view raw text
DUETTISTE STOCK RISES American Geldings Victory at Kempton Arouses Interest iJls Price Is Being Pounded Down Steadily In Inthe the Future Books Defeated Leading LeadingGrand Grand National Candidates Joseph E Wideners Duettiste seems to have come back to the form that made him the real star of American steeplechasing a few years ago In the Cranford Steeplechase at Kempton Park England Saturday Janu ¬ ary 27 he met and defeated several of the highweights among the Grand National can ¬ didates He carried 168 pounds beating Sir Huon 174 by half a length with Turkey Buzzard 175 third Old Tay Bridge carry ¬ ing 180 pounds finished out of the money moneyAs As a result of this showing there has been a sharp drop in the future book prices of ¬ fered about his chances for the Grand Na ¬ tional to be run at Liverpool in March He was quoted at 33 to 1 before this victory but since that time his price has gone down steadily until the best that can be had against him at latest accounts from abroad is 16 to 1 1Arfavale Arfavale is the future book favorite for the race at 1C to 1 Stephen Sanfords Ser ¬ geant Murphy is second choice at 14 to 1 The latest available prices on the leading candidates are shown in the following table Arravale 10 to 1 Punt Gnn 10 to 1 1Conjurer Conjurer II 14 to 1 Sergeant Murphy 14 lo 1 1lifter lifter 2 to 1 Shaun Spadaa 16 to 1 1Duettiste Duettiste 10 to 1 Southampton 20 to 1 1Forewarned Forewarned 10 to 1 Square Dance 33 to 1 1Manny Manny Gate 25 to 1 TaffytUB 25 to 1 1Mnnerful Mnnerful W to 1 Turkey Itazzard 25 to 1 1Prosperitz Prosperitz 33 to 1 Zenon 20 to 1 1OPIONIONS OPIONIONS OF ENGLISH WRITERS WRITERSEnglish English turf writers seem to have an idea that Duettiste lacks speed on the flat and that he is not of the build to stay over the trying Aintree course of over four miles Long distance running and speed on the flat were Duettistes forte when he was racing here Anthony Escott who is training Duet ¬ tiste and will ride him in the Grand Na ¬ tional was tied for the lead among the Eng ¬ lish crosscountry riders at the end of Janu ¬ ary Frank Wootton the Australian and J Hogan Jr an Irish rider share the top po ¬ sition with him himFollowing Following are some of the comments on Duettistes showing in the Cranford Steeple ¬ chase in the English newspapers newspapersRobin Robin Goodfellow in London Daily Mail MailDuettiste Duettiste for the first time since coming into Escotts charge has reached the form that brought this Frenchbred steeplechaser such distinction in America So that candi date in the Liverpool at 161 pounds will prob ¬ ably be the only recent public form animal about whose chance a majority will agree agreeThere There is no denying the merit of his vic ¬ tory over Sir Huon and Turkey Buzzard It was all the more impressive because few persons had regarded him seriously for big things since his breakdown breakdownDOUBTERS DOUBTERS CONVINCED CONVINCEDThey They were brought to attention very sharp ¬ ly at Kempton In an exceptionally bright market with the betting always in favor of the fielders Turkey Buzzard who opened favorite was for some time deposed by Duet ¬ tiste tisteIncidentally Incidentally it did not much matter to the bookmakers which won when in addition to the pair mentioned Old Tay Bridge Sir Huon and Clonree were at one price 5 to 1 1Duettiste Duettiste vindicated the confidence of the Escott party by overhauling the tiring Tur ¬ key Buzzard fairly beating Sir Huon which was wellridden and finished the freshest of the party partyAlso Also intending backers may be reminded that the owner of Duettiste a rich Phia delphian well known for his love of sport would rate the winning of the Grand Na ¬ tional the biggest thing Dame Fortune could bring even to a millionaire millionaireFrom From The Sporting Life London LondonWith With the exception of Winkle the whole of the contestants in the Cranford Steeplechase are nominated for the Aintree race and they represented the top weights for that popular event Without showing signs of being wound up Turkey Buzzard looked well and is a grand specimen of a steeplechaser but by the same rule little fault could be found with Clonree Duettiste Old Tay Bridge and Sir Huon and the lastmentioned trio were undoubtedly more forward in condition than Mrs Hollins handsome gelding which claimed so much public support that his posi ¬ tion at the head of the quotations was not seriously threatened threatenedAn An interesting race was witnessed and Turkey Buzzard after scraping the first fence in the country set a particularly fast pace and along the baclcstretch he estab ¬ lished a tremendous lead However the son of White Eagle Therapia was in trouble when turning into the straight for home homeBefore Before the last fence was reached Duet ¬ tiste had taken the measure of Turkey Buz ¬ zard and Sir Huon on the other side had the favorite in safe