FORM IN G.N. DERBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 8, 10 January 1946, Page 6

FORM IN G.N. DERBY

LADY FOXBRIDGE IMPRESSES

THREE-YEAR-OLDS AT ELLERSLII! NOT OUTSTANDING.

•(Special) Auckland, Jan. 9. The form of the three-year-olds at the recent Auckland meeting somersaulted in a startling fashion. The best in the south, Al-Sirat and Master Robin, were at Ellerslie for the Great. Northern Derby. They were expected to prove their superiority over the northern horses of their age, but they were never in the hunt in the mile and a-half classic.

It was considered prior to New Year’s Day that lhe three-year-olds were noi more than moderate. As a result of the Derby contest that opinion has only been modified a little. The two Trent ham gallopers carried most support; in lhe Great Northern Derby, Master Robin carrying half as much again as Al-Sirat and the pair having nearly half the pools invested on them.

The failure of these two horses to perform up to expectations might have been suggested in the fact that they were unimpressive in their preliminaries. Both moved short and were a •bit tender, so the hard track would not help them at. all. In the contest neither looked like a potential winner. Al-Sirat began to go back soon after passing the five-furlong post and he was seventh at the home turn- He was still seventh at. the judge and a long way back from the placed trio. Al-Sirat got into a spot of bother after the field had gone a quarter of a mile, yet his failure can be put down to the fact that he could not do himself justice.

Master Robin, unlike Al-Sirat, had not previously won at Ellerslie, his only appearance here being in the Avondale Guineas, in which he i.’nished second. In the Great Derby ne made a fair showin:. ig up fifth.early and never fa/:.. vk

than that, while he followed E; i, Kerry Lad and Calm Courage i. he straight. Momentarily he lookeu like coming on, but his effort was shortlived, for he finished fifth, five or six lengths behind the winner. Perhaps Master Robin, too, was not quite in the condition to give of his oest.

TRIBUTE TO LADY FOXBRIDGE With the two favourites accounted for, tribute can be paid to the Derby victress, Lady Foxbridge. Clearly she outstayed the field in what was a truerun race. The first six furlongs were left behind in 1.18, against 1.17 2-5 in the preceding event, the A.R.C. Handicap. The time in the two races was lhe same from this point to the post, and it must not be overlooked that all the Derby candidates were carrying 810 or 8.7. A furlong and a-half from home, where the pressure began to tell, Balgowan and Calm Courage started to forge ahead, and they were well clear fifty yards from the finishing line.

At that point Lady Foxbridge put in her appearance on the outside. A furlong from the post this filly was conceding the leading pair easily foul lengths. Near the post Calm Courage appeared to have Balgowan beaten, but the latter put in a last-minute dab to get his nose in front. However, Lady Foxbridge, finishing like the proverbial train, passed both in the last couple of strides, and that was how the 72nd. Great Northern Derby was won and lost.

Eddy Foxbridge staged a grand finish and it was a treat to see her cutting down the two leaders. It was a great race and a greater iicish, with a long head separating the three horses. The honours went to Lady Foxbridge, of course, for she was only sixth at the turn after being closer up in the early part. The manner in which she came home left no doubt as to her stamina. The next day, obviously none the worse for that hard race, she finished strongly in the Clifford Plate to be fourth, a little over a length away Horn the winner, Golden Souvenir. WON ON HER MERITS.

It will be recognised that her Derby win was achieved on her merits. In the Clifford Plate she came home so well that in another chain she must have passed Exeter and Landveyor for second money, and might even have worried Golden Souvenir, easily as the latter won this event. Lady Foxbridge is a splendidly constitutioned filly, a dark bay, by Foxbridge from Flying Falcon, by Bronze Eagle (son of Brazen), dual NZ. and Great Northern Derby winner, from Eva Rosa by Lapidary from Blodwyn, by Bisogne from Vivacity, daughter of St. Cyr <yid the Captivator mare Vivat, whose dam, Vivandiere, was a Musket mare.

Balgowan first drew attention to his Derby chances w jien he ran a really fine race in the Summer Cup, finishing third, only a length behind Broiedame and Hormuz. The latter confirmed the form by finishing third, and a close one, in the A.R.C. Handicap, being just ahead of the Cup w inner Expanse. Balgowan is going to be a good norse. So, too, is Calm Courage, also by Foxbridge. He ran two good races at the meeting, finishing third to Kindroon and Bruce in the Queen’s Plate. The form in this event is always good. Kindroon won the open mile on the last day and Bruce carried 9.0 and spreadeagled a hack field over ten furlongs. Calm Courage is going, to make a line handicap horse. King's Pride, who has failed to produce his best form this season, finished fourth in the Great Derby, but there was little merit in lhe performance, for the placed horses' were a long way ahead of him. Kerry Lad went a good race to the home turn and he should not be difficult to place on the provincial circuit. Balmacara showed his pare, although he has lost his good spring form. Lady Foxbridge is raced by her breeder Mr, !•'. Rose, of Tirau. Balgowan cos;. Mr. VV. S. Goosman 120<l guineas as a yearling al. Trent ham, ami Mr. VV. J. Craw foi (I purchased Calm Courage for 800 guineas al the same time and place.