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Ireland Theory Confirmed By Never Say Die By TOM COOPER DUBLIN, Ireland. The easy victory of Mr. R. S. Clarks Never Say Die in the Derby at Epsom last week confirms a theory often expressed in this column. The theory may be summed up by saying that the mating of a top European stallion with a well-bred American mare, or vice versa will probably result in a top race horse. Certainly no better example could be found than Mr. Clarks colt who soundly trounced all the fancied Derby horses. Ridden with great confidence by eighteen-year-old Lester Piggott, Never, Say Die came to the front soon after entering the straight and thereafter the issue was never in doubt. The winner is a chestnut colt by Nasrullah, out of Singing Grass, by War Admiral. Singing Grass was foaled in America in 1944 and two years later exported to England where she won three races as a three-year-old. Her first foal was a filly by Combat who won a small race at the little Irish country meeting Ballinrobe last year. After foaling the Combat filly, Singing Grass was bred to Nasrullah and sent back to Kentucky J where she" eventually produced Never Say Die. The pedigree of the Derby winners dam provides in itself a further good example of the crossing of American and European bloodlines. Her sire, War Admiral, was probably Man o Wars best son both as a race horse and a stallion. Her dam, Boreale, is a daughter of the great French sire, Vat-out and the American-bred mare, Galaday n., who, in, turn, was by the cosmopolitan Sir Gallahad lri., out of the English mare, Sunstep. Never Say Dies pedigree is therefore truly international as well as .being of the highest class. His victory recalls the 1939 running of the One Thousand Guineas and Oaks, both of which were won by Mr. Clarks Galatea XL, also trained, by J. Law-son. Galatea EL was a daughter of Dark Legend and Galaday XL Less than a week before the running of the Derby at Epsom Standing Holly caused a minor sensation by sprinting home 12 lengths clear of the nearest of 10 opponents in a six-furlong maiden race lat The Curragh. The connection between Standing Holly and the Derby may appear remote. Nevertheless, the Derby success of Never Say Die has increased The Curraghs winners value by a large percentage! Trained in Ireland by Michael Collins for Mr. Clark, Standing Holly is a shapely chestnut filly by The Cobbler from the Galaday II. family. Her history is parallel to that of Never Say Die. Her dam, Marie Galante, foaled a colt to Nasrullah in 1950 and this colt, later named We Dont Know, has won some good races in Ireland. In the same year, Marie Galante was bred to the young stallion, The Cobbler, arid sent to America i In due course she had a filly foal, which is now known as Standing Holly. It is difficult to assess the racing merits of this filly on this one performance. It is easy to fore-castr however, that she will be a very valuable brood mare. The Cobbler has had several promising winners from his first two crops, and he himself was well up to the best classic standards: As a general rule the best two-year-olds in Ireland are not raced before July. Trainer Paddy Prendergast has provided many exceptions to the rule as his charges Windy City, The Pie King and Sixpence II. among others all appeared early in the season. This year Prendergast has produced a colt and a filly, both of whom appear to be up to his best standard. The colt, Panalley, won his only race at The Curragh in the style of a budding champion. The filly. Cross Currents, also made a winning debut at the headquarters of Irish racing. A very handsome daughter of Migoli and Fractious, Cross Currents beat 22 other fillies by an easy two lengths. The three fillies who finished closest to her have all advertised the form since. It would not be too rash to pronounce the Prendergast youngsters to be the best of their age and sex in Ireland. Strongly challenging the supremacy of Panalley are Flying Story from the Mc-Grath stable and Ros Nuala trained by John Oxx. Flying Story is a strongly made chestnut ,coIt by the Derby winner, Airborne, out of an own sister to Ballyo-gan. Finishing second in his first race the Airborne! colt has remained unbeaten in three further races. His last performance was easily his best to date. At Leop-ardstown last Saturday he gave five-pounds and an 11 lengths beating to Win-mars Kracker. Ten days previously he had conceded three pounds to the same filly and finished only one and one-half lengths in front of her. If Mr. Joe Mc-Graths colt continues to improve at this . rate he will be extremely difficult to beat particularly on a stiff track. Ros Nuala won the valuable Boyd-Rochfort Plate at Continued on Page Forty-Nine Report From Ireland By TOM COOPER Continued from Page Six Phoenix Park on his first appearance on the race course. Backward in appearance, Mr. A. P. Reynolds colt belied his looks by producing a great burst of speed in the last furlong to beat Brogeen Oir and Royal Fairy. Again the form has been proved good as Royal Fairy, a much admired daughter of Royal Charger, had won the Brooke Plate, her only previous race. Ros Nuala is the third foal and third winner from the Panorama mare, Ladys View. His dam is characteristic of her sire, Panorama, as she was brilliantly fast on the race course and is how proving herself to be an excellent broodmare. Ros Nuala was sired by Persian Gulf and consequently should have sufficient stamina to be a strong force in next years Irish classic races. BLARNEY: One of the nicest foals we have seen this year is a chestnut filly by Royal Charger out of Ella Retford. Ella Retford won the Irish 1,000 Guineas herself and is dam of Pantomine Queen, winner of the fillies classic this year. It looks as if Woodpark and Confey Studs, Ltd., obtained a rare bargain when buy-in? Ella Retford in foal to Royal Charger for 2,300 at public auction 12 months ago . . . Encouraging reports are coming in about the welfare of Royal Approach. It was regarded as almost a national tragedy when Lord Bicesters great young steeplechaser hurt himself a few weeks ago. It is now believed that Tom Dreap-ers charge will be better than ever next season. Mrs. E. J. Kings popular green and white colors, so often carried to victory by the progeny of her stallion, His Slipper, have had a blank season until last week end. After Irish Slipper had broken the losing run at Leopardstown on Saturday. Sally Slipper gave a brilliant display at Baldoyle on Monday. Giving away a lot of weight all "round Sally Slipper cleverly won the Howth Plate, Irelands most valuable sprint handicap, thus confirming her position as top Irish sprinter.
