HYPERION BEATEN AGAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1934, Page 10

HYPERION BEATEN AGAIN

FAILURE IN ASCOT CUP RACE.

REGARDED AS CERTAINTY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

London, July 19.

By bitter experience Lord Derby lias learnt to take his racing reverses philosophically (writes our racing specialist), but he must be keenly disappointed, and also surprised, by the record of, Hyperion this season. The colt Was not only the best of his year, but it was declared that his equal had not been seen for 20 years or so, and in planning his programme it was thought that he would not be beaten. But he lost to Felicitation in the Gold Cup race at Ascot, and now, when his success was regarded as a certainty, he failed again at Newmarket.

Hyperion had only one opponent in the Duilington Stakes, which is over a mile and a-half. This was Lord Rosebery’s Caithness, a useful but moderate horse in the highest class. He was in receipt of 161 b. more than weight for age, the respective weights being lOst. 21b. and Bst. lib., but it was not doubted that last year’s classic winner would overcome the severe handicap. It was a slowly fun race, and Caithness was two lengths in front when only a quarter of a mile remained. Then Hyperion went up in a few strides on a tight rein, and soon took the lead. It seemed all over. The horse, however, then appeared to think that he had done enough, and allowed Caithness to draw level, and snatch the race by a short head. Several reasons were advanced for the failure of the champion, on whom odds of 11-2 were laid. He is an unusually small horse, and it was said that his weight Was too heavy a burden. The One thing obvious was that he did not relish his task in the last furlong. He put his ears back ,and did not respond to Weston’s riding. Indeed, he capitu- | lated as though he were not prepared to make the effort.