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«" , Wft-H * - Weighing In By Evan Shipmgn Shipboard Bred to Jump, Loyes His Trade j King Commander on Shelf Until Saratoga Brookmeades Kabyle Promising Chaser BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 4.— By winning a smart renewal of the Meadow Brook Steeplechase Handicap last Thursday in addition to «" , the the Corinthian Corinthian earlier earlier in in the the the the Corinthian Corinthian earlier earlier in in the the meeting, Montpeliers fine young fencer, Shipboard, assumes the leadership of this interesting but not over-large division. The stable now has its sights set for the Georgetown and Indian River, important chasing features of the current Delaware Park meeting, and from the style little Shipboard has shown recently over Belmonts big fences, the even even larger larger fences fences at at Delawares Delawares Wft-H even even larger larger fences fences at at Delawares Delawares "outside course" are not going to bother him too much. In the Meadow Brook for instance, it actually looked as if Shipboard was gaining a couple of lengths on his. opposition each time he negotiated one of the back-stretch obstacles; he goes about his business as if he really loved jumping. If that surmise is correct, Montpeliers homebred chestnut certainly comes by the taste naturally since his sire, Battleship, was both a Belmont and Liverpool Grand National winner for Mrs. Marian duPont Scott, while his dams sire, Annapolis, was also a better than fair lepper in his day. Occasionally, as when he tumbled at the next-to-last fence in the recent International of unfortunate memory, Shipboards gay enthusiasm for his trade is compromised by careless-nessrbut we have noticed that when he does surprise his friends by going down, the mistake serves as a wellheeded warning for a long time thereafter, Shipboard clearing the brush on subsequent outings with plenty to spare. Suffered Similar Mishap Last Fall If, little Shipboard picked himself up unscathed following his International mishap, his arch rival, King Commander, who also went down at the very same fence in the sadly diasppointing feature, was not so fortunate. According to trainer Micky Walsh, King Commander not only had to remain in the barn for the Meadow Brook running but will not see action at Delaware Park either, the date for the resumption of his campaign now being set for the Saratoga meeting. It is not only unfortunate but also a valid criticism of both good horses that they rarely have performed at their peak in the same race. Last fall in the Belmont Grand National, Shipboard won after King Commander fell. Until his disastrous error, King Commander had looked better to us than at any time during his short but brilliant career over fences, but then the best steeplechasers — as we were forced to remind ourselves — just do not fall, witness Rouge Dragon and grand old Elk-ridge. Following that Belmont Grand National last October, it was confidently expected that the Temple Gwathmey Cap, this race again bringing out Shipboard and King Commander, would settle the question as to which of the talented pair was the top chaser of the 54 season. The resut of that Temple Gwathmey was just as equivocal as that of the Grand National had been shortly before. This time, it was Shipboards H-urn to fall, King Commander, a shade more cautious than he .had been, scoring a close victory over Mrs. Ogden Phipps excellent young horse, Neji. That result earned the title of Steeplechaser of the Year for King Commander in the subsequent annual polls, and that was ! the way this observer voted. However, we would have cast our ballot with a clearer conscience had King Commander himself not been guilty of several costly mistakes during the campaign under consideration. In j the imaginary race that kept unfolding before our minds eye; Shipboard and King Commander, both fencing faultlessly and showing their customary speed on the flat between obstacles, came to the finish so closely matched that it was strictly a matter of our own mood in picking the winner. Had a Sophomore Campaign on the Flat A promising recruit to the rather meager ranks of the local chasers is Brookmeades roan Kabyle, a five-year-old gelding by Mahmoud out of the fine Jamestown mare, Rosetown, that trainer Arthur White uncovered in a modest event with optional claiming conditions over the big obstacles. Kabyle was the only member of this field, otherwise composed of veteran jumpers, who was not running with a price tag attached, and after closely watching his initial trip in public over any kind of jump, wTe were at no loss to understand the stables caution. Because of this ones unusually fashionable pedigree, he had left a dim recollection with us from two seasons ago, at which time he performed quite inconspicuously on the flat. In the meantime, White has progressed no little distance with Kabyles education as a fencer. His action last Tuesday was bold and sure for jockey Charley Harr, and for one turn of the field, although this was his seasonal debut, he had no difficulty in racing with the leaders. Well through the backstretch the second time, Kabyle commenced to grow leg-weary, allowing a stablemate to pick up the battle, but, take it all in all, this was a most auspicious showing. We feel sure that the oddly-colored Brookmeade gelding will reflect plenty of credit on Whites patient, skillful work before the end of the season.
