THE FREE HANDICAP

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 19, 23 January 1936, Page 8

THE FREE HANDICAP

AGA KHAN'S COLT ON TOP

| The Free Handicap for two-year-olds, compiled by Mr. Arthur Fawcett, the Jockey Club handicapper, was issued in England last month, and again one of H.H. the Aga Khan's horses is on top. The handicapper has taken a bold line in allotting premier position with 9.7 to Bala Hissar, a colt who has won only one race, and who has not yet been pitted against such proved performers as Abjer, Bossover colt, and Mahmoud (says "Sporting Life").

Mr. Fawcett had several intricate problems to solve. It is obvious that he has placed more reliance upon the running in the Champagn Stakes at Doncaster than upon that in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. In the Doncaster race Mahmoud won by threequarters of a length from Abjer, with Bossover colt third, two lengths behind. In the Free Handicap Mahmoud and Abjer are coupled together at 9.6; Bossover colt has been given 9.3. In the Middle Park Stakes a month later Abjer beat Bossover colt by two lengths, with Mahmoud a head away third. The following is the list of the top horses in the handicap:— FREE HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES, a sweepstakes with £500 added; 1 furlongs. (To be vim at the Newmarket Craven Meeting April 17.) Bala Hissar ..9 7 Midstream . S 12 Abjer 9 6 Dan Bulger . 8 12 Slalimouc? ... 9 6 Chlberla 812 Monument ..9 4 Hurlna 8 12 Bossover c, by Barra Sahib „ 8 11 Blenheim 9 .1 Boswell .... 811 Daytona ... 9 2 Veuve Clicquot 8-11 Prince Aly ... 9 2 Black Speck . 8 11 Sansoimet ..9 1 Bultoi 810 Crosspatch . 9 0 Squadron Castle 8 10 Swift Arrow . 9 0 His Grace ... 810 Tide-way ..' 8 13 Pike Barn 8 10 Desert Night . 8 13 The Aga Khan owns both Bala Hissar and Mahmoud, also Prince Aly and Barra Sahib in this list. Abjer is a French colt owned by M. M. Boussac and trained in England by the Hon. G. Lambton. Bossover colt is the Hon. Dorothy Paget's high-priced yearling. Monument is owned by the Duke of Marlborough, and he apparently owes his high place to having separated Bala Hissar and Prince Aly in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Daytona carries the colours of Sir G. Bullough, and Sansonnet those of Mr. J. A. Dewar. Sansonnet and Crosspatch (owned by Major J. S. Courtauld) are fillies. Tide-way, another filly, is Lord Derby.'s highest-placed juvenile. In commenting on this list "Augur I writes:—"Mr. Fawcett has taken a bold step in placing Bala Hissar at the head of the Free Handicap Sweepstakes. I do not think the Aga Khan's colt is entitled to that distinction. While I am prepared to admit that the son of Blandford—Voleuse is not unlikely to be possessed of a bright future, I find no grounds for placing him above Abjer and Mahmoud. Nor do I think that Monument and Prince Aly should be on respective high marks. The ditference of opinion is contained in the fact that the handicapper has accepted the form of the Dewhurst Stakes as the best of the season. I regard it as the worst of the important two-year-old events, although appreciating the fact that, being decided over seven furlongs, it provides a test of stamina. Yet would it not be wrong to assume that such as Abjer, Mahmoud, and the Bossover colt will prove incapable ot getting seven furlongs?"