GUINEAS PRINCIPALS MAY MEET IN DERBY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 4

GUINEAS PRINCIPALS MAY MEET IN DERBY

Devastation, Farmer’s Boy, and Captain’s Command, the three good three-year-olds that fought out the finish of the Wellington Guineas on Saturday, will probably meet again in the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton next month.

A neck and half a neck separated these good gallopers in that order at the end of the first classic of the season with an interisland flavour.

For Devastation it was the completion of the Hawke’s Bay - Wellington Guineas double; also the completion of a hat-trick. For the connexions of Farmer’s Boy it was convincing evidence that the well-grown Agricola gelding will come right back to the form he developed at two years.

And for the connexions of the Wingatui-trained Captain’s Command was the reassuring evidence of a complete recovery from muscular trouble that was bothering the Mg chestnut earlier in the season.

Devastation is owned by his Wellington breeder, Mr E. H. Debreeeny, and trained at

Otaki by K. J. Thomson, formerly of Riccarton. Gameness Devastation was an even money favourite, and had to call on reserves of gameness in a battling finish. His rider A. T. Jones, felt that the Knight’s Romance colt might have won by a wider margin if he had pulled the whip on him some way from the post. Jones said he was afraid to try Devastation with the whip close to the post in case the colt shifted ground. Devastation is the second of the stock of Knight’s Romance to win the classic. Ayr Lass, the dam of Devastation, was got by Airway from Qui Tam, by Solicitor General. Ayr Lass did not race but had fair success as a producer before she left Devastation. Earlier she left Uniflow, winner of five races Including an Ashhurst Cup, and 'Namoto, winner of 12 races in Australia. Qui Tam, grand-dam of Devastation, won a Russley

Handicap at Riccarton. Other successful performers for this family in the South Island a few years ago were Reproof, Fault, and Reprehend; and Pretty Chance did well .in the north, winning five races including the Herries Memorial Cup at Te Aroha. Big Run Farmer's Boy secured second placing with a run that brought him from nearly last position in the last three furlongs. G. F. Hughes, who has already

ridden six Wellington Guineas winners, has found that Farmer's Boy has raced best when given plenty of time to settle, and he did not ask him for a run until close to home on Saturday. Farmer's Boy found the task of giving Devastation several lengths' start in three furlongs just beyond him. but there was no doubting the merit of his run as a New Zealand Derby trial. R. J. Skelton said he felt he might have made a tactical error in taking Captain's Command away from the rails to make his run. The John Grigg Stakes winner was forced four and five wide around the home turn but battled it out right to the end, only to go down in a light finish. "I was delighted with this run as a Derby trial," said Captain Command's Dunedin owner, Mr E. H. Young, on Saturday. Canterbury’s best was Quick Flight, which finished fifth In a longish gap behind the fourth horse, Roman Consul. Quick Flight led for a moment early, and then trailed on the inside. He made another bid in the straight but was beaten outside the furlong. Pee Wee was 11th and Riccarton’s other runner. Sir Limond, was 13th.