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rr- — i — — New York I By Bob Horwood 1 Nerud Training Romopolis for Belmont Stakes Sees Another Gold Cup in Gallant Mans Future Inside Tract Also Points for Two-Mile Event JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y„ April 30. — A change of mind is said traditionally to be a womans privilege. Its often a mans necessity, there being no fool like a stubborn rr- — i fool, fool, young young or or old. old. Several Several months months fool, fool, young young or or old. old. Several Several months months ago, while understandably chagrined when Gallant Man was outvoted by Bold Ruler in this"" newspapers annual poll, Johnny Nerud declared that he would never again train a horse for the Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Few blamed the Ne-braskan for his outburst, or for his view that the colt who won the nations two outstanding races races over over a a distance distance of of ground ground — — races races over over a a distance distance of of ground ground was at least entitled to the three-year-old championship, if not Horse of the Year honors, and that 12 winning those races no longer conveyed this honor it was not worth training ircolt for the arduous task of getting a mile and a half in June or two miles in October. Things are a bit different, now, however. Nerud has another three-year-old in his care who is beginning to look something like a Belmont Stakes prospect, while Gallant Man is thriving on his work and quite different from the somewhat jaded colt who won last years Gold Cup in a hard struggle with Third Brother. As of now, Nerud hopes to saddle Halph Lowes Romopolis for the Belmont Stakes and is looking far enough ahead to see another Gold Cup in Gallant Mans future. Longer Run and Greater Prestige "Id rather win the Belmont Stakes than any race in the country," Nerud said while standing in Jamaicas bleak, damp paddock. "They can boost the Kentucky Derby all they like, and its agood race to win, but its been won by too many ordinary horses. When you win the Belmont you ha%-e a stud and theres nothing like that mile and a half to test a horse. Thats the race with the prestige." Perhaps it seems a bit like shooting for the moon to contemplate winning this years Bel- ■ mont with a colt like Romopolis, the son of Heliopolis — Roman Miss, by Roman, having won but a single race, but Nerud feels that this is intrinsically a good colt, who is improving every day. "Im not sure just what it is with him yet," he says. "If hes just sand shy, we can cure that.. But he was trying to get out in his last two races and Im notsure just why. Of course, hes not the soundest colt there is. but hes going along all right and I know he can run." Speaking of the Gold Cup, Nerud isnt the only trainer of a four-year-old who is already thinking ahead to that classic two miles to be run almost six months hence. Jack Weipert was discussing DeBrino and Martinis Inside Tract just a few minutes after Nerud indicated his change of mind regarding the weight-for-age classic and indicated that the Gold Cup was the ultimate objective of the Ace Admiral colt. You will recall that last year. Weipert developed Inside Tract from the middle claiming brackets to the point where he was able to finish a close third to Bold Ruler and Iron Liege in, the Preakness, then finished* second to Gallant Man in the Belmont Stakes. Rested since mid-summer. Inside Tract is breezing again and going more soundly than ever, according to his trainer. Good and Bad Side of It "You remember Gallant Mans race When* he won the Gold Cup?" Weipert asks. When you remark that the imported son of Migoli was obviously not his best that day, the_young trainer with the brush cut tells you, "what Im thinking is that if I had been able to have Inside Tract as good that day as he was in the Belmont Stakes, he would have had to beat Gallant Man." Which simply means that Inside Tract was, and possibly is, good enough on his good dayj to beat Gal-lant.Man when that colt is having a bad day. That is not quite as idle a conclusion as it might seem, because nothing else considered able to go two miles in stakes company last October was good enough to beat Gallant Man, even though that colt was obviously pounds below his best. Weipert is obviously intrigued by the thought that his charge is at least capable of beating the best two-mile colt in the country if that animal is not in top form. After all, that is something for a trainer to think about hopefully, for there is always the chance that his colts good-day will coincide with a bad day for his rival. As it happened last year, though Gallant Man was not at his best. Inside Tract was not even in training at all. Weipert is encouraged to think that this year might be different, since Inside Tract is", in his opinion, free from all the troubles that made it possible to buy him for about 3,000 a little more than a year ago. Manuel Ycaza took his mother, two brothers and a new agent with him to Kentucky. The Panamanian jockey, whose winning percentage at Jamaica is a sparkling .31, despite two disqualifications, is now in the capable and experienced hands of Carmen "Chico" Marin, who was for some, .years booking the engagements for Fernando Fernandez and Logan Batcheller. After riding Jets Alibi for Maine Chance Farm in the Kentucky Derby, Ycaza will return to Jamaica, where he finished in the money with all but 17 of his G4 mounts. If nothing else, the sometimes impetuous lad is persistent, refusing to give up with any of his horses. . . . Willie "Loose-rein" Nertney was a belated arrival from Florida. He began lining up mounts for jockey NEW YORK [ BY BOB IIORJVOOD Continued from Page Seven John Choquette, who is now at Churchill Downs, but will be at Jamaica in a few days.. . . . Hedley Woodhouse will go town to Garden State Park on Saturday to ride Mrs. J. R. H. Thourons Ben Lomond In the Valley Forge Handicap. The four-year-old son of Alycidon tired as though In need of his race in the Excelsior Handicap. ; . . Mrs. Adele L. Rands Clem is being given another chance in the Valley Forge Handicap. "I dont mind telling you his races have given us some consternation, since he looks so good and acts so good," Frank C. Rand. Jr. says. "We can only hope that the trouble has been a dislike for the track. He never has run very well at Jamaica, you know." It is true that Clem is dappled out like a perfectly conditioned colt, but runs like one who is jaded and track weary. It could be that he just hates Jamaica.
