THE OAKS.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 39

THE OAKS.

j The last day of the last Epsom meeting of the century was notable for being about the bleakest, coldest, and most iincomfortable Oaks Day experienced in the memory of the" oldest visitor to the Surrey Downs. It rained steadily throughout the afternoon, accom-' panied by a strong north-east wind. Under the circumstances, it was not to be wondered at that the attendance was one of the smallest seeD for the last 20 years on an Oaks Day. The Prince of Wales was present, as was the Duke of York and Prince Christian, while the' attendance in the club enclosure was fully representative. There was some good racing, and a noticeable feature of the afternaon's sport was that, contrary to the_ custom of a wet Epsom, results were all in favour of backer?. There was not one upset during the day, and with tho exception of La Roche — to whom both "Winifreda and Lady.Schomberg were preferred in the market, but who was, nevertheless, well backed at 5 to I—every1 — every absolute favourite during the day won. Concerning the chief race, the Sportsman's special writes : — Arrived on the racecourse and in the paddock, I set about inspecting the Oaks fillies, and must at one© say that nothing would have induced me to stand Winifreda had I been able to see her beforehand. She has simply rim up into a rag since the One Thousand Guineas instead of becoming more substantial and muscular, as 1 had hoped. In this I do not wish to reSecfe at all on lieu trainer. Fillies are strange animals, and i 6 passes the wit of man to make them do well at times. Later onj, and when we get warmer weather — if we ever do — we may see Winifreda filling out, and I shall then expect her to still show herself at the top of the tree. On Oaks Day the bare idea of such a thing was out of the question,, aaid — which is perhaps" more serious — her off fore-joint is showing signs of wear. Nothing in the whole field looked better than Paigle, whom John Dawson fancied not a little, and very well she ran. Merry Gal, too, is a charming mare — ■ low, lengthy, blood-like, and wide-hipped. Semper Vigilans and Dusky Queen both lack the size and scope to win in the bee* company, but they were turned out in first-rate condition, as also waa InquisitiTe, who was much, finer drawn than on th» One Thousand Guineas Day. Soma theught her light of bone and w«ak of kook, but »he is a real nice filly, in my opinion. Th« blase-faced Dum Dud* has oeine on and done vrall, and tho lengthy.

\ bloodlike Sairite JNitouehe stripped harder and more like "business -than at Newmarket. On the far side' of the paddock were the Kingsclere pair, both looking well, and at a first glance most people would, I'thinb, prefer St. "Vigila, who is of a harder colour than La (Roche, -whose absence of black points somewhat -detracts from her appearance, but she is every morsel -use, all the same, though there is not a -very great "deal of her. "She will run -well," said John Porter, "for she is a a'are little sticker," and his words proved to ,ibe true. Lady Schomberg is a nice filly, pladnish about her hocks, and likely, I ,(thoxight, . to be outclassed. Masonic Jewel is a big, raking mare, but drags her hind legs after her in a manner not suggestive of racing. St. Nydia is a great, raking sort that must 'surely win something good for Sir Slundell , Maple, though she was not fancied. As to jihe race, "Lady Schomberg made most of the running, and performed creditably, but there was only one in it, and La Roche won with the greatest imaginable ease, thus continuing the classic triumphs of St. Simon, whose sire, old Galopin, was responsible for the second. "It was Eclipse first, and the rest nowhere," said someone to the Duke of Portland. "Y/es," replied his Grace, "so far as I am concerned, for I believe my other was last." I have never wavered in my belief that St. Simon would have a second coming, and I am heartily glad that we are again seeing good winners from Welbeck. The time of the race 'was 2niin 45 l-ssec, which, having regard to' the conditions, was about as good as the Derby.