RACING PHIL DRAKE WINS DERBY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27669, 27 May 1955, Page 5

RACING PHIL DRAKE WINS DERBY

French Success In. Exciting Finish (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 25. Mrs Suzy Volterra, the glamorous Paris society hostess, today saw her colt, Phil Drake, win the Derby in one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the famous English classic.

Mrs Volterra, wearing a picture hat and a pencil-slim dress, led her horse into the winner’s circle as police held back the cheering crowds. There she was confratulated by the Queen and the Duke of dinburgh, who had joined in the roaring applause from the Royal, box when the 100 to 8 winner flashed past the post. Panaslipper was second and Acropolis third.

The official starting prices were: Phil Drake 100 to 8, Panaslipper 100 to 1, and the favourite, Acropolis, 11 to 4. There were 23 starters.

Phil Drake won by one length and a half, with three lengths between second and third.

Phil. Drake (Admiral Drake—Philippa), trained by Francois Mathet, and ridden b” F. Palmer, earned £18,802.

Mr Joseph McGrath's Panaslipper (Solar Slipper—Panastrid), trained by Seamus McGrath and ridden by J. Eddery, earned £2212. Lady Derby’s Acropolis (Donatello II Aurora), trained by George Colling, and ridden by D. Smith, earned £llO6. All the thr6e-year-olds carried 9-0. Mrs Volterra said: "This is the happiesf day of my life, and I think my late husband would want no better memorial.’’

No Offer for Half Share Once she had offered to take £25,00< for a half share in Phil Drake—but nc one accepted her offer.

Today the horse won the Derby £lB,OOO prize plus a fortune to be mad< in stud fees.

She admitted that she had bet £2O o» her colt.

Phil Drake, ridden by the French-ipr English jockey, Freddy Palmer, aged 3? was one of the most heavily backed run ners. He was chosen mostly by house wives who showered small bets on hir. in the last two days.. Cardington Court, which, like the run ner-up was a 100 to 1 chance, was fourth, after having led the field inb the straight round Tattenham Comer. This is what some of the jockeys sair after the race:

Edgar Britt: "Tippecanoe was not good enough.”

Lester Piggot (who rode last year’s winner, Never Say Die): "My mount, Windsor Sun, just did not stay.” Eddie Cracknell: “Kookaburra ran very well, but found nothing in the last half mile % ” Doug. Smith (jockey of the favourite), merely remarked: "Acropolis was just not good enough.” Bookmakers confessed to having an ex--cellent race, with the favourite only third and the well-backed fancies True Cavalier, Our Babu and Hafiz V, ninth and eleventh respectively. THE DERBY, Of £22,120.

PHIL DRAKE by Admiral DrakePhilippa .. * c Panaslipper by Solar Slipper—Panastrid Acropolis by Donatello ll—Aurora Length and a half; three lengths.

DERBY WINNER’S LINK WITH N.Z.

Admiral Drake, sire of the English Derby winner, Phil Drake, has a son at the stud in Canterbury. This is Lord Drake, which was bred by the Derby winner’s owner, Mrs Volterra, who sold him to the English band leader, Mr Jack Hylton. Lord Drake is now owned by Mrs G. B. Trolove, Ashburton, and stands at Waimate at a stud operated by Mr R. Andrews.

e Phil Drake ife Admiral Drake’s first Derby winner, but the Craig an Eran horse has sired several top-class winners. The Derby winner has another link with New Zealand: his sire was from Plucky Liege, a son of the 1906 Derby winner Spearmint, which was sired by the famous New Zealand-bred Carbine.

SCRATCHINGS Scratchings for meetings tomorrow are:— Masterton Ross wood Handicap: Elsie Mary, Young Christine. ♦ i MAINLANDER CREATING IMPRESSION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 26. The turf correspondent of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph,” Cliff Graves, says that it would be interesting to see what the New Zealand hurdler, Mainlander, would do to Australian jumpers if he started in the Grand National field at Flemington next month. "Mainlander made hacks of our stayers in the Warwick Farm Handicap last Saturday," he says. "Mainlander is a long way above Australian jumping standards, end will win more races on the flat. "The handicapping for next Saturday’s James Barnes Plate at Randwick suggests that New Zealand standards are far above those of our stayers. Six of the 10 high-est-weighted horses come from across the Tasman—Finito, Hutton, Golden Galleon, (Sold Quality, Mainlander. and Earldom. "This suggests that the New Zealanders must be worth following from now on, either in Sydney or in Brisbane,” adds Graves.

RIDING ENGAGEMENTS FOR WAIMATE Additional riding engagements for Waima’te tomorrow are:— G. W. Mein: Snaresbrook, Roi du Bois, Fintitia, Ryeland, Rich Wind; C. McDonald: Danger Point; B. W. McDonald: Golden Jest, Pips, Air Race.

J. H. Hely’s Engagements Thelma’s Grey is likely to be J. H. Hely’s mount in the Great Northern Steeplechase. In the Great Northern Hurdles, Hely will probably ride Irish Saint.—(P.S.S.)