HYPERION'S DEFEATS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1934, Page 6

HYPERION'S DEFEATS

NO KEENNESS IN FIGHTS

By bitter experience Lord Derby has learnt to take his racing reverses philosophically, but. he must be keenly disappointed, and also surprised, by the record of Hyperion .this season. The colt was not only the best of his year last season, but it was declared that his equal had not been seen for twenty years or so, and in planning his programme this season it was thought that he would not be beaten. But he lost to Felicitation in the Ascot Gold Cup, and later, when his success was regarded as a certainty, he failed again at Newmarket in mid-July. Hyperion had only one opponent in the Dullington Stakes, which is run over a mile and a half. This was Lord Rosebery's Caithness, a useful but moderate horse in the highest class. He was in receipt of 161b more than woight-for-age, the respective weights being 10.2 and 8.1, but it was cot doubted that last year's classic winner would overcome the severe handicap. It was a slowly-run race, and Caithness was two lengths in front when only a quarter of a mile remained. Then Hyperion went up in a few strides on a tight rein, and soon took the lead. It seemed all over. The horse, however, then appeared to think that he had done enough, and allowed Caithness to draw level and : snatch the race by a short head. Several reasons were advanced for the failure of the champion, on. whom long odds were laid. He is an unusually small horse, and it was said that his weight was I too heavy a burden. The one thing obvilons was that he did not relish his task in the lasl furlong. He put his ears back, and did not respond to Weston'a riding. Indeed, ho capitulated as though ho were not prepared to make the effort.