GREAT NORTHERN DERBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 13

GREAT NORTHERN DERBY.

SURPRISE VICTORIES.

BY PHAETON." The forthcoming contest for the Great Northern Derby will make the 54th anniversary of tho classic event that has been run annually at the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting since 1575. Surprise victories in connection with classic contests never fail to interest, and it can bo said that a good number are interwoven with the Great Northern Derby. WHEN UGLY BOCK WENT DOWN. When the horses lined up at the post in 1885 to contest the Great Northern Derby a colt bearing the inelegant title ol Ogly Buck ruled an odds-on favourite, and the ractvwas thought to be at his mercy. Ugly Bum proved a complete disappointment, for ho failed to even gain a situation. A filly in tho shape of Tigredia. who carried the colours of the late Sir William Russoll, scored a well-merited victory., FOUL SHOT'S VICTORY. The year following saw another odds-on favourite go down This was Stonyhurst. who had placed tho C.J.C. Derby and Canterbury Cup to his credit. The Auckland colt Foul Shot defeated his southern rival in so complete a manner that there was nothing left for those who laid tho odds on Stonyburst but to accept the verdict with composure. HOW MORION WON. The Derby of 1892 saw Clanarald, a colt owned iu Canterbury, a warm favourite. A surprise proved to bo in store, for Morion, a colt*who had nothing to his credit, romped home in front. It has always been contended that Morion owed his victory largely to the masterlv manner in which he was ridden bv the late Walter Clifford, but there was another side to tho contest, for Clanranald was asked to make ur> too much eround in tho concluding half-mile. STEPFELDT V. BLUEFIRE. In 1895 another pronounced unset wa3 registered in connection with tho Derby. Tho classic race that year was popularly summed up to be at tho mercy of Bluefire, a filly owned by the late Mr. G. G. Stead, who in the preceding November had captured the C.J.C. Derby and C.J.C. Oaks at Riccarton. However, the presumed moral was destined to go down, for Stopfeldt, a diminutive specimen of the thoroughbred family, who carried tho colours of the late Mr. L. D. Nathan, worried her southern rival out of it in the closing stage, and a head victory went down to her credit amid a scene of intense excitement, for the two fillies raced home from the half-distance practically locked together. GOLD MEDALLIST'S DEFEAT. In 1898 the late Mr. G. G. Stead supplied another hot favourite that was destined to go down. This was Gold Medallist, who was backed as though the race was all-over. The favourite was flattering the hopes of his admirers at the distance, when St. Crispin, the extreme outsider of the field, dashed up, and to very general dismay Gold Medallist failed to combat the challenge, with the result that he was decisively defeated. The victory registered by St. Crispin reveals the importance* of being able to gauge the strength of the opposition Mr. F. -I. McManemin. who trained St. Crispin, tells this storv. It was not the intention to start St. Crispin in the classic event, but a little bird whispered that all was not right with Multiform, and that tho Canterbury stable would have to depend on Gold Medallist. Tho necessary work to bring St. Crispin up to concert pitch was exacted from the St. Leger C;lt. and thus the Derby rf 1898 was captured. MISS DELAYAL'S VICTORY.

The contest of 1900 will always be remembered as one of the most sensational in the history of tho Ellerslie blue ribbon, for it witnessed the defeat of Seahorse, who stood out prominently as " the three-year-old of tho season." Tho son of Nelson having captured five races right off the reel, which included the New Zealand Cup. C.J.C. Derby, and Canterbury Cup. matters looked all right for him to add the Great Northern Derby to his list of triumphs, and odds wero laid on hi;n ability to win. It was not to be, however, for Miss Delaval defeated him a neck. Tho defeat of Seahorse was a tremendous surprise, but not more so than a victory on tho part of Miss Delaval, as the filly, when strongly backed for the Summer Cud. run a few days previously, shaped very badly. Tho glorious uncertainty of racincr was never more forcibly exemplified than in the victory of Miss Delaval and the defeat of Seahorse. "GLADSOME THE BRILLIANT."

When Ibo Great Northern Derby oame up for decision on New Year's Day, 1904, Sir George Clifford furnished a warm favourite in the shape of Treadmill, who had won the Canterbury Cup in dashing style. A filly was, however, destined to have her name enrolled as the winner. This was Gladsome, who mmped homo an easy winner in front of the favourite. Gladaome's subsequent form was invested with such a fine dash of brilliancy as to give her a place with the most noteworthy of her sex that won blue ribbon honours. NIGHTFALL LOSES EIDER. Nightfall, who carried the late Mr. G G. Stead's colours, waa the popular fancy in 1905 The Multiform filly was not. however, destined to see the race out, as when running well no at the home turn an accident caused her rider (Hewitt), to lose his seat, and the Auckland-owned colt Gladstone won That Gladstone had Rood luck to win that day is an opinion widely entertained, and Nightfall's subsequent form went to prove that the chestnut daughter of Multiform should have graced tho list of Derby winners. -THE GLORIOUS UNCERTAINTY. 1 ' Tho race ot 1910 orico again brought out in bold relief the glorious uncertainty of racing. The Auckland colt Elysian, who had captured the C.J.C. Derby and Canterbury Cud in the preceding month, was made favourite, with Taskmaster next in demand The latter hailed from Sir George Clifford's stable, but tho Canterbury sportsman had another string to his bow in the of tho Kilcheran—Success colt Kilwinning The latter was not. however, taken seriously, but that did not stand in tho way cf his jumping oil in front and leading: throughout Possibly no one was more surprised over the Derby result than Sir George Clifford, and tho victory of Kilwinning furnishes about as striking an illustration of what may happen in racing aa could bo cited. ROSSINI GOES DOWN. In 1920 Mr. G. D. Greenwood auupK'ed a warm favourite for tho Great Norih?i;i Derby with Rossini who had won tks ?7«-w Zealand Derby. Rossini made a dash 'or victory, but when challenged by Royal Stag in the concluding stage ho swerved under pressuro. and once again " defeat of tho favourite" wr.s entered up. Royal Stag was clearly entitled to all tho honours, and his subsequent victory in tho Dunedin Cup under 9.4 was far in advance of anything for which Rossini was responsible. WEAK CREDENTIALS. At various times horses have ruled favourites for the Great Northern Derby on weak credentials, only to fail pronouncedly. In tho race of 1921 Suggestion, on tho strength of a victory in the Shortland Plate, was made favourite for the Derby, in preference to Ballymena, and in 3925, S'andstar, who had won tho Christmas Handicap under 7.0, was preferred to Count Cavour. As is well known, Ballymena and Count Cavour won their respective races, whilo the favourites wero pronounced failures. THE SIRE RECORD IN THE DFRBY. In summing up the sire record connected with the Great Northern Derby St. Leger and Martian 3tand out at the head of tho list with five winning representatives each. St. Leger is responsible for St. Hippo, Nestor, St. Crispin, and Bluejacket, while Martian claims Danube, Cherubini, Reputation, Saaanof, and Star Stranger. Musket, Traducer, and Seaton Delaval arc level with three winners each. Musket's winners were Foul Shot, Cuirassier, and Tirailleur, Traducer's winning representatives comprise Danebury, Libeller, and Welcome Jack, and Seaton Delaval ■ claims Miss Delaval,, Gladsome, and Gladstone. The only horse that has tlio dual record of winning tho Great Northern Derby and also siring the winner of that race is Boniform, Tho son o£ Multiform won the Derby in 1908, and at au interval of five years his son, Bon Rove, accounted for tho opposition.