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__TO___T__. ,"",■ ■"!;,■ IMS ► . England . Paddy Prendergast High on Daemon For Derby After Chester Vase Win * % ■ By CLIVE GRAHAM London Correspondent, Daily Racing Form LONDON, England. — Chester racing failed to produce any test which could be taken without question as a sound guide to the Epsom Derby — with one possible exception. This was the Chester Vase, over an extended one mile and five furlongs. Although there were only five starters, there was no dawdling, as is often the case in distance distance events events of of this this nature. nature. Bicester, Bicester, in in* ~~ distance distance events events of of this this nature. nature. Bicester, Bicester, in in* blinkers, set a sprightly pace for the first mile, at which point he was passed by Lord __TO___T__. Derbys Derbys four-year four-year - - old old Derbys Derbys four-year four-year - - old old Herculaneum. Hercul-a n e u ms dominance was only momentary. Jock Wilson, who had been pressing Daemon to get on terms, suddenly found a surprising response. It was as if the lightly-raced Irish colt had not immediately comprehended what was required required of of him. him. With With required required of of him. him. With With the impact of the whip, he shot past Herculaneum in the stretch, and went away, to win by eight lengths. The difference in weight between the older and the younger colt was 21 pounds. On the weight-for-age scale, there was therefore only one pound in favor of Paddy Prendergasts Derby hope. A A * Considering the allowance that has to be made for the going, on the soft side, and a strong wind which blew against the runners on the backstretch, the time of 3:04% can be regarded as reasonably fast. In other words, there seemed to be no semblance of luck about the result, and Daemon showed enough stamina to guarantee his ability to last out the exacting Epsom Derby route. The big colt showed no trace of excitement or anxiety afterward, and speedily cleaned out his evening meal from the manger. Prendergast, who will be saddling an Epsom Derby runner for the first time, was frankly delighted. "I feel very hopeful that he will be in the first three on May 25," he remarked. Although normally an enthusiastic opponent of the bookmakers, Faddy is not betting on Daemon in the Derby. He holds the superstitious belief that his bet may cause bad luck. No Irish-trained colt has won the Derby since "Boss" Crokers Orby in 1907. a a .a Daemon is a son of the Italian-bred stallion, Niccolo Dell-Arca, by Coronach winner of the Epsom Derby in 1926 out of Nogara, the dam of Nearco. Niccolo DellArca was bred by the famed Frederico Tesio, and raced in Italy and Germany during the war. He won twice and was second twice in four starts as a 2-year-old 1940 and was unbeaten the following year, when his triumphs included winning the Italian Derby by 20 lengths. His best produce so far have been Daumier, Astol-fina both of whom raced in Italy and the English Nick La Rocca, winner of the 1953 Northumberland Plate and Doncaster Cup, and the filly Bebe Grande, an outstanding 2-year-old in 1952. On the side of his dam, Kyanos, by Blue Peter, Daemon comes from the same family as previous Derby winners Tulyar and Trigo. The Chester Vase was only the colts third race, and it seems highly probable that he will continue to make progress. Charlie Smirke, who had been Approached to ride . Our Babu, has been engaged for Basil Mavro-leons 3 -year-old. Charlie Smirke is still the ace among classic jockeys, with three previous Epsom successes on Windsor Lad 1934, Mahmoud 1936 and Tulyar 1952,- AAA Meld is the outstanding favorite for the Oaks at odds of only 2-1. Lord Roseberys Lark, a diminutive filly by Chanteur II., showed grit and stamina to win the Cheshire Oaks from Indian Pink and Soft Lights, but it is questionable whether she WuTbe able to match Strides with the bigger Alycidon filly at Epsom. Lord Rosebery also won the Chester Cup, and the 50-pound Cheshire Cheese that goes with it, when Rickaby forced Prescription to beat Romany Air in the last 50 yards. The victories of Daemon and Prescription who was carrying 125 pounds tend to confirm that the Hurry On male line, which appeared likely to die out in the 1930s, is now re-establishing itself. There were two Chester successes for American owners. Robin Scullys Magnum, a 3-year-old Migoli colt, caused an upset by winning the Grosvenor Maiden Stakes at 20-1. The little Palestine filly, Calcutta, owned by Mrs. John Hanes, scored her second success when first away and first home for the Lily Agnes Foal Stakes. Swept, a gray half-brother to Hasty House Farms brilliant grass performer Stan, short-headed Prefect for the valuable Kempton Park Jubilee Handicap. Turresia laid claims to being considered the best 2-year-old filly seen out this spring, when galloping home byi five lengths for the Minting Stakes. She I is Italian-bred, by the exported English stallion, Paper Weight. t * * * There was much interest evinced on this side of the Atlantic in the result of the Kentucky Derby. Khaled, the sire of Swaps, was one of the leading English 2-y ear-olds in 1945, and ran second to Happy Knight in the Two Thousand Guineas of 1946. He began then, however, to be troubled by a wind infirmity, and his form steadily deteriorated. "When he was a 2-year-old, he was a really lovely horse to ride, and I thought he was going to make a champion," Bobby Jones, his jockey, recalled a few days ago. . . . My Babu, Alycidon and Court Martial are the present leaders in the list of winning sires. The old-timers Hyperion and Nearco do not figure among the leading 10. Nearco car- Continvod on fage Forty-Eight
