view raw text
TWO BRIGHT STARS OF ENGLISH RACING. It is more than likely that Stanley House exploited a brace of champions at Windsor on Saturday in Phalaris and Diadem, each in its own class. 1 doubt if any three-year-old would be capable of beating the colt at three-quarters, for, granting that he had the best of thp luck at starting, his most convincing work was done in the last two hundred yards, when still on a tight rein, he left his opponents completely in the lurch. I have seldom seen such a performance in a "class" sprint j i ! 1 race, and high as was my opinion of Phalaris before must confess to being surprised and deeply impressed by the extraordinary burst of speed. Moreover, it may be taken for granted that with increased strength the colt will go on improving, and may develop into a first-rate miler. Nothing could have been in more striking contrast than his performances at Newmarket and Windsor. In the one instance he jumped off on the wrong leg, and I being a horse that requires careful balancing was all abroad throughout, and always hanging to the I left. On Saturday he struck off all right and accomplished his task in truly magnificent style, and when asked after the race what had been nearest to him in its early stages Martins remark, concise though it was, expressed volumes, in that "lie did not know, for he had not seen any of the others after the tapes were released." One wonders what sort of horse Phalaris will bo as a four-year-old when fully matured the probability is that lie will be something of a phenomenon, more particularly if, as may reasonably be anticipated, his stamina should improve with the development of muscular power. Critics may be right as regards his hocks, but it is certain that they do not interfere with his action, which is at once smooth and full of power; indeed, exceptionally so, carrying him over an enormous lot of ground at , every stride. He is unquestionably one of the fastest horses seen for a long time, and a credit to lol.vmelus, which has resumed his place at the head of the winning sires. The Maiden Erlegh stallion is credited with upwards of thirty fo.ils this season, among them a colt from Doris dam of Sunstar. a brother to Pommern, and a colt from Quintessence dam of Clarissimus. Phalaris was bred by Lord Derby, who purchased his dam. Bromus, at the break up of the late Mr. J. II. Houldsworths stud in 1911, and put her to lol.vmelus. Her next mate was Swynford, to which she produced Huinault. a two-year-old that has not yet been seen in public, and her yearling by the same sire in said to be a colt of great promise, but this season she was barren to the same sire. Phalaris was a late foal, being born on May 10, the same day as Grosvenor by Cicero, out of Sceptre first saw the light, and it is not a little curious that they should be the two biggest three-year-olds in training. Grosvenor showed line speed for three-quarters in the Two Thousand Guineas. It struck me at the time that he had all the makings of a race horse, and I am pleased to hear that he is going the right way, and confidently expected to train on into a horse of character. Diadem is a sister to Diadumenos. which she closely resembles in color and deportment, and, if built on somewhat smaller lines, is more symmetrical. She has fully justified her yearling promise by winning the three races in which she lias taken part, and always unchallenged, for neither Golden Maid nor anything else could extend her in the New Coventry Stakes. Such as Sunset Glow and Pam-fleta, in spite of a nine pounds pull in the weights, could not extend her in the Fulbourne Stakes, and the Eton Stakes on Saturday was practically a walk-over for her. Her action is as perfect as machinery, with the greatest effect from the least apparent exertion, sweeping over the ground like a veritable "daisy cutter" of the good old-fashioned sort, and, unless I am greatly mistaken, it will require something out of the ordinary way to check her winning career. It showed a wise discretion on the part of Mr. J. W. Larnach to keep his charming filly by Minora out of Via a genuine bit of stuff in reserve for the High-Class Two-Year-Old Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday rather than tackle the flying Orby filly on Saturday, and even so she has no dunces task in view, for, what with penalties and allowances, she will have fifteen pounds the worst of it with some of the maidens that have already shown that they can use their legs. Diadems future engagements include the Hopeful Stakes and Sixty-ninth Triennial Produce Stakes at the First October meeting, in both of which she can meet Kniitsfonl. but neither would be likely to run on successive days, and probably we shall have to wait for the Middle Park Plate for a public trial between the two. AVhon it docs come it will be a most interesting race, but in tin; meantime many tilings may happen to change the present aspect of affairs, as, for example, the introduction of a dark two-year-old capable of beating both, in which eventuality the owner of the newcomer will have to be congratulated on the possession of a good one. For my own part. I should be inclined to favor the chance of the filly, which lias at least the recommendation of being undefeated, and has simply cantered away from some of the best of her age. "Vigilant" in London Sportsman of August 2.
