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WOODWARDS CUP CONTENDER - Maiden Black Devil Considered a Strong Possibility for Ascot. Bred in America by American Owner Marshall Field ni.s Enfield Also Among Formidable Ellgibles. Special Correspondence. NEWMARKET, England It is out of the ordinary, if not a record, to find a horse that is still a maiden figuring among the entries for the long distance "classic," the Ascot Gold Cup. This is the nomination of the American-bred four-year-old Black Devil, son of Sir Gallahad HI. and La Palina. Last season he gave two impressive displays when finishing second to Berestoi for the King Edward Stakes at Ascot, and to Bright Bird, for the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket, both of which races were run over the one mile and a half route. Those efforts show that Black Devil, which raced but once in his first season, promises to give of his best in distance races. Hence, he is present among the entries for such a classic event as the two miles and a half Ascot Gold Cup. Black Devil has been nominated by his American owner-breeder, William Woodward, who is also accountable for the entry of Alcazar, which horse was bred by him at the Middleton Park Stud in Ireland, and during the past two seasons has carried his "white and red spot livery" with distinction. Alcazar, bay four-year-old son of the successful Irish-bred race horse and sire, Achtoi, from the American-bred mare Pris-cilla r Carter, won five of his seven starts last year. He carried off such important events as the two miles and a quarter Doncaster Cup, the Great Ebor Handicap, the Chesterfield Cup Handicap, Norman Court Stakes, and Penryhn Cup, performances that point him out as a far more worthy candidate to bear the Woodward silks Ascots most coveted trophy event than his stablemate, Black Devil. FIELDS CESAREWITCH VICTOR. Another American-owned entry is Marshall Field IH.s Irish-bred four-year-old, Enfield, a son of that good distance racer and sire Winalot and Firecrest. Enfield proved his stamina last fall by winning the two miles and a quarter Cesarewitch Stakes at Newmarket, having previously carried off the two and one-eighth miles Newbury Autumn Cup Handicap. The above three horses are stablemates at Freemason Lodge, Newmarket, under the care of the successful Irish trainer, Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, who recently returned here from his annual visit to the land of the Stars and Stripes. Such horses as Alcazar, Black Devil and Enfield are rated as but top-class handicap campaigners here and are not put on the same level as last years Ascot Gold Cup winner. Felcitation, or Umidwar, both owned by the Aga Khan; the Derby-St. Leger hero, Windsor Lad, nominated by Martin H. Benson; or the possible French invaders, Baron Edouard de Rothschilds unbeaten champion, Brantome, winner of the French Two Thousand Guineas, and St. Leger, and Marcel Bousacs Thor II., the runner-up to Felicitation in last years Ascot Cup. A meeting at Royal Ascot of Windsor Lad, believed to be the best horse raced here in years, and the unbeaten French invader, Brantome, rated the horse of this century in France, should make this seasons Ascot Gold Cup the most interesting in many years. It is worthy of notice that both these champions are four-year-old sons of that : good race horse and excellent sire, the Irish- : bred Blandford, which is also the daddy of : Umidwar. This makes one wonder what the odds would be against his three class sons filling the three money positions in the coming renewal of the classic. While Umidwar has a classic victory to : his credit, he did make his presence felt in Vhe Champion and Jockey Club Stakes and was the runner-up to King Salmon in the J Eclipse Stakes when Windsor Lad finished behind him in third place. He should prove : a useful running mate for Felicitation, which : horse the Aga Khan kept in training this : season with the express purpose of attempt- : ing to duplicate his last years easy success -and to take on all comers, especially last years classic champions, Windsor Lad and Brantome over a distance at which the son of Colorado has already proven his, worth. On last years result Felicitation should again hold the French owned, bred and trained Thor II. and others which finished behind him. True, when Felicitation in- vaded French racing circles last fall in the one mils and a half Prix de lArc de j Triomphe, he could finish no closer than third to the champion, Brantome, and As- suerus, another French nominee for the coming Ascot Gold Cup. No excuses could i be offered for Felicitation on that occasion, j except that he is pounds better over the six j furlongs longer route at Ascot.
