EASIEST OF WINNERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 120, 22 May 1937, Page 22

EASIEST OF WINNERS

LE KSAR'S GUINEAS

ONLY ONE PREVIOUS START

(From "The Post's" Representative),

LONDON, May 1.

7 The quite unconsidered French-bred colt Le Ksar,, owned by E. de; St. Alary^ won the Two '■ Thousand Guineas at Newmarket on April 28, and moreover won in the easiest possible style after being the last away from the gate. Before the race the owner is Jsaid to have expressed the opinion that if, he won the English lot must be very moderate. As he finished four lengths in front of the rest of them, the conclusion is that the Britishers do not stay. But theyy are not yet fully tuned up.

The winner, a son 'of Ksar and William of, Valence's dam Queen Iseult, went steadily ahead from the Dip to the winning post and looked as if he could have kept on'dqing so for another quarter of a mile. Not only so, but - another French colt, M. M. Boussac's Goya II (Tourbillon—Zariba) occupied second place, four lengths distant. ■v - . ..-,' .''■-..- ■":' -'

Before the event all the writers and anticipators of the'judge had been concentrating on which would be the winner of the three F's—Lord Derby's Fair Copy (who.was fourth), Mr. Marshall Field's Foray, and Mr. W. Murray's Fairford. Little attention was bestowed on Le Ksar.

OFFER OF £50,000 REFUSED.

Immediately after the victory, M.' St. Alary refused , big offers from would-be purchasers, one offer being £50,000. He had bought the colt from M. Volterra,' the breeder, for about 3500. guineas.'' Never before have two. French-bred <-colts beaten the. pick of the :English; • three-ye^r-olds, "although Rbdosto won the Two Thousand Guineas in 1933 and Durbar II the Derby in 1914. .. , The TwoyThousand Guineas is a onemile event for three-year-old entire colts and fillies. The field on Wednesday numbered eighteen. Some rain over-night, was not welcomed by the trainer of Foray and Le Grand Due, but the state of the going is not held to have been responsible for the unforeseen result. Le "Ksar,had run only once, being beaten into 'second place in a mile and a quarter race at Longchamp a little more than two weeks before. .That outing must have benefited .him ay great deal, for he raced like an-old hand and scored with the greatest ease.

Third place was taken by Midday Sun (Solario —Bridge of Allan, owned by-Mrs. G. B. Miller), who recently won the Free Handicap, carrying only 7st 21b

In the paddock nothing was better liked" than Fair Copy, in every way a grand-looking colt. No fault could be found with Foray, if you overlooked the fact that he is on the small, side. Everyone remarked on the fine quality of Fairford, but nothing looked so well trained as Goya 11. Le Ksar was voted a workman-like colt. He has plenty of size and is splendidly topped.

FAIR COPY DWELLS,

No delay occurred when the horses had lined up at the start, and one of the best away \vas Fdray. On the other hand,' Fair Copy swerved a little to the left, and R. Perryman reckoned that this.1 cost him two lengths.. After going less(tha.i a furlong Foray surrendered the lead to Fairfdrd; on whom T.- Weston', rode a forcing race from the outset. When they reached the Bushes, ; Fairford 'was seen to falter, and he'was again headed by Foray, whose name was shouted in the crowd as a-possible winner at this point. When thej* came to the foot of the hill quite a different aspect was placed on the race. Foray in his turn was seen to be lacking in stamina, and the lead was now taken by Le Ksar, who had been gqing comfortably throughout on the stand side. .Half-way up the rising ground' there was not the slightest doubt as to. the result. The French colt won with a great deal to spare. G6ya II made a gallant effort, which landed him into second place, and Midday Sun took third honours, finishing nearly a length in front of Fair Copy. Next came Foray arid then Phakos, who ran better than his stable companion, The Hour. -Fairford was seventh, followed by. Xc Grand Due and Sultan Mahomed. It was generally referred to as a melancholy race for English stock.

JOCKEYS IN BRIEF.

A very calm and collected jockey, C. H. Semblat, told the simple story of his first classic victory in this country, and in fact,, of his first success at Newmarket. "Le Ksar ran always like a good horse," said Semblat, "and at 300 metres (which would be just beyond the Bushes). I had the race to myself. Semblat, who for many years has been one of the leading jockeys in France—he was No. son the winning list last year—says that Le Ksar might perhaps be a shade nervous, but that he is thoroughly game and a good stayer. Frank Carter, the trainer, is one of the best known in France, a member of a family which has trained there for a century. E. C Elliott (Goya II): "I was always prominent, and my mount ran a good. race. I was never uncomfortable;, and I always felt that I had a winning chance.. The leaders comprised a bunch of about eight, including Midday Sun, Foray, Le Grand Due, and Diplomat, and I was about a length behind. I did not see the winner until the Bushes. He won in a canter. R. Perryman (fourth on Fair Copy): "I lost a little ground at the start, and approached the starting gate rather sideways. Fair Copy ran a nice race, but the winner was always too good for the rest of us." • . . Ksar, who sired Le Ksar, is by Bruleur, a great stayer and the sire of many fine stayers: Le Ksar instantly became favourite for the Derby. Meanwhile, the colt has gone home to Chantilly. His owner has not decided whether he shall come back to run in the Derby, but in view of the Newmarket form, he will naturally -be tempted to let him take his chance.

Acceptances for the Foxton Meeting are due at 8 o'clock- on Monday evening.