ENGLISH RACING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20219, 1 February 1934, Page 12

ENGLISH RACING.

Will Colombo Stay the Derby Journey? (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, December 28. Everyone connected with racing envies Lord Glanely in possessing such a smashing colt as Colombo, yet I should not be surprised if he were apprehensive as to his classic prospects. They are almost too good to be true. Officially Colombo is rated as having half a stone in hand as compared with his rivals, but. on such a handicap he would be backed to win with the utmost confidence. But this was as a two-year-old, and the question to be determined is whether his stamina will develop in the same ratio as that of others to enable him to retain his Overwhelming advantage ? There have been other two-year-olds who have been as strong winter favourites for the Derby as Colombo, and have failed completely. The Tetrarch, for instance, had an equally smashing juvenile career. As a matter of fact, he never ran again, but it is doubted whether he would have stayed well enough to have won even the Two Thousand Guineas over a mile. With few exceptions his sons and daughters have simply been sprinters. Then there was Orwell, Mr Singer’s distinguished colt of two years ago. As a two-year-old he seemed to be a ready-made Derby winner, but he, too, could not stay a mile and a half. Colombo has accomplished more than The Tetrarch in point of stamina, but his breeding suggests that a race of about ten furlongs may be his best distance. I think he is sure to come out as the favourite for the Two Thousand Guineas, which is run over a mile, and meanwhile only a short price can be obtained about him for the Derby.