TWO-YEAR-OLD REVIEW

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1930, Page 5

TWO-YEAR-OLD REVIEW

COURTESY DID NOT START EARLY

BROTHER TO THE “COUNT”—GUSTAVO

LIKELY IMPROVER IS APPLEDORE

A few weeks ago I discussed the big winners among the two-year-olds—Gesture, Cylinder, Tenterden and Royal Ruler, but, as records prove conclusively, the champion youngsters too frequently have failed to retain their early brilliance and the blue riband and big winners among the three-year-olds have often developed remarkable speed and stamina. No better example can be offered than that of the wonder-horse of the decade, Phar Lap, and who is to say that there is not such another young galloper capable of showing such remarkable improvement between the seasons? Of the youngsters already discussed, Cylinder appears at this stage to be the best Derby prospect, but looking through the fiftyodd two-year-old winners this season, breeding and performances at least suggest that some of these will be seen in better .light with an extra year’s growth. Hard Words and Awaken do not appeal as coming stayers, but Lady Pam, Courtesy, Love Song, Ozone and Gustavo are bred the right way, and the maiden youngster Appledore strikes one as capable of better performances than are yet credited to him. It is a difficult problem at this stage, however, and no real guide is given until the early spring racing. There may be champions of their day who did not race as immature two-year-olds, and some of the best of the season’s babies may be “knocked” as the result of their early endeavours. Nevertheless, the subject is topical, and I propose to deal briefly with a few of tlie youngsters named above, reserving handicap and classic sprinters for review at a later date. . ' ~

Two-ycar-old racing was concluded at Easter, and though a few youngstere may be seen in maiden races in the next few weeks, not much* of a guide will be given. Before going'further it .willjbe of interest to note the number of victories of the winners. THE WINNING DIVISION. Gesture (Chief Ruler —Nottava) .... 8 Hard Words (Diacquenod —Mazabuka) 4 Lady Pam (Limond —Princess Pat) 4 Awaken (Chief Ruler—Wake Up) '.. 3 Compensation (Anomaly — Hard Cash) 3 Jenny Diver (Lord Quex— Polly Peachum) 3 Cylinder (Limond —-Cymene) 2 Royal Ruler (Chief Ruler—Baby * Doll) 2 Courtesy (Limond —Homage) 2 Princess Betty (Chief Ruler —Marceline) 1 2 Green Linnet (Tonbridge —Lady Egletine) 2 Tenterden (Chief Ruler —Rosellate) 2 Lineage (Limond —Merit) 2 Simba (Psychology —Tressida) .... 2 Henry of Navarre (Arausio —Matty) 2 Kahikitoa (Arausio —Carla tour) ... 2 | Arajean (Arausio —Jeanne Laddo) .. 2 Tripping (Nigger Minstrel —Dainty Step) 2 Autopay (Paper Money—Trebelli) 2 Tradesman (Raceful —Lady Birdwood) ' 2 Grand Spirit (Peach Brandy—Lady Bunyan) 2 Charmaine (Some Boy II. —Fair Form) 2 Single winners—Spoon, Pakitere, Bells of Shandon, Foot Rule, Rapallo, Merry Peel, Adelphi, Sleipner, Open Cheque, Chief Link, Satisfy, Kerbside, Watch Officer, Praise, Oil King, Karapoti, Tremetus, Hampton Park, King Ford, Rafflight, Love Song, Isa, Royal Routine, Ozone, Lady Court, Gustavo, Craigavon, Paes On, Sir Limond, Sight Draft, Waterpower and Rasy Morn. Lady Pam. Though not asked to compete to any extent in classic company, Lady Pam impressed by winning four of her eight races. Defeats are recorded against her in the Wellington and Manawatu (w.f.a.) Stakes, but even on these occasions she must be credited with bold showings. She opened her winning account when she beat Cylinder, Arisus, Simba, Kahikatoa, Green Linnet, Awaken and Co. at Feilding, and by takincr the Nursery Handicap at Awapuni and a similar event at Wairarapa she completed a hat-trick. Certainly her best performance was in the Pacific Handicap at Trentham, when she carried 8.10 against a big field and ran the six furlongs in Imin. 12isec. Seeing that particular race, I was struck by her general conformation and was considerably impressed by the manner in which she fought out ‘the finish. A glance at the Stud Book answers that

question well. By Limond (sire or Commendation, Limerick, Agrion and other stayers), Lady Pam is a third foal of that young mare Princess Pat, who was by All Black (sire of Desert Gold) from Martian Princess by Martian (sire of many great stayers) from Two Step by Stepniak (grandson of Muske't) from Far Away, who brings in another strain of Musket, being a grand-daughter of | that famous progenitor. Certainly Lady Pam must be considered, if only, on the score of breeding. Sister to Honour. In spite of the prejudice' against the Absurd blood for other than sprinters, Honour ran third to Phar Lap in Sydney and won the New Zealand Derby. I annot agree to call him a true stayer, but nevertheless Homage may give us yet another blue riband winner,, especially if some of the more discussed “hopes” do not materialise. Courtesy was not produced until the autumn and then raced as a handicapper, but her two efforts saw her down fair opposition with ridiculous ease. We canned get away from the Absurd strain, which must-“be -regarded as—unfortun<:Xo :n such a splendid mare, but we must look even further to her dam’s halfI brother, Commendation, and then EuI logy was a Cicero mare, and mares by that sire have proved very successful. Gustavo. Because he is an own brother to Count Cavour—“ The Count”—who won both Derbies, Gustavo, who has raced on only three occasions for a win at his last start in maiden company, must be regarded as a possible improver. Certainly he has not much form to show, but, like his elder brother, I think we will find him racing better with age. Count Cavour was a true stayer of the best type in his day, and perchance Gustavo may prove equal to keeping the family in the limelight. A Maiden “Hope.” Two seconds and a thii’d in seven starts stands as the record for Appledore as a two-year-old, but • I do not think that the late C. Elgar’s growing Rossendale—Demeter gelding was seen anywhere near his best form. Take his last race, for example, the Champagne Stakes, seven furlongs. Appledore went to the post as green as if he had not been raced; he was simply growing out . of himself. In the first half Appledore drifted badly, but in the straight he finished resolutely, though greenly, and was in third place less than three lengths behind .the more mature Cylinder. If Appledore improves with his spoil—and everything suggests that he will furnish into a good type—Cylinder gives a line on the future prospects of the Australian-bred youngster. Rossendale has already given the Turf an outstanding two and three-ycar-old in Rampion, and so the re-appearance of . Appledore will l?e invested with considerable interest. • •