Avenger Wins A.J.C. Derby

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 9, 4 October 1937, Page 15

Avenger Wins A.J.C. Derby

-Press Assn.— Copyright.)

G0LD ROD'S EPSOM Maia Finishes Third in Spring Handicap randwioTmeeting

fBy Tclegrapb-

SYDNEY, October S. ^ Tho A.J.O. spring camival opened at Randwick on Saturday in fln® but boisterous weather, Continuous overnigkt rain was responsible for a sticky traok and slow times, Tbe attendance was 51,000. Sands Fp gave a splendid «hibition ■of jumping and, alwayg kandy to the :leaders, came away in the etraight to jwin nicely. . Sir Eegent, con^sidered to have ex« cellent prospect in the Metropoli'tan, iwhipped round when the barrier rose for the ,Trial Stakes and took no part in the race. Oountry Party appeared a likely winner but weakened in the flnal strides, The Derby provided a thrilling flnish. Ajax sfcrode along in front from barrier rise to the top of the straight, where he was joined by Hua. Shortly afterwards Avenger came on and joined the leaders, closely pressed by Courtcraft, and in a desperate struggle Avenger assumed the mastery 50 yarda from home, securing the verdict by a length. Courtcraft had finished his run "at the distance and appeared to lack the nepeesary condition, but he should derive much benefit from the race. He Will be a force to reckon with in the Victorian Derby. Gold Rod was made favouri'te on the Epsom whea the weights were issued several months ago, and he held that honour with Talking throughout. He fully justified the same by his sterling victory in to-day's race. Ho was the first to show out, but McCarten re* strained him atid had kim running smoothly in sixth position to the top l ef the straight, where he moved up | smartly to the leaders. He assumed control at the digfcance and finish'ed strongly and he passed the judge threequarters of a length to the good. His jockey, McCarten, said Jiis mount was always going well; tha'fc he wag suited by the conditions,and had the race won a long way from home. • The Spring Stakes was run at a slow pace in the early stages, with Lough Neagh in command from Brown Force, 'Brownfelt and Maia. The field bunchj©a turning for home, where Maia was •doing best, but he appeared to falter at |the distance, where Allunga came on the scene with a well-timed run which -secured him a victory by a long iiead. Mala's failure proved a keen disapJpointment to his Metropolitan support;ers, but his failure may have been jdused by the slow pace a't which the race was run. He should do better if given suitable conditions for Monday's race^ \ " Beau Eroil was first past the post in the Kensington Handicap, but lost the race to Valbeau due to in'terference in the straight. Jpckey Knox, the rider oi' Beau Ereil, was held responsible and the stew&rdg suspended him for three months. Results:— FIRST HURDLES, of £3Q0j " about two miles. HANDS TJP, 9.7 (Young) l Silky Oak, 10.2 (Armgden) 2 Musician, 10.4 (Shollj j Twelva started. ' Half a neek each way. Timo, S.52 i. .TRIAL STAKES, of £500; one mile and a-quarter. ROSSJOY, 8.7 (Munro) 1 Country Party, 8.0 (Bartle) 2 Old RoWley, 8.5 (Knox) 3 Sixteen started, including Golden TreaBure. Neck; length. Time, 2.10^. A.J.C. DERBY, of £5000; one - ule and a-half. AVENGER, 8.10 (Bartle) l Ajax, 8.10 (McCarten) ........ 2 Hua, 8.10 (Wilson) * . . . 3 Scratched: Perimond. Length; half a head. Time, 2.36}. Only One and Highborn finished well back. EPSOM HANDICAP, of £2600; one mile. GOLD ROD, 9.3 (McCarten) .. .. 1 Mohican, 7.9 (Glover) 2 Evening Mist, 8.3 (Wilson) 3 . All started. Three-quarters of a length; half a length. Time, 1.40}, Fraucis Drake faded out and finished in the ruck. SPRING STAKES, of £1500; one mile and a-half. ALLT7NGA, 9.5 (Munro) l Lough Neagh, 9.3 (Shean) ....... 2 Maia, 9.0 (McCarten) 3 Scratched: Silver Standard and Sarjherie. Long head; two lengths. Time, 1.42 J, KENSINGTON HANDICAP, of £650; seven furlpngs. VALBEAU, 8.5 (Cook) 1 Beau Ercil, 8.3 (Knox) 2 Coolspell, 9.3 (Hipkey) 3 Sixteen started, including Aiwai. Length each Way. Time, 1.37}. Gold Rod'a brilliant win in the Epsom places bookmakers in an awkward plight, as if either Silver Standard or Maia win they bccome liable for nt leasit £100.000. Silver Standard is now well in the Metropolitan picture. Aeceptances for Monday: — The Shorts: Tho Marne 9.5, G&yehou 8.12, Beechwood 8.11, Gene'tout 8.8, Disalto 8.1, Some Boy 7.9, Goorka 7.7, Bonnie Legion 7.6, Mark Antony 7.5, Bodloy Head 6.11, Joan DaTling, Mangoola 6.10, Delight 6.8. Squatters' Handicap: Sevonteen acceptors, the topweight being Gay Blonde with 9.7 aud othera Prittle Prattle 9.5, La'tharna 8.3, fiountry, Party 8.0, .