keeping For a moment or so Sir Huon looked to have the better of the argument with Duettiste but the latter made ready response to his riders appeal and won with mere to spare than the half a length verdict suggests suggestsDuettiste Duettiste is Frenchbred and when the war broke out was exported to America In his previous outing the foreigner finished fourth behind Habton at Manchester but he now left that form far behind and gave evi ¬ dence of being adapted over a greater dis ¬ tance of ground No fault could be found with his jumping and he is practically cer ¬ tain to develop into a fancied candidate for the pending Grand National Sir Huon ran well and found the going to his liking likingFrom From the London Sporting Chronicle ChronicleDuettiste Duettiste was well fancied and I should say Escott now has him to his liking for the first time That he was in lucks way need not be questioned for there is no manner of doubt in my mind that Turkey Buzzard would have scored and comfortably at that had the jockey been able to ride his own race Still Duettiste must be given credit for the gritty way in which he came through to win Ills race He was steadily ridden and it was not until well in the straight that he was asked to move up to the leader leaderSir Sir Huon kept him company In the pro ¬ gressive move and it was only after a fine race home that Duettiste was able to claim an advantage of half a length I expect the FrancoAmerican will now be trained for the Grand National but I believe I am right in saying that his connections do not regard him as much more than a thrcemiler That coincides with my own views for the geld ¬ ing is rather light of frame to stand the racket of four and a half miles over a se ¬ vere line of country countryHis His absence from last years National field was caused by his overreaching him ¬ self at exercise He still shows a blemish on his near fore joint just above the hoof as a result of striking himself at Man ¬ chester but the trouble never caused any anxiety Duettiste was of course ridden by A Escott EscottFrom From the London Sportsman SportsmanThe The Cranford Steeplechase Handicap was contested by a party of six of which four are Grand National candidates Old Tay Bridge which has so often run well here had the big burden of 180 pounds to carry consequent on the penalty he earned at New Ibury and though he enlisted quite a nice following the bulk of investments were en ¬ trusted to Turkey Buzzard and the Ameri ¬ canowned Duettiste DuettisteDUETTISTES DUETTISTES SUPPORT STRONG STRONGThere There was no mistaking the confidence with which Turkey Buzzards chance was re ¬ garded and there was of course some justi ¬ fication for this as Mrs Hollins horse has been pleasing his trainer indeed lately It was surprising on the other hand to find Duettiste so strongly fancied as he had not specially distinguished himself when taking part in Habtons race at Manchester ManchesterNotwithstanding Notwithstanding his cmsliing weight Old Tay Bridge was leading his field at the end of the first circuit but not long afterward Turkey Buzzard drew away several lengths clear of the rest The favorite jumped quickly and cleanly but by the time the straight was reached at which point Old Tay Bridge was beaten Duettiste and Sir Huon had as ¬ sumed threatening positions positionsDuettiste Duettiste joined Turkey Buzzard at the final fence and having settled the favorite he was called upon to resist a challenge by Sir Huon This he succeeded in doing with half a length to spare and as he meets both Sir Huon and Turkey Buzzard on better terms in the Grand National he is evidently one to be reckoned with It has yet to be established however that he stays beyond Saturdays distance but at any rate his future races will be watched with much in ¬ terest terestFrom TelegraphMost From the London Daily Telegraph Most people thought that Mr Topping had been somewhat severe on Turkey Buzzard until they saw Mrs Hollins horse run a good trial at Kempton Park on Saturday Carrying 175 pounds in the Cranford Steeple ¬ chase he jumped in wonderful style gaining a lot of ground at each obstacle Probably Frank Brown may have acted a little in ¬ judiciously in taking him to the front so soon but the horse was in such good heart heartThe The FrancoAmerican Duettiste put in a wonderful burst of speed to catch and beat Turkey Buzzard but judging from the way the Lewistrained horse was supported he was confidently expected to do sp Evidently it was known that he had picked up his American form At Liverpool he has a further pull of six pounds with Turkey Buz ¬ zard but I shall not be surprised to find the latter taking his revenge George Blackwell was at Kempton on Friday and I believe was on the lookout for a jumping companion for Sergeant Murphy who goes up with three pounds in the handicap scale The old horse I am told just now is in the best of condi
