TALL AND LANK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1939, Page 11

TALL AND LANK

FLYON'S CLIMB TO FAME

(By "Rangatira.")

The .result of this year's Ascot Gold Cup suggests that the better-known horses in the expected field have gone under to improving stayers. It is also pleasing, after last year's American triumph of Flares, to see English horses again in the aspendancy as stayers.

Flyon was a consistent three-year-old last year, when he won five of his nine races, including the Gatwick St. Leger Trial, the Newmarket St. Leger, and the Liverpool St. Leger, all over 1§ miles, in his last three outings. However, he failed badly in the Derby, and he did not run in the St. Leger, in which Lord Milford (then Sir Laurence Philipps) started Challenge, who finished second to Scottish Union. In his first star/; this season he was unplaced in the Chester Vase, 1£ miles, in May, all three places being filled by three-year-olds, with Heliopolis the winner. Scottish Union's third yes-j ter day indicates the improvement in Flyon as a four-year-old. despite his Chester defeat. In all his races last season, Flyon was ridden by E. Smith, who rode Blue Peter in the Derby and was probably also on yesterday's winner once again. A son of the Flamboyant horse Flamingo, who won . the Two Thousand Guineas and was second in .the Derby, Flyon i's described as a tall and rather lank chestnut with a lot of white about him. Horses with four \yhite legs are not favoured by the Arabs, but a number so marked, even in the Dominion, have been good horses and genuine stayers. Flamingo has not been a noted stud success to date, his best progeny being Flyon, Flamenco, Waterbird, Le Due, and Bao Dai (in Frarice), also Flyaway' IV, a full-brother to Flyon, who has been a; good; winner in South Africa. Flyon's owner, Lord Milford, who was only recently elevated to the peerage, is better known to the racing world as Sir Laurence Philipps. He is a wealthy ship owner and is chairman of the Court Line, Ltd., and he was founder of the Home for Paralysed Ex-Servicemen at Rookwood, Llandaff, as well as one of the directors of Tote Investors, Ltd. A brother to. Lord St. David, he took up racing in 1927, when he bought Flamingo for 1800 guineas, and he was possibly unlucky not to win Felstead's Derby, as well as the Guineas, with this colt. During the last two years he has been very successful with his horses, and last season he finished sixth among the leading owners in England, with thirteen horses carrying his.colours (black, white sash and sleeves) winning no fewer than 22 races during the term for £13.870.in stakes. He breeds most of his horses, twelve of his winners last year being from his own stud.