MARKED SUPREMACY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 13

MARKED SUPREMACY

FRANCIS DRAKE'S CLASSIC

Francis Drake marked himself out as clearly the,best juvenile yet of the present season by the ready manner in which he won the Wellesley Stakes. It was the first occasion in which there had been a meeting of northern and southern two-year-old winners, and the North Island dominance was complete, for all four placings were secured by stables in this island. The southerners were most disappointing, and apparently the class As moderate' across the Strait, as first and second hors'es^in both the southern classics so far decided were in yesterday's field.- ---■ Francis Drake won in the style of a real colt. He did not begin as well as Greenwich and Jolly, but he was always next behind them in the running, and when he was asked to go after Greenwich he pulled her back with lengthening strides and had her measured a furlong from the post. The filly fought courageously, but Francis Drake beat her easily by a length and a half. '.

"This winner is a low-set bay colt by Chief Ruler from the imported Ear la Mor mare Tame Duck, and he is thus a full-brother to Admiral Drake, who won his first race in the Talta Handicap on the corresponding day of the Wellington Spring Meeting. He is being raced by his breeder, Mr. F. Armstrong, who is unlikely to quit him as he did Admiral Drake, and he is a member of F. W. Davis's team, which is strong with its juveniles again this year. : Davis won the Wellesley lour years ago with Red Manfred, and Francis Drake has given his sire his third success in the race, thus equalling the record jointly held by. Stepniak, Birkenhead, Absurd, and Limond. In his three starts to date Francis Drake has earned already £760 in stakes. ' - Greenwich, victor over Francis Drake at Bulls in her one earlier appearance, had to lower her. colours to him on this occasion, but she quite overshadowed the others. Like her victor, she is another of the progeny of defunct Chief Ruler, who also supplied the fourth horse, Jolly. Elanage did well to get up for a fair third a couple of lengths away, for he was out on the track all the way and had to come from fifth at the crossing to the straight. Jolly, after showing a lot of speed early in company with Greenwich, whom she ran over from the outside to join at the end of a furlong, weakened into a moderate fourth, just in front of the grey Screamer, who came home well along the inner. Guinea Fowl was next, with Atalanta Lass, Card Player and.lllyria followingi at.::intetval&