EPSOM DERBY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 4

EPSOM DERBY

LA VANDIN HOLDS OFF MONTAVAL AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY’S SUCCESS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. June 6. The French-owned Lavandin. a 7-to-1 favourite, won the Epsom Derby in a last-minute charge today, holding off his compatriot Montaval in a photo, finish. The race was a triumph for the Australian jockey, Rae Johnstone, considered, an Epsom specialist, having twice previously won the classic. It was beginner’s luck for Mr Pierre Wertheimer, the French scent manufacturer. This was the first runner he had had in this event. Lavandin is a son of the French Derby winner Verso. Johnstone timed his effort to perfection, and though stfongly challenged by last year's winning jockey, Freddy Palmer. hung on for victory. , There was a desperate battle for the third prize, which went to the Irish colt Roistar, ridden by Jimmy Eddery, who was second on Panaslipper last year. Johnstone previously won the race on My Love in 1948 and Galcador in 1950. The race was run in driving rain, which came too late to soften the firm going. After an uneven start, a British outsider, Monterey, took up the running, and was clear of his field as they rounded the notorious Tattenham Corner" four furlongs from the finish. The British colt could not, however, keep up the gallop, and after they swung into the straight he was quickly challenged by Lavandin, which raced" to the front on the outside. Just as Lavandin looked to be winning comfortably. Palmer brought Montaval up with a terrific run. and the favourite had to wait for the photo before getting the first prize of more than £17.000. Lavandin’s time of 2min 36 2-ssec was 3sec outside the record. The Queen, unable to watch her colt Atlas run. as she is on her way to Sweden for a State visit, listened to a broadcast account in the Rovai vacht Britannia. More than 900 policemen were on dutv —an extra strong force, said to be a precaution in case any Cynriots might demonstrate against Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret, who watched the race.

Lord Astor’s Hornbeam did best of the home-trained horses to finish fourth, just in front of the Queen's colt Atlas, which ran on strongly at the finish. Monterev was sixth. Tenar-ze seventh. Cash and Courage eig'th. Pearl Arama ninth, and Induna tenth. . It was Johnstone’s thirteenth classic winner and his twelfth in England. His victory enabled France to take The premier British classic for the fifth time since the war. The winner took £17,382 IDs of the £2O 450 nrize-money, second £2045, and third £1022 10s. AH runners were thre-vear-old colts carrying 9-0. 4 Betting: 7 to 1 the favourite, Lanvandin: 40 to 1 Montaval; 22 to I Roistar. Won by a neck, with two lengths between second and third. RISING FAST START IN MELBOURNE CUP LIKELY (NJZ. Press Association—Copyright) . MELBOURNE. June 7. Rising Fast, New Zealand’s prime cup collector on Australian racecourses, will be nominated again for this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the trainer F W. Hoysted. announced last night. Entries for the two classics close next Tuesday. Hoysted said that Rising Fast will run m both events, providing he is fit and his weight is not excessive. ,JV sing Fast WOEI Caulfield Cup in j!954 and 1955. He won the Melbourne I Cup in 1954 and ran second last year ‘ carrying 9-10. Hoysted said last -night: “Rising Fast has begun his spring preparation and he is 100 per cent. fit. If he continues in the same way. he will run in both cups, providing the handicapper gives him a chance. “I am quite sure the handicapper will not give him too much weight. The public likes to see good horses racing, not at home in the paddock.” HIGH PRICED COLT DISAPPOINTS BLACK SIMON BEATEN AT

QUEENSLAND MEETING (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 pun.) BRISBANE, June 7. Black Simon, a handsome and high priced New Zealand colt, disappointed hi Australian owners by finishing no close: than fourth in a two-year-old race at < Queensland provincial meeting yesterday. By Gold Nib (imp.) from High Glor’. ; (imp.), the colt caused a stir at the New Zealand yearling sales last year. His owners paid 4500 guineas to bring him to Australia. Their share of the stake for fourth place yesterday was £3B 15s. CHANGE OF JOCKEYS FOR CAMBRIDGE i (Rec. 8 pun.) BRISBANE, June 7. The New Zealand horse. Cambridge, is . to have a new jockey in the £2500 More- : ton Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday He is the Queensland rider, A. Tindall. > who has had several recent successes. Ridden by N. McGrowdie. Cambridge ■ failed to stay in the two-mile Brisbane ■ Cup on Monday, but he will be better . suited by the shorter Moreton course of • 11 furlongs. Cambridge, with 8-7. is third . top weight.