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Ireland Hartigan Stables Triumph, Disaster By TOM COOPER DUBLIN, Ireland. The running of the first two Irish classic races at The Cur-ragh last week resulted in triumph and disaster for the Hubert M. Hartigan stable. Disaster came on the first day of the two-day meeting when 14 colts lined up for the start of the Irish Two Thousand Guineas. The Hartigan-trained candidate, Tale of Two Cities, was made an odds-on favorite on the strength of champion-style victories in his two previous races this season. Other members of a cosmopolitan field included Irish-owned and bred, but English-trained and ridden, Sharragh, a steady second favorite; Calvero, Irish in all respects except tor great Australian - cum - French jockey Rae Johnstone, and Frank More OFerralls outsider, Sound Barrier, piloted by Johnny Longden. Leading north of England jockey Billy Nevett kept the favorite well hidden for the first five furlongs of the very strenuous Curragh mile. Then he could be seen frantically weaving to find a way past a solid wall of horses, but without avail. Meanwhile, former Irish champion jockey Mullane was hugging the far rails and making his way home as quickly as possible on the 25 to 1 long shot Arctic Wind. Calvero appeared on the stands side with the beginning of a typical Johnstone late run which ended in a swerve on a sticky patch of wet turf. A furlong from the post, Tale of Two Cities finally burst through the ranks, but, flying as he was, the Tehran colt failed by two lengths and a half to make up a deficit of almost eight lengths on Arctic Wind. Calvero finished two and a half lengths farther away, with Sharragh fourth. Sound Barrier, who had been one of the leaders in a slow gallop for the first half of the race, broke no speed records, and finished well back. Tale of Two Cities can be reckoned one of the most unlucky losers of an Irish classic race in a long time as there can be few doubts that he would have won comfortably had he got a clear run. Despite the favorites bad luck, full credit must go to Arctic Wind, who is owned by J. H. Thursby and trained by Mickey Rogers. Arctic Wind was always in the leading group and ran his race gamely. The winner is a good looking brown colt by Arctic Star, out of Cave of the Winds, by Holywell. Joe McGrath, owner of Sharragh, must have been compensated slightly for his own colts failure by the fact that Arctic Star was gaining his first classic success as a sire. Arctic Star is one of the powerful team of stallions at McGraths Brownstown Stud, which also houses Arctic Prince, Solar Slipper and Ballyogan. Arctic Star, being by Nearco, out of Serena, is a three-quarters brother to Arctic Sun, dam of the Derby winner, Arctic Prince. Next day came triumph for the connections of Tale of Two Cities when Pantomime Queen made no mistake in the Irish One Thousand Guineas. Jockey Nevett, again wearing the McLean tartan silks, looked much more at ease when cantering away in the final furlong to win by five lengths from the dead-heaters Fand and Move Forward. Pantomime Queen is a chestnut filly by the Hyperion horse Stardust from Ella Retford, who also won the first Irish fillies classic. Among the visitors at The Curragh were Canadian Max Bell and Americans Mr. and Mrs. Bullitt Biddle. Bell saw his two-year-old Panalley sprint home an easy winner of the five-furlong Barrow Plate. Panalley, having his first race, wandered a little through inexperience, but raced in copy book style when straightened out by jockey Ward. A powerful and masculine chestnut colt with great quarters, Panalley is a son of the evergreen Panorama, who sired a previous winner that day in Long View II. We believe that is will take an exceptional two-year-old to gain a verdict ,over Bells colt this year. Mrs. Bullitt Biddle saw her colors carried for the first time in Ireland by the speedy filly Winmars Kracker. With conditions all against her, the Krakatao filly ran a game race before going under in a photo finish to Flying Story and Agars Plough. Winmars Kracker has such wonderful action that we think she must win some more good races. Flying Story, a handsome son of the Derby winner Airborne, was a well-backed favorite to con- Continued on Page Forty-Seven " ReportTixmi Ireland By TOM COOPER Continued from Page Six tinue the winning run of the McGrath-owned, -trained and -bred youngsters. BLARNEY: It has become our task to keep you informed of Irish news for a few weeks because our partner, Tim Vigors, is now enjoying American hospitality. If he is entertained as we were during a recent visit for the International Steeplechase at Belmont he is truly a lucky man . . . The Irish party back from Belmont are only now. settling down to normal after the most enjoyable trip of their lives . . . Trainer Dan Moore believes he has learned a lot from his experience and from studying American methods. He is keen to return next year with a better horse. The best looking two-year-olds we have seen so far this season are Panalley and Scamal Fanach in Ireland and Nashua and Natasha at Belmont. Scamal Fanach, a charming filly by the Derby winner Nimbus was beaten in her debut in heavy rain at Phoenix Park last Saturday. We were most impressed with Nashua and Natasha, both racing hi the Belair Studs colors at Belmont ... Nashua arid Eddie Arcaro appeared to have a little hand when beating Summer Tan . . . The 1952 Irish One Thousand Guineas winner, also named Nashua, was likewise sired by Nasrullah. Natasha will belie her good looks as well as her good breeding if she does not become a top race-mare . . . Her half-brother, Black Tarquin, gains admirers every day in his new home j in County Carlow.
