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H : 1 1 England Sun Caps Oaks Win Johnstones 26th European Classic Success L By CLIVE GRAHAM J LONDON, England. The Derby victory of American-bred Never Say Die was capped by the French running over our fillies and finishing one-two-three in the Oaks. So, altogether, last week was not notably satisfactory for British breeders. Thei Oaks field appeared a mediocre collection of fillies, with Altana by Arbar "and Bara Bibi by Bois Roussel looking the pick. Betting tobk an unusually wide range, and at post time the bookmakers were offering, "Eight-to-one Altana -the -field." second and Bara Bibi fourth, both ran with credit but in the last two furlongs had no chance with the gray filly, Sun Cap, who came away clear to win by six lengths. This was Rae Johnstones 26th European classic success. Sun Cap is inbred to Teddy at three removes. Sonny Boy, her sire, is in direct line of male descent from Teddy, through Jock and Asterus, and. is himself closely inbred to Gainborough. The Oaks winners is out of Cappellina, by Le Capucin out of Bel-lina. She was by the gray French stayer, Belfonds, out of Edwina, by Teddy. Phil-ante, by Sayani, kept Bara Bibi out of third place by a short head. Then, three lengths back, came Festoon, winner of the One Thousand Guineas, who found the Oaks one and one-half miles beyond her staying capacity. The time was almost four seconds slower than the Derby, mute testimony to the quality of this classic field. AAA One of the most stylish performances of the week was. recorded by Aureole, who beat Chatsworth an easy five lengths in the "Coronation Cup, with Nearula, the same distance away, third. Aureole settled down kindly for Eph Smith, and his temperament has now taken a distinct change for the better. Credit for this improvement is attributed to elderly white-bearded Charles Brooks, a London nerve specialist. The form of treatment to which Aureole has been subjected makes strange reading. This consists of the "horse psychiatrist" placing one hand on Aureoles withers, and, with the other, massaging his stomach muscles. This treatment, which lasts half an hour, was carried on several times weekly on the fretful Hyperion colt during the winter. "It should not be overlooked," re- marked Capt. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, "that Aureple has a first-class and most-devoted groom, who spends .much of his leisure time attending to him." The captain reserved Premonition, his other Cup horse, for the two-mile Winston, Churchill Stakes at Hurst Park, and we took John D. Scha-piro, who had been an Epsom clubhouse spectator, to see this colt in action. AAA There were only six starters and the bookmakers asked for odds of 1-8 on the St. Leger winner, who had 7-year-old Osborne, 25-1, as pacemaker. Both horses are owned by Brigadier W. P. Wyatt. To general consternation Osborne performed his mission with such zeal that it was only in the very last stride that Premonition, under extreme pressure, was able to get his nose in front. Owners and trainers horses are not coupled in England for betting purposes, and there was much comment afterward, for it appeared that if Osbornes rider had given him only one tap with the whip the outsider would have won by half a length or more. It is an embarrassing situation for all concerned. The Hurst Park stewards found that they could not accept the explanation given by Captain Boyd-Rochfort and Royce Burrows, the rider of Osborne, and referred the matter to the stewards of the Jockey Club. AAA Johnny Longden -got a great reception when he rode Bird Song to victory for Lord Cadogan. Doing so he struck a blow for American jockeyship. Many owners had been reluctant to give Johnny a chance on a fancied runner before his ride in the Derby on Blue Sail. We hope in the not too distant future to welcome Eddie Ar-caro. Ted Atkinson and others over here . . . The victory of Royal Palm in the Woodcote Stakes was narrowly but cleverly gained. This all-quality bay brother to Royal Serenade lost ground coming down the Epsom hill, but closed with a devastating late rush. . . . Never Say Dies main objective will now be the Doncaster St. Leger in September. He was not entered for the Ascot prize in July. Arabian Night, second in the Derby, will go in this race, and so will Aureole, runner-up to Pinza last year. AAA It would seem on the evidence at present that this seasons crop of 3-year-olds are inferior to the 1953 vintage. Two weeks before the Derby, Narrator, who finished fifth, was tried at Newmarket against Chatsworth, who filled the same place last year. Chatsworth was asked to concede the younger horse the scale allowance of 20 pounds . .-. Theoretically, therefore, Chatsworth and Narrator should have been head and "head at the end of this trial. The older horse, however, had the better of ..the 3-year-old all the way and finished five lengths in front of him.
