Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-01
SIR MARTIN WILL
WIN EPSON Derby
James Mccormick, Noted
Trainer, Makes This Predic-
ton on Eve of Departure.

NEW YORK. February 1.-'American
horses will play an important part in
racing abroad this summer. boastful
prediction eh?,. 5Well,~ just wait q few
months and see IL I'm not right And
say. stick a pin in this tip that I'm going
to hand out! If Sir Martin strips we'll
for the EPSON Derby and meets with no
accident during the running of the race
I'm willing to go on record that he will
WIN"
Thus spoke James Mccormick. the
noted trainer. who has just signed con-
tract to look after Baron Oppenheim's
horses in Germany. He was busily en-
gagged in packing up his traps for his trip
yesterday, but found time to chat with a
reporter.
MY friend Tom Welsh. who recently
returned from a trip to England and
France, Is my authority for the statement
that the son of Ogden looked the picture
of health when he saw him in Newman
ket The ocean trip wos rough on Sir
Martin, and for a week or two he was
tucked up in appearance. but his natu-
rally rugged constitution soon overcame
galloping all right and attracting much
attention from the Newmarket trainers.
English Colts Poor Lot.
"From all accounts last season was
not a great year for two-year-olds in
England. Bayardo was considered the
best, but even the English critics said
he was many pounds inferior to Flying
Fox and Pretty Polly when they were
his age.
Now. on the other hand, the American
two-year-olds were a fine lot. Sir Martin
and Maskette were real clinkerS-the kind
that stand On that N after re
you remember them as you do Hindoo,
Luke Blackburn, Miss Woodford, FirenZi,
Salvador, Hamburg, Burgomaster. Artful,
Sysonby. Colin, Ballot and Celt. Mas
kettle was whirlwind of brilliant speed.
She made all her opponents drunk with
exhaustion trying to keep within striking
distance. Sir Martin was as reliable as
an old campaigner. There was no fuss
and frills about him, either in the pad
dock, at the starting barrier or during
the running of the race; but he was al
| ways ready to deliver the goods at the
| winning post.
IF last season was an off year
with the English youngsters, and Sir
Martin holds his form, how will colts
Of the class of Bayardo beat him? The
turf will probably suit him. for he was
a colt of fine action. Another point in
his favor is his liking for mud. If it
should rain on Derby day the weather
| will not prevent him from winning.
Sir Martins Great Trial.
! "I'Il tell you something about Sir Mar
tin that shows what a great colt he was
last fall. When he failed to beat
Maskette in the Futurity, due to the diff
ference in weight and a mixup right
batter the start, John E. Madden just took
hold Of him and gave him the third de-
gree. Madden is a good trainer, and he
knew that Sir Martin was a tough Gus
toner. He considered little dressing
down would be beneficial to the young
ster's condition. What do you think he
did? Two days before the F1abusll
stakes he gave Sir Martin mile The
colt covered the distance a shade better
than 1.39. Next day-the one previous to
the race-Sir Martin just galloped a hall
in 1917
when looked at my watch and noted
the time ] could scarcely believe my
eyes Sir Martin accomplished the tria
SO easily that it fairly staggered me
He lived up to it in the Flatbush by hold
ing Maskette's wonderful speed during
the early stages of the race. and bea
him home in the final struggle.
But Sir Martin is not the only great
race horse We have in England. We
have Colin. Ballot. Fair Play and Pris
Gillian. Reports from Newmarket are no,
very hopeful regarding Colin being able
to stand the ordeal of training, but Pris.
Gillian never was better.