DERBY DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1930, Page 7

DERBY DAY

•BLENHEIM'S SURPRISE VICTORY

JOCKEY’S STORY OF THE RACE,

• LONDON, June 5

People were warned to take their umbrellas and mackintoshes to the Derby. It was even suggested that rugs would be needed. As is the case with racing and the weather, the unexpected happened. When’the first buses and motor-cars began to arrive on Epsom Downs, there was a rather thjek haze over the •grounds.'. It was not possible to ten in the early .morning what this portended. Later, it was realised that it was a heat mist. It gradualy cleared and. the air became warm. By 2 o’clock' in the afternoon people were surprised to find they were enjoying one of the finest days we have had this suinmer. For those who had never been to the “Derby” before, tins was most fortunate/ As usual, the New Zealand party was arranged by Captain P. C. Pirnni. About 140 started from town at 'about 8.30 in six omnibuses, each having an. inside seat and a seat on top. Thus, they were prepared for all emergencies.' As was the case last year, they had an excellent camping ground itiside the course on the rising grojund towards Tattenham Corner. The whole, of the straight Whs clearly visible y from the tops of the buses, though, 'of course, it was not possible to. see dearly the finals of the races. .'They had had a very enjoyable journey from town, and they had plenty 1 of time to wander round and Bee the strange sights of this national picnic. Tliep, after a good lunch served on the buses, they , were prepared for the day’s racing,

Another party of Now Zealanders were the delegates who were attending the Empire Press Conference. They went down by train to Epsom and walked to the Downs, where they had places'on what are known as the St. Dunstaii buses.' These were in a line outside ; of the straight. Further in the background was a huge marquee set in a. grassy enclosure. Lunch was served ■ in. 'the marquee and tea at .tables in the open. Tlius, the Press delegates spent their Derby outing as pleasantly as any section of the people on the grounds Some of them, purely out of 'sentiment for a New Zealand toiyn, Blenheim, and the result was very gratifying to those lucky people. • i 7 THE RACE As for the great race itself: The first horse xo show in front as the ascent of the hill from the start was made was the favourite, Sir Hugo Hirst’s Diolite. He was followed by,, Rustom Pasha (Aga Khan),. with the, Irish horse,Balfyferis, Trews :.. Ostor), and Silver Flare (Mr Courtauld), A the .most. prominent, of the otihers. Before peaching the fop of the hill Ray had followed Rustom Pasha to go into the lead and take the rails. Diolite, . however, . - remaifned close up. to him, and at the beginning of the descent of Tattenham Corner

and the straight was never more than a length behind him. Ballyferis, Silver Flare, and Trews also kept their places, but by the time that half the descent had been covered Iliad (the second' Manton string) was close up with them, which Blenheim (the Aga Khan’s second string), beautifully ridden by Wragg, who had never hastened his mount, was also now within striking distance of the leaders.

A moment later the field swung into the straight and in full view, of those on the tops of omnibuses and the masses on the stands. Eustom Pasha was still in front, on the rails, with Diolite on his offside not a length behind. Here were the first and second favourites in the lead and less than live furlongs to go. Surely, thought most people, one or the other would ivin; but scarcely had the straight been reached before Rustom Pasha showed that lie had inherited the speed of his dam without the stamina ot his sire, and he began to fade away. He was. quickly out of the race ana Diolite was loft in front.

Ballyferis, Trews, and Silver Flare kept on their way,, hut they could, liot quicken, and were passed by Iliad, who at once moved up to Diolite. For a moment Diolite held him and it seemed at last that a favourite would win the greatest of all races; but suddenly Ray, his rider, showed signs of anxiety, and Iliad not only held him but began to draw away It was how the turn, of many people to believe that the Moil toil ."neglected” would win, for Trews was a better favourite than Iliad, when suddenly it was seen than Blenheim who. from Tattenham Corner had been within striking distance of the leaders, was coming with a fine run on the outside. He never faltered, Wragg always having him perfectly balanced, and surely, if slowly, he caught Iliad and went on to win by a length. Diolite stayed on well to finish third.

THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS

There may have been a faint cheer as Blenheim was passing the post, but for the moment the feelings of the crowd were suppresed by the sheer shock of realising that the “wrong one” in the Aga Khan’s colours had lypn. Yet there was some who could ,remember to cheer home the effect of a game colt, and the fine judgment of his jockey, Harry Wragg. And when the Aga Khan immediately left the little stand which is adjacent to the winning post and walked, all smiles, down the course to meet and lead in his winner, lie received an ovation which was renewed when horse and proud owner passed in through the gate to the saddling enclosure. Very soon afterwards the Aga Khan was called to receive the personal congratulations of the King. THE AGA KHAN’S DELIGHT. ||The Aga Khan’s delight at the ,})|ggest turf triumph was spontaneous arid 'unmasked, He laughed with pleasure as one after another famous racing man and society people wrung his hand in congratulations, . ;”It is a wonderful day for me,” he said ‘lt only shows how wrong was the form in the Guineas. It may

seem curious, but my two horses have never run together before. They have been owned by two. different owners and come from different stables. Blenheim has proved himself a wonder. It was a fine race in every way, and —well, Blenheim is a splendid fellow. I did not have a hob on either house. I made no bet. As for celebrations well, I hope to celebrate in a quiet way. I shall not d.o anything, spectacular, lmt a win of this sort, in the

finest racing country, deserves something to mark it.” Blenheim performed with conspicuous success throughout last season, winning four of his seven races, and finishing second in the other three. His successes including the New Stakes at Ascot. At his fitst outing ho won the Manton Plate, at Newbury, from Spring Maiden filly, and Needle Rock colt (Doilitc) with a huge field behind. In the Sundown Stud Produce Stakes lie was beaten bv Bridge of Bath fillv. He won the Speedy Plate at Windsor, and in the New Stakes

heat Press Gang, the favourite. He won the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket in easy fashion, and was .second in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

In the “Gnincv’.s” lie ran fourth, a position occupied by Papyrus in his year who went on to win the Derby.

THE JOCKEY’S STORY

Wragg, the winning jockey, thus tells his story of the rate: “I wits dowii oil Die extreme outside but one, and when the starter pulled the lever I would be standing about a length behind. That would not have mattered much, but nty horse jumped off to the viglit instead of straight forward, with the result that I was last of all to leave the gate and a few lengths behind the others. I at once took a. firm grip of his head, for T did not want him to jump into his hit. Once I had him balanced I let him go along on the outside of the field and I not him running very smoothly hut well within himself. “By the time we had got to the mile and a quarter starting-post I found 1 had moved up a few places and I continued to go on the outside, for I wanted to steer clear ,of trouble. At the mile post', still going on the bit, I. was' about seventh. There were three horses racing almost abreast, and then another three in somewhat similar formation. Just behind those two groups was Steve Donoghue, so I pulled in a bit with only Steve between the rails and myself. Having got there without trouble, I was quite satisfied. It was.just the pitch I wanted and I sat quite still.

“Noble Star was now racing on my outside, but there was no danger of my getting shut in. Thus we raced to Tattenham Corner. There were then in front of me Rustom Pasha, Diolite, Ballyferis, Trews, and Iliad. Once we had got into the straight Ballyferis and Trews seemed to collide and they dropped out. I once more pulled to the outside, and for a moment I was inclined to- make my effort. But I saw Bobby Jones get out his whip and dash after the two lenders, and I realised that if I did the same my horse might not last it to the end. So I promptly changed my mind and went in behind Iliad. When I saw Jones

go and make his effort I was not alarmed, for 1 felt I could go and beat him i when I wanted. He soon overcame Diolite, and that was the signal for me to get really busy. It was not more than a furlong from the winning post when I pulled out and went after Iliad. MOST GENTLEMANLY HORSE. “There was nothing spectacular about the way Blenheim did his job. It was only by a very gradual process that I made up the leeway. Stride by stride 1 crept nearer, but all the time I knew I wa.s going to win. J had to bring out my whip and help the game colt as much as I could, but lie had a bit better speed that Iliad,, and when I got on terms a hundred yards from home the race was mine. I had taken a look over my shoulder before making my final hurst, and that satisfied me I had only Iliad to heat. I was going right away from him in the last fifty yards to win by a clear margin. I have to give Blenheim his share of the credit. He is a lovely little horse to ride. I found I could put him just where 1 wanted and he did everything 1 asked him in the most gentlemanly manner. I thought lie would get the trip. He did.”