AN ENGLISH CLASSIC RACE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 30, 26 July 1890, Page 3

AN ENGLISH CLASSIC RACE.

THE TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.

In this issue readers of The Graphic are presented with an illustration of Surefoot, the hero of this year’s Two Thousand Guineas, and his rider J. Liddiard. The engraving of

Surefoot was executed immediately after his victory at Newmarket, and the artist has succeeded admirably in bringing out the colt’s best ‘ points.’ Surefoot was bred by his owner, Mr A. W. Merry, and sired by Wisdom from a daughter of Galopin and Miss Foote, by Orlando front Gossamer. As a two-year-old Surefoot was reckoned the best of his year, winning the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, the New Stakes at Ascot, and the Findon Stakes at Goodwood ; also running second to Semolina for the Thirty-second

Ascot Biennial, the colt’s winnings in stakes totting up to £2,411. In the Two Thousand Guineas, Surefoot bad a bloodless win, but in the Epsom Derby he failed to gain a place. His defeat in the latter event was one of the severest blows to the English racing public in the history of the race. The first contest for the Two Thousand Guineas took place so far baek as 1809. At-the'Leicester meeting on July 9 Surefoot added another winning bracket to his roll by appropriating the Prince of Wales Stakes, of the value of 8,500 sovs. The Duke of Portland’s Memoir was second to Surefoot, and Alloway filled the third position. Sure foot’s engagements include the Doncaster St. Leger, run on the 10th September. . Mr A. W. Merry, the owner of Surefoot, is a son of the Mr Merry who won the Epsom Derby with Thornianby and Doncaster. Liddiard, who rode Surefoot, has not been long before the English racing world, but during his short career he has succeeded in making a name for himself as an excellent horseman and a thoroughly stiaight rider. He was apprenticed to Jousiffe, the trainer of Surefoot, in 1884, and in the fidlowing year scored his first win out of eight mounts for the stable. In 1886 he was eighteen times in the saddle, but his score was again ‘ only one.’ However, he was twice second, and five times third. In 1887 he rode thirty-eight times, securing winning brackets on four occasions, and beino placed twelve times. In 1888 he increased his mounts to a hundred and fifty-one, out of which he was placed no less than sixty-six times ; being twenty-five times first, twenty second, and twenty-one third. In 1889, he rode twenty-six winners out of two hundred and two mounts, being twenty-seven times second and on thirty-two occasions third. Among his wins were the Woodcote Stakes and New Stakes on Surefoot. On May 16 of the present season Liddiard stood thirteenth on the list of winning jockeys, having scored nine wins out of forty-four mounts, and by his Two Thousand Guineas victory he has won one of the great prizes that all English jockeys strive for.