THE SYDNEY DERBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 36

THE SYDNEY DERBY.

This event, now close upon us, seems to be J more open than usual ; still the public have a fancy, and the chances ara that Cocos will start at a very short price. This colt, writes " Reginald," is considered the New South Wales mainstay amongst the Blue Riband talent, his running in the Hampden Stakes being, it seems, reckoned with the penalty taken into account, fairly up to the required mark. There can be no disputing that in the early part of his career Cocos was a colt of exceptional ability, and if he fully regains his form this spring, he might be equal to classic deeds. His failures last autumn may, perhaps, to a certain extent, be overlooked, for admittedly Coil's brilliant brother was then not himself. _ He lacke"d his spring dash, and Hs, finishes in the Ascot Vale and Sires' Produce Stakes were, at best, but half-hearted, jaded | efforts. Bar Cocos, none of the Sydney Derby j horses appear to be very highly thought of j though here and there Picture is talked of. ' Beyond his memorable upsetting of the Wallace certainty in the Leger with Cabin Boy, Mark _ Thompson has not troubled the " classics " much during his career as a trainer, but it might be that in Picture he has a filly that will help him to a bit of blue ribbon, just by way of a change from handicap triumphs. This daughter of Russley, it should not be forgotten, won the December Stake, and if she has trained on — report says she lias — there is no reason why she should not want some beating in a race like the Sydney Derby. Vigorous' s pretensions to this class got a set back by his Hampden Stakes failure. These Derbys are, however, occasionally muddled, as evidence the defeat of Coil by Charge, and m a moderately run mile and a-half Vigorous might hold his own for speed home. There does not appear any good grounds to think that Pellisier is likely to follow in the footsteps of his brother Amberite, while Holster, Nevada, and most of the others of the local lot engaged have yet to prove their worth. There is a strong likelihood of Victoria taking a hand. It is eaid that Lee-Metford is booked for the trip, and wit3i the possibility of Walter Hickenbotham's stable being represented by Heretic and Cardamon, an intercolonial flavour is not likely to be absent from this year's A.J.C Derby contest.