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Italy Botticelli Vies With Sica Boy By F. LANDES Rome Correspondent, Daily Racing -Form ROME, Italy Razza Dormello Olgiatas crack Botticelli will have to gain his international laurels at home. At least, that seems to be his destiny since his second, journey to England this week came to an abrupt end shortly after its beginning. On his way to Paris in a specially equipped boxcar, the Blue Peter colt, with his stablemate Murillo, was held up at the Italian-French border town of Modane. Cloudbursts halted the railroad service at this highest point of the Alps crossing. Both thoroughbreds were returned to their quarters in Milan where their owner decided to give up the expedition, presumably also influenced by the confused rail situation in England which made the continuation of the journey from Paris to Hurst Park more than doubtful. As the Ascot meeting was postponed for the same reasons, it is possible that Botticelli will, after all, compete in the Ascot Gold Cup next month. In the meantime, the four-year-old will defend the prestige of Italian breeding on Sunday on his.home track, San Siro. Here, the 2,000 Gran Premio di Milano at one mile and seven furlongs promises to be one of the most interesting contests of the season and most observers anticipate that it will narrow to a duel between the Razza Dormello Olgiatas entry of Botticelli Theodorica and the French invader and Arc de Triomphe winner, Sica Boy. The leading Italian stables contract jockey, Enrico Camici, has not yet decided who he will ride. Sica Boy, who will have the French reinsman J. Massard in the saddle, will match strides with Botticelli under level weights, both conceding 17 pounds to Theodorica. The Tesio-bred pair, still unbeaten this season, will face strong opposition from Sica Boy, an international ace of first-class order. The son of Sunny Boy has turned in steadily progressive performances in his three Paris starts as a four-year-old. Third in his seasonal bow in the Prix Ganay at a mile and a quarter behind EIu and Soleil Levant, he could do no better than third three weeks later in the Prix Jean Prat at a mile and fifteen-sixteenths, beaten by Banassa and Prince Rouge. In his last trial, in the Prix du Cadran at two miles and a half, he turned the tables on the second horse in the Washington, D. C, International, and last years Prix du Jockey Club winner, succumbing though to the 1954 Ascot Gold Cup victor Elpenor. The result of the forthcoming Milan race might reveal the Italian bidder for this years Washington, D. C, International, if the bearers of the Tesio silks run to expectations and add the coveted prize to their fine record. At this time of year, the juveniles begin to merit consideration and some promising youngsters have already given the impression that they could be eligible for the future classics. The Razza di Roz-zanos Zevana started her career at San Siro with a brilliant success in the ,400 Premio DellAwenire at five furlongs. This fine filly sizzled the distance in less than a minute, :59H to be exact. She is sired by the Irish-bred 12-year-old Fine Lad, by Dastur, that unlucky brother of the Triple Crown winner Bahrain. Her dam, Zadracarta, by Zliten Zazzera, by Ortello, never ran but has reared two winners, Zornasco and Zampogna, Zevana being her third foal. The same owner presented another well-bred two-year-old in Zimone, who scored in the Premio Poncia at five furlongs by four lengths in l:0iys. This colts dam, the Nearco mare, Lady Mary Rose, was bought at the Newmarket sales in 1952 when in foal to Persian Gulf, sire of Zabara One Thousand Guineas; Queen of Sheba Irish One Thousand Guineas, and Zarathustra Irish Derby and St. Leger . In the first night race session this summer at San Siro, Razza Ticinos six-year-old stayer, Oise, nominated for Sundays Gran Premio di Milano, obtained a five-length revenge on French-bred Murano II., who had nosed him out of second place in the Gold Cup of Milan behind Botticelli in the ,000 Premio Cavalchina at one mile and seven furlongs. The highlight of the week was wit- where the oldest Italian classic for sophomores, the ,450 Premio Principe Amadeo, one mile and three furlongs, lured, in the absence of the generations leaders, all those who, in preceding stakes, had to be satisfied with secondary honors. Paolo Mezzanottes Grand Rapids, who had dared to challenge Theo.-dorica in the Gran Premio dltalia without the slightest effect and had then to pay for his temerity by losing second place to the Razza Del Soldos courageous Chiadina, succeeded this time in a half-length triumph over his .rival. The only one in the field of seven who, in the last sixteenth, could threaten was the Razza Dormello Olgiatas sturdy Aud-ran. The fast-finishing colt was third, a neck behind Qhiadina. It was a marked improvement over his earlier performances. The winner, who is by The Macherio, son of Ortello Teddy, comes through his dam, Gatta Ladra, of a stout line which produced the stallion, Grifone, winner of the same race in 1946.
