RACING Phil Drake Third Volterra-Bred Winner Of Derby In 20 Years

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27680, 9 June 1955, Page 4

RACING Phil Drake Third Volterra-Bred Winner Of Derby In 20 Years

It was no novelty to see a Viterrabred horse fighting out the finish of the Derby Stakes at Epsom Downs last month, writes the London correspondent of “The Press.”

For 30 years, the Volterra stud in Normandy has been one of the most successful in France, and Phil Drake was the third horse bred at the stud to win the Derby in the last 20 years. But the honour of having a Derby winner carry their own colours eluded Mrs Volterra and the late Mr Leon Volterra until this year. It was an ambition which Mr Volterra halfrealised when he was part-owner with the Aga Khan of My Love, the 1948 victor; but tbe jockey on that occasion wore the green and chocolate hoops of the Aga Khan. Mr Volterra had sold a half-share in the winner shortly before the Derby. Mr Volterra’s own colours that year were on Royal Drake, which finished second.

The next year he had Armour Drake and refused to sell a share. The horse was beaten by a head by the mighty Nimbus, and the strain on the ailing French owner was so great that he died the next day, his ambition still unsatisfied. He had also bred Bois-Roussel, the 1938 winner in the colours of the Hon. Peter Beatty. Bois-Roussel was sold some time before the race that year. Mrs Volterra took over her husband’s bloodstock interests, determined to achieve her husband’s ambition for him. She had two horses entered thi§ year—Datour was the other—and a decision was imminent a few weeks before the Derby to scratch Phil Drake, when he developed a wind complaint. He recovered, but it was the French

Derby rather than the English classic which was to be his mission. Only after his success in a small race two weeks before the Derby was the decision made to leave his entry in the Derby. He had his first race in April, running second to Datour, and was a maiden until his minor success last month. The Derby was his third race. Mrs Volterra bred him from her Vatellor mare, Philippa, which was out of Philippa of Hainault, by Mainault out of Martagon’s Pride, by Lomond.

Vatellor is a stallion with special significance in the Derby, for both Pearl Diver (1947 .winner) and My Love (1948) were by him. Before the Derby Mrs Volterra offered to sell a half-share in -Phil Drake for £25,000, with the stipulation that the colt should carry her colours. There were no takers. Now that his price has jumped, £50,000 through this latest win, Mrs Volterra has nd intention of selling. The colt will go to the stud later.

Her victory brought with it the famous gold cup and a stake of £18,702; it brought happiness at an ambition achieved; and it gave Epsom Downs one of the most exciting and driving finishes in the long history of the race.

Mrs Volterra was the third woman and the first French woman to win the Derby; Phil Drake was the fourth French-trained Derby winner since the Second World War; Fred Palmer, a former leading steeplechase jockey in France, scored his first Derby triumph in four attempts; and for Phil Drake’s trainer, F. Mathet, it was his first winner in three attempts. For the experts, the Derby was proof that this year’s English three-year-olds were not quite up to standard.