G.N. Derby

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 14

G.N. Derby

TWO FILLIES PREDOMINATE

Prodice and Episode

OUTSIDE of a five-furlong sprint at Feilding this month, there are no more elassic events until the midsummer meetings eventuate. Most outstanding of the races then is the Great Northern Derby, run at Ellerslie seven weeks from to-dav.’

Without wishing to be dubbed a. pessimist, it cannot be gainsaid that the outlook for the richest of the Dominion’s classics, the Great Northern Derby, is by no means as bright as it might be, considering that it io easily the most important event of its kind, the New Zealand Derby notwithstanding. With no more of what might be called metropolitan fixtures, outside of Takapuna and Feilding at the end of this month, the form of this season’s three-year-olds has been fully exposed, and it has yet to be proved that the 1928-29 racing year is going to prove th*e vintage that it appeared likely to develop into in the spring. Forfeit is due for the big Ellerslie classic on Friday of next week, and -then it can be seen just what is left in. At the present time the list of those possessing reasonable credentials for the blue riband are Prodice, Episode, the Fordell pair, Cashier and Consent, Concentrate, Prince Humphrey (now viewed in the light of a doubtful starter), Toxeuma, Red Heckle and Sir Russell. Of except Red Heckle are North Islanders. Among others that could be regarded as being likely to develop into good three-year-olds with sufficient promise to take their place in the field on New Year’s Day are the present moderates Mithra. Full Feather. Childsplay, Starshooter and White Wings. Of these Childsplay and White Wings appear to be sprinters purely and simply. Not engaged are Nightmarch and Silver Paper, more’s the pity. f The on Form Of those mentioned above, there is little doubt that Prodice—on what we have seen of the three-year-olds so far—stands very much out on her own, and it is a big factor in her favour that she is equally at home be it wet or dry. This filly’s successes in the Avondale and Great Northern Guineas were accomplished too easily to reasonably expect any of those she defeated to turn the tables, unless it Prod i of' hail*' f rnm a

stable that so far this season' lias enjoyed a fine run of success, and trainer Loomb is one to keep *he filly fit for New Year’s Day. Catmint has yet to be represented successfully in the Derby, but in Prodice the defunct sire has a most worthy representative. Won by Class Gallopers It takes a good three-year-old to win this biggest of our classics. Look at the last -thirteen victors: Desert Gold. Sasanoff. Estland. Gloaming, Royal Stag, Gasbag, Winning Hit, Enthusiasm. Ballymena, Count Cavour, Star Stranger, Commendation and Martarma. There’s a list for you! Will this season’s winner take rank with some of these? Prodice at present holds the imagination. but Episode stands a chance of turning the tables on her next time they meet. The Limond filly was rather unlucky in the Great Northern Guineas, although even without meeting with serious interference half a fnile from home, .she would not have beaten Prodice, for the latter was a fit filly, whereas Episode was not thoroughly tuned up. Nevertheless, even in her unready state, Episode should have been second to Prodice, and with this pair fit and well at the post next time, supremacy will be decided by the filly best able to go the mile and a-half. For that reason, and in the event of Episode having fully recovered from her injury, one is inclined to lean to her, although it is not encouraging to find that her plans —to race at Feilding and then come on to Ellerslie—have been altered so far as the former fixture is concerned. Records Against Fillies Fillies have not enjoyed a good run of success in the Great Northern Derby. On the contrary. Desert <Qold (1916) and Enthusiasm (1923) are Hiie only two winners of the weaker

sex since Miss Delaval won in 1900. This is something to ponder over, but at the same time it is unique to find two fillies dominating the field at this stage, whatever the next few may bring forth. It is extremely unfortunate that Prince Humphrey is still a cot case, for with only seven weeks to go to the day of the race, it does not seem possible for the A.J.C. Derby winner to be on hand fit and well. If he was to be started, and in good order, then he would be a reasonable proposition from a betting standpoint. Word for Toxeuma

