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Ireland Weather Dominant Factor in Racing By TOM COOPER Dublin Correspondent, Daily Racing Form DUBLIN, Ireland Anybody who has ever visited Ireland knows the importance of the weather. Apart from its primary func tion, which is, of course, to be a leading subject of conversation, the weather in Ireland plays some queer tricks on the unwary. A clear sunny Irish summers morning will develop into heavy rain, possibly with hailstones, b y mid-afternoon. A fine soft day, as it is contradictorily and eulog- istically Nealled by the native, is a day in which the leaden skies unceasingly pour down gentle but very wetting rain. Such weather, and we have had plenty of it this year, also considerably affects Irish racing and Irish race horses. When we want to be proud of our climate we praise the weather and give -it credit, along with our pasture lands, for raising good race horses. In different mood, when it has rained all afternoon at the races and the best bet of the day got stuck in the mud; we rather naturally blame the weather. A not quite so obvious consequence of the behaviour of the elements becomes apparent when one annually observes the development of two-year-olds. Two-year-old racing in Ireland commences on St. Patricks Day, March 17, as if you didnt know and after an easy winter it is customary to see the higher class juveniles appearing as early as April. After an exceptionally hard winter, such as that just gone by, the higher class youngsters are not likely to appear until two or three months later. Even though we have yet seen little of the sun and it is raining-almost every day, warmer conditions have resulted in some high class two-year-olds appearing in the last few weeks. It is too early yet to say whether we have seen a champion in the m making, but we have undoubtedly seen one or two youngsters capable of holding their own in any company. Such a colt is John Dunlops Kingsmuir, who made a winning debut at Phoenix Park two weeks ago. A striking chestnut, Kingsmuir covers an enormous amount of ground for a two-year-old, both when stationary and in action. The race chosen for his first appearance was the Arnott Plate, which is an Irish equivalent of a stake. jll-- though opposed by only three rivals, Kingsmuirs task was not an easy one, as good form had been shown by Rampant, who had easily won his last race. As the tapes went up one of the other - runners bumped into Kingsmuir and knocked this rangy colt completely off balance. Despite this early interference Kingsmuir was going well after two furlongs and took the lead a furlong later to win comfortably by three lengths. His facile win was made more impressive by the fact that he ran green throughout, while obviously enjoying himself having a good look at, all the" surroundings. With this experience behind him we believe that Kingsmuir will meet few faster colts this season. This might be expected after a quick examination of his pedigree. He was sired by that very game race horse and consistent sire of speedy winners, Golden Cloud. Speed also appears on his maternal side as his dam, Rising Fair, is a daughter of Fair Trial, while further evidence of class is produced in the next dam who is by Blandford. Kingsmuir, who was bred by Captain R. P. H. Elwess, was bought for 0,000 at the Dublin September sales, one of many shrewd purchases made by trainer Charlie Rogers on behalf of Dunlop last year. "We are most hesitant about making a selection among the best of the two-year-old fillies seen in Ireland this season. We are torn between two fillies from the Prendergast stable. Some weeks ago we mentioned favorably Mrs. R. More OFer-ralls Sarissa, a charming filly from the first crop of the young stallion, Luminary. Sarissa has not appeared since winning her first race early last month and we understand she is being rested until later in the year. Her reappearance will be awaited with interest, as with more strength behind her it will take a really good filly to lower this ones colors. The other Prendergast filly is Wald-heims Nato, who won the Youngsters Plate at The Curragh, her only appear- : ance to date. Also a handsome chestnut filly, Nato has a pedigree which would make most stud masters green with envy. Sired by Court Martial, her dam, Safari Moon, is a winning daughter of Big Game and Moonstone. If the presence of Big Game, who is having great success as a sire of broodmares, is not sufficient, excitement may certainly be caused by Moonstone, who is by Mahmoud out of Rosetta. Students of breeding need hardly be reminded that this-is the family which produced My Babu, Turn-to, Alycidon, Festoon, Sayani, and Ambiorix, to mention but a few of the world class horses descending from Marchetta in the last few years. Blarney: The recent American successes of Blue Choir, Summer Solstice and Bay of Bengal once more underline the quality of Irish-bred horses. . . . Tim Vigors reports from France that Verrieres, a son of Palestine, appears to be one of the best two-year-old colts seen so far this season. One of the best English two-year-olds to date is the Royal Charger colt, Giles De Retz. . . . The brothers Pat and Toss Taaf fe rode Early Mist and Lucky Dome, respectively, for trainer Vincent OBrien in the French Grand National last Sunday. Lucky Dome J finished third. 1 . : 1 .
