TURF IN ENGLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 13

TURF IN ENGLAND

FIRST OF CLASSICS THE TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS LAST YEAR'S TWO-YEAR-OLDS BY SUNDRIDGE The first of the season's three-year-old classics in England will come up for decision at Newmarket next Wednesday. This is the Two Thousand Guineas, for colts and fillies, and it will bo followed two days later by the fillies' classic, tho One Thousand Guineas. Both races are run over a mile. In themselves, these races are of first importance, but they are also looked upon to givo sportsmen a line on the prospects for tho Derby and Oaks, to be run a month later. Last year's two-year-olds in England were an even lot, the best beating one another, so it is not surprising that there is a difference of opinion as to the likely classic winners in their three-year-old term. Generally, a colt who wins the Guineas becomes favourite for the Derby, and in the history of the two races the double has been won 28 times. In the last ten years, winners of both races have been Gay Crusader, Gainsborough, Cameronian and Bahrain. Tho last-named won the St. Leger also, ns did Gay Crusader and Gainsborough, and ho was acclaimed the eolt of tho century. It is possible that another Triple Crown winner may arise from tho ranks of two-year-old mediocrity, but the odds are against such a happening, for while tho class so far revealed among the present juveniles has not been outstanding, it is unlikely that it has fallen so low as to permit a very ordinary colt achieving such distinction. The Free Handicap At the end of each racing year tho Jockey Club's official handicapper, Mr. A. Fawcett, makes a Free Handicap, in which he grades tho youngsters on their probable three-year-old form. Nearly always this assessment is based on racing performances, but this year Mr. Fawcett has made a departure from the revealed standards of form that has aroused a good deal of discussion. Top place in the Free Handicap was awarded to a colt named Bala Hissar, owned by {he Aga Khan. Bala Hissar started only twice, being beaten in a two-horse event and winning the Dewhurst Stakes, seven furlongs. There were several colts, and fillies, too, who had better performances than this Blandford colt. The Bossover colt, owned by Miss Dorothy Paget, more widely known as the owner of Golden Miller, was placed fifth in tho Free Handicap, with 9.3, 41b. below Bala Hissar. After a disappointing beginning, the Bossover colt improved greatly in the summer, and in his three successes he numbered the New Stakes at Ascot and the very valuable National Breeders' Produce Stakes, which made him the leading two-year-old winner, with £8445. Abjer, a French-bred and owned colt, ; and Mahmoud, a grey son of Blenheim, 1 were placed a pound below Bala Hissar. | Mahoud won three races, the Exeter I Stakes. Richmond Stakes and Champagne Stakes, tho placed horses in the | last-named race being Abjer and the Bossover colt. He emerged second high- ' est winner among the two-year-olds with £5092. Abjer balanced the form by winning the Middle Park Plate from the Bossover colt and Mahmoud. A maiden contest early in the season gave him his only other victory. Midstream and Bosworth A late arrival last year was MidI stream, by Blandford. The colt won the I Boscawen Stakes in October in his first start, then he ran fourth in the Middle Park Plato, and dead-heated in the Criterion. Stakes with Dan Bulger. This I is a record that one would imagine | would be greatly enhanced. His owner ( is Mr. A. de Rothschild, and his Free j Handicap weight was 8.12. Another colt who raced only at the tail-end of tho season was Boswell, by Bosworth, and owned by the American Mr. AV. AVoodward. Boswell, ranked on 8.11 by Mr. Fawcett, had three races and won the third, the Hurst Stakes. Among the fillies who will be more discussed in connection with the One Thousand the two most highly rated are Sansonnet and Harina. The former, owned by Mr. J. Dewar, is by Sansovino and won the last three of her four races —the Levant Stakes, Newmarket Produce Stakes and Bretby Stakes. Harina is by Blandford from Athasi, and is owned by her breeder, Mr. AV. Barnett, who won the Derby with Trigo. From a photograph Harina is a m'agnificent individual. She has raced twice, running fourth in tho National Breeders' Produce Stakes and winning tho Imperial Produce Stakes from Abjer. Thalia, ranked third among the fillies, is by Bulger and is owned by Mr. F. 0. Bezner. She was raced eight times last year, winning half tho events, although none was of special importance. Nevertheless, such consistent speed cannot be lightly regarded. ENGLISH RACE RESULT WIN FOR HIS REVERENCE LONDON, April 22 The City and Suburban Handicap, 1J miles, was run at Epsom to-day. The winner was Ilis Reverence, who last year won tho Liverpool Summer Cup, and Lady Nuttall supplied tho runnerup, Guinea Gap, who won tho Liverpool Spring Cup last month. Result: — CITY AND SUBURBAN HANDICAP, li miles HIS REVERENCE, G. P. Annesley'a ch hj, syrs, by Duncan Grey—Reverentia .. ' 1 GUINEA GAP, Lady Nuttall'e ch hj, syrs, by Bachelor's Double—Benedicta . . 2 RIPPON TOR, Mrs. W. Singer's b hj, 4yra, by Lightning Artist—Leighton Tor . . . . .. .. ■ .. 3 Eighteen started. Three lengths; length. COURAGEOUS JUVENILE SARDIUS SHAPES WELL It would bo unfair to suggest that Sardius had an inordinate amount of luck on iiis sido when ho defeated Lacquer at Hastings by half-a-head and Laughing Lass at Feilding by a nose. Both victories were gained by a display of rare courage, nor is it suggested that this essential trait of a good racehorse was lacking in any degree in his most recent rivals. Sardius bids fair to bo a very good three-year-old. He is a gelding by Tractor from Sweet Suo, by Lord Qtiex from Shinto Shrine, wljo is not a Stud Book mare. Sardius cannot claim to bo fashionably bred, but he has shown thoroughbred quality in his racing. Hitherto Sardius has been raced in partnership by Mr. J. AVedd and Mr. I. Hamilton, but the former's interest has bepn acquired by Mrs. Hamilton. TROTTING FIXTURES April May 2—Forbury Park Trotting Trotting Club. May 2~Cambridr;o Trotting Club. May 7—Marlborough Trotting Club. May 9—Onmaru Trotting Club. May o—Waikato Trotting Club. May 1(5, IB— Nelson Trotting Club. May 30—Canterbury Park Tiotting Club. June 13—Ashburton Trotting Club. June 20. 23 or 24 Auckland Trotting Club.