RACING NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1889, 13 March 1880, Page 3

RACING NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

[By jlhEtjb-witnbbb.] The racing season of 1879 being a thing of the past, I purpose reviewing the doings of the two-year-olds that have shown anything approaohing first-class form, so that some insight may be gained as to the ohanoes they possess for the great olassic events of the forthcoming campaign of 1880. In doing so I shall begin with them in alphabetical order, therefore the first to come under notice is Beaudesert, a bay colt, by Sterling, out of Seagull, by Lifeboat, who made his first appearance at Doncaster, where he ran unplaced in the Champagne Stakes, to Evasion, Glen Bonald, and Zealot. He, however, speedily wiped out this disgrace by winning the only other engagement he was allowed to compete for, viz, the Middle Park Plate, where, presenting 'the appearanoe of a much better trained horse than ho did in the north, he added to his public as well as his private reputation, by defeating his field of seventeen competitors like a thorough race horse, amongst them being his Doncsßter conqueror, Evasion, and the winner of the Dewhurst Plate, Grace Cup. Dora, who afterwards was only beaten a head for the Criterion, Brotherhood, who has on several occasions shown good form, and Zealot, who finished in front of him at Doncaster. And as Glen Bonald was also beaten a Jong way, he may be said to have thoroughly established the fact that want of condition alone was the cause of his downfall on the Doncaster Town Moor. His engagements for next season include the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and St. Leger, besides all the rest of the rioh stakes at Newmarket, Ascot, and elsewhere. For the first-named race he can have a chance second to none, his fine stride and commanding appearance being well suited to the even plains of Newmarket, although for the Epsom hills and the awkward turn at Tattenham Corner he is by many thought to be on too large a scale. Be that as it may, if all goes well with him through the winter, and he is delivered fit to the post for any or all three of his principal engagements, he will, I feel sure, render an account worthy of so magnificent a thoroughbred, and it is to be hoped he will repay Lord Alington and Sir F. Johnstone for their plucky purchase. His trainer (Porter), under whose care the colt has been placed, may possibly experience some trouble in preparing so big a youngster ; but, as far as I could see, there is nothing amiss with him, although his enemies declare he has a suspicious back sinew ; but I can hardly believe that 7000 gs. would be given for any animal, however good his public form, that had anything suspicio is about his fore legs. I should therefore feel inclined to regard him as a sound animal, although it must be borne in mind that big horses are always more liable to go amiss when in strong work than those built on a smaller and more compact scale. Bend Or, the Duke of Westminster's unbeaten son of Doncaster from Eouge Bose, by Thormanby out of Ellen Home by Redshank, next come* under notice. His first appearance was in the Newmarket July Meeting for the Chesterfield Stakes, run over half a mile of ground ; his fame having preceded him, he started with the call of his field, and from start to finish he never for one moment gave his opponents a chance, as, pulling double from the fall of the flag, he came out directly Wood let him have his head, and won with the utmost ease by a length from Petal, with Dora a bad third, whilst behind them were Song, Papoose, and Proctor. Biding his time until the Ducal Meeting at Goodwood, he placed the valuable Richmond Stakes to the credit of his noble owner, F. Archer being upon his back for the first time on this occasion. Nothing of any note was opposed to him except Dora, who, receiving 91bs, was plaoed a bad third, the Cantiniere colt splitting the pair. At York, a month later, in the hands of his Goodwood pilot, he was again victorious in the Prince of Wales' Stake, and in this race it was that he experienced the moßt difficulty in sustaining his untarnished reputation, as Brotherhood certainly at one moment made him put his best leg foremost, although he, in the last few strides, won with a little to spare, and it is possible that the deep and holding nature of the ground, consequent on the heavy rains, may not have been quite to his liking, still, when appearing to be held by Mr Beddington's colt,he extricated himself from tho possibility of defeat like a thorough racehorse. At Newmarket, in the First October Meeting, he mode short work of Song, Fire King and several others, and after winning the Bous Memorial Stakes in a canter, beating Cannie Chiel, Dora, Mask and a good field besides, he retired into winter quarters, and as he is not engaged in the Two Thousand Guineas, I should think he will not again see a racecourse until asked to add the Blue Biband of the turf to his other achievements. Reports are circulated that Peck, under whose care the colt is, has expressed a doubt as to his ability to train the son of Doncaster for his three year-old engagements, but I myself do not believe there is any truth whatever in these assertions, as beyond the fact of his being very