1925 DERBY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 22

1925 DERBY.

ANOTHER RAINSWEPT COURSE. NANNA’S EASY VICTORY. ENTHUSIASM FOR “STEVE.” (Fkom Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 2. One does not quite know what the Clerk of the Weather has at the hack of his mind by ordaining Derby Day of slush and misery—a relentless downpour and a driving wind which penetrated even into the front rows of the covered stands and made the people there almost as uncomfortable as the hundreds on the uncovered roof and the myriads on the famous Downs. The onlookers from the vantage points were certainly deprived of anything in the nature of a picturesque scene, for the multitudes of either side of the sodden green ribbon of the turf were sheltering under umbrellas or beneath the stiff tarpaulins of the motor charabancs. The owners of these cumbersome vehicles as well as of motor buses had enticed the innumerable visitors away from London for a day on the beautiful Downs by the alluring injunction: “But surely you want to see the Derby!” So they went by the tens of thousands, but not more than a tenth actually saw anything of the race other than possibly a few coloured caps bobbing above the undulations of the landscape. However, if the Clerk of the Weather thinks he is going to deter the Mark Tapleys from attending this great annual picnic he is quite on the wrong track, for there are too many of them, and they won’t be deterred by the elements. They will be there even if they have to endure a day of soaked feet and" dripping clothes, the latter so penetrated by the rain that the wearers expect to have to hang themselves on the line as soon as they get home as well as to peg up their soppy garments. The tic-tac men seemed, too, to be depressed by the day, for their extraordinary feats of gesticulation—they arc human telegraphists, signalling in wondrous code to somewhere the changing prices—lacked their customary vigour. New Zealanders who were at Epsom in 1921 and in 1925 say in chorus: “Never again, unless a fine day is assured. It is no fun spending hours on the Downs inside a bUfc packed with people you have never met before.” In the circumstances, there is nothing picturesque —no colour, no gaiety, no bright gipsies, no pearlies, no jollity, no fun at all; all these elements arc indispensable if tradition means anything. People start from home before 7 a.m. to see a race timed for 3 p.m., r:o unless the weather is beyond reproach, misery and disappointment must result. “ISN’T HE LOVELY!” There was one briliant colour splash on the landscape immediately prior to the big race, and the hero responsible for the cheery change was “Steve” Donoghue, wearing the beautiful rose-pink velvet jacket and cap of the owner ot his mount, Manna. “Oh, look at Stove. Isn’t lie lovely?” cries an enthusiast. “He’s sure to win in those gorgeous clothes —he can t possibly lose'. I'm having a bit on Steve!” So off she goes to arrange with the nearest “bookie.” Of course, by the time the race was over many “WcLshers” had packed up and gone for good, and many pepole who “fancied Steve” never, saw anything more of the nomadic money-takers. The honourable among the fraternity were busily paving out for half an hour after the race. Meanwhile, the rain-soaked made for the railway stations in vast battalions. “TIPS” IN ADVANCE. Two days before the event a very jolly luncheon took place at the Press Club, in honour of the founder of the Derby Stakes, the twelfth Earl of Derby, the principal guests being men of renown and owners on the turf, including Lord Derby, the Earl of Carnarvon, Sir C. Hyde, Sir G. Bullough, Mr 11. E. Morriss (owner of Manna), and Mr “Steve” Donoghue. Amid much laughter, owners gave “tips. Thus’ Lord Derby, whose horse was to bo Conquistador: "I honestly confess I have a groat love for my follow men, but I don’t want anyone except myself to win the Derby. I mean, that is, that I shall be very pleased if Sir George Bullough or any of the others wins. If Lord Astor wins, I will drink his health in ginger beer.”