HEWITT AND THE DERBY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8186, 30 July 1912, Page 9

HEWITT AND THE DERBY

Latest accounts from England make It fairly clear that Hewitt lost a winning ride on Tag aim in tho Deruy owing to llic unsatisfactory manner in wiiicli ho bandied her la tho Newmarket Stakes. The “.Special Commissioner’' took up the cudgels on behalf of Hewitt, and wrote as follows when it was announced that Belli was engaged to ride the tiily in the Blue llibbon. There was, by' the way, evidently a good- deal of doubt as to whether Tagaho would start in the Derby, and in relerriug both to that and Hewitt the writer Quoted above said: "It would bo au net of insanity to my mind for any man owning a lilly Hke Tagalio- not to go for tho Derby with her when Bill and Coo js Quito Ukely to beat hor for tho Oaks j m any event; and the Derby gallop, with 1 ono day intervening, may be just what she i wants to string her right up to concert pitch for tho Oaks. This certainly happened in .tho case of Scoptre, and, on tho other hand, w© have seen Sholovor goon enough to win tho Derby but not good enough to win the Oaks, of her year. Therefore. I am certain that Mr Ilnpbael has arrived at a most wise conclusion, and, if X am mistaken ns to the way in which Cylgad heat Tagalio, there is no reason why sho should not absolutely wip tho Derby. Mind you, X do not think X am mistaken in this matter, though Lomond certainly interfered with Tagalle in tho race for tho Newmarket Stakes, but rfood judges at the Bushes on that day thought tho filly wap winning in a canter, and that Hewitt did not moke tho best of his way homo. Tho jockey’s explanation, on tho other hand, is that tho Ally—whether from interference of Lomond or not—tired badly just when the men at tho Bushes thought sho had only to go on and win and ho bad nothing to do but take a pull and steady hor, if possible, for another effort. Tills ho did, but the Ally was quite unable to deal with Oylgad in. the last furlong, and the men at the Bushes should remember that they were two furlongs from tho finish. It was an unlucky race for Hewitt, who will not ride Taga'io for tho Oaks, for he was blamed, as I think, very undeservedly for tho result of the Newmarket Stakes. Ho may not be the moat brilliant artist in a close Anißh, but ho possesses many ouaUtles which make him very valuable as a jockey. He almost invariably goea away well and secures a good place at all necessary turns and bends. Ho has tho power which would make him a light-weight puglUst were he Inclined that way, and ho is a good natural horseman, though It may ho a triAo olumsy ns compared with tho artistic methods of Maher. All I know Is urns: That If X had a horso likely to win a Derby or Oaks I should bo Quito satisfied to .have Howitt rido." '