view raw text
HOW SIR GALLAHAD HI. WON ♦ French Colts Victory in Lincolnshire Accomplished with Ease. ♦ Had Advantage In the Weight* and Was in Marh Better Condition Than English Horses. ♦ By K. K. i MIIM1I I | TjONDON. March 27- The French horse Sir Gallahad III. won the Lincolnshire han-dicap yesterday witli supreme ease, lie was HM fittest horse in the field. The difficulties of Rnglish trainers this spring liave been endless. Since last October we have had more frost than in all the previous four winters. Intil a week ago there was a keen frost every night for a month. For many days it was impossible to give horses more than light exercise because of the frozen ground. This is not written to excuse the failure of the Kngli.sh horses but merely to state a fact. Of the twenty-seven runners Sir Ciallahad III. was unquestionably the fittest At the weights he would have won in any circumstances. A month Jigo when I analyzed his credentials I came to the conclusion he was handicapped at least fourteen pounds too lightly. It will be remembered that Kpinard was giv.-n 1 to pounds in the Lincolnshire. His nearest rival was Condovcr with 121 pounds. Had Kpinard paid the minor forfeit, Condo-ver. in accordance with the rule, would have gone up to 12C pounds and all the other weights, been increased five pounds. This would have brought Sir Galahad IIL to 121 pounds. That would have made no, difference to the result. Kpinard was not "scratched." His owner stated he would run at Lincoln if he could be made ready. Later we learned he was suffering from foot trouble which interfered with bis preparation. He was still in the race when official Lincolnshire betting was recorded in London for the first time on February 26. Sir Gallahad III. was then favorite at 10 to - 1, with 22 to 1 offered against Kpinard. In January some people obtained 50 to 1 about Sir Gallahad III.! Although he finished a 9 to 2 favorite it is estimated the victory of Mr. Cnhns colt took over one million dollars from the Lnglish bookmakers. It has been stated that Penman Sir Gallahad 1 1 1 . " s trainer held the opinion Kpinard was fairly handicapped at 110 pounds, and he estimated that he was fourteen pounds better than Sir Gallahad III. At the Lincoln the last named was rated twenty-three pounds behind the former. If Denman was correct, then his colt had nine pounds the better of all his opixinents. When the race started odds of 8 to 1 were offered against Drain; 12 1-2 to 1 against Soval third last year ; 14 to 1 against Kvander, whose trainer was wonderfully confident, and 11 to 1 against Condover. All these, except Soval, had won trials. From a good start Overseer led for the first three furlongs, at which point Sir Calla-had III. took the lead. Thenceforward he had matters all his own way. Without an effort he carried Frank OXcill first past the post three lengths in front of Kvander 118 pounds, which became second in the last two hundred yards. Third was the Irish mare Grave Fairy 87 pounds, and Overseer 100 pounds, close behind, fourth. Sir Greysteel was fiftli. Condover finished twelfth : Soval fourteenth, and Drake a long way back. There seemed to be a fear that Sir Gallahad IIL would create trouble at the starting post which might cause his undoing. The time was slow, 1 :tt%. Doubtless the winner could have knocked seconds off had he been called upon to do his utmost. There was considerable cheering over the result. The natural inference to draw is that, with the possible exception of Kvander. the Knglish horses were not fit enough to show to real advantage. The weather in France had been much more genial and Sir Gallahad III. was looking fit and well when he arrived at Lincoln eleven days before the big race. Frank ONeill, interviewed after the race. stated, "When I went to the front about half-way I was confident I should win, and never once did I find it necessary to feel for my whip." It is worth recalling that Sir Gallahad III. is the first actual favorite to win the Lincolnshire since Uninsured scored in 1904. Curiously his price, 9 to 2, was the same as Six Gallahad Ills. When View Law was successful in 1905 he was joint favorite with Wrack, the latter and Ambassador IV. being tho equal top weights with 115 pounds.
