view raw text
I I --fiktltf -iyki- . Ireland Underestimated American Talent By TIM A. VIGORS Dublin Correspondent, Daily Racing Form DUBLIN, Ireland. On the face of it the sweeping victory of the American horses in the International Steeplechase at Belmont Park is a serious blow to the prestige of the Irish chaser. Let us admit without further ado that we underestimated the opposition. At the same time we would like to convey to the connections of the success f u 1 American horses the congratulations of all Irish racing folk. Like many other Irishmen, your correspondent is asking himself, "What went wrong with our horses?" Unlike some people, we do not believe that the average horse suffers any ill effect from the 3,000-mile air journey. Also it seems unlikely that the temporary deterioration in form which normally sets in after a certain period when a racehorse is imported into the States had time to take effect in the six days which the International chase horses spent at Belmont prior to the race. We are convinced, of course, that if our two top two-mile chasers, Royal Approach and Roses Quarter, had accepted for the race the issue would have been much closer. Nevertheless "the second team" was so soundly beaten that it appears that even the champion Royal Approach would have had his work cut out to lower the colors of the home brigade. AAA From accounts received it appears, that the failure of the European horses to make a race of it can be chiefly attributed to the fact that they spent too much time in the air, not on their transatlantic journey, but trying, as they would at home, to clear the tall Belmont fences. It is evident that until, an Irish or English chaser learns that he can brush through the top 18 inches of an American fence he will stand little chance of competing on equal terms with the quick-jumping American chasers. It seems likely that some of the Irish jump- ers may remain in the States, in which case judgment on their real merit should be delayed until such time as they have learned to jump in the American style. AAA Owing to adverse headwinds encountered over the Irish Channel, we arrived at Phoenix Park a few minutes too late to witness Lady May Ainsworths Royal Fairy win the first important two-year-old race of the year. We had planed to Chester earlier in the day to watch Mrs. John Hanes attractive Hyperion filly and live Oaks prospect, Sea Dream, canter away from her rivals in the Grosvenor Maiden Stakes. Incidentally, the following race at Chester was -won by R. S. Clarks Wise Folly, making a double for American owners during the afternoon. The Brooke Plate, which was the centerpiece of the evening card at Phoenix Park, attracted only four runners, which is an indication of the backward state of high class two-year-olds here this year. AAA In an exciting race, Royal Fairy got up in the last few strides to score by half a length from A. L. Hawkins Black Rock filly, You, who had only half a length to spare from the two other runners, Hollywood and Flying Finish, who dead-heated for third place. Royal Fairy is a bay filly by Royal Charger out of a French-bred mare, Cent Fois, whose half brother, Faubourg, finished third in the French Two Thousand Guineas and filled the same place in the Epsom Derby two years ago. AAA The field for the three-year-old Free Handicap, run over one mile at Leopards-town, included several classic aspirants. In the paddock we picked Terence Greys Le Mistral as the best looker, although there was not much to choose between this strong backward colt and Lady Ainsworths racing like, French-bred colt. Blue Choir. Another good looking runner was J. J. Cos-graves Marshal Ney who ran the brilliant filly Sixpence to a length and a half in the Anglcsea Plate at the Curragh last fall. AAA Entering the straight. Lc Mistral. Marshal Ney and Long View were disputing the lead, but in the final furlong Faddy Powell brought Blue Choir with a smooth run to challenge the leaders and run on readily to a three-quarters of a length victory over Marshal Ney, Long View finished the same distance away in third place. The winner, like Royal Fairy, is trained by his owners son, who Continued on Poge FUty-Thrc Report From Ireland By TIM A. VIGORS Continued from Page Six took out a license for the first time last fall. A A - A BLARNEY: Solar Slipper has sired another useful winner in Cloonroughan, who got home by a head in the ,800 Dee Stakes at Chester, run over 12 furlongs. Cloonroughan is out of the Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Morning Wings, a half-sister to Irish classic winners Grand Weather, Morning Madam and Good Morning . . . Hardly a day goes by without a winner by The Phoenix. This son of Chateau Bouscaut was originally syndicated for 48,000 but after several lean years his stock became unpopular. Now he is coming back into fashion . . . Irish-bred Vilmoray confirmed his position as top sprinter in England by defeating Crimson in the five-furlong Lubbock Stakes at Sandown. This was Crimsons first race this year and the shapely Kildare-bred filly may be expected to step up on the Sandown form.
