ENGLISH RACING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 26 July 1934, Page 13

ENGLISH RACING.

Oaks Winner and Runner-up Together as Foals. DEFEAT OF MATE. (Special to the " Star.’’) LONDON, June 14. Two fillies, who ran about as foals in the same paddock, Light Brocade and Campanula, were keen rivals iri the Oaks, which, as usual, was the outstanding feature of the closing day of the Epsom meeting. Campanula had beaten Light Brocade by a length in the One Thousand Guineas, and both were thought to be within two or three pounds of the best of the colts. I think this is a fa'ir estimate of their prowess, although in the Oaks, Campanula failed to produce her form in that mysterious way fillies have of letting their friends down. Light Brocade gained a brilliant win, covering the same course as Windsor Lad in the Derby in only a second longer. She finished ahead of Zelina, with Instantaneous third. Lord Durham owns Light Brocade, and Campanula belongs to Sir George Bullough, his father-in-law, and it was through family interests that the two fillies were brought up together. J.t was always thought that Campanula was the, better, and Jack Jarvis, who trains her,, still thinks so. After the race he declared it was the hard state of the ground that had caused her loss of form. Frank Butters has charge of Light Brocade, and since he started to train in England in 1927 he has won the Oaks four times. It is a remarkable record that ten Oaks winners in the past sixteen years have been trained either by Butters or at Manton, and that neither stable has produced a Derby winner. Campanula did not begin well, losing two or three lengths at the gate, but the field settled down at a steady pace, and the lost ground was quickly made up. Going round Tattenham Corner Light Brocade took the lead, and her rival was in distress soon afterwards. Then both Zelina and Instantaneous challenged under pressure, but they could not make much impression on Light Brocade, who, as I have stated, won comfortably and in the style of a great filly. America’s Star Beaten. It was hoped that Hyperion would compete for the Coronation Cup, and he was sent from Newmarket, but on the morning of the race it was decided not to run last year’s Derby winner on the hard gfound. Lord Derby had marked the Ascot Gold Cup as the principal race in the colt’s programme, and he was not prepared to run any risk of missing this prize. The state of the going frightened also the owners of other entrants, and the field numbered no more than three. These were the crack American horse Mate, Chatelaine, last season's winner of the Oaks, and King Salmon, who last year was second in the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby and fourth in the St Leger. There was a lot of money for Mate, and backers were lucky to obtain even money. He set the pace, and, rounding Tattenham Corner, he was a length in front of Chatelaine, with King Salmon a further length in the rear. Harry Wragg, on King Salmon, then made his effort, and in overtaking the filly a bump was exchanged. I think it was fortunate for Wragg that the stewards did not take serious note of this, although it probably did not affect the result. King Salmon went on to win by three-quarters of a length, and it was an excellent performance Derby “Inquests.” Since the Derby there has been the customary “ inquest,and it has been decided that Colombo was the unlucky horse in the race. The professional backers would, I think, support Lord Glanely’s colt again if the race were re-run. Without blaming Johnstone, it is undoubtedly true that the favourite was very unfortunately placed at the turn into the straight, and the situation was made more difficult for the jockey owing to the way in which Medieval Knight suddenly faded out. In the circumstances Johnstone had to take Colombo td the outside of the field to get a clear passage, and in this way lost several lengths. It was this, it is thought, that lost Colombo the race. He will certainly come into the reckoning for the St Leger, but I am doubtful whether he will stay the mile and three-quarters at Doncaster as well as Windsor Lad, and the Aga Khan’s Umidwar will be a much stronger challenger next September. -1