SANTA ANITA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 14

SANTA ANITA.

THE BIG HANDICAP. NO AUSTRALIANS ENTERED. Not a single Australian horse was entered for the Santa Anita Handicap, of 10 furlongs, to be run at Santa Anita (California) on March 5. The prize for the race is 100,000 dollars. However, the club has been f »riiiT«ate in attracting many entries irom other countries, and it is probable that the race will have an international flavour. A good horse entered from England is Le Bambino, owned by Mr. Ralph B Strassburger. Le Bambino, who was seventh in the English Derby after being one of the leaders at Tattenham Corner, is a winner in France and in England, and is by the unbeaten Cavalierre d'Arpino from Rose of Devon by Biichan. Le Bambino, after failing in the English Derby, was sent to France to run in the Grand Prix de Paris and finished sixth behind Clairvoyant. Should lie strike his best form in America he will be a dangerous candidate. From South America. Many American owners have purchased horses in South America for the rich race and already in training there are several horses from Chile and the Argentine. Mr. D. J. Davis, the owner of Phar Lap, is likely to be represented by a pair of New Zealand-bred tliree-year-olds. Thev are Maori Lad and Maori Girl, both by Night Raid. Mr. Davis bought the mares in New Zealand and had thein stinted by Night Raid before they were sent to America. Maori Lad has already shown some form, but whether he will be equal to holding his own in sucli good class company is hard t*o sav.

The field will include some of the best American horses, as it is considered likely that War Admiral. America's best horse, will be a competitor. Taking a line from' his form, he will be hard to beat, as he must be a champion.