—(Laughter.) A sly allusion to Lady Aslor’s prohibition propensity. A morning newspaper correspondent said he could not tip Conquistador, because ho had once eaten his straw bed, and might do it again. ■ (Laughter.) Did ho not realise that once a horse has been found out doing that his straw is changed, and he has peat moss that he can’t eat, or sawdust? (Laughter.! Sir G. Uullough : “T shall look forward myself to hoping that St. Becan may acquit himself well, and I am bound to say, if I cannot win, that I certainly hope that nobody else will win.” —(Laughter.) “EVEN THE ACE.” Sir Charles Hyde: “I will put my cards, including the ace of diamonds, on the table, and tell you what we think in our little stable about Dignity’s chance—that includes myself, the owner, the trumor. i io jockey, and the ‘boy what docs it. Wo see not the very slightest reason why Dignity should not win the Derby. On the other hand, we see not the slightest reason why he should win.” —(Laughter.) MANNA AND THE ISRAELITES. Mr H. E. Morriss: “After reading all about it. I have come to the conclusion that nothing can win the Derby this year —(Laughter.) The reason why the Israelites of the old days found themselves in the rich and fertile plains of the Jordan was because they followed manna. I advise you to do the same.” THE MYSTERY MAN. Mr R. C. Dawson (who was introduced as “the real mystery man who wilt tell us the truth”) said that Zionist had been galloped with a horse called Dignity ‘I and my jockey both camo to the conclusion that whatever other horse wo did not beat in the Derby wo would beat Dignity. We have the greatest hopes that Zionist may win. ... 1 am going to back Zionist, and I reallv advise all of you not to leave him out. The horse I fear most is Cross Bow.” Mr J. 11. Thomas. M.P.; “Manna from Heaven —yes, but when we remember that there arc some horses that eat straw and are now given sawdust, what the devil hope is there'? The only consolation I have is that I have been advising Labour to stand on its Dignitv. We will still be standing on it on Wednesday 'judging by all I have heard. I am really here as the principal guest. We expected a few tips from the other people, but I arn tne representative of Derby. Sir George says to me. ‘lt’s all right if you want to retire comfortably, take no notice of the rest.’—(laughter.) Lord Derby says, ‘What Lancashire savs to-day the world shouts to-morrow.’ But when I saw Steve lifting his glass higher than anybody else, ‘By gad.’ I thought. T am on it.’--(Laughter.) Carslake, however, having looked at him, says, ‘lt’s all right. People go that way in 'their old ago.’ If the Aga Khan should succeed we shall be able to say to the people of India. ‘Here’s a further evidence of British Imperialism being successful.’ —(Laughter.) The Derby this year is more uncertain than the existence of the present Government.”— (Cheers.) A STRAIGHT lIP. Mr Steve Donoghue. in response to cries of “Steve,” rose, but, as manv of the company wore unable to see his diminutive figure, there were cries of ’Stand on a chair, Steve.” Lie did so. “You can take a straight tip from mo.” bo said. “Whatever -heats me will win the Derby, Manna is a handy little horse, not a big one. but genuine and game. Whatever beats Manna will win.” Of course, he proved a true prophet I And people—those who are wise after the event —now declare: For the Derby there’s only one thing to do, and that is to follow Steve WHAT ABOUT THE FAVOURITE? As it happens, since Picaroon had to be taken out of the race, another horse belonging to Lord Astor —Cross Bow—became the favourite, with F. Bullock up, but somehow, for some reason, he did not show up in the contest. At the aforesaid luncheon Mr P. P. Gilpin, the well-known trainer, whose opinion was also called for. said: “I have come to the conclusion that the more von think about which horse is going to win the more hopeless tangle it is. M- opinion is that Cross Bow will win. T think his form is the best all round, and what. I like about him is that he is on the up grade. The other horse in the race that yon cannot get away from is Manna.” Manna passed the winning post eight lengths in front of Zionist (B. Carslake), with an outsider (The Sirdar, A, Fsling. trained in F'-ance) third. The prominent display of The Sirdar, owned hv Mr A. K. Macomher, was one of the great surprises of the race, and he was running on well at the end. It was upon the manner in which the Cross Bow had previously slaughtered St. Germans (his own stable companion) that the former was fannied »o confidently for the Derby. Thus Cross Bow’s Uiluro bo-

comes more incomprehensible than ever. Tlio stable estimate is that ho ran at least 211 b below what ho had shown at home. LUCK OF THE DRAW.

