Easy Derby Win For St. Paddy At Epsom

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 6

Easy Derby Win For St. Paddy At Epsom

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, June 1. The English colt, St. Paddy, triumphed over the strong Dish and French opposition to win the 181st Derby at Epsom, Surrey, this afternoon. The English colt, ridden by Lester Piggott, trained by Noel Murless at Newmarket, and owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, won comfortably by three lengths from the bish horse, Alcaeus, with another Irish horse, Kythnos, third. It took the camera to decide that Sir Richard Brooke’s Alcaeus, a 10 to 1 chance ridden by Australian “Scobie” Breasley, had beaten Mr Roderick More OTerrall’s Kythnos by half a length. Kythnos was ridden by Ron Hutchinson. There were 17 runners, the smallest field since 19*7. ANGERS DESTROYED It was a dramatic Derby in several respects. The French colt. Angers, fell and broke a fetlock about six furlongs from home when lying fourth. He bad to be destroyed. Earlier, Sir Winston Churchllll’s colt, Vienna, had to be withdrawn from the race when he ran a nail into his foot. Twenty-four television cameras were in position to cover the race—the first Derbv ever to be televised. Brightly coloured gipsy caravans made a splash of colour on the sunlit downs and gipsy women Offered to tell fortunes while their men folk offered "unbeatable” tips for the big race. Barrel organ music blared out from a fun fair. Men in more expensive enclosures wore grey top hats and morning suits—outride they were in shirtThere was a stunned silence on the course when it was announced that Vienna would not run. Vienna, winner of the Derby Trial Stakes In the spring, had been heavily backed by the man in the street for sentimental reasons because of the popularity of his owner, although experts did not expect him to win. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made a 40-minute journey from London by special train. With them were the Queen Mother, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess Royal, and the Duchess of Kent. THIRD SUCCESS

It was the third time that Lester Piggott has won the Derby. His previous successes were on Never Say Die in 1954 and Crepello in 1957.

Sir Victor Sassoon, the winning ow’ner, was having his colours carried to victory for the fourth time in eight years. There was a lot of money just before the start for Die Hard, which finished up second favourite at 9/2 and for a long way looked like justifying the support. Die Hard, unbeaten tn his three races in Ireland and ridden by Australian G. Bougoure, led into the straight but then gave way to the locally trained Auroy from Walter Nightingall’s stables. Lester Piggot then moved up to challenge on the outside of St Paddy, who quickly mastered Auroy and then went on to win.

Breasley saidt "We met interference coming down the hill, and with a bit of luck we might have won.” George Moore (Lustrous Hope) said: “I was cut off by Angers about six furlongs from home and the accident to him must have happened soon afterwards. We had a good run after that and I thought we had a chance entering the straight, but my horse did not like the gradient and did not run on.”

Piggot said: “St. Paddy and I met with no trouble at all. He was the easiest winner of the Derby of the three X have ridden. I had no doubt I would win after entering the straight." Tudor Period was a little slowly away when the starter got them off first time. Die Hard, Marengo. Oak Ridge, Port Stanne. Ides of March and St. Paddy were prominent early.

After going two furlongs Port St. Anne held the lead from Tudor Period and Die Hard, followed by St. Paddy. Oak Ridge, Marengo and Auroy. The favourite. Angers, was well As they raced down the hill with six furlongs to go Tudor Period showed just in front of Port St. Anne, Die Hard, Auroy, Oak Ridge, St. Paddy, Tulyartos and Marengo. As they rounded Tattenham Corner a furlong later, Die Hard, best backed of the five Irish contenders, was in the van being pressed by Auroy, Marengo, St. Paddy, Kythnos and Tulyartos. Coming into the straight Auroy, St. Paddy, Kythnos and Tulyartos were challenging Die Hard, which fell back beaten soon after.

Auroy momentarily showed in front, only to be overtaken by St. Paddy, with Alcaeus and Kythnos challenging on the outside. St. Paddy held a clear lead a furlong and a half out and strode up the slope to the finish in great style to win unchallenged. His time for the mile and a half was 2min 35 4-ssec. JOCKEYS’ COMENTS

R. Hutchinson said: “Kythnos ran a good race to Tattenham Corner, but there he became unbalanced. He made his run home smoothly enough but he could not stay. He’s more of a one mile and a quarter horse."

G. Bougoure. the rider cf Die Hard, which came sixth, said: “I thought the gallop was very bad, and although Die Hard was in the lead five furlongs from home he could not go the pace in the final stages.” W. Williamson said: "Tulyartos ran a good race. There are no hard luck stories. He just failed to stay. I had a chance at the turn into the straight, but when the pace quickened he could not go with them." Other placings included Oak Ridge, seventh. Lustrous Hope eighth. Marengo ninth. Chrysler tenth, Tudor Period eleventh, Ides of March twelfth. Mr Higgins thirteenth, with Port St. Anne last of the 16 finishers. Result:— EPSOM DERBY, Of £39,120; for three-year-olds. ST. PADDY Sir Victor Sassoon’s (Aureole—Edie Kelly) 9-0 L. Piggott 1 ALCAEUS Sir R. Brookes’s 9-0 A. Breasley 2 KYTHNOS Mr E. R. More Ferrall's 9-0 .. R. Hutchinson 3 Mr A. Kennedy's Auroy, G. Lewis, was fourth. Seventeen ran. Official starting prices were: 7 to 1 St. Paddy, 10 to 1 Alcaeus, 7 to 1 Kythnos. Angers, 2 to 1, favourite. Three lengths; half a length. Time, 2min 35 4-ssec.