Bhutan And The Laird May Enter Herby Discussions After Cup Trial At Levin

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1949, Page 3

Bhutan And The Laird May Enter Herby Discussions After Cup Trial At Levin

(By

“KESTREL”

Where the New Zealand Cup Trial at Levin last Saturday failed to throw much light on the big two-mile event at Rieearton next Saturday week, it nevertheless served to make the issue more open in the New Zealand Derby, as three-year-olds were first and second.

Bhutan and The Laird, who filled the major places in the N.Z. ('up Trial, are engaged in. the New Zealand Derby, run on the same afternoon as the Cup, and present indications are that they will offer stout opposition to the Auckland crack, Lord Moss, and the South Island best, Beaumaris and Johnny Peep. Bhutan won a double in hack company at the Otaki spring meeting, and that he was highly regarded by his connections was evident from the strong support accorded him in the N.Z. Cup Trial last Saturday, for he was backed down to se/ond favouritism. He was handily placed with five furlongs to go, and once the straight was reached he fairly buried The Laird in the run to the judge. Bhutan is a bay colt by Bulandshar from the Philamor mare Sister Phil, who was from Bonnie Nurse, by Boniform from Ayah, by All Red. He has raced like a stayer and has all the credentials for a Derby colt. The Laird was responsible for a courageous performance, for he was always in the lead or thereabouts, and it was a searching test for a colt who has hitherto not raced beyond a mile. Halfway through the journey, after following Belle Anita, The Laird was left in front. Pie tailed to withstand Bhutan’s challenge, but he beat the older horses just as easily as he himself was beaten. That should be accepted as a fairly satisfactory Derby trial. After the Trentliam displays of Lord Moss and Beaumaris it may be that this pair will carry most of the support on the totalisator, but in Bhutan and The Laird they will have two worthy opponents. The Laird is by Coronach from Jewish Girl, by Rabbi from the Limond niare Cessation, so he has the breeding to commend him for a classic contest.