Rufus Young Blood wins fourth Derby

Press, 29 June 1987, Page 28

Rufus Young Blood wins fourth Derby

NZPA-AAP Brisbane

The star Victorian gelding, Rufus Young Blood, etched himself a personal piece of harness racing history when he narrowly won the sAustso,ooo CIG Queensland Derby at Albion Park on Saturday evening.

The three-year-old Sprinkler gelding, the 9-10 favourite, fought out a torrid final 400 m with his arch-rival, the Sydneysider, Gay Adam (4-6), and grabbed a nose victory in the best finish seen at Albion Park for some time.

Rufus Young Blood, with earlier victories in the South Australian Derby, Australian Derby and New South Wales Derby, became the first Australian horse in harness racing history to win four derbies in one season.

The week-long billing of the Derby as a< match race between the two visiting three-year-olds unfolded and finished with the duo 50m clear of third-placed Miss Averil. The speed was on from the start with Gay Adam holding out Rufus Young Blood in a torrid opening 500 m, which was posted in 32.6.

It was the fastest lead time ever recorded on the new Albion Park circuit and the equivalent of a 26.6 s quarter. Rufus Young Blood’s trainer-driver, Dick Lee, elected to give away the speed battle and settled behind Gay Adam approaching the 1600 m. This enabled David Aiken to dictate his own terms on Gay Adam and they posted opening quarters of 31s and 32.15.

Rufus Young Blood cleared the pocket from behind Gay Adam at the 400 m-and the two settled down to battle out the decision with the remainder struggling to keep in touch.

Lee edged Rufus Young Blood to a neck advantage rounding the final turn, but Gay Adam showed all his customary courage to fight back and rejoin the Victorian 40m off the line. The pair rushed to the line locked together, a deadheat being declared by the racecaller. Shared Derby honours would have provided the perfect result to the brilliance displayed by the duo, but the photo showed Rufus Young Blood a lip in front of the former Canterbury gelding. Rufus Young Blood

covered his final 800 m in 59.85, and recorded 1:59.1 mile rate for the mobile 2100 m. Miss Averil,- a 25-1 shot, did best of the local brigade in taking third, 50m. from the classy visitors. Paladyn was a further 10m back fourth. The third favourite, Ils Reilly (5-1), enjoyed a good run one-out. and oneback until the 500 m. He then galloped as the pace went on and was eventually retired from the race. Lee will head home with his outstanding three-year-old and both will have a well-earned rest.

Meanwhile, the proposed clash between Under Capricorn and the star Sydney juvenile, Rowleyella, will not take place. Rowleyella, who set a world record mark for a two-year-old of 1:55 in a time trial at Harold Park recently, was to have clashed with Under Capricorn, the Australasian race-winning two-year-old record holder, in a $A40,000 event in Sydney. Under Capricorn’s trainer Janine Bowyer recommended the connections reject the offer in view of the big season ahead as a three-year-old.