occasions, and third in four events. The average distance of the races in which he competed was almost two miles.

In addition to his Queen Alexandra Stakes successes, he won many other important handicaps, including -the Goodwood Cup, in which he . also finished Becond on three occasions; the Doncaster Cup, Chester Cup, Ebor Handicap, Ascot Stakes, Cesarewitck Stakes, and the Rouse Memorial Stakes, and his stake earnings aggregate more than £23,000.

Brown Jack was bred in Ireland, and 6old as a yearling for 75 guineas, and aftes> starting in two short-distance races as a three-year-old, he was sold to his present owner, Sir Harold Wernher. Although bred on unfashionable lines, Brown Jack comes from a strain of particularly stout horses. He is by Jackdaw, a splendid stayer, who won the Queen Alexandra Stakes as .a four-year-old in 1912, and was by Thrush. Querquedilla, the dam- of Brown Jack, is by Kroonstad, who ran in 92 races for 22 wins, and his aggregate distances were 117 miles, five furlongs, 106 yards. Kroonstad was by the St. Leger winner, Kilwarlin, from Garganey, by Wild Fowler, a son of Gallinule, the sire of the dams of those great sires of stayers in Australia, Comedy King and Rossendale. The King and Queen were present. The victory was a very popular one, and as the horses came down the straight there was a revival of the famous cry, "Come on, Steve!" from the 10,000 spectators. Many, forgetting decorum, flung up their grey top hats as the winner passed the post. Lord Derby congratulated Donoghue, saying "You are a marvellous pair. Women mobbed and tried to kiss the jockey, who says, "I love Brown Jack like a brother, and I believe he loves me. Brown Jack has run his last race at Ascot, where he has now" won seven times, including the Ascot Stakes in 1927. He has won £21,646 stake money on the flat and £1504 in hurdle races.