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NO DECIDED DERBY FAVORITE. Sunstar and the French Colt, Shetland, Lead in the Quotations Adam Bede Well Backed. Willi the Epsom Derby to be decided on tho last day of this month It might reasonably be expected that by this time public Interest in the outcome of the great race would be at a high pitth in England, but quite the contrary is the case. It is not that the average Englishman is not quite as ready as usual to become interested sentimentally and financially, but because the form of the eliglbles is perplexing and it is difficult to establish a genuine favorite. In the absence of anything more definite Sunstar victory in the Two Thousand Guineas has served to make him a mild nominal favorite at 0 to 1. but there is a decided doubt concerning his ability to stay the mile and a half of the Derby. The progeny of Sundridge are gifted with brilliant sjieed. but so far he has sent no pronounced stayer to the races; and there is a conviction well spread to the effect that Sunstar Is simply a good miler and no .more. It is one of the anomalies of the situation that a horse still in a foreign land and that has never started in a race should divide favoritism witli Sunstar. This horse is the French bred and owned colt. Shetland. He is a chestnut in color, by Zinfandel Shellduck. and tin? property of M. Edmond Blanc. He has been considerably backed, but not by his owner, and there does not appear to be any very good ground for his position at C to 1 in the ante-post betting market. Of course, he is reported to be a colt of great speed and power, but what warrant there is for the report is not apparent. In Lord Burgoyue M". Edmond Blanc possesses a candidate that was the best two-year-old in France last year, and if he "tries for Derby honors this year it will probably be found when the day arrives that the latter is his reliance. Another feature of such betting as has taken place is the persistent support that has been awarded Adam Bede. This colt was sent over to England this spring by John K. Madden and turned over to Joseph Cannon for training. Cannon trains for Louis Winans and it is quite probable that Adam Bede showed the latter something out of the ordinary line in training. At any rate, he bought the colt from Madden for tho reported sum of andJ5.000 and a contingent Interest in his possibility of proving the Derby winner. In the first list of Derby prices qnoled Adam Bede was reported backed at 20 to 1 and it has been so in all quotations since, but. never for sums large enough to lower his price. Still in the aggregate someone must stand to win a large sum of money over him in the Derby. Whether this Is stable backing op not is not known. This colt started but once as a two-year-old. This was at GravesendfJiiiiCtK.: Jor a purse in which he ran third to Blackfcot and Garnenu, -but would probably have won but for being interfered with. He was held to be a colt of extraordinary promise, but went slightly aniiss and was not raced again. When the Newcastle Stable horses were sold at auction Madden bought this big colt as a speculation and showed his usual shrewdness in detecting a bargain. He gave ,400 for him. It would be a singular circumstance If Adam Bede should recompense Air. AVinans for the disappointment ho experienced when Sir Martin fell in Minorus Derby. At present he sceins to be the chief American hope in the Derby and is the only American-bred that, has been backed. Cellini, Eton Boy. Sobieski, Pietri and several others have had desultory backing, but noHiing of a hearty and confident nature. Of course something may crop up presently that will change the present condition of Derby affairs, but just now the Derby of 1!11 is chiclly remarkable for its decidedly open appearance.
