DERBY HISTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22846, 29 September 1937, Page 11

DERBY HISTORY

PREVIOUS CONTESTS NEW ZEALAND WINNERS TEN SUCCESSES RECORDED BY PHAETON Tho Australian Jockey Club's Derby was founded in 1865 and this year's race, next Saturday, will mark the 73rd contest. Of all tho classic races connected with tho Australian Turf, it can bo safoly said that tho A.J.C. Derby holds first place with New Zealanders, which may be explained by reason of the number of successes registered by horses who were either bred in the Dominion or carried tho colours of sportsmen resident here. Tho first occasion on which New Zealand had anything to do with the classic at Randwick was in 1885 (Nordenfeldt's year), and with a winning performance by a colt bred in the Dominion that paved the way for recognition of our bloodstock. In the interval the Dominion has been well represented and the record reads as follows: — ISSs—Nordenfeldt, first. 1887 —Niagara, third. 1890 —Gatling, second. 180-1 —Bonnie Scotland, first. 1905—Noctuiform, first; Sungod, second.

101G —Ivilboy, first. 1918 —Fiumark, second; Kilmoon, third. 1021 —Gupidon, first. 1923—rBallyMena, first. 1024 —Nigger Minstrel, second. 1020 —Limerick, second. 1020 —Phar Lap, first; Honour, third. 19^0—Veilmond, second. Hi 31 —Ammon Ra, first. 103 M—Deputy Ruler, second; Blixten, third. 1031—Theo, first. . 1935 —Hoinor, dead-heat for first. IU30 —Mala, second; Gold Rod, third. In addition, New Zealand owners have won with Australian-bred horses on three occasions. Biplane and Gloaming, who were bred in Victoria, scored in successive years, 1917 and 1918, for tho late Mr. G. D. Greenwood, and Prince Humphrey, bred in Queensland, won for Mr. C. G. Macindoe in 1928. New Zealand hopes this year will be centred in Courtcraft, another son of Limond, who will carry the colours, of Mr. W. H. Gaisford. Surprise Victories

The history attached to almost every race embracing a long stretch of years reveals a number of surprises and the most sensational of that character connected with the A.J.C. Derby during the past 35 years which may be cited are those in which Duke of Grafton, Tanami, Cupidon, Rivoli and Ballymena played the leading part. In 1903 tho field was reduced to five and on all hands it was voted decidedly weak. Duke of Grafton, who had won a weight-for-age race over nine furlongs a short time before, was popularly viewed as a certainty, with the result that he ruled an odds-on favourite. The presumed "good thing" proved a disappointment and " the Duke" was well beaten by Belah and Sweet Nell. When the field of 13 paraded in 1910 Tanami, a son of Dalmeny, was considered out of his class. However, that did not aifect Tanami, who proved victorious. Tanami was considered the worst colt who had won classic honours at Randwick. and, as he never once succeeded in his subsequent efforts, the summing up was endorsed.

When Cupidon carried dismay into the ranks of admirers of the favourite division in 1922 there was a field of 13, and tho New Zealand gelding, who was by Martian, was tho absolute outsider, which indicated that his immediate connections entertained small hopes of victory. However, it was to prove Cupidon's day out, as the saying goes, and, finishing up >■ his'..task. gamely, he defeated the favoiirite, Furious. Cupidon's victory did not have the effect of elevating him to a class above tho very moderate, and, indeed, he wound up in poor company when subsequently raced in New Zealand. Triumph of Rivoli

The year following Cupidon's victory saw Rivoli, a colt by Repartee, hailing from Queensland* reveal how easily a promising colt caii be underestimated. In a field of 11' llivoli was given scant notice. The final stage saw him display true grit, with the result that he worried down the two favourites, Soorak and Caserta. At four years old Rivoli scored victories in important weight-for-age races, and in the decision of the Melbourne Cup of. 1923 ho carried 9.1 into second place behind Bitalli, to whom he was conceding a year in age and 291b. in weight.

The field of 1923 was not considered strong, but Baltymena, a son of Nassau, was not viewed at all seriously as a likely winner. Once again, however, the race was to furnish a case of a lightly-estimated horse scoring a sensational win. The New Zealand gelding fought out the issue in game style, and, although at ,tlie time ho was not accorded much praise, he subsequently endorsed his success in a manner that established his right to be accepted as a really good horse, for he scored at waight-for-age in several important events and one of the .victories, to ■> his credit was against the doughty Gloaming in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill in 1924. • " " • ! i ; • MEMORIES REVIVED A REMARKABLE RECORD The series of victories registered by New Zealand-bred horses at Victoria Park, New South Wales, on September 22, when they captured five of the nine races, revived recollections of a remarkable record in more noteworthy company and in more important events enacted by horses hailing from* this Dominion at ' the Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting at liandwick in 1905. In the 24 events that formed the programme New Zealand horsos captured exactly half tho.nuinb'or and in three instances they filled first and second places. The list of successes was composed as follows: — A.J.C. Derby.—Noctuiform 1, Sungod 2. Shorts Handicap.—Machine Gun 1. Spring Maiden Stakes. —Isolt 1. Tho Metropolitan.—Maniapoto 1. First Stcoplechaso.—Sultana 1, Dingo 2. New Stakes. —Sungod 1. Craven Plate.—Gladsome 1. Grantham. Stakes. —Sungod 1. Wycombo Stakes. —Isolt l, Canteen 2. Members' Handicap.—lsolt 1. Dowling Steeplechase. Up-to.Dato 1, Dingo 2. Knndwick Plate. —Nightfnll. Noctuiform, Sungod, Machine Gun, Isolt and Nightfall carried the colours of tho late Mr. G. G. Stead. SALE-RING BARGAIN AUSTRALIAN-BRED HIGHBORN Tho three-year-old colt Highborn, who was sold in Sydney last week for 1750 guineas, has given his previous Auckland owners a good return for the 180 guineas expended in his purchase when bought as a yearling by Dr. W. C. Ring at Handwick in the autiunn of 19.'?6. So far Highborn has distinguished himselt in minor events only, but, whatever the future may have in store for him, it can be said without hesitancy that, summed up on brooding lines, he is entitled to bear the high-sounding title which his name implies. His sire, Baralong. is by Galloper Light, a son .of Sunstar, from the Spearmint maro Silesia. Nobility, his dam, is bv Cannobio, son of Polvmelus, from Facility, a daughter of Young Majesty, son of Persimmon.