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THINKS AUSTRALIAN HORSES INFERIOR. R. Wootton, Celebrated English Trainer. Discusses Turf Topics Interestingly. R. Woattoa. Who lias made such a -iioci -s Of training In England, has hit Sydney oa bis return trip to the olil country. It i- by no means inipioh able, however, that be will permanently settle down in New S.utli Wale- Within the n l tWO or three rears, though it be does be will nol go in far racing In i So i .-ii- as In- prospects in England this season are concerned, be Is vcrj hopeful, and reckon-that with the three year olds Shogun, Flippant, Fairy King and the nabeaten Wahmtha as repre -cut:. fives, his stable has an excellent cbaaci being credited with at lea-t one of the "classics." while several d his two-year-olda are dtstbactly promising. Chatting about racing generally. Mr. Wootton had something to saj on the subject of le hors - be had seen here during his trip. In reply to my Inquiry a to how he tboughl they compared with those racing in Australia some years ago, he said : "I really .lift think they have Improved. Tbej look so wee.lv. but, iiiiluenccd by ih" appearance of English horses, perhaps I may he wrong. Still, I hare -ecu very tea decern horses here. At one lime there was always a good class staadiag "Ut. lot now there i- none." Continuing. Mr. Wootton said he thought the Enli-ii 1 1. .i — i were much superior to tbnar of Aas trails over practical] all distances. He wouhi not -1. the Baglisfa horses lacudad many really great -lay i". bur then, as loag race: in bat eountrj were few, there was no inducement to prepare them for distaac - Evirj horse was train d for speed, "and." -aid the ex Sydneylte, an d .em English plater can heat the be-l Australian -liiinter." Ile add.-.!: "When I first went to Engl I tbej falrl paralyaed aie. I haw- seen horses there with big shoes "ii. and. with I2H poiuiiN up. cut oal lio Im -loii- in 1 oi in private." In tesi.c.n-,. io a query as to whether he had to il ge his training methods on arrival in England - u tli Africa, be replied: "Not a great deal: and I -"..u got used Io the altered condition*. The climate make- such a dlf teieii. o in the state of the going frwu m«i. to week thai the watch Is ••! linv use. except for tao-year-olds and sprinters. One week the air will be iiiiiv and the ground lieavy and the following week Ihe sir j be light and the going faster, so thai in trials H i- iii the main safest to depend upon iKirscs which have been sacing. l might add that 1 always tithe mj two-year-olds, LettiiiL tboae on the small side ready arsl and leaving tin- Inner sorts until later In the year. When I first went 1" Epsom to train there were lew horses there besides jumper-, and I was told I woiial do no good there. "-peeia lly with two year olds. Tiic success of the youngsters in my -table dfamroved thai idea, and now the Downs are much more freely patroniseil bj trailer- ll.an prior I" my advent: in fact, train Ing aceoinniodat ion ts ai a premium. Mr. Wootton expressed tin opinion that Austral-Ian bones were overworked, especially th" two year-olds, which did not need the amount i uil loping apportioned them by many trainers. English horses were run a !• ! heavier than oars, always h-in- a bit on tin- big side. As to our horsemen, be could ii"i help being -truck by the way maul hang on to the horses head at the starting machine. Thee held them as it tbej urere In a rice. A horse really wanted liberty to get away. " .ie i horse room to move his bead." advised Mr. Wootton; "the lad who rein- hi- meant up tiht before be starts will never make a rider." Pike was m X our fea Jockeys who gave n horse room, and over a -I ..it coarse hie was ., particularly l.mhI horseman. "I do not -uppo-e you tind macfa alteration In raci tig in Sj dnej •" I queried. "It- j ii -1 about the same: but there is too much of the policeman business aboot the stlpendtar.i steward system. The fewer case- tbej bring up tin better for the sport, as it nararorabrj ituie---peofde t" ica.i that there have been rarioaa in ipilrles into the running of horses at some meeting ■ " itther The reversal of form rule , .u ri ■ i to be Suae aw.n with. There an occasional]] some hot happenings, but there i- sack a thlag as genuine r-versa 1 of form. Inexplainable alike b owner. trainer oi jockey." Mr. Wootton then qaoted a few . ases coming within his own experience. As there are so many valuable two and three year-old roes in Australia ne thought that, for -mil purposes, it would pay 1. n.-i to Import -tal li.ms witii sprinting than staying credentials, and in a measure trust t. lack as to whether their progeny proved good over a dtstaace. Speed was the main consideration. "For racing purpoaes yoa want roar homes L" id as two or three-year-olds." wain- comment, "and dont want to wait until they are aged before they are an. good " He regards Swynford as the best horse he ever saw in bis lite Bayardo wa- g od. too. but Swynford. whom lie thought worth tare :ike Stedfast. was his pick, foa could not get ■ battel animal, and he was as even-tempered as a bollock Crags nour and Shogun looked the best of tlii- seasons three .i ear old-, but In- expected Flippant, a half brother to Mr. s. HordenTs recenl rmrrhanr Brou zino. to nun out well. Waionilia was a very line Bllj and. is i have previously mentioned, be has pleasurable anticipations of the doings .t some of bis two-year-olds. In every way Mr. Wootton was pleased with hi- trip and expressed hi- gratefulness t" those who had a— isied in making his bolidai ■ ii i- int Pilot, in Sydaej Reft ree
