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ITALIAN TURFMAN QUITS ENGLISH RACING. The Chevalier Giiiistrelli is such an accepted institution in England that it is difficult to realize that he is really going home to Italy to stay there, and his bloodstock will bo coming up for sale shortly, though, of course, this will not include Signorina herself, which is now in her thirtieth year, and looking wonderfully fresh and well for her age. Great marcs hiive often lie.en blessed with great constitutions, and w.e kiiow that Pocahontas lived to be thirty-three; but Signorina was none too robust in her early days, for she suffered from, I think, liver trouble in her three-year-old season, and did not it-ally come to herself again till the autumn of the following year, when she defeated the two-year-old Orme at Manchester. Then for several years .she proved a shy breeder, but all went well with her at last, and as the dam of Signoriuo and Signoriuetta she has done enough for fame as a broodmare. It is far from certain that her youngest daughter, Signor-inella, by Thrush, was not fully as good as either Signoriuo or Signoriuetta; anyhow, the Chevalier declares he would have won the Derby with her, but she unfortunately was incapacitated by an attack of fever after she had arrived at Epsom for the big race. Sigiiorinella is certainly a beautiful man? of the truest St. Simon type, a dark bay with just tin? slightest star of white, such as was the distinguishing mark of Star of Portici. She is in foal to Picton. and has a good filly at foot by St. Victrix. thons doubling the St. Simon line, to say nothing of the Angelica blood through Orme. A brother to this foal is a really first-class dark bay yearling colt. He is a thorough St. Simon, a rare-made one all over with exquisite quality. He gave an excellent show galloping round his paddock, and it would really be idle to pretend to judge yearlings if this one granted ordinary luck does not develop into a great winner. Sigiiorinella was foaled in 1909, and is therefore quite young. Moreover, she is obviously a sure breeder, so that she must certainly be of great value. We are often apt to talk of Sceptre, Prctty Polly and La Fleche as the undoubtedly best mares seen during tin- last thirty years, but it is far from certain that any one of them was better than Signorina, which as a two-year-old won her nine races off tin? reel, and I think nothing ever scored for the Middle Park Plate in quite such style as she did. It might be claimed, that, as this was only two-year-old form, it did not entitle her to rank with the other great mares which won as three and four year olds, and this would be a reasonable contention if Signorina had not come back to her best when at the .Manchester September Meeting, 1891. she won the Lancashire Plate of 11,000 sovereigns, at seven-eighths, carrying 139 pounds, from Orme, two-year-old, 1111 pounds, with Martagou. 135 pounds, third, and six other good ones unplaced. Won by a half length; a head between second and third. This was a great performance, for Orme was at the top of his form that day, ami Martagou also needed a lot f boating. John Porter had a shrewd idea that Signorina was herself once more and was half-inclined not to start Ornie, but he could get iio very definite information, and o Orme went to the post. George Parrett did not make tin; best of liis way home on tin? colt, but Signorinas victory was an undoubtedly .treat one, and showed that she had really trained .on. These seem old memories indeed, but nevertheless Signorina still lives and flourishes in her paddock at the Villa Signorina. What the .Chevalier will do with her when he returns to Italy I do not know, but we may lie quite sure she will have a good hoine. Perhaps his son, who was educated at Cambridge and is now eating dinners at the Temple, may be staying in England at any rati? until such time as he is called to the bar-r-and in that case the Villa Signorina may still be kept going; but my point of the moment is to make it clear that the Chevalier himself is to leave us, and that Sigiiorinella aild .stock will come up for sale. There is a big, fine, bay two-year-old filly by Picton out of Star of Naples, sister to Signoriuetta, and here, too, is ah excellent opportunity to secure the Signorina breed. "The Special Commissioner" in London Sportsman.
