Trigo Wins

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 12

Trigo Wins

VICTORY IN ST. LEGER Derby Winner Proves Himself BY capturing the St. Leger at Doncaster yesterday, l'rigo. the winner of the Derby, firmly established himself as i the outstanding horse of his age in England, although he only i just headed Bosworth.

Reed. 10.30 a.m. LONDON. Wed. The St. Leger. the last of the season's important three-year-old classics, was j run at Doncaster today. ST. LEGER STAKES A sweepstake of £IOO each, with £4,000 j added. Second horse 10 per cent., and j third horse 5 per cent, of whole stake, j Colts. 9.0; fillies. 8.11; 1 mile 0 furlongs, and 122 yards. Closed with 341 entries. TRIGO (TV. Barnett), b c, by Blandford—Athasi 1 BOSWORTH (Lord Derby), b c. by Son-in-Law—Serenissima .. .. .. 2 HORUS (Sir L. Phillips), ch c, by Papyrus—Lady Peregrine 3 There were 14 runners. In an exciting finish Trigo beat Bosworth by a

short head, the third horse being three-parts of a length away.

The St. Leger last year was worth «£ 12,495.

In England a month'ago Trigo, the Derby winner, was a short-priced favourite, at a point longer odds than Limerick, when he won the Warwick Stakes last Saturday week. Two points off was Pennycomequick, the Oaks’ winner, and then Hunter’s Moon. On the same mark as Trigo, by the way, was Hotweed, the winner of the French classic, the Grand Prix. These three were all under double figures. Well into double figure quotations were the next division, comprising Brienz (third in the Derby), Buland Bala (second in the Grand Prix), and Posterity. Two points away was Bosworth (in the same ownership as Hunter’s Moon), and in the next bunch were Defoe and Tom Peartree, being followed by Haste Away and Lemon Car. Horus, third in yesterday’s contests, was quoted at well over thirties a month ago. Trigo’s Critics

The success of Trigo in the St. Leger should effectively silence those critics who said that the Blandford colt fluked his Derby win. Six weeks ago, in reviewing that race and the St. Leger prospects, a writer in London ‘ Sporting Life” said:

We are fast approaching the final stage of the campaign. Four of the five “classics” have been decided, and we have bade adieu to Ascot, where we generally' see most of the “elite” among thoroughbred stock of divers ages, until next summer.

Yet we are still in doubt as to which of the three-year-olds is entitled to be regarded as the best of the season. The four “classics” that have gone by the board have supplied a like number of winners, Mr. Jinks, Taj Mali, Trigo and Pennycomequick. Which suggests that there is nothing standing out, and which is also why w© are left guessing. Perhaps the St. Leger will settle the three-yea,r-old question once and for all, as it has often done in the past. In Eayardo’s year, for example, though Mr. “Fairie” Cox’s colt was beaten in the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby, most of us were satisfied after he had won the St. Leger, if not before, that he was, when fit, a better racehorse than Minoru, who won both the “Guineas” and the Derby. Wool Winder’s Season Two y*ears prior to that few people doubted that Wool Winder, who won at Doncaster, took higbei* rank than either Slieve Gallion or Orby. who respectively won the Two Thousand and Derby. Then only last year Fairway on the Town Moor fully established his claim to the three-year-old championship. It will probably be some weeks before we have a recognised market on the coming St. Leger, though, in accordance with a growing custom, several layers have books open on the Doncaster event, and at the moment Walter : Gay and Trigo seem to be the “goods.” | Of course, there is always a glamour [ about a Derby winner, and those who lay the odds are naturally not inclined [ to take liberties with an Epsom hero, which largely explains the short j price at which Trigo stands. May be Mr. Barnett’s colt was the recipient of fortune’s smiles when he raced home in front of his numerous adversaries three weeks ago, and if the race could be re-run no end of backers would take Walter Gay against his Epsom conqueror. A Game Colt Mind you, no one desires to belittle the performance of Trigo. who carried off the greatest race in the world in the style of a good, game colt; but nevertheless Walter Gay takes the fancy as being of the stuff of which St. Leger winners are not infrequently made. Walter Gay has yet to open his winning account, and it would be somewhat curious if he lost his maiden certificate in a race of the importance of the Yorkshire “classic.” He has, however, only run three times all told, so that his opportunities have been very limited. Fred Darling, wisely, has not hurried him. Indeed, he is probaly anything but an easy horse to train, and though he will be a strong fancy if he turns up at Doncaster sound and well, it may be best to note his progress between now and September, even if about half the odds now procurable have to be accepted nearer the day of the race.

After she had won the Oaks in more decisive fashion than Trigo in the Derby two days previously. Ponnycomequick came right to the front as a, St. Leger proposition, but the filly has fallen back a bit as the result of her unexpected defeat at Ascot —unexpected, that is, to the general public, though those in the stable may not have been unprepared, as it has since been said that the Oaks winner was not her real self last week. On the face of it something must have been wrong, as the form was too bad to be true. In taking stock of the St. Leger situation, then, we may be on safer ground if we deal with Pennycomequick on her Epsom display rather than on her running in the Coronation Stakes. Lord Astor’s filly is not the

first Oaks winner to bite the dust at Ascot. Danger to the Colts We may see a vastly different Pennycomequick at Doncaster, one that will make the best of the other sex gallop for all they are worth if they are to gain honour and glory. Other Epsom performers that are attracting some attention In connection with the St. Leger when this event becomes a topic of discussion these days are Brienz and Posterity. The former caused surprise by running far better in the Derby than his more fancied stable companion, Cragadour, just as Trigo eclipsed the main Whatcombe hope, Le Voleur. Brienz has something to make up to get on level terms with Trigo and Walter Gay, as shown by the Epsom running, but he looks to be of the staying type, and a colt, moreover, that promises to improve.