THE ENGLISH CLASSICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 949, 14 May 1908, Page 6

THE ENGLISH CLASSICS.

During the week the cable has brought us intelligence of the result of two of

the big English classic events, and from these it would appear that the American contingent in the Old Country will this year prove a factor to be reckoned with in all the big events. On the 6th inst. the Two Thousand Guineas was run for at the Newmarket spring meeting, the big mile race for three-year-old colts being won by Mr August Belmont’s bay colt Norman 111., a son of Octagon and Ninevah. This result must have caused something of a sensation, for the American bred colt showed only very moderate form as a two-year-old. Mr A. F. Basset’s brown colt Sir Archibald (Desmond —Arc Light) filled second place and Mr W. HallWalker’s chestnut colt White Eagle (Gallinule—Merry Gal) third. The winner is engaged in the Derby run next week, so that we shall soon have an opportunity of knowing whether this was merely a lucky win or if he is a really good horse. On Friday the One Thousand Guineas was decided over the same course, and again the Stars and Stripes were to the fore, victory resting with the American sportsman Mr Richard Croker, whose brown filly Rhodora beat Captain Forresters’ chestnut filly Bracelet (Collar —Isis Belle) with Mr Houldsworth’s bay filly Ardentrive (William 111. —View) in third place. Mr Croker it will be remembered won the Derby last year with Orby, and Rhodora is a half-sister to that colt, being by St. Frusquin from Rhodo B. It is probable that Mr Croker’s filly was well fancied as when a two-year-old she won several good races, including the Cadogan Plate and Londonderry Plate at Leopardstown, Ireland, and the Dewhurst Plate at Newmarket. Rhodora claims an engagement in the Oaks as does the runner up, Bracelet. Evidently the daughter of Rhoda B. is a very smart filly.