Among many unfounded rumours till the parade just before the race was one that Manna had been scratched. _Whcn tho numbers went up, however, No. 18 v. as there, and when the lield of 27 came on parade, ho was very much there. Then it was that the multitude became so enthralled with Donoghue's pink jacket and cap. Among tho horses to meet with general approval at this stage were Manna, Zionist, and Cross Bow.

On the whole (in the opinion of tho Morning Post sporting authority) it was a decidedly workmanlike field, though the general impression was that the runners were rather below the usual standard in point of quality. Donoghue’s groat popularity was evidenced as soon as Manna came came on the course. The jockey could not refrain from a smile of satisfaction at his reception, and he was evidently well pleased with tho prospects of his mount. ' Manna displayed beautiful action 'upon cantering to the start. The colt looked and moved so well that it is amazing he should have lost his position in the betting at the last. St. Becan gave one the impression of having done well since his defeat in the Payne Stakes, and there was no fault to find with tho appearance of Solario. Zionist is built on yiowerful lines, and made a fine show as he cantered past the stands. It was a coincidence that Manna and Cross Bow. who had disputed favouritism for the race for so long, should have been drawn together at Nos. 14 and 15 respectively, whilst Zionist was alongside them at No. 13. Next to the rails was Conquistador, and Ptolemy II was No. 2. These are not particularly favourable positions in tho Derby unless the horses who hold them can show good speed in the early stages. Neither Conquistador nor Ptolemy IT produced that turn of pace. The former, indeed, ran most disappointingly, and wuis not seen with a winning chance from start to finish., Ptolemy 11, on tho other hand, dnl hold a good place in the centre of the field for the first half of tho iournev, but. when the pressure was put on he failed to improve his position. MANNA’S GREAT DASH. Manna was about sixth when half-way up tht rising ground, but on reaching the turn which leads to ’’iattonham Corner ho had raced up to Dalmagarry. Zionist and Warminster also considerably improved thenpositions, and can bo said to have been the only ones who made the semblance of a fight against the Bcckhamptou colt. On rounding tho famous corner, however, Warminster had clearly failed in his effort to hold Donoghue’s mount, who swept into the straight with a clear lead. Two furlongs from the end Donoghue was able to take a swift look round, and found none of the others within challenging distance of him. Thus he did not find it .necessary to call upon Manna for any special mushing effort, and tho colt cantered home with tho greatest ease. Zionist remained prominent after turning into the straight, but lie did not seem to relish tho strenuous calls which Carslake made upon him, and though ho proved too good tor oil the others ho was many lengths behind A r-una when the winning post was reached. “GOOD OLD STEVE!” Then came the excitement of the lead into the little paddock beneath tho Jockey Club stand. Mr Morriss had gone to meet his horse, and with “Stove” still cn, the progress was not easy, for the tittle rr.aii was overwhelmed with cheers and cues of “Good old Steve!” Indeed, one .-..i lq not help feeling that tho enthusiasm ot the crowd was more for Steve and Manna than for owner and trainer. Last year it was so different when Lord Derby led m Satisovina, but whereas the latter is sicti a well-known man in the racing world and out of it, Mr Morriss is comparatively littleknown, for ho has but one horse in racing —Manna —and ho is a business man better known in Shanghai than to tho Epsom frequenters. However, Mr Morriss was obviously delighted. Steve’s face was wreathed with smiles and his arm must have been tired with acknowledging the multitudinous cheers and congratulations. Then us small jockey son, Pat, immediately l us father had dismounted in the unsaddlin„ enclosure, ran down tho woighmg-room stops and proudly kissed him. Most of the other jockeys’ fanes were splashed with tho top 3 soil of tho Downs. As Manna was unsaddled his beautiful quality and his symmetrical lines were naturally more f' 1 than over, and especial y was his hre, i Air J J Maher, of Ireland, who sold him as a ’yearling for 6300 guineas, immensely gratified. ..j. IfNEW - Tho following interesting statements vere injido after tiio i aco • < Donoghuo: “Manna gave mo a beautiful ride I was fairly well drawn always Ivin- hamlv behind a few sprinters. 1 passed Dalmagarry at the milo post, and after that I didn’t worry. Corning down into tho dip, Dalmagarry weakened. Manna shot to tho front without any bidding from p,o From start to finish I never showed him tho whip. Ho took his head and wont along without faltering a stop. Exon m tho ast 100 yards ho didn’t weaken ami I don’t know how much more I could have S’ oui of him tel X «.W I»; ■>. I wish horse It all proved I was right about in. mount Tho crowd were a great oncouragemounr. They didn t seem ment before the lacc. a ■> . , to care about tho ram and wished me luck in tho old way, and that means a, lot whui you’re keyed up to Derby pitch. A HEAVEN-SENT GIFT.

