ENGLISH DERBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22416, 12 May 1936, Page 7

ENGLISH DERBY

PKOSPECTS DISCUSSED PAY UP NOW FAVOURITE LORD ASTOR'S STRONG HAND After the running of the Two Thousand Guineas, the order of favouritism quoted in England for the Derby, to bo run on May 27, was Pay Up, Rhodes Scholar, Bala Missar, Noble King, St. Magnus, Abjer, Raeburn, laj Akbar, His Grace and Walvis Bay. From this list, it is apparent that Lord Astor's chances of winning a Derby at long last are regarded very highly, as he, owns both the Two lhousand Guineas winner and Rhodes Scholar, who is by Pharos from the St. Logor winner, liook Law, and therefore closely related to Pay Up, whose dam is Book Debt, sister to Book Law. Certainly, on the law of averages, one of tlieso colts should secure the blue riband at Epsom. The record of placings of the Astor livery—light blue, pink sash and cap—is unusually long. In 1918 Blink was second to Gainsborough ; 1919, Buchan second to Grand Parade; 1921, Crag an Eran second to Humorist; 1922, Tamar second to Captain Cuttle; 192-1, St. Germans second to Sansovino and 1935, Field Trial third to Bahram and Robin Goodfellow.

Bala Hissar, handicapped as the most likely three-year-old at the end of last season, is the main hope of the' Aga Khan, who won the Derby with Blenheim and Bahram, and gained seconds with Zionist and Dastnr. Noblo King is tho property of Sir Alfred Butt and is a son of Noblo Star from Queen Canidia. Rhodes Scholar and Noble King started only once last year, and they must have shown good form recently to be so high up in the list.^ St. Magnus, by Sansovino from Fair Isle, both classic performers, tho colours of Lord Derby, is the Earl's first string. Ho started twice, unplaced, as a two-year-old. Abjer, who has previously been discussed, is tho hope of M. M. Boussac and of France in this month's contest. Raeburn is the nominee of Mr. S. D. Hollingsworth, and is by Solario from Harpy, therefore brother to Orpen, who was third in tho Two Thousand and second in the Derby and St. Leger. He also had two races in 1935. Taj Akbar, tho Aga Khan's second string, or so regarded at present, is by Fairway from Taj Shirin. In three races at two years, ho ran third in tho Lancashire Breeders' Produce Stakes and occupied a similar position in the Moulton Stakes at Newmarket in October.

His Grace, by Blandford from Malya. was a winner in his first season, taking a small race at Kempton Park and being placed twico subsequently, was nominated by Lord Carnarvon, whose turn as the owner of a classic colt has to come, although ho "has been represented by piacc-getters in the 9 Dcrby, St. Leger and Two Thousand Guineas. Major .T. S. Courtauld, owner of Walvis Bay (Fairway—Cachalot), is in a similar position to Lord Astor and Lord Carnarvon, his nearest to_ a Derby Stakes being the third of Shian Mor in Call Boy's year. Walvis Bay was placed in his two starts last year, including a second to Baber Shah in the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood in Jul v.

It is interesting to note the proportion of colts by Fairway mentioned in this connection.

TURF IN ENGLAND TICKETS FOR DERBY POOL FIRST AND SECOND HORSES [fkom our own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON, April 25 The Racecourse Betting Control Board, which was set up by Act of Parliament in 1928, and some of whose members are appointed by Government Departments, announce that it will operate a pool on the Derby, in which backers will be required to nominate the first and second horses. If the winning combination is unbacked, the net pool will bo divided by the number of unit bets on the combination, nominating in reverse order the first two horses. Should the first two horses not bo nominated, either in correct or reverse order, the pool will be divided among those who gave the winner as their first selection.

Tickets representing one unit will be 2s 6d if purchased on or before May 4, if between May 5 and May 19, ss, and if between May 20 and the "off," 10s. Ton per cent will be deducted from the pool and the dividend will be calculated by dividing the balance by the number of units in the winning combination, irrespective of the price paid for such units.

It is anticipated that 1,000,000 tickets should easily be sold for this pool. As many tickets as are requested will be issued. One idea is.to reach the enormous mass of "small silver men," who put on anything from 6d to 2s 6d in street bets every day*. It is expected that it will eclipse in popularity the Irish hospitals sweepstake, and the expenses should be much smaller. Any person may enter any number of alternative selections. HASTINGS NEWS FINE CAPTAIN BUNSBY COLT [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] Hastings, Monday Considering that Contact is far from his best on a heavy track, his double win at Hawera is more meritorious than appears on the surface. Ho will now compete in the Great Northern Hurdles. It has been decided that Royal Banquet is not to go to Ellerslio, his trainer deeming that he has not had sufficient schooling for such a mission. The races at Hastings, Wanganui and Wellington are now the programme decided upon. First Chapter, when finishing third recently at Woodville, appeared very unlucky, so that he has only to make the trip to Marton this week-end to have a solid following.

Nearly 20 yearlings have now been broken in at Hastings, the latest being a fino, upstanding colt by Gascony— Lady Fera, and a massive colt by Captain Brunsby from a half-sister to Star Stranger. The latter is easily the bestlooking colt by Captain Brunsby sfeen in this district.

John Charles appears to have fully recovered form, as in his last two displays at Greenmeadows this promising juniper revealed even better form than when winning a double last month. Mr. C. E. Twist was seriously ill a few months ago and, after hospital treatment, he was able to superintend the training of his team, but a slight relapso on the eve of his proposed departure to Hawera caused the cancellation of Dozie's engagements. I'rosy Boy, of the same string, has gone slightly amiss, but ho should be in work again this week. J'akanui's immediate movements, to Ellerslie or Otnki, have not been announced, but his short sprinting does not suggest a preparation for the Cornwall Handicap. Many jumpers are being qualified with the hounds, and hunting races in Hawke's Bay should bo well patronised. The liawko's Bay hunt provides special facilities for horses to qualify. Silver Song has been retired to the stud.

Many of this season's youngsters have gone into winter quarters, one exception being Chat, who is being kept going in view of a spring trip to Sydney with Wagner. The latter is running out for a short spell on his owner's stud farm at Poukawa.

Mr. T. H. Lowry is on his way to England and while there he intends purchasing a sire for his stud.