view raw text
, _ Ireland Jockeys See Film Patrol in Action By MICHAEL OHEIUR Our Dublin Correspondent DUBLIN.— As a prelude to the official use of the film patrol for the first time at The Curragh last Wednesday a special , _ showing showing of of films films was was _ showing showing of of films films was was given for the jockeys and their reaction was interesting, to say the least. Many had heard of this system of movies, few had seen it in operation. Many thought it was going to be very funny looking at themselves and their pals in action and as we awaited the start of the the, showing showing there there was was the the, showing showing there there was was a good deal of good humored chat amongst the riders. t The two meetings chosen for showing to the lads of the saddle had a good deal of incident, but the first race they saw was devoid of anything out of the way. However as they saw race after race, the light-hearted humor disappeared as they saw horses crossing the course, others not being hard pushed, in one case a bump — in fact everything that the film patrol can show up. Gone were the wise cracks and in their place a gentle whispering of "did you see that" or "did you see this." In fact it can be said that the first showing of films to Irish jockeys made an impression and they now realize that the seeing eye can pick out their wrongdoings and present them over and over again .for the deliberations of the stewards. It may have been imagination or even coincidence but several people remarked after that days racing at The Curragh that never before had riders come up so straight and so devoid of crowding as they did after seeing the films of earlier events. If this be true it is a good start and those of us associated with the film patrol hope that its good uses will be of far-reaching consequence. There were of course those amongst the riders and the trainers who later saw the films who were not impressed, but when one recalls the battle that the advocates of the system had in a country of progressive machinery such as America it is small wonder that there will be those who will be slow to join the film patrol supporters club. Turning now to the racing of recent times we saw the three-year-old Free Handicap winner Tharp add another win to his credit in the coveted semi-classical Tetrarch Stakes over 7 furlongs at The Curragh. There are, those who were inclined to play down his Free Handicap win as a fluke, but his good, if narrow, win over the promising Hard Ridden in the Tetrarch had the stamp of quality. Tharp is not in the classics, but he will be entered for coming big sprints and 7-furIong events at Goodwood and York. He. was a real bargain when The Curragh Bloodstock Agency paid under ,000 for him as a yearling at Balls-bridge sales. He is by Limekiln, sire of winners of over 100 races on the flat and over jumps and himself a winner of a couple of small races. The dam, Mother Rectress, is by His Reverence, out of High Prestige, and so is a full sister to Grand Inquisitor, a very useful type flat racer of a few years back and now sire of many winners, including Mr. What, the winner of the Grand National.. We expect the breeding purists might skip over Tharp, but they have often passed over good horses before on that score. Tharp is a good horse, a fact which he has proved in his two wins this season. The runner-up here was Hard Ridden, another cheap horse costing under ,000 at the sales to Sir Victor Sassoon. This son of Hard Sauce is in the classics here and in England and we venture the opinion that he will not be very long a maiden. ArctSceelagh made his 1958 debut here and ran well, though out of the money. They did not go a hot pace early, but when they did turn on the speed they did it very quickly and the staying Arcticeelagh could not go with them in their last 2 1-2 furlongs dash. He was staying on and we consider him a very live candidate for longer distance races here and elsewhere also. He is a good clean horse Continued on Page Forty-Nine Report From Ireland By MICriAEL OHEIIIR Continued from Page Ten with a future as a three - year - old to. match his record at two. Tliarp, incidentally, is owned by North of Ireland sportsman A. Adams and is trained by Cecil Brabazon father of Aubrey Brabazon at The Curragh, Useful as the colts race was, we were jmore Impressed by the fillieS "event-, the Athasi Stakes, won by Minou, a grand, filly by Court Martial, out of Tiva, and trained by Capt. Darby Rogers. She had shown fine promise at two, was left badly in one of Ascots big two-year-old races last year, i yet finished on top of the placed horses. [ She then developed diabetes and was put out of action. That she has wintered well and refound her form "was shown by this smooth effort in which she drew away from a useful field outside the distance to win in impressive style. She is to run .in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and then will take on the best of her age and sex in Britain and France in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot in June. Her trainer, one of our most shrewd judges, rates her highly as he also does his other classically engaged filly, Madame Caroline. She did not run in the Athasi Stakes, but will go to Chester this month to run in the Cheshire Oaks in which she should go well. , Irish Airs: The first of Hill Gails Irish runners, Gail Prince, ran at Naas last Saturday and after running green finished third, and should improve on that with the race. . . Winner here was Last Line, by Cagire close relative of Turn-to, out of Tackier, winner of good races here, and the dam of winners. . . . Runner-up, beaten inches, was Kllrane, but most eyes were on Gail Prince, who started a warm favorite, but was a beaten one. . . . Next week is Spring Show week in Dublin and there will be racing galore in the Dublin area, including two evening meetings not under lights, of course, but in Gods good light. .... J. McGrath, Irelands leading racing owner, breeder and chairman of the Racing Board, has been elected a steward of the Turf Club. He has for years been one of the driving forces behind Irish racing. . . . We may. be a small country but we seem to have go ahead ideas as we introduced course commentaries and film patrol to this side of the Atlantic.
