GREAT ASCOT DUEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 7

GREAT ASCOT DUEL

QUASHED AND OMAHA

HOW ENGLISH MARE WON

RETURN RACE SUGGESTED

[from our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON. June 'JO During its four-day meeting Royal Ascot stages 28 valuable events, and all the contestants are of the highest class. Each day has one more trophy more valuable than the other six, but tho most coveted is the Ascot Gold Cup. The " cup" consists of two silver candlesticks, with inkstand, which is really a modified reproduction of tho Royal Seal Box. The value of the event is £SOO, with £4OOO added. It was believed by most people that the Ascot Gold Cup would be taken to America by Mr. W. Woodward, but instead it remains in England, and has become the property of Lord Stanley. Tho concluding stages of the race were tremendously thrilling and not for years has greater excitement prevailed at Ascot, or 011 any other big race occasion for that matter. The field numbered nine—Lord Stanley's Quashed, Mr. Woodward's Omaha, Baron E. de Rothschild's Bokbul and Chaudiere, Sir Abo Bailey's Robin Goodfellow and Valerius, Mr. J. A. de Rothschild's Patriot King, Lord Glanely's Buekleigh, and M. JO. de St. Alarv's Samos 11. In the paddock Omaha was very excitable and was sweating. Ho was thoroughly restless and strung up and ho was even more so during the parade. Indeed, his rider, P. Beasley, was very uncomfortable during the preliminary. Quashed, ridden, by R. Perryman, on the other hand, was outstandingly calm and dignified. While Omaha had not run over so long a distanco as this 2i miles and his stamina, therefore, had not been tested, Quashed, four years old, had proved herself to be a thorough stayer and to be possessed of a turn of speed that could be utilised to the end. She could bo depended upon to gallop strongly to tho finish—which she did amid tremendous excitement and cheering from both sides of tho course. She had twice this year won events of 2\ miles (at Chester and Newmarket), and sho had had a thorough preparation for

tho Ascot prize

How Event Was Run

After going one and a-half miles Buckleigh was clear, with Quasho»l and Omaha improving. With half a mile to go Buckleigh still led, with Quashed and Omaha nearest. Quashed led into the straight, where Omaha drew almost level. A quarter of a milo from home Quashed held a slight lead, both horses and jockeys going steadily, waiting for the supreme test. This came in the last furlong and, amidst tremendous excitement, Quashed gained a short head victory, with Bokbtil third, Robin Goodfellow fourth and Valerius last. Time, 4 m 33 3-ss.

Omaha for most of the journey was lying sixth, about two lengths behind Quashed. Ferryman made an earlier move to win the race than Beasley. This move gave him a better position at the final turn. Quashed ran up to Buckleigh and she went into the straight with a lead of about a length. Other horses began to fall away. As Omaha began to pay closer attention to Quashed Ferryman asked the filly for a little more, and it was immediately given. Quashed came under strong pressure the moment Omaha drew up to her, about two furlongs from tho judge, but she still gamely responded. The filly is renowned for her wonderfid resource, and she stuck to her task of holding off tho American like grim death.

Most people felt that tlio longer stride of Omaha in that great battle on the rising ground would tell in his favour, hut he seemed to falter slightly about 20yds. from the winning post and, as lio was not keeping quite such a straight course as Quashed, ho found himself just behind on the judge's line. "Everyone applauded the wonderful pluck of the winner and the artistry of Perrvman. who won the same race on Invershin in 1929. Comments After Race

Lord Stanley said: "It was a glorious victory in every sense for the gamest mare I have ever known." Captain G. Boyd-Rochfort merely remarked that it was the "luck of the race."

11. Perryman said: ''lt was a great race between two of the gamest horses in training. After just securing a slight lead close homo I was not headed and just retained the advantage to the post. Both horses were completely out, and the loser deserves the fullest credit for his splendid courage." ■'Omaha ran a great race with the utmost gameness," stated Beasley. "I had my whip knocked out of my band as the struggle began, and I was never quite able to head Quashed, although it was a very near thing ahout my doing so." Omaha's mission was to repeat the triumph of Foxhall, the last American horse to win'. 54 years ago. The French horses, Bokbul and Chaudiere, are sound stayers of good class. When they met in the Prix du Cadran, which is regarded as a trial for the Ascot Cup, Bokbul was the popular fancy, but it was Chaudiere who won. It has been suggested that Quashed and Omaha should meet again. Such a match, writes'"Hotspur," of the Daily Telegraph, would thrill two continents as no other ni.xtch has done. An ideal meeting place would bo over the Cesarcwitch course at Newmarket. Failthat, a possible venue is York, at the August meeting, where there is one of the best two-mile courses in England.

ALTERATION OF DATES

CANTERBURY RACING CLUBS

[BY TELKGRAPn —OWN' CORRESPONDENT] CIIRISTCHURCir, Monday

At a meeting of the Canterbury District Committee, an alteration to the Christchurch Hunt Club's programme was approved. This concerned the Hunt Cup and it was decided to make the race open to any qualified hunter. Last year the race was confined to qualified hunters who had not won a. race. It was recommended that tho Canterbury Jockey Club be granted April 22 and 21 as the dates for its Easter race meeting, providing it could make suitable arrangements with the Amberley Racing Club, which had also applied for April 24, and had been recommended by the committee for that date. The South Canterbury Jockey Club had made further application for a oneday meeting on April 24 and a twodays' meeting in May. The District Committee decided to rescind its previous resolution to recommend the Amberlov Club for April 24 and now suggested that South Canterbury bo allotted April 24 and May 20 and 22 and that Aniborley be granted May 1.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .Tester. —Cynic, hay horso, bred in England in 1913, by Henry the First from C.vnane, by Cyllene from Suntai, by Donovan from Distant Shore, by Hermit. Henry the First, by Melton from Simena, by St. Simon from Flying Footstep, by Doncaster from Atalanta, by Galopin from Feronia, by Thormanby. New Lynn. —Tho Pakuranga Hunt Cup has always been run at Ellerslie.