NOTED JOCKEY DEAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 137, 11 June 1937, Page 8

NOTED JOCKEY DEAD

A RIDER OF CARBINE MR. ROBERT DERRETT. SOME OF HIS WINS RECALLED. (Per Press Association. ) CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. Robert Derrett, the greatest jockey New Zealand bas known, died at his hom at Riccarton to-day. Born in Newport, Monmouthshire. England, he came to Canterbury as a child with his parents in 1858, and less than 10 years later he had his first experience of race riding. He had his first ride at Riccarton in 1870. and in 1881 he rode Grip to win the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap Which, in 1883, became the New Zealand Cup. The first contest for this now famous race he won on Tasman, and in 1884 he was successful on Vanguard, each horse carrying 8.9. This weight-carrying record was equalled when Lady Zetland won ir. 1896, and was not beaten until Count d’Avour won with 8.13 in 1926. There was something sensational about Tasman’s win for, up till the eve of the race, Derrett had been engaged to ride Nonsense, a hot favourite. In a stirring finish Tasman gained victory by the narrowest of margains. Derrett’s last victory was attained at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting in 1908, when he rode Mr. F. H. Pyne’s horse Rose Noble to win the Braemar Welter Handicap. Derrett’s most notable association with the New Zealand Turf was with Carbine, who later won the Melbourne Cup under 10.5 and was subsequently sent to England, where he became sire of Spearmint, who won the English Derby. Spearmint, in turn, was the sire of Spion Kop, who won the classic in 1920. In his two New Zealand victories Carbine was ridden by Derrett, who though he recognised in him a game racehorse, did not regard him as a perfect specimen. He considered Trenton a much better horse and he always regarded Multiform as capable of holding his own in the very best company of any period.