THE OAKS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 18 July 1929, Page 5

THE OAKS

ANOTHER WIN. FOR LORD ASTOE

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 14th June. Lord Astor is one of the non-betting owner-breeders. He considers that gambling spoils sport. A week ago he had for the fitth time the great pleasure of leading in the winner of The Oaks, Pennycomequick. Five times he has carried off the Fillies' claEsic; five times his colts have come second in the Derby. Previous winners of the Oaks were Sunny Jane (1917), Pogrom (1922), Saucy Sue '(1925), fcnort Story (1920). Judges of racehorses consider Pennycomequick to bo one of the finest specimens of a thoroughbred to win the Oaks during recent years. The race was won with great ease by five lengths from Golden Silence, who I was two lengths ahead o£ her much more fancied stable companion, Sister Aune I with the Aga Khan's Filled' Amour tourth. Pennycomequick is a filly of fine size; her action cannot be faulted; and she has a perfectly balanced stride. She is by Hurry On out of Plymstoek, who was by William the Third out ot Conjure, the soundest of all the foundations of the Cliveden Stud. "Hotspur" ("Daily Telegraph") writes: The conditions for the race were excellent, a bright sun, a pleasant breeze, and sound going. The race itself can be described in a few words. No possible complaint can be made about the start, which

was perfect. Soon after the tapes had been released Golden Silence, presumably on a pace-making mission for Sister Anne, went on in. front with .Belle Mere. Pennycomequick and.Sister Anno' were never far beifind them, and coming down the hill both of them closed'up with the leaders. Before reaching the straight Sister Anne began to lose her place, but Pennycomequick came on' and very soon took the lead. Shortly after' she drew away and the race was quickly over. I learned afterwards that Sister Anne'&. saddle slipped, which explains why she made no progress after, the beginning of her run down the hill. The position of Golden Silence at the end of the race shows that Sister Anne's running was all wrong. I do not for one moment suggest that she would have beaten the winner, but she would not have' been far behind her if she had not met with an accident." The time of the race was 2min iSS4-ssec, a fraction better than the time of the colts in the Derby. Everyone now expects that Pennycomequick will be backed to beat the colts in the St. Leger. At Tattenham Coiner, it seems, Jelliss got his whip out, and when asked why he said his mount thought the race was over and wanted to stop. She had only to be.shown the whip to make her realise her responsibilities,, and she went away again to score at her leisure. It was a clear-cut victory, and a comparison of the times suggests the Oaks winner would have beaten Trigo. In an interview with Mr. John Young

in_ the "Evening Standard," Lord Astor said, ia answer to the query,' "What ' is the secret of the success of your fillies?" '"I have a variety o£ theories. Obviously there must be a certain amount of science in breeding anything, whether it be horses, sheep, cattle, or orchids. All my animals can be traced to ' three mares— Conjure, Maid of the Alist, and Popinjay. '"Every mare in my stud at present I oredniyself, except the twenty-four-year-old Popinjay. Obviously that adds greatly to the interest. I do not believe in buying horses. The pleasure of breeding is that you have always something in anticipation. This is how I look at it. lill you are beaten you hope that you will win. When you do lose you go into the paddock and there you see prospective winners. But when you do see one of your horses win you have the satisfaction of knowing that you bred it youvsolh To my mind that is far better and more satisfying than buying a horse, no matter how successful it may prove. After all, a race is only the culmination ot about three or four years' effort on one particular animal. During tliat time to see the horse develop gives me interest, pleasure, and recreation. That is how 1 regard racing. "Since I started racing I have bred 80 horses. Seventy-four per cent, have been placed in races, GI per. cent, have been winners, and 2S per cent, have been placed in the twelve big events of the English racing calendar. My racing experience has been profitable and full of interest. It has cost me practically nothmg.- There is a balance at the bank to my racing account."-