Mr Morriss: “I never had a doubt after the Two Thousand Guineas that Manna would win the Derby. I always felt that he was a Heaven-sent gift, and that is why I oall him Manna, which at any rate is an appropriate name, for Waffles. Ins dam, na. Urn name of a food, and so has Buckwheat, the sire of Waffles. All Shanghai was on him to a man. For the past fortnight I have been inundated with cables from China asking me to put money and more money on the horse, so that 1 also I) M-i to tremble when I thought of what a Black Monday there would be m Shaiiyiiai it m> irood colt came unstuck, but Manna won with the greatest of ease, as I felt sure be would. I feel the proudest man m (lie world.” , ~ ~ Of course, the King sent for Mr Morriss. and personally congratulated him on his victory Many people were very enthusiastic about the King’s chance with Runnymede, and a Royal victory would have caused intense enthusiasm, but Runnymede, like so many of the ether entrants, was forgotten as the race was run. MANNA’S OWNER AND TRAINER. Mr Morriss has not raced a groat deal in Emdand, but has occasionally paid big prices for horses, particularly yearlings at the Doncaster sales. Ho paid 63€0 guineas for Manna, and the Two Thousand Guineas was his first important triumph. Mr Morriss is known as an exchange broker, and carried on a business which was rtnvted.in a small way by his father. He resides in a mansion in the French quarter of the city, and in his grounds is a miniature steeplechase course. Manna, who is a colt by I’halans, a. reputed, non-stayer, was prominent as a two-year-old last, season. He was never out of a place in the whole of his five races, two of which lie won. Those were the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and the Moulton Stakes at Newmarket in October. His only out,iu h this season was in the Two Thousand Guineas which, of course, he won easily by two lengths. Manna's trainer, F. Darling, presides over a useful string of 'horses at, Rockhampton. He was the (miner of Captain Cuttle, who won the Derby in 1922. Mr W. Allison, the noted Special Commisioner of the Sporting Life, remarks “I think Fred Darling has now achieved a record which is never likely to be equalled. There is nothing very extraordinary in selecting some of the very best yearlings at Doncaster, and buying them, if you have a big enough commission ; but boro was a case in which the Rockhampton trainer was instructed by cable from China to buy the best yearling at Doncaster in 1925--and he had to buy only one. The upshot of this was that be bought Manna, whom he has also trained to win the Two Thousand and Derby, and already it looks as though the St. Legcr will follow almost as a matter of course." By winning his sixth Derby on Manna, Donoghuo beat Fred Archer’s record of live winners. The Derby winners ridden by these two jockeys were: — Donoghuo.—l9ls, Poinmern ; 1917, Gay Crusader: 1921, Humorist; 1922, Captain Cuttle; 1923, Papyrus; 1925, Manna. Archer. —1877, Blair Athol; 1880. Bend Or; 1881, Iroquois; 1885, Melton; 1886, Ormonde. Doiioghnc’s first two Derbys were wartime ‘■substitute Derbys” run at Newmarket. HOW MANNA WON. “It is perhaps full early to say that Manna is a great coll, although it is claimed for him already that he is one of the greatest Derby winners we have seen in a lifetime (says ’the Sunday Times!. Well, he has not yet met Picaroon, and Mr Cox's colt showed himself better than Manna twice last year. Still, Manna was a great colt on Derby Day. Donoghuo was equally groat on Derby Day, and be-

tween them they gained one of tho easiest victories in the race that bus ever been seen. Tho race was run exactly to suit the colt—a slow pace for half tho distance, which enabled him to.take, a commanding position early, and then a clear course. (1 ho goes on to win the St. Letter, and it is not doubted that he will fail for lack ol stamina over the mile and threo-quarteis. he will certainly go down to posterity as great, for he will have revived an appar,.ntiy lost tradition that the nest colt ot the year should win all three classic races. Exception, of course, has always been taken to Manna’s size, for he is only just 15.5. This, however, seems to be the day of the medium-sized bor.-e. . . . Talking of the little against the big horses, we saw one of the latter, Ptolemy, hopelessly discredited in the Derby. Seldom has a colt had Ins merits more exaggerated than this one, wlio has gone back to Prance with his tail very much down.”

