view raw text
Argentina Carapalida Scores Brilliant Comeback By HUGH LYALL Our Buenos Aires Correspondent BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. — Carapalida, phenomenal racing machine that he is, has staged a comeback. Making all the running in the 12 -furlong General Belgrano classic at San Isidro Sunday, he defied the heavy going and a strong headwind in the home stretch to win as he liked by 50 to 60 yards from seven rivals in 2:301/5. Better still: he pulled up apparently as fit and well as he has ever been. I | I I ] , j j I I | The restoration of a popular idol to his pedestal was expected by Press and public alike. He was backed as a certainty and those who supported him had their stake money returned: he did not pay out a centavo profit on the mutuel. Under the "descarte" ssytem of betting recently introduced he was officially excluded from place betting which was confined to selecting which horse would finish second. That honor fell to the consistent long-distance handicapper, Boni-ton, who returned his supporters 0.50 for two. Perhaps, without appearing to be hypercritical, one may be permitted to ask why Carapalida was ever allowed to lose his unbeaten ticket. When, exactly four weeks ago, he was beaten over a mile by the sprinter Effendi, it was generally recognized that he was not fully wound up. He had been away from the track for ten months and failed in the closing stages of a fast-run race after having :een subjected to pressure from the moment the tapes were raised. His collapse was so surprising that many people feared he was through as a racing proposition. His connections thought otherwise. At San Isidro Sunday he was a picture and won as he liked in the easy manner that was his characteristic in 1957. It seems a pity that a horse of such quality should not have been permitted to go down to history without a defeat. But he was the victim of sheer stupidity. As it is, his record is nine victories in 10 starts; and it is beyond question that had he not broken down during the latter part of 1957 he would have added the Argentine Derby and the Carlos Pellegrini to his many laurels. If he continues to stand up to training he ought not to have much difficulty in annexing any classic for which he runs this season. Sundays field was a poor one. Apart from Boniton and his permanent rival, Gambeto, there was not much else of value in the field, if we except Venusto, regarded as unlucky not to have won the Pellegrini in Carapalidas great year. But Venusto made no impression on the crack Sunday. After an early effort, he faded out of the picture and finished last but one. Another runner, Hispalo, had been showing first-class form in second-class company and was made second favorite. He was fifth far, far, behind the winner. Tanforan, use- ful handicapper, took third place, five or six lengths behind Boniton. Carapalida had not much to beat, but that is because there are no good long distance classic animals left in training in Argentina. Breakdowns and exports have played havoc with a sport calling for new blood of the highest quality. Unfortunately, the general economic situation and the collapse in the exchange value of the peso closed the highest -grade "markets to Argentine buyers. That was not the case when the local turf was being founded with the best bloodstock that money could buy. If there is all-around satisfaction at the return of Carapalida there is disappointment at the continued absence of last years champion, Manantial. It was stated recently that the horse was fit again and was being trained for a big classic at San Paulo, Brazil. It is now announced that the project has been abandoned and that the son of Gulf Stream will be prepared for a local classic. Commenting on the news, the racing editor of "Clarin" comes out bluntly with the opinion that Manantial will never race again. Unbeaten quadruple crown winner in the hands of trainer Dacosta, Manantial was handed over to A. Larrandart and then most unluckily broke down in training before Larrandart had a chance to run him. The horse then faded completely out of the picture, except for vague reports and rumors. As from May 1, prize money is to be in-Continued on Page Eleven ■ Argentina By HUGH LYALL Continued from Page Ten creased on the major tracks. There will now be a minimum of 80,000 pesos per race. This is only about 1,300 U. S. dollars at present exchange — little enough in face of constantly increasing costs of training and the higher prices that have now to be paid at the annual two-year-old sales. Pleased because our local jockeys have been behaving themselves during recent weeks, the racing authorities have declared a general amnesty to cover all suspensions excepting those imposed for doping. But the dopers need not complain; they are put down for only 12 to 24 months, whereas the real penalty should be a life sentence.
