LAWN DERBY HERE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22917, 21 December 1937, Page 11

LAWN DERBY HERE

ARRIVAL FROM SYDNEY SPEEDY BOY AS COMPANION HORSES TRAVEL VERY WELL W. J. O'SHEA HONOURS PROMISE Pleasure at being able to revisit Auckland after an interval of 11 years was expressed by the Australian trotting trainer, W. J. O'Shea, who arrived yesterday from Sydney by the Awatea, with the Auckland Trotting Cup candidates, Lawn Derby and Speedy Boy. The trainer is accompanied by his son, Mr. P. O'Shea. However, he was surprised at the handicaps allotted his horses. The visitors were welcomed on arrival by Mr. E. G. Bridgens, president, and Mr. A. G. Mabee, secretary, representing the Auckland Trotting Club, and Mr. C. E. Craig, secretary to the Auckland Trotting Owners, Trainers and Breeders' Association.

After expressing his views on the severity of tho marks allotted his horses by tho New Zealand Handicapping Committee, Mr. O'Shea said had it not been that he felt bound to honour a promise to the Auckland Trotting Club to race Lawn Derby at the summer meeting he would unhesitatingly have cancelled the trip. He added: "Here I am, and I shall do my best to win the cup, but if 1 succeed in a difficult mission it will not justify the hardships on Australian horses imposed by the New Zealand Committee/' A High-class Facer In discussing his horses, Lawn Derby and Speedy Boy, O'Shea said the former was one of the best horse 3 he had seen. He was well behaved on and off the track, and always gave of his best. Lack of suitable two-mile races in Australia had limited his opportunities to prove his ability at the distance. His best time at two miles was 4.28., Mile records of 2.3 1-5, freelegged, and 2.4, hoppled, and a mile and a-half record of 3.13, left no doubt about his great speed, and, added his trainer, the horse was bred on the best staying lines. Speedy Boy was a reliable horse, whos& best at two miles was also 4.28, while he made a mile record at Perth of 2.11. Speedy Boy did most of his racing in South Australia, where a daughter, Speedy Voyage, owned by his son, had recently won a race. Regarding his plans subsequent to the Auckland meeting, O'Shea said his chance of taking part in the Addington Easter Championships would be governed by Lawn Derby's showing at Epsom, and his subsequent marks. The Dominion system of handicapping Australian horses on their fastest placed records was inconsistent with the manner of assessing New Zealand horses. Horses from this'country visiting Sydney would receive a concession on their tightest marks of about four or five seconds in a mile and a-half.! The present New Zealand system wanted amending in this respect,- and with encouragement many trainers would bring horses from Australia. Will Require To Do His Best

Of the cup prospects of Lawn Derby O'Shea said his horse would require to do his very best to win from 4.22, considering the fast records of some of those in front of him. Lawn Derby was fit, and had travelled very well. Lawn .Derby is a fine type of horse by Robert Derby, son of Globe Derbyand Honest Kate, who traces to Vanclevo and a thoroughbred mare. His dam, Roselawn, is by Childe Wood, a son of Ribbonwood, from War Van, a Rob Roy mare. O'Shea drore Lawn Derby' to victory in the 1934 Sydney Derby, and he also won the 1928 Melbourne Derby with his sire; Robert Derby. . Speedy Boy is a sturdy-looking paoer by Wilverley from Some Girl. He had a race recently,- being unplaced off a 3.24 mark. Both .horses were very bright after the trip, and will add interest to the training operations during the ' next few days. O'Shea's last visit to Epsom was in 1926, when he won the Otahuhu Cup with Machine Brick, and minor events with Machine Gun. Mr. J. F. MacKennev,' owner of Lawn Derby, will arrive next week.

RIDING ENGAGEMENTS JOCKEYS FOR ELLERSLIE The following riding engagements have been made for the Auckland Racing Club's- Summer "Meeting at Ellerslie on Boxing Day:— P. Atkins.—Padishah, Homily, Orate, Florence Mills, Quadroon, Wagner. H. N. Wiggins.—High Sea, Mazir, Royal Abb, Amigo, Do Friend, Stretto. J. Mclnally.—Knight of Australia. Tre- % r ace, Marie's Acre. J. W. Jennings.—Wild Chase, Nightdress, Trench Fight. G. Cameron. —Huntingmore. B. H. Morris—Oratory, Taurangi. » P. Fearn.—High Tea, Rajanya. H. Goldfinch.—Golden Sheila, Play On, Kiltowyn. , R. J. Fearn.—Kilonsa, Ohmaha, Bronze Oro.' B. H. Morris.—Oratory, Taurangi, Smoke Screen.

TREBLE WINNERS EARLY TROTTING HISTORY In reference to Colonel Axworthy's feat in winning, three races in the one day at Reefton, the .Riccarton. sportsman Mr. W. J. Morland has drawn attention to similar performances in the early .nineties by Nilreb and a pony, Billy Buttons. At the Lower Heathcoto Racing Club's meeting on December 26, 1891, Nilreb, owned and ridden by W. Kerr, opened the day's proceedings by winning the Handicap Maiden Trot, of two miles, in 6.5. The third race, the Boxing Day Handicap, of two miles, was also won by the Berlin gelding, a penalty of 10s. from his original mark, 205.,' having been incurred. The time was 6.8. The final event of the day, the Valley Handicap, of one mile, was won by Nilreb in 2.57. Nilreb evidently was a favourite, for the three dividends put together totalled a littlo more than £5. Incidentally Nilreb scored his fourth win on the second day of the meeting. Kerr also owned, trained and drove Billy Buttons, who at the Hutt Park Meeting on May 24, 1893, won the Miramar Park Handicap, of two miles, in - 6.45; the Wellington Trotting Club Handicap, of two miles and a half; and the Electric Trot Handicap, of one mile. At this meeting the totalisator handled £596, and while Billy Buttons paid nearly £6 in his first win, he carried only eight tickets.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "Wager," Otahfhu. —High Pitch won the Tourists' Handicap, the seventh race on the second day of the Te Aroha Jockey Club's meeting, which was February 27, 1928. The winner of the last race was Kingfield, who beat Valkon and Mftcroom. "Desert Gold," Auckland.—Desert Gold contested the Melbourne Cup of 1918, won by Night Watch. The New Zealand mare finished eighth.