view raw text
_______ fi»»mmx mmmmmwm | • i — 1 Italy Newly-Elected President of Republic, Giovanni Gronchi, Views 72nd Derby 1 By F. LANDES Rome Correspondent, Daily Racing Farm ROME, Italy. — Italian turfdom can look with increased confidence to the future. The newly-elected president of the Republic, Giovanni Gronchi, is a confirmed friend of racing. Seen often at the capital citys race tracks, he has never made a secret of his interest in the exciting and noble sport of the well-bred, speedy horse. During the recent recent crisis crisis in in Italian* Italian" _______ i . . . 1 f e - - recent recent crisis crisis in in Italian* Italian" racing, when tracks had to be closed for a month to escape the overwhelming tax burden, he helped in his then capacity as president of the Chamber of Deputies by speeding a new, modifying bill for tax reduction which enabled racing to to be De resumed. resumed. i fi»»mmx mmmmmwm | to to be De resumed. resumed. Twenty - f our hours after inauguration day, his first day in office, Gronchi honored the turf with his presence at the 72nd running of the Italian Derby on Romes Capannelle race track Friday. It was the first time in the history of the young republic that a president witnessed the chief sophomore event of the year, renewing thereby a custom which the kings of Italy never failed to observe. AAA The chief of states arrival on the race field, with all the pomp and ceremony displayed on similar occasions in European countries, had a profound effect. Who does not remember here how scores of thousands of people once lined the Appian Way on Derby Day to watch the Royal cavalcade drive past? The renewal of this custom cannot but heighten the official recognition of the turf, which is so badly needed here. With this demonstration of good will, the hope is that the next government, to be appointed by the new president, eventually will give racing its chance with a new law permitting both existence and future development. A « A The 72nd Italian Derby, even if the forced absence of the two best representatives of the generation, remains the climax of the sophomore season. Much as the failure to nominate Ribot and Theodorica, the Tesio-bred colt and filly who are out-Italian Derby to Altrek Special to Dati* Racing Form ROME, Italy, May 13 Reuters — Altrek, owned by Caste Verde Stables, won the 1,896,666 lire 11,666 pounds sterling Italian derby at one and one-half miles today. Altrek, the favorite, ridden by Paolo Caprieli, won by a short head from the outsider Grand Rapids, owned by the Italian lawyer, Paolo Merzanotee, ridden by I. Gab-brielli. Third, five lengths away came Chiadina, three-year-old Ally owned by Rasza Del Soldo stable, ridden by Italys champion jockey, Enrico Camlet Chiadina was the second choice. Altrek is by Antonio Canala, out of Alton. Eight started. standing performers, is to be regretted, the 0,000 classic remains as attractive as ever. Eleven youngsters were pointed for it. Only two fillies were among them, both companions of the Rasza Del Soldo s Gail. The Castelverde Stables Altrek, unbeaten in his four races, was the odds-on future favorite. Since his first victorious outing last fall, his progress has been slow but steady through all the three races he contested this year. He emerged after his last success in the semi-classic Premio- Conte Felice Scheidler at a mile and three furlongs well qualified to be decorated with the "blue riband." The classic European distance of one mile and a half was calculated to cause him no difficulty. AAA Paolo Mezzanottes Grand Rapids and Gershwin, the Razza Del Soldos Gail, Chiadina and Hurry, the Aterno Stables Vado di Siella and others with lesser claims to be "most likely to succeed" are noteworthy. Last years second best juvenile, Gail, deceived his admirers since his successful seasonal bow in the 33rd Triennale. Partial to soft footing, he might not have found the track conditions suitable to his action in his last two appearances. Beaten by 10 lengths in the Premio 3 Emanuele Filiberto at San Siro by the generations leader Ribot over a mile and a quarter, his failure in the Roman Premio Conte Felice Scheibler could also be explained " by the fatigue of his journey from 1 Milan and by the fact that he was unfamiliar with the Capannelle course. He e Continued on Page Forty-Six - ; 1 1 • • 1 - 5 - i - I 5 s . , • , E g -i J i " Report From Italy By F. LANDES Continued from Page Eight will be ridden by the Dormello-Olgiatas crack jockey E. Camici, especially engaged for the occasion. I A A This points to the probability that trainer Federico Regoli still reckons with him, particularly, if the going should be to his liking. But it remains to be seen if he has enough stamina. Stable jockey S. Parra-vani, anyhow, preferred once more the mount on Chiadina, although she had to acknowledge under him the superiority of her stables second entry Vasco de Gama, now on the sidelines, in the classic Premio Parioli at one mile and a quarter. Since then she finished fourth at San Siro in the Premio Emanuele Filiberto at the same distance after having set the pace for her stablemate Gail. The third carrier I of the same silks, the filly Hurry should have the task over the first part of the course. Difficult to value are Grand Rapids chances. Form students will observe that he was "only third in the Premio Parioli be- j hind Vasco de Gama and Chiadina and had to admit another defeat later from the four-year-old Verdun in the Premio Natale di Roma at one mile and a sixteenth, although he received a 15 -pound weight allowance from his older rival. Grand Rapids stablemate Gershwin is a doubtful factor as the Macherio colt ran last Sunday at Milan and disappointed his followers by finishing last of four under bottom weight in the traditional ,000 Premio jAmbrosiano at one mile and a quarter," won easily by the Razza Del Soldo s five-yer-old Alberigo under top weight, who scored by three lengths over, Laszlo and the French invader Haridelle. AAA Rome -bred Vado di Siella is the pride of local horsemen. Last in the Premio Parioli. he showed some improvement when he ran second to Corvino, another of the absentees for lack of nomination, at one mile and a half. Just a week before the Derby date, he nabbed a brilliant victory at one mile, three and one-half furlongs. In 1953 his owner took and was entitled to a measure of credit for Rivisondolis win. This year his hopes are high that the Dante colt will do as well. i A victory for any of the others would come in the nature of a surprise. At the ; same time, it is to be remembered that the. record of the past 71 Derbys is spotted with; the unexpected but even if we are rather positive and opinionated on the eve of this 72nd running of the Italian Derby, in ex -J pecting Albroke to enter the winners cir-jj cle, we still wish that the best compete, in this greatest test of breeding. ** I
