NOW AT BEST FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 129, 2 June 1934, Page 21

NOW AT BEST FORM

RODOSTO WINS IN FRANCE

{From "The Post's" Representative.)

■-■••'■ ■ •> 'LONDON, April 24. W. E. ("Togo") Johnstone, the, -Australian jockey who had been riding very successfully: on the Continent before coming to. Lord Glanely's. stable in England, crossed to France for the weekend meeting at Longchamp, chiefly to ride-Quartz II in the Prix de la Jonehere, i-seven-fnrlong event. ""■ ■ ■'" -:. .• •■;■■._ ■■■■■■.'■"

'■ Quartz II was the great hope of. Frenchmen" for the Lincolnshire Handicap in March, but be could do no better than obtain a third place.; It was then said that-a; mile waa rather beyond him. However, .over.the seven furlongs at Longchamp.he came up against a brilliant field and was_ beaten by last year's Two "Thousand Guineas winner Rodosto, now at the top of his form, who started favourite. Jbhnstone's mount, too, was again very soundly supported.

Eodosto, full of life, swerved at the start and lost'three or four lengths. .Le Centaure raced away, with Quartz II next, but Rodosto was able to make up the lost ground. In the straight the two colts were racing almost neck and neck. Finally, Rodosto asserted supremacy, ' and went on to win from Quartz II by. one and a half lengths, with Le Centaure beaten a further two lengths for third place. "• ■'

The French representative of the "Sporting Life" ' says: "Some critics blamed Johnstone. Still, had he gone ahead and been beaten close home there would have been complaints that he had made too much use of ■ his mounts So doubt Rodosto is the .better colt, and his good performance shows that he is a. real good horsVat his distance. I understand his gracious owner has received numerous inquiries from England as to whether it would be possible to stand Rodosto at the stud. All these offers have | been firmly declined. I gather that Princess Faucjgny Lucinge would not be averse to receiving offers "to purchase the horse as a stallion later in the season." Johnstone was seen to his best advant-i age the following day- at St. Cloud when, in the Prix Miss ■ Gladiateur, he was successful on El Lando. Rarity, a hot fav-' ourite, mad<j great efforts to overtake him, but suffered defeat by nearly two lengths. Aviso was third and Pomodoro fourth. The owner of the winner received 123 375 francs. ....-•■

El Lando- appears to do his best for Johnstone, who gets'on well with'him. He is a bay colt by Balmoral, whose best form was to win the Prix dv Conseil Municipal. The big son of Sardanapale retired toi the stud in 1930. El Lando is one of his. first offspring. He had one other winner ast year. He comes of the same female line as Bruleur, so there should be plenty of stamina. ■ . '

El Lando is out of Landelaise, by Burbar from a mare by Sly Fox (by Fljang lox). The owner of Balmoral vainly .endeavoured to sell him as a stallion. When his efforts were .o£ no avail he decided to use the horse; hence he is the breeder of El Lando and collected the premium.,