THE ENGLISH CLASSICS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1935, Page 9

THE ENGLISH CLASSICS

GUINEAS AND THE DERBY development of youngsters. THE AGA KHAN’S STRING. (By Air Mail; Special Correspondent). London, April 25. Experience warns one to beware of the champion two-year-old on his entry into the classic races. One can never be sure how he has developed from one year to another. There was Colomho last season, an unbeaten youngster who became a raging hot Derby favourite, and before him Orwell. Both these cracks were sore disappointments as three-year-olds. Now the Aga Khan s candidates dominate the situation, and it seems as though only Lord Derby’s Bobsleigh is a worthy challenger. Yet, as I have pointed out, in recent years the biggest supposed certainties have nearly all failed when they have had to undertake the supreme test, especially at Epsom. There is a possibility of this happening again, because I fear that last season we may not have seen .all the best juvenile talent owing to the hard state of the ground. So far, however, there has been nothing to upset calculations. The only classic representative of the Aga Khan who has been out is Theft, and he won his race even if he scarcely created the impression that was expected. Against this, however, the Newmarket scouts who have watched his preparation declare that he has not gone very well. Still, I think he will start favourite for the Two Thousand Guineas, unless he is displaced by his stable companion, Warn. Slight illness from which he recently suffered prevented the latter having a preliminary race, but he is now in full work, and I think he. will prove the best of the famous string, even if he is not completely wound up for the Guineas. THE AGA KHAN’S POLICY. The Guineas is, I think, the hardest of the classics to win—harder than even the Derby. The reason for this is that there are more horses who can cover a mile than a mile and a-half. The farther the distance the less the competition becomes. This, in fact, explains why Theft is believed to have a better chance in the Guineas than Bahram. It is feared that Theft may not stay the Derby course, and his preparation is being pushed on in order that he may be at his best over the shorter distance. » There is the further possibility that the Aga Khan may decide to have another string to his bow in Vermeil 11. It has always been his policy to run his horses against each other, and it has paid him, even if it has resulted in the confusion of the public. This happened at Ascot a year ago, when Alykhan was expected to take the Windsor Castle Stakes, and Theft, starting at 20 to 1, captured the prize. Later in the season Bahram defeated Theft. Then there was the memorable occasion, three years ago, when as many as four horses were run in the St. Leger, and Firdaussi won from Dastur and Udaipur, who were both thought to have better chances. Even more notable than this was the Derby of 1930, when the stable calculations proved to be wrong in estimating that Rustom Pasha was more likely to win than Blenheim. These experiences fully justify the Aga Khan’s policy, and there is little doubt that it will be followed this season.

While the Aga Whan may win the Guineas, there is likely to be a good market, with Bobsleigh in the field.' Form does not suggest that Lord Derby’s horse will prove- the best of his age, but he is the best-looking. At the same time it is not usual for so big a colt to be at his best in May, and he is probably being got ready chiefly for the Derby.