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IRISH HORSES ATTRACT ATTENTION. Iron Cross and Bachelors Bliss Most Admired of String at Woodbine. Toronto, Ont., May 2. — Not in recent years has a string of thoroughbreds attracted so much attention at the Woodbine track as the half-dozen Irish horses which H. R. A. West brought to this country for the Irish Blood Stock Agency. Many prnc tieal horsemen, shrewd juilges of horseflesh, have looked them over during the past week and commented most favorably upon them. The public have visited the Ontario Jockey Club course in large numiiers. probably through curiosity as much as anything else, and viewed these horses with much interest. Curiously, too. there is a vast difference of opinion as to which is the best of the band. The two colts. Iron Cross and Bachelors Bliss, both three-year -.Ids, have been the most admired of the string. In fact. Mr. West has been asked so— ml times to set a price on each of them, and it is probable that they will be disposed of to Toronto horsemen. Trainer Eddie Whyte. of the llemlrie stable, is one of those who was favorably impressed with Iron Cross, while William Walker greatly ad mired Bachelors Bliss. Both colts have been worked at the Woodbine course, and over a slow track with an east gale sweeping the course, they galloped a half mile in 72+:, under stout restraint. It was a fine move for their first attempt of the season at the dis tance. The entire band are fairly well advanced in condition and all of them are good lookers. Iron Cross Has Good Credentials. Iron Cross has the better credentials from the standpoint of past performances. n. started only-four times as a two-year-old last year and won the last r.ir in whii h he ran. the Curragh Plate in Ireland, which he on in a canter by four ldigths. This is a wdgfct-fM age race at one mile, in which :. field of fourtrc-i contested for the honors. Thla son of QaUspsag Simon Madame Cull is a handsome looking nit, stands about 15.3 and is a rich bay in color. He is stoutly built and on speedy lines and is a fine tempered colt. He has a smooth way of going, and is as sound as a dollar. He is the first foal of Madame Cull, a frequent vv inner herself. She is by The lull. Bachelors Bliss is a rich black in color and comes well recommended, although he has yet to earn brackets. He is a blood brother to Bachelors Double, a winner of . sr.ti.00t in stakes. He is also a lose relative of Bachelors Button, a winner of SSO.HH. and Bachelors Wedding, a Irish Derbj and -take winner. This colt only faced the barrier four times and. under unfavorable conditions, but he acts equally as well as his highly prized stable companion. lie is alx.ut 15.2 -j in height and stoutly built, with lean legs and is as kind as a kitten. The Tredennis colts have a reputation of being backward as two year olds, but he seems likely to develop into a fine horse over a hag route and looks like a good Derb.v prospect. ; -orge Craves, his older brother, was a go.xl winner in the old country. Only Two-Year-Old in String. The arty two year old in the string. Kilcroney. is also by Tredennis. She was only broken since her arrival in Canada last winter and is naturally a little backward. She is a well turned youngster, however, brown in color. Iniioeency, the dam of Kilcroney. has the enviable record of fortv victories t» her credit. Bachelors Ulead, the five year-old daughter of Tredennis. is another that is much fancied by William Walker. She is a half-sister to Han Hill. winner af the Chester Cup and the Sandowii Cup at As.ot ami two stakes in Ireland worth ,000 each. She is also a hair sister to Bachelors Flight, a crack jumper in lie la ad, and a sister to Thimble Bigger, another peed steeplechaser. I-ady Dern. the dam of Bachelors Blend, is also the dam of 00,000 worth of stake winners. Bachelors Blend ran eight times last year at dis tanees ranging from five-eighths up to a mile, and, although she failed to win. she was four times see ond and once third in good fields. She was in a stable of eighty last year, and it is just possible that she did not receive the attention she should have. The mare won as a three year did, however. She stands sixteen hands, stonily built, and she looks like a good prospect for a leaner. For a broodmare when her racing career is at an Mai, Bachelors Bb nd has all tiie qualifications. Annie Edgf.r Is a Well-bred Filly. Annie F.dgar is by Sir Edgar, a sire of 201 winners on the flat, which died in Inland last month. Her dam. Lady Castle, is the dam of many good winners, and she herself is bred to be a good producer. This is the best -looking filly in the stable and stands about 15.2. As a two-year-old last year Annie Bdgar ran eight times. She was three times unplaced, was three times second in big fields, and won her last race, the Autumn Nursery Handicap, with top weight. IIS pounds, up. "I will show the local turf patrons a grand steeplechaser here next month." said Mr. West. who thinks well of his leaper Never Fear. He is one of the biggest horses seen at Woodbine in many years, standing about seventeen hands, big boned, and weighs close to 1.400 pounds. Never Fear was not raced until he was six years old. and he has ten victories through the field to his credit. In Utt he won seven straight races in England, and among his victories last year he captured the iorway Plate at two and a half miles carrying 101 pounds. A fieM of twenty -three of the best jumpers in Ireland were engaged in the race. With ITS pounds, die big jumper also won the Minister Cup at three miles in a canter, by four lengths. In all. they look like a fine collection of horses, and are certain of a large following on the Cana Ban tracks this year. 11. R. A. West, who is in charge of the string, was invalided home from the front late l:;st year. He brought this string to Canada more as an experiment than anv thing els,- .mil to let Canadian horsemen see the class of thoroughbreds that are bred in the Lmerald Isle. He will race some of them and others may be dis-po cd of. In act, many Toronto horsemen have been looking the string over carefully, and it would not be surprising to see some of the best carrying the colors of some of the prominent Canadian stables in the DerhjTS ami other important stakes on the Canadian tiacks this year.
