EPSOM DERBY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22763, 24 June 1937, Page 9

EPSOM DERBY

MID-DAY SDN'S iWIN FIRST FOR WOMAN OWNER WINNER BOUGHT FOR 2000GNS. [from our own correspondent] LONDON, June .5 Tho Coronation Derby will always bo remembered as the "Women's Derby," for the winner, Mid-day Sun, is jointly owned by Mrs. G. B. Miller and her mother, Mrs. Talbot, and tho second horse, Snndsprite, belongs to Mrs. F. Nagle. Never before, in the 157 years since the Derby was first run, has the race been won by a woman at Epsom, but a war-timo race in 1918, decided at Newmarket, gave prominence to Lady James Douglas, when Gainsborough&was successful. Mid-day Sun was at very good odds and Sandsprite was a rank outsider. Favourites were Perifox, the American colt, and Cash Book, Lord Astor's entry, but at remunerative prices, had either been equal to the task. Then came Le Ksar, the Two Thousand winner, and Goya 11. The totalisator added to the day's records by setting up a new high figure at Epsom, with a pool of £41,797. The best pool was £60,292 for the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last year. The crowd was easily tho biggest at Epsom since the boom daj T s of racing immediately after the war, and it gave an enthusiastic and affectionate greeting to the King and Queen, who were accompanied by Queen Mary and other members of the Royal Family. The Race Described

It was not long before Renardo was in front from Fairford, Sol to and Le Bambino. Le Ivsar was badly placed, but as the field approached the top of the hill leading down to Tattenham Corner, Sandspnte was last. Fairford passed Renardo on lop of the hill, at which point Goya 11. and Cash Book were moving up. At Tattenham Corner, Fairford was about a length ahead of Goya IL., Solto and Mid-day Sun, with Perifox moving up on the outside. Le Ivsar ran very wide into the straight. Fairford gave way to Goya 11. soon afterwards, with Sandsprite, who made up a deal of ground, coining down tho rise, Midday Sun, Le Grand Due and Perifox all being handy. For a moment it looked as if Goya 11. and Le Grand Due would fight out tho finish, but neither could withstand the challenge of Sandsprite, who, in turn, was unable to hold off the welltimed run of M. Beary on Mid-day Sun. The winning margin was a length and a-half, tho same distance separating second and third. Failed to Reach Reserve

Mi<J-day Sun was bred by Mr. W. 1. Sears, who has a few horses in training in various stables, but he is unlucky to havo parted with the best horse he has ever had. An interesting story is told of tho purchase of the Derby winner by his present owners. Mr. Sears sent the colt for sale as a yearling at the Newmarket October sales, and he failed to reach the reserve of 2000 guineas. The Kingsclere trainer, Fred Butters, consulted his brother, Frank Butters, as to the produce of Solario, and he then sought out Mr. Sears, who would not take anything less than the reserve price, and at that figure the Derby winner became the joint property of Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Talbot. It was in the colours of Mrs. Miller that Ankaret came exceedingly close to winning the Oaks two years ago, but the filly won the Coronation Stakes at Ascot. -

Owner Inherited Fortune Mrs. Miller, after leading in Mid-day Sun, was presented to the King, the Queen, and Queen Mary, all of whom congratulated her on her victory. "It was marvellous to be the first woman to win the Derby," she said. "This is the moment of my life." Mrs. Miller led in the colt to a chorus of cheers, but she was so unnerved by the ordeal that friends had to propei her into the unsaddling enclosure. 'When tho official came down from tho Royal box to tell her that Their Majesties wished to congratulate her, Mrs. Miller could not at first be found. With her mother, she had escaped to a distant corner of the enclosure. After tho race Mrs. Miller motored with her husband and her mother to her home, Brentry, near Rorrisey, in Hampshire. There were no guests for dinner and Mrs. Miller went earlv to bed.

Mrs. Miller is 28 and has one son, nged 18 months. She was formerly Miss Lettice Mary Talbot, daughter of tho late Major John A. Talbot. In 19.30, under the will of her uncle, tho late Lieuten-ant-Colonel W. B. Brocklehurst, head of the silk manufacturing firm of J. P. Brocklehurst, of Macclesfield, she inherited a fortune of £500,000. By tho terms of the will, she would havo forfeited this legacy if the trustees had not approver! her marriage in 1934 to Mr. George B. Miller, of Kingscotq Park, Gloucester, who was formerly a subaltern in the Grenadier Guards. Racing is but one of Mrs. Miller's hobbies. She is an enthusiastic golfer and tennis player, and does not frequently attend race meetings. Seldom have racing people known so little of tho owner of a Derby winner.

Other Runners Summed Up Of the other horses, Cash Book was I admired for his quality and Goya 11. : for his great fitness. The failure of i Cash Book's owner, Lord Astor, has i earned him the sobriquet, "The owner who can't win the Derby." The upstanding Solfo had evidently been through a strenuous preparation, this big chestnut colt gaining many friends j in the paddock. Le Grand Due, though j a trifle "011 the leg," had improved ! tremendously since the early spring. ; Mid-day Sun carried an immensity of i muscle, and was a great credit to his j trainer. He is the first winner of the j Derby from the Kingsclere stable since I Flying Fox. l r airford is neat and elegant. Pascal appeared a trille long in the back. There was no fault to be found with Sandsprito, but The Hour was not liked by some so much as his stable companion, Full Sail. Lc Ksar is a fine commanding colt. Perofix was one of the best-looking of all. A Jostling Contest Whether it was the firm ground or the quality of the horses, the race was not run at as good a pace as some jockeys thought. G. Richards described it as "one of the worst Derby scrimmages" he had ever been in. His mount, Pascal, who finished nearly last, was not so badlv off as the prominent Lo Bambino, who received a cut. So did one of the placed horses. Full Sail had a rough passage in his descent to Tattenham Corner.

Although Mid-day Sun was M. Boary's first Derby success, it was not his first classic victory, ns he won the St- Leger in 1929 on Trigo, and the Oaks in 1932 on Udaipur. He was second in the Derby to April the Fifth 011 H.H. Aga Khan's Dnstur in 1932, and wa,s third in the race in 1922 on Craigangower. He has been riding successfully for 25 years, but it is Fred Butter's first classic win.