OUTSIDER WINS DERBY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 4

OUTSIDER WINS DERBY

Success For Never

Say Die LANDAU FINISHES EIGHTH (N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 2. Never Say Die today romped home in the Derby at Epsom by two lengths at odds of 33 to 1 for his American breeder, Mr Robert Sterling Clark. Ridden by an 18-year-old jockey, Lester Piggott, the chestnut Nasrullah colt left far behind much-fancied thoroughbreds such as the joint favourites Rowston Manor and Ferriol, and the Queen’s colt Landau. Never Say Die gave Piggott, the boy wonder of the British turf, his first Derby success, but the colt’s owner was not there to see him win.

Though an American, Mr Clark races exclusively in England, and is just starting a large stud. The last American-owned horse to win the Derby was Durbar, in 1914. It was a disappointing Derby for the Queen, who was at Epsom to see her horse run.

She had hoped that Landau would bring her the blue riband of the turf on this first anniversary of her Coronation. The Royal colt, which last month was psychoanalysed by a nerve specialist, because of his tantrums, finished eighth. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh watched the race, together with other members of the Royal Family. Excitement for a Moment There was great excitement in the Royal box as the Queen’s horse was seen disputing the lead with Rowston Manor as the 22 candidates entered the straight, but Never Say Die dashed to the front for an easy win. There was a photo-finish for second place between another 33 to 1 starter, Arabian Night, and the heavily backed Darius. The photograph showed that Arabian Night was ahead by a neck. The race means much more than prestige to the winning owner. Apart from the prize of £17,000, the Derby winner brings in about £ 100,000 in stud fees. Ferriol, the much fancied French challenger, was never prominent in the race, and finished eleventh. Johnny Longden, the leading American Jockey, finished tenth on his Irishbred mount, Blue Sail. Elopement finished fourth, Narrator fifth and Blue Prince sixth. It was a chilly, dull day, and the crowd was the smallest since the Second World War, possibly because the race was on a Wednesday. The race resulted:—, THE DERBY Of one mile and a half. NEVER SAY DIE (Nasrullah— Singing Grass) 9-0 L. Piggott 1 Arabian Night (The PhoenixFaerie Lore) 9-0 .. 2 Darius (Dunte-Yasna) 9-0 .. 3 Won by two lengths; neck. Time, 2min 35sec. The winner received £ 1 5 ?,059, second £2007, and third £lOO3. Never Say Die was trained by Joe Lawson, giving him his first Derby success. Never Say Die failed to finish in the first half-dozen in the Free Handicap, in which he carried 8-3. On May 12, he ran third to Elopement and Golden God in the Newmarket Stakes, one mile and a quarter, but because of his failure in the Free Handicap, this placing was not regarded as classic form. Many English writers eliminated for Derby purposes everything that ran in the Newmarket Stakes. Never Say Die raced six times in England last season. He won once and recorded two thirds. He won the Rosslyn Stakes on the day when Pinza won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last July, and in one of 'the races in which he was placed, he was ridden by an Australian jockey, A. Breasley. Singing Grass, the dam of Never Say Die, is by an American horse, War Admiral. DERBY WINNER NEARLY SCRATCHED IN MAY (N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, June 2. The “Daily Telegraph” says that the winner of the Derby, Never Say Die, was nearly scratched three weeks ago. Mr Gerald McElligott, racing manager for Never Say Die, said that in mid-May the horse had no chance, and he asked the permission of the American owner, Mr R. S. Clark, to scratch the horse. Lester Piggott, who should have ridden the horse on May 12 in the Newmarket Stakes, begged that day to be excused, as he had more promising mounts.

But in each gallop after the Newmarket Stakes the horse ran better, so Mr McElligott decided to let him take his chance.