ENGLISH CLASSIC RUN TODAY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27957, 2 May 1956, Page 5

ENGLISH CLASSIC RUN TODAY

FRENCH COLT FAVOURITE FOR 2000 GUINEAS (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON. May 1. Since no outstanding English three-year-old colt has so far been revealed by the new flat racing season, there is little surprise that the French colt Philius II is favourite for the Two Thousand Guineas, to be run at Newmarket on May 2. The Irish-trained Milesian is second favourite. In the One Thousand Guineas, to be run on May 4, Victoria Cross, which is American-owned, has become a firm favourite at 7 to 4. aiter winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes by 10 lengths last week. The reputation of Philius II has been built chiefly on his running second to the brilliant Apollinia in the Grand Criterium at Longchamps last October. This season he has run once and beaten Verrieres. He has had one month's less training than any horse in England or Ireland, due to the hard French winter. He will be ridden in the Guineas by the stable apprentice, and not by C. Smirke, his rider at Longchamps. Milesian is regarded as the perfect type lor the Guineas. His sire, My Babu, won the race, and sired last year’s winner. Our Babu. Most fancied of other probable runners are Drumbeat, Rustam, Chantelsey, Roistar, and Ratification. Roistar was rated the best two-year-old colt of Ireland last year, but he has not had a race this season. The One Thousand Guineas favourite. Victoria Cross, is well-bred, being by Court Martial, former winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, out of Lady Cross, which won the Yo< kshire Oaks, and traces to Pretty Polly. Royal Pageant is regarded as the best of the other fillies, with Cigalon, a French filly which beat Midget, next.