The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-27
ROCK SAND COLT.
DERBY FAVOR|TE
ROCK FLINT. NOW OWNED BY
BaIrisHER, - LIKED ny
CRETXCs.
HE SHAPES UP WELL
HAS CALL ON ALL OTHER
ENGLISH ELIGrBLEs FOR
BLUE RIBBON OF TURF
IN iD1a
HE SHAPES UP WELL

NEW YORK, Dec. 2s.--It 10 more
than likely that an American bred
colt will be favorite for the English
Derby Of 1912. AT this time Rock
Flint, son OF Rock Sand and Trigger.
has the call on all the other eligibles.
according to the British critics. I'm
fortunately me 10 not owned by an
American, having been purchased
from Clarence Mackay by IL. K. Bed
dington, one or the foremost sports
men OF the English turf. Mr.. Bed
dington took him out OK q yearfinS
sale for $1,000.
Rock Flint won among other races
In 1912 the III olecomb stake at Good
wood. defeating by a head MIR. c. Bow
er Ismay's Craganour. bay colt by
Desmond out OF Veneration H.. each
carrying ISL pounds. distance six fur
longs The third horse in the race
was beaten six lengths. Craganour
was an odds-on favorite, and there
were many excuses for his defeat,
especially a. he was not before or
afterward beaten. and he won SIX
races In all. including the Middle
Park Plate, In which he easily turned
the tables on Rock Flint But, on the
other hand, Blackwell commended that
In neither the Middle Park Plate nor
I'm his next effort. the Dewhurst Plate,
did Rock Flint show his real form. a.
he was easily beaten In both. though
In the latter race he showed better
performance than In the Middle Park
Plate. Danny Maher. who rode him
In the last mentioned event, found
out very early In the race that Rock
Flint had not his usual speed and did
not peTsevere.
yaa yyr& -
can colt: He is far and away the
most perfect OF his own age SO far
as to make and shape are concerned.
and a better balanced youngster We
have not seen for many IA day. There
fore we are inclined To overlook has
last two years In the hope in doing
this we reason that. just as Craga.
hours form at Goodwood was too
bad to be true. 80 also vas that or
Rock Flint a, Newmarket.
The remarkable series of American
Victories In both England and France
In 1912 has prepared the turf world
Sor further tr1umrhs OF YANKEE
horses, and the work Of the forth
coming spring training season will be
eagerly awaited. Other American
horses In the Derby include racers
owned by Messrs- III. p. Whitney. Au-
gust Belmont. L. Ii. winars Richard
Croker, owner OF Orby: II u. DGr-
yea, j. f. Widener and Charles Car
roll. but so far the public form or
Rock Flint liz much better than that
OF any other bred in America
Fred Tarat, who old-timers Will re-
member as one OF the greatest riders
that ever threaded a saddle IN days
OF wore on the metropolitan tracks.
since his return from Europe has
been looking 10 sign capable rider
to take hack with him to Austria
Tarai lis training q prominent stable
on the Austrian tracks for Baron OPP
penheimer, and recently returned to
these parts to spend the holidays.
Prior to his leaving Europe for this
country Tarai offered Frankie OMEN.
the American jockey, $4,000 year
as a retaining Zee to ride for his en-
pioyer. but O'Neil refused to even
consider the offer, Since reaching
these shores Tarai has had many irons
I'm the fire negotiating with several
boys for their services. Merle Bell,
O. Fain and Willie Knapp, II L. said.
have been mentioned as possible can
didates. Taral would like TO land
Knapp, who has ridden in Germany.
and IL la not unlikely that be win be
Engaged by Baron Oppenheimer.
In the event Tarai fails to sign
knapp. Oscar Fain or Merle Bell viii
probably sport the silks OF the Aus
trian baron. Knapp L. fast OUTLYING
his usefulness in this country, having
10 reduce continually to make the
nresent scale OF weights. while ON the
ether side he will have little. IL any.
reducing to do.