slightly back in his knees, no fault can be found «ith his fore legs, which are like pinwire, and as hard as iron, his near hock is certainly not quite straight in the seat of the curb, but had any weakness prevailed there, surely so severe a race as the Prince of Wales's Stakes in the holding ground at York would have found out the weak point hud one existed, and should he make the neoessary improvement during the recess I should certainly select him as my sole cham 'ion for Epsom honors. Brotherhood, better known as brother to Ersillia, a brown colt by Bosicrucian, out of Hilda, by Prime Minister, has proved successful five times out of eleven races for which he has started, his best performance being at Epsom, where, in the Stanley Stakes, half-a-mile, receiving 21bs from Douranee, he heat her by a length and a half, and at York, as before-mentioned, he ran a good second to Bend Or, the useful Gil Bias, to whom he was giving 21bs, being third, five lengths off. Ho also showed good form at Egham, where, carrying 9st 51bs, he disposed of a large field on ground which was literally up to the hocks and knees, the Thames having flooded the racecourse the week previous. At Goodwood he went down before the Amerioan filly Geraldine, who was in receipt of 71bs, but on the last day of the meeting he won the rich Molecomb Stakes, very easily from Papooße, Milan and four others. In the Newmarket Second October Meeting he upset a great pot on Prefect for a Post Sweepßtakes, Bretby Stakes course, and was pulled out a second time during the day, to compete for the Middle Park Plate, in which race, carrying the top weight 9st 31b, he finished fourth, a neck behind Dora, who was receiving lOlbs from Mr Beddington's colt, and as he was giving the winner Beaudesert 71bs, the performance was a very creditable one. At the same time I should very much doubt whether the son of Bosicrucian is a thorough stayer, but should anything happen to the more prominent favorites, he would be a very good substitute to fall back upon, especially for a race like the 2000 Guineas, and i£ his form during the past season was not quite at the top of the tree, his appearance is certainly second to none, as a more bonny two-year-old has not faced the starter during 1879. The form of Dora, the next to come under notice, has been so thoroughly sifted through her conquerors Beaudesert and Band Or that very little need be said about her chance for any of the great races, as so many hold the daughter of Consul and Dnlce Domum safe on public running. And in point of fact through her, the merits of almost all the good two-year-olds may he gauged, as she has been placed in all the nine races in which she has taken part; but as she failed to win any of them, it is clear that, although a good honest animal, she is not at the top of the tree, her nearest approach to victory being in the Criterion, where, after a most desperate struggle, she only succumbed to Prestonpans by a short head, at a difference of nine pound* (in aotual weight). Therefore it may be fairly said that, taking the sex allowance of three pounds, she is quite sevenpounds behind Lord Anglesey's colt, who himself is certainly not so good as his stable companion Beaudesert, therefore, so long as her betters keep well, she cannot be possessed of much ohance for any of the classic events, but being a good wear and tear sort, she must by no means be put quite out of court. Douranee, the beautiful daughter of Bosicrucian and Fenella, although not engaged for the Oaks, deserves a few words of praise for her performances during the season, as out of thirteen essays she caught the judge's eye no less than nine times ; her best performance being at Brighton, for the Corporation Stakes, where she gave Early Morn, who was then in good form, lOlbs, and beat him by a head, but like all the eon* and daughters of Bosicrucian that have a* yet appeared in public, speed rather than stamina seems to be her best. As the winner of The Champagne Slakes at Doncaster has on so many occasions played a prominent part in

future event*, Evasion, this year's vietreie, merit* a few remark*. Thin beautiful filly, the property of the Duke of Weatminster, made her [debut at Sundown Park, where, to the consternation of her party, she was defeated a head by the Tery moderate Tulack Ard, who wa* giving her 71b*. At Ascot she finished seoond to the flying Ooeanie for the New Stakes, Proctor being third, but at Stockbridge her uncertain temperament became apparent, as Proctor there gave her 81bs and an easy beating, she finishing absolutely last in the field of four. Tn the July Stakes she was placed a bad third to Mask, Dora being fourth. After winning a small stake at Liverpool she made some amends for her past disappointment by taking the rich Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. The moderate Glen Ronald was, however, only a neck behind her, and although both Beaudesert and Mask were amongst the defeated, they were both so palpably unfit that no notico must be taken of their exhibition, as they both made plain some little time afterwards, and I should be afraid it will not be wise to place too much faith in the beautiful but uncertain daughter of Wild Oats and Eva, and I should fear she takes somewhat after her sire, who was always a most