A.J.C. DERBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 231, 12 September 1934, Page 2

A.J.C. DERBY

Prominent Candidates Autumn form, says a Sydney writer, pointed to Dark Sky having a strong claim on the A.J.C. Derby, but the Hobartville Stakes at Warwick Farm suggested that there was another Richmond in the field—Silver King, who won. Ranipion and Ammon Ra are the only horses to carry off the Hobartville. Derby double, and many racing men are convinced, after seeing Silver King wm on Saturday, that he will equal the performance. Silver King is such a brilliant beginner that he can escape any trouble in the early stages of a race, and there is no question why he should not stay. The colt was going well within himself at the end of the seven furlongs in the Hobartville, and with the racing and solid work be will receive in the next few weeks he should be able to see out the twelve furlongs of the Derby. Dark Sky had a run at Williamstown in the Underwood Stakes. H e finished right on top of the place-getters, and as it was his first race since the autumn it was a creditable effort. It was not until last summer that Dark Sky struck his best form, and he went on to win the Alma Stakes and the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes. Aztec, # ho was very brilliant early last season, was third to Hall Mark and Waltzing Lily in tho Underwood Stakes at Williamstown. and it is almost certain that lie will be on hand at Randwick. Great Legend did not shape impressively at his two recent outings, but Titanium attracted attention to his prospects by winning in great style at Williamstown. He was not seen among the good two-year-olds m the spring and autumn, hut perhaps his latest effort might induce his owner to have a try for the A.J.C. Blue Ribbon. When Duke Caledon w»« beaten decisively by Csnegms at Roee-

hill some of his admirers were beginning to doubt his ability. However, his display in tho Hobartville showed him to be a game colt, as few horses would have finished so well as he after striking trouble at a critical stage. The New Zealander Custodian, by Lord Warden, is a fine stamp of colt and he gained many admirers by the manner in which he finished to run second to Silver King. He separated Silver Ring and The Masquerader in a weight-for-age race at Riccarton in April last, so his Dominion form stamps him as a first-class colt. The Limond colt Theo shaped disappointingly in the Hobartville, but he may do better next start, while Sir John —also by Limond—who Jias yet to make his reappearance, ran below expectations at Randwick in the autumn. However, at each of his two starts the colt did not jump out cleanly, and the fact that he finished close up behind the place-getters on each occasion suggested that he would have given a better account of himself with a decent start.