THE ENGLISH DERBY AND OAKS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 953, 11 June 1908, Page 5

THE ENGLISH DERBY AND OAKS.

The cable has brought intelligence of the result of the English Derby, which was run on June 3, this being the 128th occasion on which the Blue Ribbon of the Turf has been competed for. Founded at a dinner given foy Sir Charles Bunbury in 1871 and named- after the then Earl of Derby, it has always been a very popular race; Fortunes have been lost by unlucky owners in trying to win it, while others have carried it off at a single venture. George IV. won the race in 1788 with Sir Thomas, but it was not till Persimmon came home in the van in 1896 that Royalty was again successful. Having broken the ice the King won the race again in 1900 with Diamond Jubilee, and this year the loyalists fondly hoped that his colt Perrier might prove successful, but the son of Persimmon could get no nearer than thirteenth. Additional interest was lent to, the race this year owing to the strong foreign element competing. The American colt. Norman 111., who won the Two Thousand. Guineas, would probably have started favourite, while a heavily-supported colt would be the French Derby dead heater Seasick 11. At one time the King’s colt Perrier was expected to be England’s most formidable representative, but as he Is a very difficult one to train, and had receded a long way in the betting, it would appear he was not at his best. Other horses who had winning form to recommend them, and who were considered to have good chances, were Flying Fox’s brother Vamose, Mountain Apple, Sir Archibald, White Eagle, Lesina, Rushcutter and Royal Realm. In all the good, field of eighteen competed for the rich stake, which, however, falls a long way short of some which competed in former years, when as many as 34 have run.

The result must have been a big surprise for two reasons: Firstly, because not one of the well-fancied contingent . succeeded in running into a place; and secondly, because on only three previous occasions since the race was founded had a filly triumphed, these three being Eleanor (1801), Blink Bonny (1857), and Shotover (1882). On Wednesday Signorinetta won by two lengths from Primer, who was a neck in front of Langeom, the mile and a-half being put past in 2m. 39 4-ss.

The winner is a brown or bay filly belonging to the Italian sportsman Chevalier E. Ginistrelli, and was got by the Goodfellow horse Charleureux, from that very smart St. Simon mare Signorina, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old, but succumbed to the flying Memoir in the Oaks. The second horse, Primer, was bred and is owned by the Duke of Portland, and is a bay colt by his old favourite St. Simon from Breviary. He has one or two fair performances to his credit. Llangeom, the third to finish, belongs to the well-known sportsman, Mr. Barclay Walker, and is a bay colt by Missel Thrush from Llangarren Lass. It can easily be imagined that the result was a big turn-up for the bookmakers, for Signorinetta had very little winning form to recommend her, and, indeed, as a two-year-old only won a Nursery Handicap under 6st 31b. Taking this in addition to the notorious ill-luck which has always dogged the efforts of filliles to win the Epsom race, and it seems safe to assert that without she has done something quite recently, the daughter of Chaleureux would be at a long price.

Perhaps the greatest outsider which has ever won the race was Jeddah in 1898. Hermit was another who went out at a very big price owing to a rumour that he had broken down, but ran home a winner in a heavy snowstorm. It will be interesting, when the mail arrives giving particulars of the races, to read what happened to the much-fancied contingent that they should one and all have failed so badly. After her victory in the Derby it was not very surprising to find Signorinetta following it up by capturing “ the ladies’ race,” the Oaks, which is an even older-established race than the Derby. The dual victory has only twice been accomplished before, once by Eleanor over a century ago, and by Blink Bonny in 1857. In last Friday’s race Lord Falmouth supplied the runner-up with Courtesy, a bay filly by Isinglass from Cortegar, while third place was occupied by Mr; G. Edwardes’ bay filly Santeve, by Santoi from Wedding Eve.