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Italy Oise Fortunate, But Merits Win By F. L ANDES Rome Correspondent, Daily Racing Form MILAN, ITALY. Last Sundays 2,250 Gran Premio di Milano, run at San Siro at one mile and seven furlongs and Italys richest prize in flat racing, resulted in a staggering surp rise. The great event promised to be a thrilling match between the Dormello-Olgiata pair, Botticelli and Theodo-rica, and French invader Sica Boy. Three days before, it became known that last years Arc de Triomphe winner preferred to duck the issue. The disappointment was keen and the race was shrugged off as a banal affair which would allow the Tesio-bred cracks to exhibit themselves in a well-paid public workout. Turf writers and forecasters, at a loss for words for their task to prepare fans for the event, which appeared to be a tame show without any promise of excitement, began filling their columns with comments that had hardly anything to do with the race. Wailings about the crisis in the thoroughbred sporty visible for anybody who wanted to. see, criticism and admonishment for reforms and improvements took the place of what should have been the usual eve-of-the race articles. There was nothing to say about the contest, deemed at the mercy of the Tesio silk-bearers. Then, just when race-goers prepared to leave their homes for the San Siro race track, it "began to rain, and to rain very hard. And this heaven-sent deluge was the reason why a seemingly boring race became one of the most sensational, electric and dramatic contests we have ever been privileged to witness. Poor Madame Cochery, if she had only known it beforehand. In such circumstances, the coveted purse could not have escaped her champion Sica Boy. Prudence is a laudable virtue in ordinary walks of life, but on the turf certain risks have to be taken, and the lady dispenser of luck sides usually with the courageous, enterprising go-getters. When it had been announced that Botticelli was going to Ascot, Sica Boy seemed ready to come to Milan, where he would have had to deal only with the minor danger of Theodorica. But since Botticelli had to return to his home stable after his interrupted journey and was declared a starter in the Gran Premio di Milano, Sica Boy became a late scratch. He missed an opportunity that will never return. Botticelli, for whom the winning of the feature seemed now pure formality, encountered a deadly enemy for his tiny feet, drizzling rain and a muddy track. He did manage to finish first by a head after a tremendous battle, but was set back to second on a foul. Razzo Ticinos six-year-old Oise was declared the winner, with Razza Del Soldos three-year-old Gail third by a head. Razza Dormello-Olgi-atas three-year-old filly, Theodorica, was fourth, two and one-half lengths behind Gail. Oise is the get of the French stallion Verso II., from Fior DOrchidea, by Apelle. His sire, an Arc de Triomphe winner, was the best horse of his generation. His dam, whose sire distinguished himself in 1926 as well in England and France, was an excellent racing mare and won the Italian Oaks. Oise has always been a mud horse, at his best on a sodden trrck. This was his fourth start in the Gran Premio di Milano. As a three-year-old he was second to Neebisch and at four finished third behind Toulouse Lautrec and Alberigo. He failed last year when Botticelli scored over his stablemate, Lorenzo Lippi, and the " German invader, Mangon. Oise is the first six-year-,old since 1906, when Keepsake registered for the second time, to inscribe his name on the roster. Even if this latest and greatest success of his career must be labeled "fortunate," he merited his award because of his-tenacious courage and consistency. A shrewdly judged ride by E. Trappolini contributed in jjo small way to his achievement. Mamh turfites wildly disagree with the verdict. They believed it to be too harsh. The stewards did not even wait for a claim of foul to be made, but acted before the horses had returned to the saddling enclosure. After 20 minutes of interrogation and deliberation, Botticelli was set back and his rider heavily fined. The foul came j Continued oh. Page Nin Report From Italy By F. LANDES Continued from Page Eight about at the decisive moment of the final-struggle, less than two-furlongs from home. Oise had taken the lead and showed the way into the backstretch where Theodorica " made her bid, supplanting him at the head of the pack. In the homestretch, Botticelli began to move on the leader. Oise was pocketed between the two stable -companions when Botticelli, attempting to put his head in front, interfered with the veteran, swerving markedly towards the rails. Theodorica began to weaken and Botticelli, straightened out, resisted the double attack of Oise and Gail, who rushed up on the outside. Not more than a head separated the three horses when they drove to the end in close alignment. The three-year-old Gail was the days revelation. Benefiting from the heavy going which he clearly prefers, he wiped off the slate his three previous disappointing performances. Rated the second best juvenile on the Free Handicap list, he began this season well enough, scoring over Grand Rapids in the Triennale at one mile. Then he succumbed by 10 lengths to Ribot in the Premio Emanuele Filiberto at 10 furlongs, was third in the Scheibler at one mile and three furlongs behind Arsk and Tabou, and ran a bad fifth in the Derby. This time lie was transformed and showed unsuspected stamina, finding his stride only in the last five of the races 15 furlongs. He certainly was bred for stamina, his sire Aristeo, a winner of 20 out of 37 races, being a half brother to the famed stayer, Arco, now a stallion at the Limestone Stud in England who won the Italian Derby and this same Gran Premio di Milano. Aristeos sire, the Teddy stallion, Ortello, who died in the United States .shortly after having been imported at a rather advanced age, is still remembered for his unparalleled run of victories as a three-year-old when he captured the Italian Derby, Gran Premio Dltalia, Gran Premio Di Milano, Italian St. Leger and Prix de LArc de Triomphe at Paris, beating the French crack, Kan-tar, by a. half a length. As a note of interest, it might be mentioned that Oises maternal grandmother, Osa, was a daughter of Olba, half sister to Ortello. Gails pedigree is equally expressive of transmitted staying power in the female tail-sector. His dam, Gaia, is granddaughter of Jane Andree, who produced Gaio, successful in five racing seasons. And before we close the chapter on this years Gran Premio di Milano, just a word about Theodorica. Obviously, the Owen tudor filly was sacrificed in the interest of Botticelli. Had she been her stables chief representative, victory might have been hers. -In the circumstances and because of the sloppy footing, which she experienced for the first time in her career, she has not lost her reputation of being the top filly of her generation. r ii iuIm i; -?
