NOTES BY "ACHILLES."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11445, 30 December 1904, Page 2

NOTES BY "ACHILLES."

Foromoat, the winner of thft Criterion Handicap at Auckland yesterday. ,ia a » year-old brown colt by Phoebus Appollo— Forme. „ , The match race for 25,000 franca between M. Gaston Dreyfus' Presto 11.. the vanquisher of Pretty Polly ill the Prix dv Conseil Municipal at Paris in Qctobor, and M. Michel Eplirussi> Fife IL, resulted in a most decisive, win for Presto 11., who never gave his opponent a chanca. Tli© brilliant form displayed by Presto 11. has encouraged his owner to throw down the gauntlet with a view to a second trial of strength' with Pretty Polly, m. Gaston Dreyfus states that, -ia oiiTer to sikmre the- detractors of Presto 11., he-in-tends to challenge Major Eustace Lodev,

the owner of Pretty Polly', to another meeting , between the pair. He is willing to back Presto 11. for 100,000 francs («£4OUO), the match to take place either at Longecbanips or Maisons-LaSntte as soon &3 CpnVeHi«TJt"to-botli parties — tha -distanco, weights'' afid all other conditions t0.. . be identical' with those of the Prix dv, Conseil Municipal, in Which it will be re- - membered Pretty Polly carried 9st lib, and her conqueror,' Presto 11., Bst .slb, the lat-.j tor winning easily by two and a half lengths. ' , ■:--'. Commenting on 'the -contemplated ' match the Daily Express 'says: -*-From" a knowledge ef the man, it can' be -reckoned that ■' M. Gaston-Dre'yfus is not talking through his . hat. Presto JX has made such marvellous improvement during, the past few months that 'there is nofolling-liow good the "cob," as he is called, may b 6. M... Gaston-Dreyfiis, bo it either at' Tacing,_ pigeon-shooting, , or other eport,. is very' thorough, and may be re'cko.ned-. on to r go "the liniit" when' one©' embarked - cm' whatis backed by his opinion and money. The : proposed match' Would Tie an eventv to r - be talked aboiit when we are all old men — and women — "that one back, in 1904* when' ■ the queen of English horses crossed the Channel to fight a duel."- There is one • drawback to the terms which may cause Major Loder and Mr Peter Purcell Gilpin, to hesitate — that is the venue. If this hflr the sporting event claimed, v let the two owners draw lots, or toss for choice of battie ground. If "we"' win. ther toss why nob; •run the match oil the Folkstone course?' The pretty track at Westenhflnger would 1)O H«»rly t equi-distant. 3?retty Polly would. have to' travel over niiles and Presto 11. 200; of course, the latter would have to cross the sea— r that would" be the luck of tho toss. It is a glorious proposition in any case, and- enough to make everyone concerned in racing^ petition Major Loder _ in the matter. Pretty Polly, is not an" ordinary animal. . There is so much- sentiment imbued, into our consideration of Her that many actually wept^when she waS". beaten. She has nothing to lose by" another defeat, but a lot to regain, and it would be one of .the proudest nionients in her owner's life if he could see the "re-, vanche." • More than probably .Pretty Polly has been too much eased up iff her work, in view of tho end of the season, forv her to be got ready to win this year j but still if M. GTastdn-Dreyfus is prepared to hold matters over until, next season Major Loder would no doubt be found quit© pre^ pared to accommodate him with a match. , A London writer expresses an opinion that there is too lnnch. inclination to ."coddle" English racehorses nowadays. It IS doubtless a very pleasant, sight, he says, to see Pretty Polly .lind her inseparable com* panion, the npyr famous cob, rubbing noses together, which presumably is the equine method of kissing, whilst the former is being saddled ior a race. Supposing, however, thai every hoi'Bfe in. a paddock vwas. accompanied by a companion of some sort, matters" would be awkward indeed," especially where the field was large and the paddock small. . Moreover, it-, is questionable if this companionship has not been carried to £&v too great lengths in the case, of Pretty Polly,, who exhibits more and more disinclination -to leave her inseparable companion, and, on the occasion of her last race, . it was* noted that. Maher had considerable difficulty in getting her to* go to the past. '