French Colt Favourite For Sweeps Derby

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30169, 28 June 1963, Page 4

French Colt Favourite For Sweeps Derby

The Irish Sweeps Derby octe of the world's richest horse races, will be run st the Curragh racecourse, Ireland. on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday morning, New Zealand time).

The Dertiy, run over one mile and a half for colts carrying 9-0 and fillies carrying 8-11, will be a truly international race, worth at least £50.000 to the winner. Last year a French colt Tambourine, beat 23 other runners and collected a first prize of £50,027. and this year the hot favourite among 26 runners is another French colt, Relko. Relko easily won the Derby at Epsom earlier this month and is at short odds of 5/* for the Curragh contest The next best-fancied. Tsrqogan and Ragusta, are art 10/1. Relko's chances ace said to have aroused widespread interest in France and French commentators are going to the Curragh to cover the race Hi Irish Derby is a sweepstake with 30.000 sovereigns added and four forfeits totalling 240 sovereigns This year it will be seen “live” on television in four possibly five, count ri e s Through the Eurovision link viewers in Ireland. Britain France and Switzerland will be able to watch a direct telecast from the Curragh Several of the runners are American - owned, and

arrangements are being made for a direct broadcast to the United States via the communications satellite, Telstar

If the Telstar link is successful. the Derby will be the first sports event in Eur-

ope to be seen “Mve” in the United States. If it is unsuccessful, a tape recording of the race will be flown to New York and shown the next day.

ELREY AT PEAK Hurdles At Hastings "The Press" Special Ssrvics PALMERSTON NORTH June 27. The Hawke's Bay Hurdles top-weight, Elrey, captured most attention at Awapuni today when he completed his final work in pleasing fashion Elrey schooled proficiently over both country and hurdles and then galloped a rousing mile with The Bandit His work and appearance suggests he will be hard to beat art Hastings Elrey. ridden by his usual jockey. J. R Potter, jumped the three permanent steeplechase fences. He took them well, if a little high It was only the second time he had jumped these fendes. Elrey then trotted out into the oval and took two hurdles in dashing style With Potter up. he completed his work by running a mile with The Bandit in Imin 53 3-seec. the last three in 42 3-ssec and the final six in Imin 25 3-ssec. Elrey was going boldly at the finish Potter was delighted with h:s performance