TRIP NOT FRUITLESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 304, 21 November 1936, Page 6

TRIP NOT FRUITLESS

VALUABLE DERBY PLACINGS. MALA MORE THAN PAID EXPENSES. (By “Moturoa.”) Although owner-trainer 11. E. Russell failed to win a race in Australia with the Lackham colt Mala, the trip was far from a fruitless one as far as the three-year-old tvas concerned at least. lor his second to Gold Rod in the Chelmsford Stakes and for acting as runner-up to Talking in both the A.J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies, Mala secured £2OOO in prize-money. Although his breeding points to him being more likely to eliinc over distances up to a mile, Mala confounded his critics and his sixth in the sensational Melbourne Cup showed him to be one of the best staving three-year-olds in the Commonwealth this spring. He finished many lengths ahead of the dual Derby winner and hot favourite Talking. The Derbies were certainly won in a decisive manner by Talking, but the Comedy King colt always relied upon his early brilliance to take up the running before the final strain was on, whereas in both these classics Mala appeared unable to unfold the pace he showed as a two-year-old. lie was badly placed in both classics, yet he came home strongly to the second prize in each instance From the reports of the races one must feel cntical of W. Clock’s riding, but it is probable Mala had been trained to run hm races that why and Cook was acting undoi instructions, and Mala was not quite brilliant enough to rise to the occasion. There is a consolation prize for the returned campaigner in New Zealand, however, that being the Great Northern Derby on New Year’s Day at Ellershe. The winner’s share of the stake, is £750 Desjntc the winning form this spring of Wild OhanC (Derby and Canterbury Gup), drench Fi'dit, Gay Talkie, Sicginurid, Martara and Co! it is hard to consider them as really sood staving thrcc-vcar-olds, the pick oi which should be Trench Fight, if he stands up to the necessary preparation. Therefore, Australian form draws marked attention to the prospects of Mala in the blue riband race at the Auckland summer meeting. If ever Lackham is to sire a Derby winner Mala looks the one to achieve that honour.