DERBY DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 166, 4 October 1927, Page 11

DERBY DAY

BIG EVENT DRAWS NEAR CANTERBURY’S STRONG HAND A FORTNIGHT .from Saturday last will see the cream of New Zealand three-year-old pacers contest the richly-en-dowed Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park Though the early staging of the classic precludes any Auckland-trained candidate from having a possible chance of securing even a portion of the £I,OOO, the visiting contingent will provide an exciting race. With recent form to act as a guide, followers of the sport will find the Derby contest an interesting study.

AUT of a total nomination of 107 U candidate.-) originally for the 1927 Great Northern Derby, 48 remained in jfter the second forfeit fell due in June list, and 25 are listed to-day as probable starters. This number will of course bo substantially reduced before the race comes up for decision, but there is every prospect of a fair-sized field gone to the post on October 15. In any case there will be sufficient Southern riaterial to create a really stirring con--1 There is no doubt that the majority (! those responsible for the appearance of 48 on the list after the June forfeit were labouring under the delusion that tile final payment of £lO was not required unless their nominees were left in after the night of general entry for the spring fixture. Those who took this view of the situation will find themselves the poorer and the Auckland ,club the richer by that ;.mou:-t.

may make big field The result, of this will be to make lor a bigger field, as several owners, linding they are liable for the extra CIO will give their candidates a run in public, although they know ful! well they have no possible chance of getting eny of the prize money. The pres - ence of some of the hopeless cases may liavi; another bearing on the race, as there is always the cha.nce of a green vouingster destroying the prospects of other starters who have a royal chance of securing the money. better results from SMALLER FIELD In such an interesting event as the Derby, it is not essential to have a big field; in fact, with seven or eight good tnd proved youngsters facing the starter, the public will get a spectacular and speculative event. But owners who liavo been compelled to contribute a further £lO toward the stake cannot bo blamed for starting their charges even when they do not expect them to be in at the kill. They will have the satisfaction at all events of getting a run on the grass; track at Alexandra Park, albeit they pay dear for this privilege. WHAT ABOUT THE GRASS TRACK? Mention of the grass brings up again, the old argument of horses traltad at Epsom, and Bonnlewah the l.urf on which they are asked to race This is particularly applicable in the case of the Derby youngsters, who are not so well situated as their Soutnera opponents, who not only have opportunities of testing their ability on the grass, but have the advantage of racing as well. At Aucklanders are barred the latter privilege, the club surely can come to the assistance of owners by allowing the Derby!t<w a few runs on the grass prior to the deciding day. AUCKLAND CANDIDATES Ot the Auckland aspirants likely to sport silk, 'Warplane, Free Advice, and

tnSS** caused jereat satisfaction In .a Jr®* circles. For some time Bn«f“i. controlling trotting in Ken , a * <!s ha ve been endeavouring to ” O'Sht trotting meetings, which are hi other States. The way is Practically clear for them. ADVANTAGE of the act JJ? Ne « South Wales Trotting Club, jen controls trotting In the State, take advantage of the acir»TH!i ticn now placed on the Act nouj meetings on the club’s course Glebe. HcJhT* Anderson, who received a to SSi BPm e m onths ago, and intended Uii- meetings at. Maroubra, of ’♦?*** Plana upset by a decision ? e hropolitan Land Board. :ias 11< deceived .from the Government a Wi* tha * P ermlts him to hold meeton any licensed racecourse. TRACK to be formed A-sdjM^* B publicly that Mr. Uttitfp* oll aa< * been negotiating for the As<?ot Racecourse, tha t the tw be adequately lighted, and thi) ft traclt would be put down ins ide Present galloping course.

the Man-o'-War—Miss Rolfe filly, are trained at Epsom, and Bonnienah, Peter Pirate and the Real Guy—Lady Morland gelding are doing their work at Mangere. The son of Man-o’-War —An- Raid, Warplane, and the Blue Mountain King-—lntaglios filly. Free Advice, will probably make the best showing of the Auckland contingent, but their prospects, particularly at this time of the year, and under the circumstances generally, are very remote,. NORTH ISLAND HOPE As has been repeatedly mentioned in the trotting columns of THE SUN, Canterbury holds a very strong hand in this year’s classics, and the only North Island candidate in both Derbies that is looked upon as downing the Southerners is the bonny filly Enawah, who was the crack two-year-old lasi: season. B.eports state the daughter of Peterwah—Ena Bell is going on the right way, and will strip in rare co~ dition on October 15. She is still the lavourite for the event in many Quarters. THREE RECENT WINNERS Of the Canterbury contingent engaged, Vestas. Daphne De Oro and Douard have each won a race during the last few weeks, and their successful performances have greatly enhanced their prospects in the public eye. Vestas won over two miles easily at Wellirgton, but failed since at Ashburton. Daphne de Oro won at the Hutt Park brilliantly over the Derby distance, and on Thursday at Geraldine Douard was returned a winner at 12 furlongs. Of these performances, that of Daphne de Oro stands out most prominent. HARD TO BEAT Another Southerner that has been in the boom for the classic is Harvest Child, who finished second to Enawah in the Sapling Stakes in June. A later performs, nee at Addington when he ran fourth in. a good field of experienced pacers, v/on him many friends, and despite the fact that he could only get third money at Ashburton last weekend, the son of Sonoma Harvester will be a tough nut to crack in the Derby. Monopole is another candidate that has recently shown form to recommend him as a possibility. NELLA DILLON'S PROSPECTS Nella Dillon, the Auckland-owned filly trained in Canterbury, did not impress by her recent displays under silk, but she was somewhat unlucky at Geraldine, through another competitor . falling. Reports from South state thi: handsome Author Dillon filly was going nicely when the mishap occurred. She may put up a very credible performance fh the classic. J. R. Corrigan’s pair is well spoken ol! in certain quarters, but the two in common with the Auckland-trained representatives will lack the racing experience of the Southerners. It still looks as if the final issue will be fought out between Daphne de Oro, Harvest Child, Enawah and Vestas.

The Australian Trotting Club, which races at Victoria Park, and the New South Wales Trotting Club, each have 20 meetings a year, and the holder of the new' licence is entitled to the same number. Uight trotting will begin in this State on Saturday, when a meeting will 1:* held at Newcastle. The Newcastle club has also been granted October 1 by the New South Wales Trotting Club. Maitland has permission to race on September 24. No day has yet been granted to Cessnock by the governing body.