Black Rod might win Derby

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 1 (Supplement)

Black Rod might win Derby

By

J. J. Boyle

Eleven years ago the Otaki horseman, C. A. Bowry, was confident as anyone could be of riding the winner of the New Zealand Derby.

But that dream vanished, and a highly successful partnership was broken when Commanding was disqualified after winning the Wellington Guineas and never raced again in New Zealand. Bowry has returned to Riccarton this week with promising material to gain a place in New Zealand Derby records in another sphere, as a successful trainer.

His hope, and a bright hope, is Black Rod, the brilliant winner of the Hawke’s Bay Guineas in record time two starts back and a laststart third in the New Zealand Guineas won by Dhow. On breeding and type Black Rod should make the step up from a mile to a mile and a half with ease. He Is by Oncidium, whose ability as a young sire of quality stayers commanded fresh respect when his son. Gold Brick, won the AJ.C. Derby a few weeks ago. Black Rod, like Gold Brick, was bought at the Trentham sales last year, his buyer being Mr R. A. Whyte, then president of the Racing Conference.

The day Mr Whyte bought Black Rod for $5500 the Riccarton trainer, P. H. Jones, acting for Mr A. G. Bailey, of Christchurch, secured a Monitor colt for $1750, and has brought this youngster, now known as His Bestone, along on a programme that has made him one of the top chances for the classic. His Bestone showed real quality to come from last to fourth in the New Zealand Guineas at Trentham on October 14. He followed with a promising first show at a middle distance in the Banks Peninsula club’s feature race

— a second behind Mediate in a fast-run mile and a quarter. The colts and geldings will probably be matched for numbers in the New Zealand

Derby by some well-per-formed fillies. Notable amongst them is Dhow, winner of the Masterton club’s Lowland Stakes . and the New Zealand Guineas in successive starts, but quite unable to do herself justice because of seasonal trouble when she contested the Desert Gold Stakes. Desert Gold Stakes form is best represented in this classic by Battle Maid, a battling second behind Peg’s Pride. But there was also something to like about Rose Mellay’s fourth. The Takanin-trained Clas- .

sic Wave made steady headway in the style of a promising stayer for a seventh in the Desert Gold Stakes. A week earlier she had deadheated for first over Ilf in intermediate class at Ellerslie, and a run up to that strength tomorrow might carry her into contention. Brown Satin was a wellbeaten third in the Dunedin Guineas, won by Highland’s Pride on a heavy track on September 30, but has won twice at a mile and a quarter in the meantime, and looks the brighter prospect of the two at a mile and a half.