unoertain customer. Sony lam to be obliged to record the death of the next in order, Mr Barclay having had the misfortune to lose his splendid filly Grace Cup, who died soon after her Dewhurst Park Plate victory from a twisted bowel. A long alphabetical leap must now be made before coming to a youngster worthy to rank amongst the first class, Prince Soltykoff's Mask coming next in rotation. He made his first appearance in public in the July Stakes at Newmarket, which he, in easiest poseible manner, placed to the credit of his noble owner, some fairly smart ones being behind him. He next sported silk at Doncaster in the Champagne Stakes, where his lusty appearance and blistered hocks told sadly against him, and although starting first favorite, ho ran nowhere to the erratic Evasion. In his next attempt he defeated his solitary opponent, Song, for the Buokenham Stakes, at Newmarket, without an effort, but at the same meeting hie went down before the mighty Bend Or in the Bous Memorial Stakes, when still suffering from his unsound hocks. In the Second October meeting he again made short work of Ambassadress, and during the last week at head-quarters he had no difficulty in landing his two races, as he was only opposed by animals of very moderate form. Mask, by Carnival, out of Meteor, is a whole colored chesnut, with immense power, although somewhat short, which gives him a rather common appearance. Still, were it not that he is afflicted with bad hocks (bog spavins), I should certainly consider that he would be amongst the very first flight of the two-year-olds, as the form shown by him when unfit is of a first-class character ; but it does not appear wise to depend upon an animal when not thoroughly sound. On the three occasions we have been allowed to see the flying French filly Oseanie in public she has, although meeting nothing of any great note, won so easily that it is almost impossible to say how good she is, as nothing she has ever met has for an instant made the daughter of Feu d'Amour and Orpheline do more than canter. On her first appearance at Newmarket she simply walked away from Sabella, Early Morn, and several others, the same thing happening at Epsom, whilst at Ascot, for the New Stakes, she led her field from start to. finish, winning with such ease that it is impossible to say how much she had in hand. Evasion, four lengths off, was second, and Proctor third. Since the Boyal Meeting nothing has been seen of her, but had she met the very best this country could have produoed, I muoh doubt whether any of them could have clipped the wings of the French filly, and Bhould she do well during the winter I do not see what is to prevent her adding the Oaks to the rest of the numerous honours carried off by our Gallic neighbours. Prestonpans, a bay colt, by Prince Charlie, from Beatrice, although a fair performer, can hardly be termed a first-class one, although some of his doings are not without merit, particularly his victory in the Criterion over Dora, giving her 71bs., and in the Hopeful Stakes, when he beat some very speedy ones, oarrying the top weight over the last half of the Abingdon Mile; and as at Doncaster he won the Prince of Wales' Nursery, seven furlongs, he proved that he could stay as well as go fast. At the sale of Lord Anglesey's stud, he was sold to Mr F. Gretton for 6000 guineas, and curiously enough goes into the same stable as Beaudesert, to whom, however, I expect he will, as heretofore, always prove inferior. The last of the youngsters that can be termed of the first-class is Bobert the Devil, who has only appeared in public on two occasions, on each of which he was victorious. On his form at Goodwood, through Dora for tho Bous Memorial Stakes, he would appear to be about the same animal as Prestonpans, although his private reputation is, I believe, considerably in advance of that. Be that as it may, he only beat her by a length in a somewhat slovenly manner, giving her 21bs. At Newmarket he woa the First October Two-year-old Stakes, two very moderate ones only being opposed to him, after whioh he retired for the winter. I must say that this colt is no great favorite of mine, although there is no doubt that he can gallop. He is a mealy bay, with what I hate about a race horse, viz., bay legs ; he also comes of a soft family, his sire, Bertram, being a non-stayer, and his dam Oast Off, by Promised Land, being the same. I shall therefore be much surprised if he wins the Derby, and I think a mile of ground over a flat course will always be more to his liking. Of the dark lot, I hear good accounts of brother to the Derby winner, Kisber, and Lord Falmouth's Apollo, by Kingcraft out of Silverhair, but I should doubt if be proves as good as his lordship's public performer, Ambassadress. I think enough has been written to point to the chances of "Bend Or" for the Darby, " Beaudesert " for the Two Thousand Guineas, and "Oeeanie " for the Oaks, provided that they all throe make the comparative improvement necessary, from two to three years old, as every one is aware some horses are never better or perhaps so good as when_ two-year-olds ; but the trio I have mentioned appear to me to be of the right sort to grow into good horses. Of the others, I should take Mask, Bobert the Devil, and Brotherhood, and'in the order named.