DESCRIPTION OF THE DERBY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 266, 6 November 1905, Page 3

DESCRIPTION OF THE DERBY.

A MERITORIOUS WIN. (Received Nov. 6, 8.53 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 6. For the Derby Day the weather was a mixture—wet. sunny, windy, even cold at intervals. There was not much rain, but a great dust 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. THE RACE. Charles Stuart, Scotland, and Thackeray were on the outside; Dantzic and Pius on the inside, with the favorite in the centre. There was some delay at the post, but eventually the field dashed off the line. After turning out of the straight Pius assumed control, and soon had a threelengths lead of Infanta, who was clear of Scotland, the others being strung out, with Charles Stuart last. Infanta joined Pius at the far end, and then began to cut out the pace at a great bat, but while Charles Stuart began to draw closer to the leaders Simoda tailed away, and was already beaten. Five furlongs from home Lady Wallace was last of the main body, and her supporters were becoming a bit alarmed. 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. Then, almost immediately, Infanta drew out with a two ] lengths lead, 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, for, when fairly abreast of the distance post, Lady Wallace and Grama, who w7ere racing abreast, were called upon for the 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 the 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 Riband would have gone to an outsider in Grama, who was but little fancied. The win was full of merit, for if there was one horse in the race more unlucky than another, it was the winner, who finished like a stayer. Infanta's prominent position at the business end of the journey astonished most people. While the 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 Mijester's year, but the course, though in splendid order, w ras dead, and not favorable to fast time.