THE PRINCESS OF WALES’ STAKES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11658, 15 August 1898, Page 6

THE PRINCESS OF WALES’ STAKES.

Of the race for the valuable Princess of Wales’s Stakes, which, as the cable informed us, was won by Golotta, the “ Special Commissioner ” pf the London , “ Sportsman ” writes Many may think that the race has destroyed the reputation of Velasquez, but I;,am by no means of the opinion, provided, of course, he goes on well in his work and comes out really wound up for the Eclipse Stakes.-, The cleverest men make mistakes at times, but I do not think Walters is a man to repeat a mistake—presuming that he has made one ; so I am very confident we shall see Velasquez perform very differently the next time he: appears in public. In himself, the son of Donovan looked exceedingly well, and if he had done plenty of work, it was safe to say that he had thickened and developed remarkably since last season. If/on the other hand, as the ‘ men of observation ’ declare, lie had been taking • things very easily indeed, his apparent development was simply fat, and the way in which lie collapsed just at the point where last year he drew out and won his race, suggested'almost beyond question that the latter hypothesis is tile right one. Chelandry never looked so well,/for she carried a much better bloom than usual, and had" put on a little more muscle. Many thought the stable companions would be first and second, (but there was a very strong belief prevalent that Velasquez was short of more than a few gallops. Ninus, who came into the paddock with old Woolsthorpe, was a great deal straighter than at Ascot. Collar, on the other hand, did not seem so well. He has not grown into anything like the commanding colt he promised to become when a yearling. Golefcta stripped at her very best—sweating somewhat, but more on account of the hot day than any nervousness, and now, as always, I think her the finest more ever sired by Galopin. Indeed, I well remember how I preferred her greatly to Velasquez when they met a« two-year-olds at Goodwood, but I do not believe in her ability to beat him, granted that both go to the post equally fit and well. The hull-fronted St Cloud H. always makes one wonder how such a horse can gallop at all; an omnibus would seem to be more his game ; but he can gallop, nevertheless, and managed to defeat the favourite for third, place. Dieudonne stripped in iDeautiful trim, and he went down to the post best. of any. His stable companion, Minstrel, also moved very nicely, and Ninus, perhaps, moved best of the others.

“ Dealing for a moment with the rest of ,the field, I was struck with the improvement made in Brio, who was thoroughly fit to do his best. He will win a good race, too, in his turn. Heir Male has never been a great favourite of mine, but no one could find fault. wjith, his condition. St Evox made verjr few friends. His head alone is so enormous that the carrying of it must be a severe task. The wluoe-noeed Chinook contrasted strikingly with her black attendant. There was a pretty strong tip for her floating around. Trolop is a good-look-ing, powerful bay colt that should improve. Schonberg .we all know to be of no very great account. - Monterey was thickly bandaged on bis forelegs, and had. never done anything to make him a likely , winner in this company. “ In the race Dieudonns ran very prominently indeed,' and. so did .Velasquez until half-way up the hill, when Goletta settled him in two strides and drew rigfit away. So utterly did Velasquez compound , that he missed even a place, and Goletta ran home comfortably from Dieudonne, two lengths to the good. The Foxhill people little knew what-they were taking on when they insisted- on running off the dead heat at. Ascot. The .victory of, Goletta puts old Galopin well at the top of the tree among winning stallions this season, and, I hear that he .is fresh and well ,and ; has made quite a good season this year. It is long since we have had so old a hqrse maintaining such a prominent position. Of course, after the race everyone. discovered that Velasquez was not fit, but it would be manifestly unfair to blame his trainer, who may, for aught any of us know, have had cogent reasons for not giving him-stronger work. It remains only to notice what he does between now and the Eclipse Stakes day, and if he is sent along in good earnest two or three times a week, I should not hesitate to bade him. Collar was one of the first beaten.”