THE DERBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20000, 17 July 1928, Page 16

THE DERBY.

A GREAT DAY AT EPSOM.

VICTORY OF AN OUTSIDER. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, Juno 15. " Derby Day" was, from many points of view, a wonderful day characterised by brilliant sunshine, and every individual of the hundreds of thousands present—the official estimate is that there were over a million people there-seemed to be unanimous in their verdict: "We would not have missed it for anything." All New Zealanders present seem to be in agreement, for they, too. " would not have missed it for 'itiy thing." whether they went to tho course by motor-bus or motor-car, or to tho more select grandstands, or whether they went purely to experience the holiday joys j . rovided on tho crowded downs, where merry go-rounds. switchbacks, coconnut allies, fortune-telling gipsies, and gaudily-dressed tipsters were going hard from early morning till late afternoon. Mingled with the f.mproviders were the usual seriously-disposed people whose banners were reminders that there is a world beyond the present one. To experience a cooling breeze away from the enormous crowds one had to seek refuge in the paddock, a beautiful, leafy and exclusive spot, open only to the few hundreds who cared to pay the extra charge for the privilege of seeing the horses before they arrived on tho course for the public parades. The horses, too, seemed to be coo! and composed while there, but some of them subsequently were quite upset by the noise and the pressure of the crowds. This was the case with Fairway. Lord Derby ' fine colt, the result being that the favourite made no showing at all in the running for tho big prize, which went to an outsider— Sir H. Cunliffe Owen's Fclstead. The King and Queen, with the Prince of Wales. Princess Mary and Viscount *iascelles, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of O >nnauglit and Princess Ingrid of Sweden, were in the Royal box. There was all the usual preliminary speculation for weeks ahead as to the likely winnei and tho best outsiders. Fairwaywas always favourite , Sir L. Phillips Flamingo was always in a prominent place in the public estimation. Sir F. Powur'a Sumw Trace was the hope of thousands more, while S. Donoghue'a mount, Gang Warily, reputed to have made much headway after a. course of violet-ray treatment, was thought to be one who might at least Bet a place, even if he did not, with " Steve's" assistance, get first past the post. There was a last-minute fancy for Mr. J. B. Reid's Black Watch.

How Felstead Scored. However, as all the world knew a few minutes later, Felstead was tho winner, trained by Captain O. Bell, formerly of Australia, and ridden by 11. Wragg; Flamingo (Elliott up) came second, a length and n-half away; and Black Watch 'C. Smirke) was third, six lengths behind the second. Then came Fernkloof. followed by Gang Warily, with Camelford sixth, followed by Scintillation seventh, Palais Royal 11., the French horse, who ran well one length off), eighth, Bubbles 11. (another French Lope, three-quarters of a length) ninth. Sunny Trace (two lengths off) tenth, Ranjit Singh (sis lengths) eleventh. Advo cato twelfth. Fairway (never prominent after a mile) thirteenth. Porthole (ran v.cl! for six furlongs) fourteenth, Royal Minstrel (failed to stay) fifteenth, Grange View mot disgraced) sixteenth, and Yeomanstown last, except IJoyal Crusader, who was left •nd cantered in some time afterwards Sunny Trace was first round the important "corner," but tlicn faded away entirely. As for Fairway, in the middle division at the mile post, he was from that stage .'one with. "In fact," said T. Weston (jockey). " ho was beaten after going six furlongs, probably because he had had so much taken out of him beforo the actual start." L.ike nil the sons of Phalaris, he is highly strung, and the noise of the crowd and heat of the day upset him more than his rivals. No horse, however, was cooler in the parade than Felstead, and 0. Bell has been warmly congratulated upon the condition in which he sent the colt to the post It is interesting to know that, in his trainer's opinion, Felstead stands nearly 16.1 hands and has fully Sin. of bone under the knee. Felstead was not unduly distressed after his victory considering the pace at which the race was run.

Sir Hugo CunlifTe Owen told a Sporting Life representative that Felstead had rot since Christmas been a very robust feeder: that he had. therefore, been fed on Bernax. It was only decided to let him remain in a week before the race, as- he was tot thought good enough to win the blue ribbon of the racing world.

Sportsmen were at first dumbfounded at the result, which seemed to be unaccount able, and after a few days it was generally agreed by critics that wrong riding tactics had been indulged in. Steve Donoghuc and J. Childs both said that it was the fastest-run Derby they had ever ridden in, and the time, 2m 31 2-ss, which equalled Call Boy's record, endorsed that view.

A Hurricane Eace. Iho story of the raco is one of the briefest that has ever been told of a Derby. Firßt, one or two breaks through the tape, in which Gang Warily, Sunny Trace. Black Watch and Raniit Sinch figured. Their jockeys were taking no chances in case it was a " go." Black Watch, for one. was disinclined to come into lino, and for a lew moments Flamingo was a trifle awkward. The latter was drawn on the outside of all. Fairway was only second from the starter, so that many were between thebo two greatly-fancied ones. Sunny Trace had a better place than either, for it was most essential that the jockeys on the outsido horses Bhould not be squeezed out of it in that first rush for position up the hill. The three leaders—two in particular, Sunny Trace and Flamingo—racing almost side by side—were at it in great stylo. Not far behind them was Felstead. who \as being ridden with more discretion, for, though that colt was going fast. too. lie was within striking distance when either or both of the leaders would " crack." Fairway was dotio with before six furlongs had been covered, lie was so completely cut of it, seeming to bo going backwards as others went past him, that he ceased to interest.

Fclstead was bred by his owner, vho bought tho colt's darn, Felkington, when she had Firmament as a foul at foot, and tl.e mare's next foal was Felstead, sired ty Spion Kop. One of the people most aatis Qed with the rosult was Colonel Giles Lodcr, the owner of tho siro, who himsolf won tho Derhy eight years ago. So ho most cordially congratulated Sir Huso Cunliffo Owen on his wonderful avalanche of fortune, tor it was an avalanche in a sense. Sir H. Cunliflo Owen is chairman ol tho British-America Tobacco Company Li ih wife also is nn enthusiastic owner. Both are great travellers. There was much am use merit at tho first July meeting at \"cw market, when they were in rivalry in 'lie name race. Sir Hugo won with lrcnia lie is a keen sportsman and has a house at Newmarket. After his victory he said '1 am jollv glad to havo won in a race which I always hoped, but never really exported, to win, although I had hopes in the horse.'

Other Surprises. But Fairway was not the only disappointment of the Epsom meeting. Everyone expected the King to win the Oaks, about U miles, with his beautiful filly Scuttle, but. Lord Derby was here recompensed tor his big raco defeat. Toboggun winning the coveted stakes for him at tho expense of Scuttle. Six furlongs from homo Tobogg in was leading from Scuttle, La SoJognc, uris diction, v legero. and Desert Song, and rounding Tattenhara Corner Flegere tnd Jurisdiction moved up into third and fourth places respectively. Toboggan enme on in the straight from Scuttle and Flogere i.nd Huintonette began to improve her position but La Sologne and Jurisdiction were lone with. Two and a-balf furlongs out Scuttle wns under the whip. Toboggan increased her lend. and. drawing ftway in the last two • urlont's. Lord Derby's filly won by four lengths, with six lengths between second and third. Time, 2m 37 2-ss. Then, Lord Astor and the public at lume were chagrined tit tho defeat of the " certain" Book Law in the_ Coronation Cup. The horse has, however, since been found, upon veterinary examination, to be suffer ing from kidney trouble and will not r n ogain for somo time. Book Law came in third, beaten by the Franco-Italian crack Appelle, owned by Mr. R. McCieary, a wealthy American,