NEW ZEALAND DERBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20720, 13 November 1930, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND DERBY.

TO-DAY'S TROTTING CLASSIC.

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES.

TIME RECORD BY PURSER.

BY ABAXDOS. Tho eighteenth contest for tho New Zealand Trotting Derby, the first of the three-year-old classics for the season, takes place at Addington to-day and promises to be spectacular and interesting. As in previous years, class is strongly represented, and while the brilliant fillv Arethusa, sister to Wrackler, appears to dominate the' position, both Rawhitiroa and Chenaway, recent winners, will not lack support. Derby contests have become more and : moro popular, and in later years there has been a marked increase in the number of candidates. Ever since the inception of the New Zealand Derby practically the best bred three-year-olds in tho land have taken part in tiie event, and, while for several years tho fields were not strong numerically, tho clnfts was appreciably high. Many of tho greatest pacers produced in the Dominion made their initial appearance auspiciously in the classics. The New Zealand Derby Stakes was instituted by tho New Brighton Club, and from 1914 to 1925 was decided at the autumn fixture of that club. n was then taken over by the New Zealand Metropolitan Club, and has since been run at the Addington spring meeting. Admiral Wood First Winner. The first race, run in 1914, was won by Admiral Wood, who had won two races previously. He won very easily from Evelyn (dam of Evelyn Locanda) in 3.37 2-5. In tho following year Prince Akwood. another son of Wildwood Junior, won from a small field, having also shown previous winning form. After winning four events earlier in the 191 C season, Author Dillon defeated three rivals pointlessly, in 3.29, which time was reduced to 3.26 4-5 by Albert Cling two years later, Peter Mac having won the intervening contest. Locanda Dillon was next successful, and Doraldina, dam of a later winner, Daphne do Oro, won in 1920, while in the following season Childo Pointer (Logan Pointer—, Pearlchild), a great filly in her year, beat Taraire and Copa de Oro Junior, her only opponents, in 3.20. Great Hope secured tho honour in a five-horso field in 1922, and then followed Acron's easy victory over three rivals. Tho 1924 raco saw Taurekareka lov/er the time record to 3.22 4-5, and, although subsequently many high-class youngsters won, it was not until last year that this record was lowered by Purser to 3.22 1-5, J. Bryce's Third Success. In tho last race for the Derby at New Brighton J. Bryce scored his third success, Kohara being liis representative on this occasion, when Nelson Tasker finished second,, with tho other starters a long way back. In tho same year, 1925, the first Derby contest was held under Metropolitan conditions, the winner being Native Chief, who beat Nantwich.' a filly who shortly afterwards won the Great' Northern Derby at Epsom. There was a scant field in the following November, whem Shadowland beat Rey Logan by a neck, with Bichore and Petronius well down the course. In 1927 Daphne de Oro, after winning the Auckland classic, which for two years was run in October, repeated the performance at Addington a few weeks later, when thero was again a good. field. Then followed Wrackler'a dual Derby success, when at Addington, among others, he defeated Grand Light, Muriel de Oro. Lindbergh and Tactless, .all of whom have since proved fine pacers. _ ■. . Last Year's Contest. Last year's field was a decidedly strong 0110 and included the Auckland colt Great Parrish, a warm favourite, Royal Silk, I Ngingo Ngingo, Purser and several others. Tho raco provided one of the thrills -of the carnival, and when L. O. Thomas got Purser homo by a narrow margin from Royal Silk and Ngingo Ngingo the watch showed 3.22 1-s—u rare effort. Great Parrish, who went off somewhat,after arrival in the South, was close up fourth. Great Parrish turned the tables on his southern victors when he met them in the Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park a few weeks later, but when the winner and Ngingo Ngingo and Royal Silk flashed past tho post there was very little between them, j Purser on this occasion refused to go away I and was never in tho picture.

'NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE. TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP. Nightmarch's Canterbury Cup victory yesterday brought, his total stakewinnings to £28.418. Mr. A. D. Potter has taken in hand a two-year-old filly by Musketoou from Snow Smock, whom he intends to place in work immediately The filly is related to King Smock, her dam being a full-sister to that useful performer. For some time past J. Gray has had his headquarters at Ellerslie. where he Tias beeD training Bronzo Eagle and Vandyke, but he has now joined the ranks of trainers at Takanini. having moved out thero with liis charges on Tuesday. It wa*s his' intention to have taken up his quarters thero earlier but delajj in the completion of the etables necessitated the postponement of his transfer until this week'. Cylinder, winner of the llew Zealand Derby, was purchased as a foal at foot with his dam. tho English-bred Cylgad mare Cyinene, at the dispersal salo of the Kinloch stud in Canterbury in January, 1925. Thero was spirited bidding for possession, but Mr. A. B. Williams stayed in longest, and his concluding call of 2250 guineas silenced tho opposition. Cylindor has more than repaid the- outlay, for his Derby success brings his earnings to £4065. Tho throe-year-olds, Lady Court and Jaeldy Karo, both suffered as a result of tho bumps ihey received while racing at Whanuaroi last "week, and nro at present on tho easy list. Jaeldy Karo was very sore after his raco on the second day, when he was cut on the rails and almost brought down. It is not' thought that Lady Court and Jaeldy. Karo .will take long to recover and they should be in action again soon. When Balloon King won the' Victoria Derby on November 1 he provided the first win for tho coloiu'a of the late Mr. John Brown, blue, yellow sleoves and black cap, for 11 years at Flemington. The previous occasion on which the colours wero carried (o victory at Flemington was in the corresponding event in 1919, when Richmond Main beat Artilleryman for the Victoria Derby. The following Tuesday Richmond Main chased Artilleryman home in tho Melbourne Cup. > _ . . TROTTING STUD ITEMS. Vclvetwood, ii near relative of Woodvale, has foaled a colt to Nelson Bingen. Velvet wood has a yearling filly by the same horse.' Lady Grattan and Gwen Thorpe have each foaled a filly to Worthy Bond. Black Gold, full-sister to Gold Jacket, has foaled a colt to Peterwall Black Gold was a promising pacer and when trained at Epsom displayed ns much speed ns her famous brother but developed leg trouble. All these mares foaled at Mardella Stud, Otahuhu, and are visiting Frank Worthy. TROTTING FIXTURES. November 13, 14—Metropolitan Trotting November 19, 22—Auckland Trotting Club. November 21, 22—Nelson Trotting Club. _ November 27, 29—Forbury Park Trotting Club.