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MANNAS GUINEAS VICTORY Winner of English Classic Cost 1,500 at a Yearling Sale. * Morriss Colt Leads AH the Way in Three-Year-Old Event — Strong Derby Hopes Beaten. • By E. E. COUSSELL. LONDON, May 2. — "Buy the best yearling at Doncaster." was the commission received by the trainer, Fred Darling, before he went to the St. Leger meeting in 1923. These were orders sufficiently comprehensive to appall the most sanguine judge of the possibilities of a yearling. Darling waited all the week. He watched sold at auction that week at Doncaster such notable animals as Zionist, St. Becan and Solario. Oojah was sold five minutes after Manna passed through the sale ring at Doncaster. Darling made up his mind that the best yearling at Doncaster in 1923 was the bay-colt by Phalaris — Waffles, bred in Ireland by J. J. Maher, and offered for sale without reserve. There is no question that he was practically a flawless yearling of superb quality. Darling paid 1,500 for the colt He bought him for H. E. Morriss, a wealthy young merchant of Shanghai, China. Lady Uullough owner of St. Becan and Mr. Lambton, for the Aga Khan, wanted this Phalaris colt, but it was obvious that Darling meant to have him. As all the world knows. Manna won the Two Thousand Guineas stakes from start to finish, and incidentally enabled Donoghue to ride his third winner of the first classic of our racing season. OTHER PERFORMANCES. Last season in his first race, running greenly. Manna was third in a 5,000 stake at Sandown Park. Then at Goodwood, a 6 to 4 favorite, he beat a moderate field in the six-furlong Richmond Stakes. Picaroon defeated him over six furlongs at Kempton. although Manna was conceding six pounds. In the Middle Park Stakes Manna was third to Picaroon and wound up his juvenile career by taking the Moulton Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket. During the winter and early spring there were doubts as to the saying qualities possessed by Manna. It was suggested that he would be more of a sprinter. He was therefore specially prepared for the Two Thousand Guineas. Paddock inspection before the race revealed him as the best trained colt in the field. Obviously he might not have won the Two Thousand Guineas had Picaroon been able to compete, for no one knows the real merit of the unbeaten son of Beppo. Zionist gained a somewhat fictitious reputation which his form does not warrant. Carslake was pleased when he had him first past the post in the Newmarket Spring Stakes a fortnight prior to the Two Thousand Guineas, for which race he started a hot favorite at 5 to 4 against He has a curious affection of the knees —probably hereditary. Zionist was never running like a winner at any period of the race for the Two Thousand Guineas. Coming down the hill he swerved to the left and could finish no closer than fifth. It is useless seeking excuses. HOW RIYALS RAN. After the field had covered about three furlongs Manna could be seen in front. It was only a question of whether he could stay the hard mile. Donoghue made no attempt to increase his lead. When the challenge came he was able easily to repulse his rivals, of which the most serious was St. Becan. The last-named, a good looking and powerful colt, won his only race last autumn in convincing style. He has perhaps rather a plain head and turns out his near forefoot. He was a bit short of muscle and obviously his preparation is being timed for the Derby. St. Becan finished strongly in the Two Thousand Guineas, but the winner was never in the slightest danger of defeat. Oojah, by Bachelors Double, which finished third, is a fast colt whose final position occasioned surprise. The fourth was Gainsboroughs son, Solario, a big horse with good looks and quality, which may not be at his best until the late summer. Bucellas, by Buchan, is also a fine colt with great possibilities. A. K. Macomber was present to see Sun God run. The son of Maintenon and Sun-bonnet was finished at six furlongs. Mr. Morriss arrived from China a few days before the race, "to lead in the Guineas winner," as one of his friends humorously remarked. He was tremendously pleased over the victory of his colt. Manna has grown little, half an inch, since last year. He has developed and thickened, but not having grown much makes him appear a bit lacking in length. He appears to take more after his maternal grandsire. Buckwheat. DAM XEYER RACED. Manna is the second foal of Waffles, which never raced. Her first was a small filly named Bunworry, which won three races in Ireland and is now in India. Waffles is from the St. Simon mare. Lady Mischief. The next dam is Vain Duchess, which finished third in the One Thousand Guineas. The third dam was Sweet Duchess. She ran third in the Oaks and won the Doncaster Cup. Sweet Ouchess, the grandam of Cylgad, and of Willia, which produced Parth. Ten or twelve years ago Your Majesty St. Leger and Our Iassie Oaks were classic winners of this family. Sir It. Waldie Griffith paid ,000 at Newmarket in 1892 for Sweet Duchess when a yearling. She founded a most successful family for him. Sir Robert, in the December sales ,,f 1913, sold Lady Mischief. Bred to Dark Konald. she was bought by J. J. Maher for ,100. Waffles, which never raced, was the fourth foal Mr. Maher bred from Lady Misehief. It is difficult to sum up the Derby pros-p.-ets of the runners in the Two Thousand Guineas. Perhaps St. Pecan and Bucellas are the most promising in the absence of 1iearoon. Then there is another colt to be considered. This is Lord Derbys Conquistador, a backward animal which won the Hastings Plate impressively. Perhaps fate is going to be kind to Lord Derby after having denied his family the Derby until last year. onquisiadnr is by Stedfast second in the Derby, from the Liverpool Cup winner. Santa Cruz, by Neil low. She was the last foal of Santa Brigada, the sister to Mel- ton. which produced Bridge of Canny, Bridge of Earn and Bridge of Sighs, which bred Light Prigade. St. Becan cost 1,000 as a yearling. He is by Hurry On from The Cyprian, by Cyllene. The next lot in the ring after him was Solario. by Gainsborough from Sun Worship, by Sundridge. He realized 7,500. Oojah was bought for $.S,250. His dam. Confey. is by polytnrlus. Zionist was also a Doncaster yearling. His price was HUM, He is by Spearmint from the Irish oaks winner. Ju-dea. by Roi Herode. It is certainly noteworthy that the first five colts in the Two Thousand Guineas were all purchased at Doncaster and were all Coaled in Ireland.
