THE DERBY AND THE OAKS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1697, 29 July 1879, Page 3

THE DERBY AND THE OAKS.

Tho principal event of tho Derby week at Epsom resulted in a great surprise. There were twenty-three startors for the Derby, which was witnessed by as great a crowd as ever, although the weather was very threatening. After a couple of slight breaks away the flag fell to a capital start, Charibert and Protectionist being the first to break the line, the former, however, was soon pulled bock, and Protectionist was left in front of Marshal Scott, Blue Blood on the extreme right, with Exoter, heading the lot on the lower ground, which comprised Victor Chief, Abbot of St. Mary's, OadogaD, Caxtonian, Prologue, and Falmouth, while Whackum and Sir Bevys brought np the rear. Before, however, Sherwood's was reached Exeter had gone to the head of affairs, followed by Prologue and Charibert, they, with Yictor Chief, being clear of the remainder, who were headed in a cluster by Palm-bearer, Chiribert, Blue Blood, and Cadogan,|Zut and Rayon d'Or coming next. When, however, the mile post had been reached tho front rank had undergone a change, Caxtonian having worked his way forward, and was making running from Exeter, Palmbearer, Victor Chief and Marshal Scott, Charibert, Muley Edris, Zut, and Rayon d'Or, with Ruperra being well up, while Sir Be'iys, though still last, was nearer to hia hors's, the pace here and through the furzes being very slow. When seen again coming towards the hill Caxtonian was still showing the way, but had lost the company of Exeter, he being now attended by Palmbearer and Victor Chief. Half way down Cadogan took his place alongside the Bussley colt, at whose heels now came Visconti, Charibert, and Muley Edris on the rails, with Bayon d'Or, Falmouth, and Ruperra on their whip hand, while Sir Bevys was gradually drawing up to this lot in company with Zut, the rear being brought up by Squirrel and Whackum. Thus they came to Tattenham corner, round which Caxtonian was still making running, but was beaten when fairly in the line, leaving Palmbearer in front, closely attended on the rails by Victor Chief and his stable companion Vieconti, while on the right were Cadogan, Ruperra, Rayon d'Or, and Falmouth, Charibert being here beaten. Crossing the road, Victor Chief headed Palmbearer, as did Vis conti, and, until Hearing the dietance, Victor Chief looked like winning, but he was soon tackled by Visconti, who at once had him beaten, and simultaneously took up the running, hia attendants being Palmbearer, Victor Chief, with Sir Bevys heading the others on the upper ground by himeelf, Falmouth, Zut, Rayon D'Or, Ruperra, Cadogan, and Caxtonian, who had been on terms to the road, being now toiling hopelessly in the rear. Of the leaders, before reaching the bell Visconti began to tire, and was passed again by Palmbearer, who, in turn, looked like winning until Sir Bevys, who was wide by himself, came with a rattle, and getting his head in front opposite the weighing enclosure, won very easily by three parts of a length. A length off Visconti was third, just in front of Victor Chief and Zut j then at a clear interval came Falmouth sixth, Rayon d'Or seventh, Cadogan eighth, Marshal Scott ninth, tenth, Charibert eleventh, Muley Edris twelfth, Blue Blood thirteenth, while the whippers-in were Ruperra and Squirrel. Tho time of tho race, as taken by Benson's chronograph, was 3min. 2scc. The time last year, as taken by tho same authority, was 2min. 56sec. The Oaks was by no means so startling a race. The eight competitors were at the post at a quarter-past three, and in half a second more were despatched on their way, the lot running in a line for about a hundred yards, when the command wa» assumed by Coromandel 11., to whom succeeded Japonica, Philippine, and Adventure, the others going on in Indian file, headed by Leap Year. When they got to the Road, Adventuro took second place to Coromandel 11., Leap Year going on third from Wheel of Fortune, and Philippine and Japonica lying next, with Jessie Agnes last. Entering the furzes Leap Year lost her place, and Coromandel 11. drew out clear of Adventure, Philippine being next, just in front of the favourite, with Leap Year the most conspicuous of the others, of whom Amice had now dropped into tho rear. At the top of tho hill Coromandel 11. slightly increased her lead from Adventure and Philippine, and in this order they ran till commencing the descent, when Amice began to draw up, and passed Jessie Agnes and Leap Year. Half way down the hill Adventure ran up to Coromandel ll.'s quarters, as also did Philippine, and these were followed as they ran"into the straight by Wheel of Fortune and Jessie Agnes, Amice once more having dropped back last. In the line for home, Wheel of Fortune and Jessio Agnes on the inside, and Philippine on the upper ground began to draw up, but two furloDgs from home the favorite drew to the front, and coming right away from Coromandel 11., won in a common canter by throe lengths ; four lengths separated the second and third, Japonica was fourth, Philippine fifth, Leap Year sixth, the last two comprising Amice and Jessie Agnes. Time, 3min. 2sec. Commenting on the result of those races, the "Evening Standard" says: "Turf honors have, indeed, fallen thick upon Lord Falmouth during the last fifteen yoars, and especially during tho last few seasons ; and yesterday he took another of the great prizes by the victory of Wheel of Fortune in the Oaks. Twice has ho won the Derby, with Kingcraft in 1870, and wiih Silvio last year ; four times the Oaks, with Queen Bortha, the dam of yesterday's heroine, in 18G3, with Spinaway in 1875, with J annette last year, and with Wheel "of Fortuno this ; twice the St. Leger, with Silvio and Jannette on the two last occasions ; twice the Two Thousand, with Atlantic in 1874, and this year with Charibert; and four times the One Thousand, with Hurricane in 1862, with Cecilia in 1873, and with Spinaway in 1875, and with Wheel of Fortune this year. Thus his lordship has scored fourteen victories in tho five chief three-year-old races, a greater number than Lord Egremont or Lord Jersey scored years ago, and only exceeded, we believe, by the various successes of tho Duke of Grafton. There can be little doubt now but that Lord Falmouth will once more head the lißt of winning owners when turf statistics are worked out at the close of the present season, and there are no eigne as yet of bis ap-

proaching the end of his victorious career. The victory of such a hot favorite, Wheel of Fortune, yesterday, may be taken to a certain extent, as a set-off against that of the comparative outsider, St. Bevys, on Wednesday. And such hot favoritism was thoroughly justified, as Lord Falmouth's filly had never, to use a turf expression, been " made to gallop by any of her opponents,' Falmouth peihaps alone excepted, and though the heroine of many victories, had never experienced a defeat. She is doubtless tho best filly we have had on tho turf for years ; the St. Leger already seems at her mercy, end it is more than probablo that she will eventually return to the stud unbeaten in any weight for age race. If ever there was a certainly in such an uncertain pursuit as the turf it was that of yesterday, and it is almost a matter of surprise that even longer odds were not laid on tho winner. Wheel of Fortune is the ninth filly which haß won the Oaks after winning the One Thousand, and it remains to be seen whether in September next she will follow in the steps of six previous Oaks winners who have set tho set the seal to their fame by taking the great Doncastor race."