STEADY AIM WINS OAKS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 7

STEADY AIM WINS OAKS

KING’S FILLY DISAPPOINTS

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, June 7.

The major fillies* classic, the Oaks, run at Epsom to-day, resulted in a three lengths’ win for Steady Aim from lona, with Nelia another three legths back. Their Majesties the King and Queen, Princess Elizabeth, and Queen Mary were cheered as they arrived at Epsom and were driven along the course to the Royal box. Mr Winston Churchill, who had arrived 10 minutes before the Royal party, was also cheered.

There was disappointment when the King’s filly Hypericum, winner of the One Thousand Guineas, could run only fourth.

The Oaks attracted 10 starters, and the mile and a half was run in 2min 41sec, an improvement of 3 3-ssec on the time taken for the Derby. Steady Aim was nominated for the Oaks by MTs D. Walter, who has since tiled.

A bay filly by Felstead, which died only a short time ago, Steady Aim was bred by Sir Alfred Butt, who bought her dam, Quick Arrow, at auction in January, 1942, for 700gns. Steady Atm, which won her only .race as a two-year-old, is thus a first foal. Her dam, Quick Arrow, was bred in France by M. Leon Volterra, the breeder of the 1938 Derby winner Bois Roussel, She won in France as a two-year-old, and also won twice over one mile and a half in England as a four-year-old, beside being placed several times. Quick Arrow is by Casterari (by Fiterari, winner of the Grand Prix de Paris, 15 furlongs, from a daughter of Son-in-Law) from Quick Change by Hurry On from Rroderie by Tracery from Princess Sonia by Orion. Quick Change also bred Chrysler II and Tout Change, both of which won in England, the latter winning, among other races, the Newbury Summer Cup. Chrysler II is now at the stud in the United States. Steady Aim has a wealth of staying blood in her pedigree, and is the second classic winner sired by Felstead, a great grandson of Carbine. It seems that Felstead’s fame at the stud will rest on the fillies he sired, as his only other classic winner was the great filly Rockfel, one of the, outstanding fillies to race in England this century. However, it is highly probable that, but for the war, Steady Aim’s dam would not have been sold and the Oaks winner never bred, as M. Volterra maintained a successful stud In France. lona, which finished second, was bred by her owner, Lord Rosebery, and is by Hyperion from Jiffy, the dam of the Derby and Gold Cup winner Ocean Swell. Last season she was reported to be big afad backward, but the stable had great hopes of her. Frank Butters, the trainer of the winner, prepares one of the biggest teams at Newmarket, and his patrons include the Aga Khan. He has been leading trainer on six occasions, and in 1934 he trained the winners of £88,844, the second largest sum ever credited to a trainer in England. Career Probably Ended

The seven-year-old gelding Duality has probably finished racing, having broken down during the running of the Connelly Handicap at Wanganui. By Inflation from Ingenuity, an Australian-bred mare tracing to Merry Trick which was bred at Stonyhurst in 1909, Duality comes from the same family as Surveyor, Cricket Bat, and Fast Passage, and he made a good return to form in the spring when he won the Masterton Handicap and the Waverley and Rangitikei cups. Two placings in addition credited him with £950 in stakes for the season. The chances of a horse of his age recovering from ligament trouble are small.

Ashburton Racing Club Nominations for the winter meeting to be held on June 22. will close with the secretary, Ashburton, To-day (Monday), June io at B p.mAdvt