NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10055, 6 June 1898, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(Br " Hotspur.") Not since Hermit won in a snowstorm in 1867 has there been such a " turn-up" in the Derby as this year. Bermit's starting price was quoted at 66 to 1, which virtually means, as in the case of Jeddah last week, that there was no money for these horses. Generally speaking, for those at 66 to 1 and 100 to 1 backers can write their own tickets, it merely being the extra good luck if such a forlorn chance should come off for the isolated backer to have bargained for a three instead of a two figured price. In 1873 Doncaster — who, if not in favour as a three - year • old, has, like Hermit, left an indelible name at the stud —started with the odds of 45 to 1 against him, the only other rank outsider to prevail of late years being Sir Hugo in 1892—a 40 to 1 chance. The two-year-old form in England last season was so confusing that the Derby was prononnced as being particularly open, and likely to furnish an unusually interesting contest. But, though this was so, the complete demolishing of the supposed best class colts, save Batt, and the victory of Jeddah would be a facer for which it would be difficult to find a precedent. Jeddah did not get into the winning list at all last season. He certainly started but twice, and did not do so badly seeing that he finished second in his opening essay to Orzil, that being in the Clearwell Stakes at Newmarket; while in his second race, also at Newmarket, he was again runner-up, Meta 11. beating him by a head in a Free Handicap, in which the One Thousand Guineas winner, Nun Nicer, was a competitor, allowing Jeddah 121b. In the latest London papers to hand, Jeddah was spoken of as showing capital form in private. An extract from the training notes, in the " Sporting Times" reads:—" J. Watts rode Jeddah in a rattling gallop over a mile, Mr Larnachi's colt giving great satisfaction, and in a fast spin on Tuesday week with Balsamo and Neish he quite surprised his trainer. He has grown into a nice horse." Another

extract: —" Nothing is forwarder at present than Jeddah, who has been at it in hard, business-like form for some time, and it was a good gallop he had with Balsamo and Neish. He went well, too, and he will not stop in the Dip for want of condition on the Two Thousand day. On Saturday J. Watts rode him another good gallop across the Flat, and if he rides him in the race he will be there as the winning post is reached." He was to run at Newmarket on April 15th, and waa fancied for the Craven Stakes. Jeddah comes from a great running family. He was bred by his present owner, who purchased the colt's dam at one of the sales of stock of the late Duchess of Montrose. Pilgrimage won both the Two Thousand and One Thousand Guineas, and was regarded as a filly of exceptional ability. Having carried off the two first classic events of the season. Pilgrimage was naturally favourite for the Oaks, but therein she was beaten by Jannette (who likewise won the Leger), and it is now curious to note that Jannette produced to Isonomy, Janissary, whose union with his dam's great rival has produced the latest Derby winner. Pilgrimage is also the dam of Canterbury Pilgrim, who the season before last won the Oaks, and was a good filly. Janissary is a sire that has been coming into favour, and several of the first of the two-year-old events this season (including the Brocklesby Stakes) fell to progeny of his. Batt, who followed Jeddah home, started three times last season. In his opening essay he was beaten out of place in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot won by Orzil, but his two subsequent efforts proved successful. The races were the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket and the Houghton Stakes at the same meeting. He did not meet any of the cracks in either event. Dunlop, the third, who figures in the nomination of the Prince of Wales, was sold by His Royal Highness as a yearling for 5000gs, with a Derby contingency to Mr Martin D. Rucker, all of whose horses were sqld in April last, Dunlop being purchased by Mr W: Ward, a wealthy North country brewer, tor 4200g5. A promising colt, Dunlop only started once as a two-year-old, winning the Prendergast Stakes at Newmarket. By the mail just to hand, since the above was in type, I find the Derby winner won the Craven Stakes at the Newmarket Craven Meeting on April 15th. The race is for three-year-olds, Derby weights, and run over a mile and twenty-two yards. Jeddah was so highly fancied that in the field of nine he went out at 2 to 1. Hard driven, he succeeded by a length. On the flush of victory it was predicted that Jeddah would have a prosperous three-year-old career. Writing of the colt the " Special Commissioner " of the London " Sportsman " eaid :—" Many people declared Jeddah leggy, and said they did not like him, but anyone who has kept him carefully in mind since hie two-year-old days must hold a very different opinion. I remember that Mr Robert Peck, though he owns Janissary, disagreed with mc last year about Jeddah, and did not think nearly so well of him as I did. I feel sure he would change hie mind now. , That the colt ie on the leg cannot be denied, but he has braced up to a remarkable extent, and looks like improving right oh into his four-year-old career. My own belief is that he may as likely as not prove to be the best of his year, though I base the opinion on his looks and his action and his breeding, regardless of his form. To-day he won his race like a good horse, but such a victory proves little. A quarter of a mile from home Madden had to rouse him, and many thought he was beaten, but he was only"running sluggishly, and when presently he began to understand what was wanted he drew out in uncompromising fashion, and made a rare example of his field. The form, as I say, may amount to nothing, but it was good enough to show mc that Jeddah has not deceived mc by bis apparent improvement, and the race will have dono him a lot of good. I go further now, and make bold to say that, in my humble opinion, Jeddah will win the Two Thousand Guineas, and I give him the preference over Ninuj and Disraeli." Jeddah must have run very badly in the interim between the Craven Stakes and the Derby to be allowed to go out for the latter at 100 to 1. Bay Ronald confirmed his running with Newhaven in the City and Suburban Handicap by again finishing in front of the Melbourne Cup winner in the Epsom Cup last week, in which the winner would be meeting Newhaven on more advantageous terras for the latter than in the handicap. Bay Ronald was not considered by any means a top-sawyer last season, but he hae evidently come on a lot. This may be inferred from the fact that such a proved good one as Winkfield's ; Pride could only gain third place in the Epsom race, and it is through Winkfield's Pride that the Australian horse's showing can be estimated. So then Newhaven, although he is not scoring as colonials would like to see, is giving evidence of his continued goodness. Still the mark he is setting is not such but that Aurum should easily be able to more than equal it. * There was very little doubt in my miud as to the finding of the judges in the Lobo appeal case. The Dnnedin Jockey Club came to all too hasty a decision to visit displeasure on Lobo and his connections, for, except that he ran two different races, there was nothing alleged to inculpate those interested in the running of the Oamaru horse. It was certainly mentioned as a suspicious circumstance that the horse was an outsider on the first day, while on the second, when he won, he carried a good deal of money. But the owner, and the trainer as well, denied having backed the horse, except for a trifling sum, and the statements were not sought to be refuted. And if the connections of Lobo had backed him when he won, how would that go to show he was running a bye on the first day ? Starshot, trom returning £21 and £36 dividends on the Dunedin Cup was backed down to level money for her race on the second day; a like reason can be advanced for the better support accerded to Lobo in his second race, seeing he ran unexpectedly well up to the distance he had to run at the second day. Unless there are contributory circumstances it is a very weak contention to bring forth that a horse poorly backed one day and well backed on another is being mado

the medium of a swindle, the more bo when the races are run over different distances. The fact that it was only an after-thought to couple Cotton, the rider of Lobo, in the disqualifications, is very strong proof that the Dunedin stewards had Blender grounds for comingto the conclusion that Lobo was pulled. rtad it been otherwise the jockey surely would have been the first to have punishment meted out. Having been satisfied from the outset that no grounds existed for the disqualifications, it is satisfactory to find that the ban has been removed.