THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 958, 16 July 1908, Page 7

THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF.

THE ENGLISH DERBY SURPRISE.

A WIN FOR A GOOD , SPORTSMAN.

Full particulars of the running of the English Derby .are just to hand by the mail. The papers are full of the remarkable surprise effected by Signorinetta, which started the greatest outsider in the history of the race. It was a brilliant Derby Day, the crowd on the Downs being easily a record one. Among those present were the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and several other princes. Frenchmen had come in thousands to see Sea Sick win, while the American element was in strong force. This is how the great event was won and lost. THE DERBY STAKES, of 6500sovs; second, 400sovs; third, 200sovs; and nominator of the winner, 500sovs. Fo -- three-year-old colts and fillies colts, 9st; fillies, Bst 91b. About one mile and a-half. Chevalier E. Ginistrelli’s b or br f Signorinetta, by Chaleureux —Signorina, (W. Bullock ••• •_ • 1 Duke of Portland’s b c Primer, by St. Simon —Breviary (B .Dillon). . 2 Mr Barclay Walker’s b c Llangwn, by M ssel Thrush —Llangarten Lass (D. Maher) 3 Mr J. Buchanan’s Mountain Apple (Lyne) • • ® Mr C. T. Pulley’s Eaton Lad (Wm. Griggs) ® Mr W K Vanderbilt’s Sea Sick 11. (Stern)' 0 Mr W Hall Walker’s Pom (L. Hewitt) 0 Mr W. Hall Walker’s Royal Realm (T. Price) 0 Mr A. F. Bassett’s Sir Archibald (Mr G. Thursby) 0 Mr W. Hall Walker’s White Eagle (Randall) 0 Mr W. Clark’s Rushcutter (F. Wootton) 0 Duke of Westminster’s Vamose (Halsey) 0 His Majesty’s Perrier (H. Jones). . 0 Mr F. Gretton’s Orphan (Higgs).... 0 Mr A. Belmont’s Norman 111. (Madden) 0 Mr J. Byrne’s Mercutio (W. Evans) 0 Mr J. R. Hatmaker’s Azote (Maslin) 0 Mr A. M. Simon’s Moet (J. East) . . 0 At the outset it had been imagined the field for the Derby woould be of almost unmanageable proportions, but at the last moment there were several absentions, and despite the fact that Colonel Hall Walker was trebly represented, the runners only numbered eighteen. How big was the crowd was borne in upon one very forcibly (says the “Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette”), when a move was made to the paddock, for assuredly there have never before been so many people in that picturesque, if somewhat inaccessible, enclosure, and the work of inspecting the candidates was carried on under conditions of some difficulty. Several of them were upset by the heat, notably White Eagle, who sweatprofusely, and the pick of the basket, perhaps, was the Frenchman, Sea Sick 11., a big, powerful bay who walked round with jaunty step which betokened the fact that he was on the best of terms with himself. Perrier, much finer drawn than previously this season, also looked well, as did Sir Archibald and the Kingsclere pair, Primer and Vamose; but Mountain Apple was a source of keen disappointment, for he is distinctly weak behind the saddle', and appeared dull and listless. This may have been due to the fact that his preparation had been a hurried one, which would account for his dropping away just as

his name was being shouted on every hand as that ofthe winner. Simultaneously something in a light-colour-ed jacket came racing along on the outside, and most people had to consult their race-cards to discover that it was Signorinetta, whose appearance in the field even had been almost overlooked. Staying on in great style the daughter of Chaleureux and the peerless Signorina had no difficulty in keeping Primer and Llangwm at bay, and the further they had gone the further would she have won one of the most sensational Derbies on record.) People were so surprised that they almost forgot to cheer, but general satisfaction was expressed that the race had fallen to a really good sportsman, who for over a quarter of a century had pursued his way among us without ostentation, and who, after many disappointments, has at length reaped the reward of his pluck in sticking to the bonny mare who first made his name a houosehold word in Turf circles White Eagle ran well, but would, perhaps, prefer a shorter course, and the Two Thousand form was turned upjside down, for Norman 111. was beaten after going half-way, and finished nearly last. Altogether, the victory of a hopeless outsider may be regarded as a fitting conclusion to a race which has throughout been a puzzle, and the probability is that the majority of our three-year-olds are rank non-stayers, the fact that the contest was run at a fast pace—2 min 39 4 5 secs, as registered by Benson’s chromograph—making it a good test of stamina. Needless to say, few of the bookmakers ever wrote Signorinetta’s name.

Everything, it is said, comes to him who waits, and Chevalier Ginistrelli, having had the utmost belief in his mare, Signorina, and exercised the most uncommon patience with her, has received his reward by winning the Derby with one of her progeny. In connection with Signorinetta’s victory in the greatest of all races there is a soupcon of romance, and perhaps, also, a toouch of pathos. Racegoers have, it is to be feared, short memories, and it would be safe to wager that a very few remember the career of Signorina, and can recollect the ex traordinary fondness of her owner for that bonny mare. Thus it may be necessary to recall the fact that, absolutely the first of the St. Simons Signorina was never beaten as a two-year-old. winning a dozen races, which included the Middle Park Plate —in 1899, a much more important affair than it is now —and that she was distinctly the best of her year. Many sportsmen of note were eager to obtain possesion of the filly, but, though offered sums which to a comparatively poor man must have been tempting in the extreme, Chevalier Ginistrelli refused to listen. With a tear in his voice the Italian replied to one wouldbe buyer, “I couldn’t sell her; she is the apple of my eye”; and his action was compared favourably with that of the late Duke of Westminster, who, only a year or so previously, had sold Ormonde to the “foreigners” for about half the sum which the Chevalier had been offered for Signorina.