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Italy ■ Theodorica to Start in Milan Stake As Botticelli Seeks Ascot Gold Cup : By F. LANDES Rome Correspondent, Daily Racing Form ROME, Italy. — At last, the veil that shrouded the Razza Dormello-Olgiatas plans for Botticelli and Theodorica has been lifted. Sfter the superior showing of the Owen Tudor filly two weeks ago in the Gran Premio Di Italia, her owner Marquis Mario Incisa, agreed witlv-fche majority of competent horsemen here that she should be good enougn to carry tne famed Tesio silks with a fair chance of success in the highlight of the Milan racing season, the Gran Premio Di Milano at 15 furlongs. It has, therefore, been decided that Botticelli, now free from, his engagement in the Milan race, should try his • luck nnnp ttinrp in ■Rncrlnnri His first objective will be the Gold Cup at Ascot on June 16, the greatest distance race in the world at its gruelling two miles and a half. The four-year-old demonstrated his top form in his owners presence last week in a workout on the San Siro grass course, breezing the Cups full distance in the excellent time of 4:28. Enrico Camici, who rode him in all his past outings, will pilot him again. Botticelli has a strenuous task before him. Last year he hurt himself when he jumped off the transport on his arrival in England. To avoid a similar accident, it was arranged for him to travel by road, rail and boat, leaving Milan with his stable companion, Murillo, for Paris, where he will stay over a couple of days at Chan-tilly. From there he will proceed to England, where he will be stabled at Hurst Park, about 10 miles from Ascot. At Hurst Park he will be given his last trial before going postward. In his quest for the stayers crown, the son of Blue Peter winner of the great race himself, but when it was xun during World War II. at Newmarket is handicapped by a physical disadvantage, his extremely small feet. Yet, on firm or good going Italys champion is a horse to be reckoned with, however formidable the opposition might be. A bit phlegmatic and lazy, as r. ost great race horses5 are, he is endowed with uncommon stamina. AA A Botticellis record entitles him to challenge Europes best. Only three defeats mar his shield. After three victories in a row at the age of two, he was mired in a sea of mud in the final classic of the Milan season, the Premio Chiusura at seven furlongs. As a three-year-old he began by winning six important races in this country, including the Derby, the Gran Premio dltalia and the Gran Premio Di Milano. On his ill-fated excursion to England where, after the interruption to his prep, necessitated by his self-inflicted injury, he succumbed in the groundless going of the King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at a mile and a half. He then scored an easy victory in the Italian St. Leger at a mile and six furlongs. In his last appearance of the year, he had to acknowledge defeat in the 5,000 Premio del Jockey Club, a duplicate of the French Arc de Triomphe, also run over a mile and a half, weight-for-age, at the heels of the French invader Norman, who scored his second consecutive victory in this important event. This year, Botticelli turned his three starts into as many victories, getting better all the time and winding up with his resounding canter in the "Gold Cup of Milan" at two miles and a quarter. Last seasons best money spinner on the Italian turf, he has earned to date the tidy sum of 50 million lire about 0,000 . In Eng-I land he has the opportunity to enhance his already distinguished record by conquering such celebrities as last years Gold Cup and this years Prix du Cadran, winner Elpenor and the British hope, the recent Winston Churchill Stakes victor, By. Thunder, the son of Nearco; AAA Last Sunday, the curtain came down on the Capanrielle spring meeting, which was not going too well even though the classics distinguished the programs. There were just too many races for too few horses. Forty-one racing days in three, months cannot be made exciting if not more than about 400 horses are available. The weather was generally co-operative yet the lack of competition in many races coupled with stiff admission fees, discouraged many fans. Attendance and play were below preceding years. I AAA In the overall interest of the sport it can only be hoped that the governments control racing board will curtail the number of days applied for by the Roman Racing Society for the fall season, eliminating particularly the Tuesday cards which have [always been a washout as things stand now, tracks want as many dates as they |can get. ! With purses and stakes guaranteed by the control board, they run no risk whatsoever. Their income is mainly influenced by the frequency of racing days because they bear only the expenses for the upkeep of the track and the outlay for office work and publicity. Admission, entry and training fees, stall rents and such, boosted by a small percentage from the mutuel and bookmakers turnover, balance these figures nicely. In the long run, of course, this short-sighted policy must be to the detriment of the sport. A classy field of not less than six or seven starters are a necessity for future development, and they can only be got together, considering the existing small number of thoroughbreds actually trained in this country, if the number of cards is drastically cut. At the end of this month the calendar for the next half year is to be published, and it remains to be seen whether the control board has heeded the lessons to be drawn from past experiences. AAA Now summer has arrived in Rome, and the heat during the next three months will be of such intensity that afternoon races are out of the question. Located just next to this capital citys airport, Ciampino, the Capannelle race track cannot be equipped with an illumination plant because of the air traffic. Thoroughbreds are consequently shipped to Naples, where a -night meeting opens Sunday at Agnano, the only combined track for harness and flat races in Italy with an inner half-mile sand oval for the standardbreds and an outer mile grass course for the runners. • The Naples Racing Society is therefore busy the whole year through. Just now the standardbreds who have performed these last few months for the benefit of the Neapolitan horse lovers, whose ranks have lately been reinforced by some U. S. Navy personnel stationed in the lovely Mediterranean port, are quitting their stables, making room for the nobler breed. They are vanned to Rome, where they continue activity on the half-mile Villa Glori track during the summer night season, culminating in the Trotting Derby on June 29.
