BEST OF HIS AGE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1931, Page 6

BEST OF HIS AGE

■ HO DOUBT ABOUT AMMON R£

Ammon Ra sealed his claim to be rated best two-year-old the season has yet seen out when he won the Wellington Stakes from an almost impossible position a little more than a furlong from home. So fast did he finish that the rest of the field appeared to be composed of horses of Terj; mediocre quality, instead of some

of the fastest two and three-year-old sprinters in commission. His victory was remarkably obtained, and the public were not slow to show their appreciation or his brilliant effort when he returned to the birdcage. Animon, Ra,. who is a bay gelding by Limond'from the Hymettus mare Hyades, the dam of Phaola'and Prodice, descends' through Elfin and Sylvia from the Touchstone mare Jiiliet, who. was probably the best-mare of the No. 13 line that ever, came to the colonies. He was sent up for auction at the last yearling sales, but ho satisfactory bid was coming .for him owing,, to .his. having a; twisted \ fetlock, and/ he'- was put' into/ training! by his breeder (Dr. E. A. B. Milsom), for whom he -has now won three times at. four starts. It js a coincidence that Roeshire, who scored in the first race of ;the day, is also a descendant of Sylvia and Juliet, through -their other main braucht (Wood Nymph), and that the two principal races of the. day (Stakes and Cup) should be won; by sonsoftimond. Intthe rac'eyKorokio arid Golden Wings were smartest out'at the barrier release^ and early behind them wdre ißichborough, Hunt the Slipper, Aspian, and La' Poupee. Korokio, and Golden Wrings: came on to the course.proper .ahead o£ Aspian, Hunt thejSlipper, La ■Poupee, andi Richbor.ough, but' ABpian shot to the front half way down .the straight, and looked to have the: race ;#on, till;Ammon::Ra, who had had ionly'Sierry iCry behind him crossing on■■■; to.:-the ' course proper, • put in an appearancp with a devastating run down the outside of the field, and, to- the astonishment of onlookers, caught the leader in the last stride to earn the verdict by a nose. La Poupee was a length back third, and Hunt thejSlipper a like distance further away -fourth, '■"■ ahead of Golden W,ings, .Richborough, and Gesture. r Aminon Ra carried.'nearly' twice tho support that was accorded Gesture, the best backed of; the, others being La Poupee and Golden Wings'. Aspian, for second, paid more than the winner. Both placed horses were^ responsiblel for exceptional i performances, and it was only by dint "of. remarkable brilliance that Ammon Ra was able to succeed. Aspian was perhaps un.lucky to lose, as the race was run, but had Ammon.Ra been beaten his rider (K. Voitre)-would have come in for much •criticism, for he tqok a-big risk ; in leaving it so* late .before he made his effort. Gesture ;was- never a possibility; but La 'Poupee and^Hunt the. Slipper both went | good racesj and KTbrokio and Golden Wings again 'demonstrated that they are possessed of plenty of pace. The two-year-olds in the race quite outclassed their older ■rivals; ;v >■';';;■;'-;.-,. ■■ — . ..:'.-.