NOTES ON THE SPORT

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1917, Page 4

NOTES ON THE SPORT

SUCCESS OF CLIFFORD STABLE,

(tl mBQRAPH.—SPECIAL 10 IHS TOST.)

CHR-tSTCHURCH, 9th April. Bain set in early in the morning; and there ..was every appearance of a wet afternoon. Just before the first race Was run, however, the weather cleared, and for the reihainderjof the day the ( sml Was in evidence. There was a. largoattendance, . some prominent visitors being present. From a racing point.of view it was. a good day. -Several of the events drew small, fields :but the Sport was of a very interesting character." THE GREAT EASTEIi There Were three screenings from the Great Easter Handicap., ,Tete-a-Tete Was one of them; Mr. Titt.Lowry, being content to rely, on Beltane, who had toen galloping ' well%-. -;TJie.;!,other ■. pair were Varnish■and'"Hife¥De*'-yaV for Whbjn* riders could • ndt W Secured. . 'There seemed a prospect itJiaV'Multifual, j2u-' land, and Red ■ Ribbon...would. be "absentees for the same reason, but jockeys were eventually found and they took their places in the fieljiL which numbered fourteen. Sasanof wound up a little better favourite,.than Croesus. .The start was far from a happy effort, a big proportion of the riders being .palpably unprepared for the release.of the barrier. CroesUs, Nystad,; Good Hope, "Fiery' Cross, Zuland, and Margerine. got out well, but the. others were slow to move, Beltane and" Red Ribbon being in the tear. I did not see Zuland after they had'gone a couple-of furlongs, but the others were still piloting the field whsn the straight was reached. As a matter of fact, few "of the slow beginners «yen .got hear the front -division. Sasanof was one of the exceptions. He put in his claim at the turn' for- home and mushed in good style, but he cotild not quite reach Nystad. -The Highden three-year-old was never further back than third, and he came on in- good style in the straight, finishing up as straight as a gun barrel; It was quite an- attractive performance, and there Was no suggestion of tfhe faint-heartediiess of which he has at times been suspected. Sasanof, after being slow to begin, had a- lot of ground to make up over the last half-mile, but he had every chance when he reached the straight. He Tan a good race, but was not equal bo- the task under the conditions. Fiery Cross was always well placed, and 'he finished on in good style, just beating Mavgerine, %vho was going very fast over the last furlong. The most brilliant run in the closing stages, however, Was that of Bed Ribbon. She wa,s last running round the turn, but she showed a great burst of speed in the straight. On the showing she must have a chanCa in the Great' Autumn. . Good Hope was prominent for half a milt, and then lost his position, but was limning on again in the straight. ' Comely was not prominent, till the finish, When,she put in a gocd run. Croesus had every chance, and he was in front till well into the straight, where he faded out The others never looked dangerous. Patimuro was very lame when he pulled UP- 1

CHAMPAGNE STAKES.

Though the Champagne; Stakes was induced to a two-horse match the race attracted plenty of interest. The two colte bm'e a ; well-trained appearance. Public form favoured Estland slightly^ and he was a little better backed than Gamecock, whose admirers were confident, however, that he had made some • improvement since he was last seen in public. Estland began smartly, and had an advantage in the eal'ly stages, though it did not amount to much. When half jthe journey had been covered the pair were oh even terms, but Gamecock, on the outside, appeared to have his - rival's measure. Estland was being ridden hard at the distance, but despite his effort Gamecock drew away gradually and scored by a.length. He appeared to have something in hand besides his winning margin, and ,:his', performance, was .very attractive. He lias certainly made theimprovement that was predicted, and he shaped like a colt who would stay.

THE HURDLES

■ Peronilla wias unable to take her place in the field for Hie Kildare Hurdles Handicap owing to lameness. This left four competitors, and backers made Art favourite in a?good betting race. Master Hamilton came to grief on the flat after jumping the hurdles at the r mile post. 1 He had been one of the leaders up to that point, but was not jumping in his best style. ' Five from home Art and Crib raced up to Cast Iron, and they cleared v. the next hurdle in line. Crib only lasted to the straight, where his cbndition gave Out over the hist bit.. Art held Cast Iron comfortably. It was •an attraotivo performance, but I expect that Orib will be a lot hotter later in the season. ; '

AUTUMN PLATE

The eight competitors for the Autumn Plate represented a very useful class, among them being two. imported fillies, Chelotna and Winter Cherry, .both of

! whom had shown smart track form. The The Danube filly, Thames, was ii little better backed than Cheloma and Brambletye. These three had the contest practically to themselves. Cheloma led the other pair to the straight, then Thames- beat ,1 hasty retreat. At the distance Brambletye looked a good winner, but she was stopping at the efld, and she just lasted long enough to beat Cheloma by half a length. Brambletye is a smart galloper, and. should do better at seven furlongs than a mile. She is 4, sister to Leatherbrae, and looks as if she might turn out a very Useful stake Winner. Cheloma should pick up a decent race before long. Winter Cherry was left at the start. She lias only taken part in two races, and has had a similar experience each time. THE TWO-YEAE-OLDS. A useful lot of two-year-olds, nine in number, contested the Eussley Plate. I They raced in. close order most of the way, and at the finish Killem beat Claverhouse, with a. bit to spare, Kilmedy 'being close up, just in front of Sisyphus, who finished on well. Kilrush showed speed, but failed to stay. And Mediator also dropped out some distance from home. The winner is a brother to Kilbby. He is not ail attractive gtiiloper," but he is evidently going to turn out useful, as he can probably be improved a lot. ADJUTANT SCORES. There were only four starters for the "Sbckburn Handicap, Miss Eeval being a little better backed than Adjutant. The favourite was soon out in front, setting a slow pace. These tactics just suited j Adjutant, who was able to lie in a handy position till the straight was reached, ! when he settled the position decisively. . He has been very useful this season, and j he is hard to shake off over his- own clistance. Adjutant has now earned a 51b j penalty for the great Autumn Handicap, ' but the distance may trouble him quite as much as the weight. . , KING STAR'S WIN. ; i \ There was some smart gallbpers among the nineteen hacks who contested ths Gimcrack Handicap. It *as a. godd 1 race, TreinenA making the funning for over five furlongs, wheti she was in . trouble. All Serene then looked a winner, but King Star catne on the scene with a strong run and won in good style. His stableniate Arthur George finished fast in third- place. Charley was favour-" its, but lie stopped a bit at the end after being prominent all the way. PLYING START. The Courtenay Welters-Handicap attraetedva field of seven. Sir George Clifford's pair, Flying Start and Don Pacifico were iV prime favour. It was a good race all the way. Ogier was going well at the distance, where Flying Start came from the back and Won in line style. ;.He hid a big weight, but he finished well Under it. Don Pacifico gave a disappbintihg display. / The feature of the day's racing was the success, which attended Sir George Clifford's stable. Gamecock, Brambletye, Adjutant, and Flying Start were winners, while ClaVerhouse finished seel oiid .in his race.