Prodice in the threat Northern Guineas was full of merit, for he met with a bit of interference on the way, and vet

finished well, suggesting that he might be able to encompass the Derby distance. His sire. Arrowsmitli, was orilliant up to a mile, but it is on the maternal side that there is gained reason te expect him to develop a fair amount of stamina. Te Aupaki was got by Merry Moment from Timua, by Birkenhead. Toxeuma has not been overdone, and apparently is in the right hands, so that his appearance at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day will be awaited with considerable interest. Will They Improvs? Of the Fordell pair, Consent Cashier, the latter has been very cog. sistent, if falling a bit short of the best, but in a slow run race—which k hardly likely at Ellerslie—he would b« formidable. Somewhat similar remarks apply to Consent, who has done very little other than win a sprint at Trentham since heading off Episode in the Wanganui Guineas. Concentrate, a full brother to Oratrix. the New Zealand Cup winner, has been shaping like a stayer, for he has t been finishing on strongly in his races, and with the improvement he should make between this and the NYear it is very probable that he will enter into calculations prior to the day. The Lone Southerner Red Heckle, winner of the seven furlong sprint at Riccarton last Saturday, has something in his favour, but the fact that he was not included in the classic fields in the South rather tends to suggest that he was hardly considered good enough. He is by Warplane, a son of Martian, and on the sire’s side he should run on. However. it remains to be seen whether he will be brought north. Sir Russell impresses as a good three-year-old, although just yet a bit short of the best. He is on the improve all the time, and the speed he showed recently at Ellerslie and again in the Dargaville Cup should encourage his owner to go on with the classic engagement. That completes the list of probables in this season’s Great Northern Derby, but as yet there is time for a new star, to arise and further complicate matters. Now, seven weeks before the race, Prodice, Episode, Toxeuma and Concentrate are a quartette witb credentials for this classic, in what might well be a lean year for three-year-olds.

TROTTING FIXTURES Otahuhu T.C.—November 17. 21. Wellington T.C.—November 24. Forbuiy Park T.C.—November 29. December 1 Waikato T.C.—December 8. New Brighton T.C.—December 15, If. Gore T.C.—December 26. Ashburton T.C.—December 26. South Wairarapa T.C.—December 26, W. Westport T.C.—December 26, 27. Auckland T.C.—December 27, 29. 31. Winton T.C.—December 29. Inangahua T.C.—December 31. Canterbury Park T.C.—January 1. » Westland T.C.—January 3. Greymouth T.C.—January 4. 5. Timaru T.C.—January 12. Wellington T.C.—January 19. Forbury Park T.C.—January 24, 2«. Nelson T.C.—February 1,2. N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.— February 1. Wellington T.C.—February 16. Kaikoura T.C.—February 23. Otahuhu T.C.—February 23, 27. Invercargill T.C.—February 27, 2*. Marlborough T.C.—March 1. Waikato T.C.—March 2. Timaru T.C.—March 9. Wyndham T.C.— March 13. Manawatu T.C.—March 13. New Brighton T.C.—March 15. Thames T.C.—March 23.

A FINE REWARD • *“TT is a poor sort of man who *“* has no hobby. Mina has always been the breeding of trotters, and sometimes it has paid and sometimes not; but I art glad to say that the pastime has giyon me much pleasure. Peter Bingen's Cup victory fulfilled my life's ambition to win the Cup with a horss of my own breeding. I fast sura that I can say, without faar af contradiction, that I would not now be the proud possessor of the 1928 New Zealand Cup, but for the trainer of my horse. Mr. J. J • Kail- • nerley produced Peter in his bast order, and with him lies the credit of the victory, not only in the training but in the capable manner in which he drove the horse.” Thus Mr. E. X. Le Lievre, breeder of Peter Bingen and Great Bingen, who ran first and second in the New Zealand Cup, when interviewed by a SUN representative.

Outside of the two fillies mentioned, there is one that does appeal to a certain extent, and that is Toxeuma. While some critics claim him to be While some critics claim him to be but scribe to that view. His second to