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Reports From Foreign Racing Centers Ireland 4 Fred Turner Cables Bert Kerr Thanks7 By MICHAEL OHEHIR Our Dublin Correspondent DUBLIN— That the result of the Kentucky Derby should cause a stir in a household in Drumcondra, a suburb of Dublin, may seem strange even in this day of international racing, but Bert Kerr, the man who bought Tomy* Lee for Texan Fred Turner, was almost speechless with excitement at the end of a race he heard of in a strange way. We learned that the race was being broadcast over the American Forces Radio in Germany and so within earshot of Irish listeners and we phoned blood- stock buying expert Kerr, giving him details of the coverage. He was in fact £ a listening to the Bryan Fields preamble I on the event when the phone rang in the £ Kerr home with a call from Hollywood, I California, some 6,000 miles away. On £ the other end of the line was Bert Kerrs good friend and famous film producer and racing fan Raoul Walsh who in his 1 Hollywood home was looking at the TV ■ coverage of the race and over the phone gave Kerr in his Dublin home a descrip- « tion of the goings on as he saw them — 1 a small world indeed as Ed Morrow or Siobhan McKenna might say. i When the race, the objections and all the hullabaloo was over, Bert Kerr phoned J me to tell me of how he had the call from ] California and we can vouch for the fact that he was excited and delighted with the 1 win of little Tomy Lee as if he still owned the colt. ! In 1956 he went to Newmarket sales with an order to buy a foal which Fred Turner had picked out in the catalogue and he went to view the little fellow a i few days before he was due in the ring. Kerr was not taken by him at all and cabled his suggestion that this foal should not be bought to Turner and that seemed to end the matter. Next day during his usual inspection of lots coming up for sale Kerr saw a colt by Tudor Minstrel out of Auld Alliance and cabled Texas with the suggestion that this was the foal to buy. By return came the reply — "buy him and go up to 5,000 dollars for him." He was in fact bought for less than half that sum — ,000 — and we now know him as Tomy Lee. Last December when Kerr and Turner met in London the Texan was insistent that the Irishman would go to America for a trip, but the ever busy Kerr who is reluctant to travel merely said "If Tomy Lee wins the Kentucky Derby Ill go". On Sunday morning, the day after the Churchill Downs classic a "cable arrived in the Ken-home from the winning owner "Thanks for big win, now you will have to come out" — and at that he might too. We have known Bert Kerr for many years and when one does know him it is so easy to understand how he is one of the most popular people in Irish racing and breeding circles. The success his judgment has brought him is great, but he remains unassuming and unchanged, in fact a real example of natures gentleman — a pity there are not more like him in the international world of racing. A plane left Dublin last Sunday headed for Italy with a recent purchase of the Graham Farms on board, a mare named Gay Nida by Niccolo dellArca — Gay Lydia . This mare which Barney Fagan has i just sold to the American stud we mentioned has gone to be covered by the mighty Ribot and incidentally she has the ; 1 grandest looking colt foal by Fighting Don | that one could wish to see. Those who have ■ seen him are delighted with him in his entire make-up and we shall watch his 3 progress with considerable interest. Gay Nida is a very well-bred mare, the dam Gay Lydia being out of Merriment who was by Solario out of Mirth providing a line of classic winning blood through Derby winner Humourist and Oaks winner Jest. This week end Irish racing interests will 1 he Paris bound with John McShains Gladness out to become another first — the first Irish-trained runner to win the French 1 Gold Cup. Whatever happens with her. we can say that she is in wonderful form and * Continued on Page Twelve Ireland By MICHAEL OHEHIR Continued from Page Ten fit to run for any prize against any company and we feel that, while it is always bordering on the folly to say outright that any visitor will win in France, she will give Wallaby and the others ,more than their share of trouble. Gladness has made history many times last year and we think shq will do so again in Paris tomorrow. Wingail, a filly by Hill Gail, was one of the two-year-old winners at Phoenix Park last week end when Mr. Joe Mc-Graths filly held on well to beat a filly named Calico who is by Coaltown another American sire. The winner has* run well a couple of times before this victory and she may win again. From the owners point of view the most satisfying aspect of the race was the success of yet another of the progeny of the sire he brought to this country. # Irish Airs: Ballymosss half brother by Chamossaire is reported to be developing well at the Irish National Stud where he was foaled . . . Chamier, Irish classic winner of a few seasons back, has been getting winners at stud and had another at Englands Newmarket last week . . . The Irish classic meeting of the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next with French and possibly English invaders . . . Alec Head and Aly IChan are raiding with runners in both races but the identity of their actual runners is not available as we. write. Charlie Smirke, known the world over as "Cheeky Charlie" rides the Irish hope Anthony for Lord Fingall who looks after Sir Victor Sassoons stud interests in these parts and who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Roddy Owen this year. The owner is also a director of the National Stud and the colt is trained by Mick Hard Ridden Rogers. Hard Ridden is expected to have his first race on June 5 in Epsoms Coronation .Cup over the course and a trip that gave him Derby successes last year . . . Mrs. Darby Rogers wife of trainer Capt. Rogers received a present of a yearling last season from her sons Tim and Mick and named . him T. M. Adding to the value of the present is the fact that the two-year-old has already won in Ireland and should do so in England before long. The Dublin Spring Show was held this week and most interesting stand there was that of independent newspapers which spotlighted the great year Ireland had in international sport in 1958 by displaying the trophies won. Feature of these are the many cups won by Mr. John McShain with his horses Gladness and Ballymoss and which he very kindly allowed flown over specially from Philadelphia for this show, with TWA doing an excellent job in delivering the goods which the owner so generously lent . . . Another sign of the considerate outlook of a popular owner.
