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EPSOM DERBY FAVORITE A ROARER. Report Received From Newmarket That Pietri Has Shown a Defect in His Wind. According to the latest reports from Newmarket, Pietri, the winter favorite for this years Epsom Derby,, lias developed a defect in bis wind, which it is thought settles his chances in the classics. The colt is the property of Leopold de Rothschild, and. what is most singular, is that St. Anton, a stable companion of Pietri, has been stricken with .the same ailment. St. Anton has also a string of classic engagements, and as a two-year-old was ranked among the top notchers. It Is claimed that tin; treacherous weather has been the cause of both turning out to be "roarers," for in these animals pedigrees the least mention of any windy inlirmity cannot be traced. After the animals went into winter quarters last November Pietri, which is by St. Frusqnin out of Pie Powder, was rated as the best of the lot, and was the accepted winter favorite for the Derby. Not much betting takes place nowadays, for of late years so many animals have gone wrong between their two and three-year-old season that hardly anybody cares to take a chance until they get a glimpse of the horses out iu the spring gallops. ... Since the reoort that Pietri has been found to make noise in liis gallops the wise ones around Newmarket Heath have been putting two and two together, and they have it now that it was the symptoms of this trouble that caused the colt to be scratched from the Dewhurst Plate last November. 11 was a windy day and the race had to be run in the teeth of a smart gale, a condition which-would kill the chances of a horse having the least thickness or wind. There are others who say that all was not well with Pietri when he ran in the Middle Park Plate. In that race Pietri and Seaforth were giving six pounds to Borrow, owned by Harry Payne Whitney. The American beat the pair, which dead-heated bv a neck, the finish being one of the very best of the juvenile events or last season. Close upon this trio was Lord Derbys King William, and ho was only a length and a half away. Along with Pietri he has been closely watched when at exercise recently and the critics say he has grown into a grand colt and has tilled out in the body and where he was wanting as a two-year-old. As "to whether ho has gained in speed will not be known till the. Two Thousand Guineas, which will be run on Wednesday, April 25. when there will also be a definite line on Pietri. In commenting on the report of the Pietri mishap "Kettledrum" lias the following to say: "The most that could be said against Pietri on the general run of his juvenile displays "was his tendenev on occasions to show temper, although this could be regarded as a bad sign also in one of his youth having regard to the fact that his elder brother. Santo Strato, cut his racing career short owing to the verv same reason. Pietris lirst ebullition iu this direction was when at the post prior to the fiimcrack Stakes. His connections had had the conviction all year that he was an uncommonly good horse and without an atom of vice, so that the spectacle of hiin trying to bolt out of the course at York was an unwelcome revelation. He won easily, however, having nothing to beat, and Mailer, the one man who should know, avers that he also carried off the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster readily enough, notwithstanding that the margin in. his favor was only a short head over the outsider, Wrinkler. "In all probability Pietri had considerable reserve energy stored up, but the impression left on many minds as a result of that performance would, 1 think, be that the colt was not minded to draw on such reserve, that he won against his will and that in the bauds of any one less proficient and who did not thoroughly understand his mount he would have shriveled up and been beaten. A suspicion also is left over that he did not second his jockeys calls nearly as heartily as he might have done in the Middle Park Plate, and it was a diplomatic move on the stables part to withdraw him from the Dewhurst Plate, where in all probability another defeat would have been his fate, with the likelihood also bf further detriment to his temper. A horse with defective wind could well have been excused defeat on Middle Park Plate afternoon, so lusty was the breeze directly facing the unnners, but at that time Pietri had an unquestioned bill of health, and until this weeks report was issued concerning him we had been led to understand that he was one of the most tractable as well as one of the most improved horses at headquarters. "These just named were Pietris last three performances, however, so that it was quite natural that people should wish to see more of him before discussing liini seriously in connection with the Derby, and now of course he is likely to drop a little more out of popular favor. Wind infirmity is not necessarily fatal to a horses racing abilities, and as in the oases of Pietri and St. Anton there is no hereditary taint traceable, their trouble, which has doubtless been brought on by treacherous climate, may also yield anon to natures kindlier influence.. Exceptions of complete recovery are rare. "Brigantine had an illness in the latter part of her two-year-old season which left her an undoubted roarer. Yet. according to the late William Day, the disease diminished as her work increased in the following spring and eventually she became as sound as when she was foaled and won the Oaks and the Ascot Oold Cup. Wind troubles did not prevent Prince Charlie from holding the title of champion of the T. Y. 0., which was his proper distance, and to come down to much more recent times for an illustration as to how horses either rid themselves of the ailment or continue with racing abilities Unimpaired in spite thereof, last years second in the-Grand National, Jerry M., carrying 175 pounds, once failed to pass a veterinary examination on the same score. Meantime we can only hope that Pietri as successfully tides over his trouble. Interest in the Derby would be materially discounted if the boy in yellow was prevented from entering the lists full sound and well."
