HOW THE DERBY WAS WON.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 8918, 6 November 1905, Page 8

HOW THE DERBY WAS WON.

[press association.] (Received November 6, 8.53 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, November 6.

For Derby Day the weather was a mixture, it being wet, eunny, windy, and even cold at intervals. There was not much rain, but a great duet storm raged. The Derby presented the biggest field with one exception since 1894, but it would be incorrect to describe the runners as a high-class lot, for there was not •really one with claims to being a smasher.

When the field faced the 6tarter Charles Stuart, Scotland and Trackeray were on the outside, Dantzdc and Pius on the in■side, with the favorite in the. centre. There was some delay at the post, but eventually the field dashed off in line. After turning out of the straight Pius assumed control and soon had a three lengths lead of Infanta, who was clear of Scotland, the others being strung out with diaries Sitaart last. Infanta joined Pius at the far end, and then began to cut out the pace at. a great bat, while Charles Stuart began to draw closer to the leaders. Simoda tailed away and was already beaten. At five furlongs from home Lady Wallace was last of the main body, and her supporters were becoming a bit alarm1 cd. However, a little further on she began, to improve her position, and was handy to Infanta, Pius, Grama, and Charles' Stuart. As the turn for home was rounded Infa.nta drew out with a two-lengths leads and as she held that advantage at the end of the lawn from the nearest of the others — Grama and Lady Wallace — a shout from thousands of throats announced her victory, but it was premature fox when fairly abreast of the distance post Lady Wallace and Grama, who were racing abreast, were called upon for a final effort and responding gamely they 'settled down to a grim struggle. They finished faster than the leader, and, catching her a few strides from home, Lady Wallace snatched a victory by half a length from Grama, who beat Infanta by three parts of a length. The winner was well received. Only that Lady Wallace displayed considerable gameness this year's Blue Ribband would have gone to an outsider in Grama, who was but little fancied. The win was full of merit, for if- there was one hoise in tne race more unlucky than the other it was the winner, who finished like a stayer. Infanta's prominent position at the business end of the journey astonished .most people. While tne placed horses finished, as it were, in a heap they were quite ten, lengths from the nearest of the others. The' Derby was not a fast run race, it was, in fact, the slowest since Melster's year, but the course, though iai splendid order, was dead and mot favorable to fast time.