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■— — — i i — — ■ HOW DUETTISTE IMPRESSED ♦ Gadlings Performance in Brook Chase as Seen by Race Writers. • English Turf Critics Differ on the Style and Ability of American Horse. 1 Opinions of the English trirf critics about Duettiste, his Cntwick race, quality. nppenrntH" and style differ considerably. The Sportsman "Vigilant" printed this after the Brook Handicap rac at Gatwick: "The race was a ilisappoint-iiHtii. but there was r—pia sjfHtsi for it in ihe lc-esence of the American. Ln Miisle. This is .1 big. strong horse, with -he lu-cessary power f.» gallop the National course, but whether he will jump the country is an».n-r matter. According to our standards he lacks quality, and is. I think, s trifle short in the neck. It was a pity his solitary opponent fell early in the race, thus leaving Duettiste to finish alone, but he set a strong gallop ll.iouuliout, and jumped well, but not in a style •J an Aintree horse." The Sportsmans newsman displayed this: "The most interesting feature cf the racing at Gatwick was the appearance of Duettiste in the Brnnl; Steeplechase, thoiun the opposition stopped shirt at Lochmond. which fill early on. Duettiste is a:i American-bred hors,-, entered by Mr. Widener in the Crand National, and he has been in M Escotts charge for some months. After the race Escntt said: I am delighted with the way he jumps. He takes the fences so boldly. I had be-ii rather afraid on this point, for American fences, to which he has been accustomed, are o low. He took the fourteen-pound allowance be-c:iii e he has never won over three miles. He won what is practically the American Craiul Na-titral. which is, however, over two miles and a half, on three occasions, and scored many tin s in mile races on the flat. I believe he has never ■been beaten in a steeplechase, except when brought down.* " The Sportsmans second newsstring played this: "It was a thoroughly interesting race, as one of the competitors was Duettiste. the American owned .rand National candidate, which is in charge of Poethlyns trainer. II. Escott. Bred in France from American parents, the gelding has won many steeplechases in the United Stales, and good Odds were laid on him to account for his solitary rival. Lochmond. The latter fell soon after the start ami Duettiste which is medium — a -sized horse, showing good quality — was left to complete the course alone. "Considering that he had nothing to race with, the invader jumped well, and he obviously also has a fine turn of speed, as the time he occupied in covering the three miles was quite good. He is by no means of the orthodox Crand National type, hut was hound to make hosts of friends among thdsp who witnessed his performance yesterday." The Sporting Chronicles critic had this In comment: "There was a show piece at Gatwick in the shape of a jumping display on the part of the American. Duettiste. taking the place of a contest, d race. His solitary opponent, a poor creature, fell at the fourth fence, leaving the foreigner to continue alone, and Escott saw to it that he had a good gallop, while the horse fenced cleanly and sprightly enough. CALLS DUETTISTE "TOO PRETTY." "Sticklers for the true chasing type would vote Duettiste almost too pretty for the Aintree business. "The newcomer, which is backward yet. mrty. however, be said to have come through the lirsf part of his public preparation satisfactorily, and next time there may be something able to stand up and better prove hirti. "Duettiste was at 5 to 2 in the betting and his time for the three miles was fast — 0:04%. "There was some discussion about Diiettist*s weight, hut a fourteen -pound allowance was claimed at scale for not having won a steeplechase of three miles or over since 1920. and for not having won such a race at any time, so that, unless he shows a big improvement between now and the middle of March, one cannot seriously count on him in connection with the Uiand National. The gelding centainly went a good pace even by himself, and Escott has much faith in him. The gelding has been allotted 160 pounds in the National." The Chronicles newsman wrote: "There were only two runners for the Brook Steeplechase, but probably mote interest attached to the running for this than any other event during the afternoon hy reason of the debut in England of the American steeplechaser Duettiste. "This gelding, which came with a great reputation from across the water and belongs to a noted sportsman. Mr. J. E. Widener, has not run out ide the United States. His jumping did not create too great an impression, for he brushed through many of the fences. He could be made fitter, ami looked a hit rough in his half-clipped coat. Yet as he stands he looks powerfully bnilt."
