TWO-YEAR-OLD RIVALS

NZ Truth, Issue 1052, 21 January 1926, Page 11

TWO-YEAR-OLD RIVALS

LYSANDER'S GOLD No Race Till Easter (From "Truth's" Wanganui Rep,) Lysander contracted a cold at Ellerslie. The "ailment though- not noticeable on the day the Great Northern Foal Stakes was run, had evidently already taken its grip" on • him. : The colt won that event, but did not show, his usual brilliancy , m the jumpoft'—nor, for that matter, m any part of the journey. The cold developed during the following- week, and the colt was started m the Royal Stakes against the better judgment of -his owner, and also his trainer — principally because so many were anxious to see how Commendation who stood on the mark the first' day, would fare against the Absurd colt. The result of that race was, however far from satisfactory, so far as settling the question of two-year-oJd supremacy was concerned. Joy King, the winner, is, no doubt,. a good and improving youngster, but it is certain that neither Commendation nor Lysander showed anything like their best. Lysander is said, to be throwing the cold off, but he will not race again until Easter. All going well, he will then he taken to Ellerslie again for the Champagne Stakes. ' ■ ■ ' ' . . : It is understood thg.t Commendation is also to be off the scene until Easter,' when he will go "either to Riccartonor Ellerslie. If he goes, south then the chances are that he will not meet the Wariganui crack again until the Challenge Stakes at.Trentham. m April. If both strip fit and well and nothing happens to prevent a fair and square test it should bean exciting race. The better of the pair will be entitled'to rank as. champion of his age. There is an inclination m some quarters to say that as a result of the racing at Ellerslie both Commendation and Lysander have been over-rated. The more reasonable view, however, is that circumstances prevented either one showing his best at Ellerslie. This fact will probably be demonstrated later on. •