THE INDIVIDUAL Some personal impressions of Lord Astor, Lord Derby, and Mr Morriss are written by Mr Edgar Wallace. Ho says:— ' “Lord Astor is the type of man who, it be had four horses in the race, would, in the language of Admiral Rous, start the whole fleet.’ For him the racecourse is the testing ground for the stud, his heart lies. II« does not bet to anv extent, if at alb . doubt very much whether he bothers his head to consult a book of form to weigh up the relative chances of other competitors He knows all about his own horses—-ihoy are up to, above, or below his high standard of racing merit. u they are above the standard they will win, and it really docs not matter what the rest of the field is like. If tho- arc below and they win, so much the worse, in his judgment, for tho horses they have beaten. “In a sense this is Lord Derby s view as well, except that the racer oua racer i* a very individual and vital tiunp. 1 should think he had a more sentimental interest in his lhaiq T.ord Astoi. I could not imagine his selling Sansovino, oven if ho failed as a sire. “Mr Morriss looks on a horse from the viewpoint of a rider. He seems a little dumbfounded to find himself the owner of a horse figuring so prominently in the Derby betting. For him the Derby is a breathless affair. . . . It is a far cry from Shanghai to Epsom Downs, from the .stuffv little Chinese ‘griffins to tho long-striding son of Phalaris.” MINOR NOTES. Tall hats —grey or black —were worn by all tho men on the Jockey Club stand. Button-holes were much in evidence, especially white. Tho King had a while carnation, so had Sir G. Bullough. Lord Derby wore a spray of lilies of the valley. Despite the ankle-deep mud and the heavy downpour, large numbers of ladies were in tho paddock to sec tho competitors before the great race. ’There wore mackintoshes of many hues, and colour-blonds, some being very attractive. The Queen looked in no wise disconcerted by tho gloomy, wet day. The Duke of York and Prince Henry were with their parents. In tno next car were the Duchess of York and Lady May Cambridge, with Lady Ampthill. Princess Mary (Viscountess Lascelles) came with Viscount Lascellcs, and soon after there followed tho Duke of Connaught, and Maud Carnegie, with Captain Lord Carnegie. Their Majesties stopped to shako hands and exchange greetings with the Earl of Lonsdale before passing into the Club Stand entrance. Tho Queen wore a long £rey thick silk coat, very pale in shade, embroidered in silk of the same colour, and a black hat with a pale judo green feather and a touch of gold ornamented the front of tho crown. Tho Duchess of York had a coat and skirt of lapis lazuli blue covert-coating, and a biogo-coloured hat. Princess Mary was in powder-blue, with a wide brimmed fawn-coloured hat. Princess Arthur of Connaught wore a pale fawn-coloured long coat, with a dull red hat. FASTER THAN MANNA. Lord Aster’s filly, Slaucy Sue, who won tho Oaks, is declared to be the best filly that has boon soon since Pretty Polly, and, before her, Sceptre. Saucy Sue covered the i milo and a-lialf in faster time than did Manna in tho Derby. Tho going, of course, was hotter, but she was never out of a half-gallop, and she would probably have won by 50 lengths had she been sent out all the way. In none of her five races has Saucy Sue been extended, and what the public would like to know is if she is better than Manna and her stable companion Picaroon, who was favourite for the Derby until a mishap overtook him. All three are engaged in the St. Leger, which is run at Doncaster in September, and this is going to be the most interesting classic race for a long time.