HE WON A DERBY

NZ Truth, Issue 1202, 13 December 1928, Page 13

HE WON A DERBY

But Second-rater Beat Him Over Six Furlongs Last . ; V'v--.;'/Weebdj3 ;; ':: : ' ; v'. '^ ;

RIDING WAS DECIDING FACTOR

(From ' l N.Z. Truth ? s " Special Christelmrch. Representative) . If theories mean anything m the racing game, the defeat at Ashburton of Nightmarch, the Derby; "wrinner, by a moderate suggests that classic form is at least unreliable.

MIGHTMARCH'S defeat, however, ll was the result of clever- tactics by Charlie Emerson, who gave .a^ "glimpse of his brightest form when he', rode Buoyant to victory. . The raoe was virtually won when ;, the barrier went up. Buoyant is a touchy customer at the "post, and Charlie sparred round with him, to ultimately anticipate the start. . He shot out with a two-lengths break on the field, but before two furlongs had been covered lioyal Tractor Closed with him, with Rascal, Malmsey, and Nightmarch at the rear. Nightmarch was slow to' move, but lie made up his ground across the top and when they turned for. home the Derby- winner, Royal Tractor and Buoyant were m line. The big Tractor gelding gave way to- Rascal at the distance, and Nightmarch and Buoyant went on ■ to fight the issue, the, latter prevailing by the narrowest possible margin. Buoyant was ridden to perfection; whereas Nightmarch had to make up a lot of ground. As they ran the six m. 1.12 4/5 nobody was wasting any time. This year's Derby field did not by

any means shower, any bouquets on Nightmarch, but Buoyant's performance 1 m bringing about his downfall at Ashburton was a smart one.' For a horse Which has given indications 'of. ■ staying, it was a good periforih&iKie. by Nightmarch to carry 9.2 m good time round a. turning course and over a short distance. : Had he begun well he would have won, but racing can only be judged by results, and the Derby- winner will have to make amends for this reverse before he can be well spoken of, and regarded as a horse of real class. Still, the best of them get beaten at times, and, as one swallow does not make a summer,; nor doe's one failure mean a horse is discredited.Nightmarch is to do his holiday racing up north. He has been engaged, with his stable-mate, Sir Roy, at Awapuni, Marton and Tauherenikau., . Weights will, have everything to do with his programme. First, they will decide which race he will contest on Boxing Day, and then, secondly, they will bring about a decision for the New Year — Marton or Tauherenikau.