Notable Highlights Of British Wartime Racing

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 205, 30 August 1941, Page 4 (Supplement)

Notable Highlights Of British Wartime Racing

TAE Ascot meeting at Newmarket was about the best tonic for war-weary folk that could be imagined. Although we were deprived of the old-time atmosphere of the Royal Heath and the ever-thrilling spectacle of the Royal procession down the course, it was still a Royal meeting, writes our special Englwli representative.

The greatest thrill was the double brought off by the King's two-year-olds leased recently. from the National Stud, Big Game and Sun Chariot, who won the Coventry Stakes and, most appropriately, the Queen Mary Stakes respectively. Never, I think, since Limelight won the Coventry Stakes for King George V. have there been such scenes of enthusiasm on a racecourse as when Sun Chariot completed this double.

In between the two races came the Gold Cup, in which Finis beat Olidon in the greatest struggle we have witnessed since Quashed beat the American horse Omaha in this same event five years ago. It was a titanic neck and neck struggle until, no more than a furlong out, Finis seemed to be drawing away a little. He passed the post a head in front of Olidon, one of the gamest winners •*.ver seen on a racecourse.

Finis' wonderful fighting spirit *vas a revelation to those who knew the colt's past history, for he was a sickly youngster, and nearly died mw'e than once when a young colt. IBs dam had died when he was born, and he had been reared entirely on the bottle.

The riding honours of the day went without question to Harry Wragg, who rode the three big winners I have mentioned—a remarkable hat trick. He is virtually assured of the jockeys' championship when the season comes to an end, and his riding this summer has been second to none.

Surprises at Newbury The Newbury meeting also had plenty of surprises—and not always very pleasant ones either, from the punters' point of view. The first was Pearl Rock's unexpected win in the Marlborough Handicap.

Most people were again completely confounded when the Royal Stakes came along and a virtual "certainty" in Morogoro, the Derby second, on whom odds of 3 to 1 had been laid, caul*' do no better than finish third. The race was won by Fairy Prince, who had run well in the Derby—a nice little consolation prize for his owner, Mr. P. T. Williams, who is a prisoner of war in Germany.

Morogoro's failure was a shock, and his future now is rather in doubt. It had been intended that if he did not win the Derby he should go out to his owner's stable in India, but the matter of shipping space is proving a problem. He is not winning the races that were expected of him, and he is .a troublesome animal on the training grounds. Even when in hard work, and even after a hard race, he takes a very strong rider to manage him. He bucks and kicks and has a disturbing influence on the rest of the string.

Darling has found it much easier to plan the future of Owen Tudor, his Derby winner. This colt is to be trained for the St. Leger, and it is unlikely that he will be seen in public again before then.

Richards Hors de Combat While the Newbury races were in progress a car drove past the course, but did not stop. Inside was Gordon Richards on his way home from the hospital where he has been a patient since he broke his leg at Newbury.

Gordon's convalescence is proving a much slower business than had been expected. In the early days after the mishap he appeared to be making a lightning recovery, but it soon became apparent that all was not well, and he had to undergo another trying operation on his injured limb. This setback was a great disappointment to the champion jockey, who is itching to be back in the saddle {.gain.

but bidding for his possession lacked spirit, and at 200gs the colt was knocked down to the syndicate.

As a two-year-old the Brazen youngster did not succeed in winning a race, but he shaped well enough to suggest that he would be a payable proposition, and this was borne out when, at three years, he was six times first past the judge to gather in £1185 in stake money. At four years he earned £610, and at five years, a lean season for him, only £90.

When Brazilian, who had been gelded, was offered at auction twelve months ago last Christmas,, together with other horses of the syndicate, it was known that he had developed bleeding, and consequently no one at the ringside was anxious to secure him; but Mr. J. R. May, nodded his head at 50 gns., and later leased him for two years to Mrs. E. Roberts

I Mrs. Roberts who resides at Ohura, was, unfortunately, not i present to see Brazilian triumph. Stiil, she has no reason to regret leasing the horse as he has earned in stakes approximately £700 in her colours. Providing bleeding does not affect his future racing, he should add considerably to that amount. Mrs. Roberts, a widely-travelled Englishwoman, is the authoress of "New Zealand: Land of My Choice," and horse-racing is one of her hobbies. She won several races with Agog two years ago.