Great Northern Derby Prospects

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 73, 17 June 1927, Page 6

Great Northern Derby Prospects

EARLY THREE- YEAR-OLD TEST AFTER payment of the second forfeit in connection with the 1927 Great Northern Derby, 38 youngsters remain on the list, representing practically all the leading sires of the Dominion. At present the best known candidates are Enawah, Vestas, Daphne De Ora, Harvest Child and Mii o Minto, all of whom have had racing experience. Many others are showing early promise and indications point to the 1927 classic providing a great event on the Auckland Club's spring programme.

As the classic events in the racing world have played such a prominent part in the progress and popularity of the sport, so have they achieved similar distinction in the trotting arena. While the light harness programme does not provide for anything like the number of classics found in the racing calendar during the course of each year, the events set aside to encourage the youngsters to test their ability against each other on an equal footing, fully justify their existence. CLASSIC HEATS The best-known of the light harness classics are the Sapling Stakes, for two-year-olds, run at the end of the season, the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies, New Zealand Trotting Stakes (for trotters only), and the Champion Stakes, all for three-year-olds. THREE-YEAR-OLD TESTS The first of these tests for three-year-olds has always bean the New Zealand Derby, contested ' during the progress of the Metropolitan Spring Meeting at Christchurch in November, but this year the order changeth. and the Great Northern Derby, which has previously formed an interesting item on the Auckland Summer schedule, will in future provide the opening bout for those of Derby age. The local club, will this year stage its important classic at the spring meeting which is held during October. THE AUCKLAND DERBY The Auckland Derby, which was instituted in 1916, has during the 11 years it has found a place on the correct card, furnished some stirring contests, while with few exceptions the various winners of the classic have followed their Northern victory up with other successes, and as they grew older made interesting trotting history. SOME NOTABLE WINNERS

Of those who had their names inscribed on the Auckland Derby roll of honour, Great Hope, the 1921 winner, the same season won the New Zealand Derby and Champion Stakes, while two years later the son of Great Audubon lead the field home in the New Zealand Cup. Nelson Derby, who secured the local three-year-old heat in 1920, returned five years later to Alexander Park and lifted the big stake in the Auckland Cup. The 1922 winner, Acron, turned out a brilliant customer and holds the mile record — 2.3 3-s—of the Dominion. He also added the New Zealand Derby and Champion Stakes to his three-year-old record, a feat that was performed the next season by Taurekareka, who holds the time record for the Northern Derby (3.29). Locanda Dillon, Lady Swithin, Glenelg, and Nantwich, all past winners of this event, subsequently proved good stake earners. LAST FIELD REVIEV/ED The field last December included Great Peter, the favourite, and ultimate winner, Shadowl&nd, who finished second, Cornelian, who filled third berth, Hay dock. Gold Circle-, Richore, Peter Gratton, Margaret Wallace, Lord Lou and Moko Fly. Great Ballin and the Southerner, Acre, declined their engagements. THE 1926 WINNER Of those that contested the last classic, Great Peter, the winner, has done best, and proved his worth at Easter by adding the Champion Stakes at Addington to his honours list. The Nelson Bingen—Bertha Bell colt is now resting on his laurels, and may not be bustled along till the summer season. When the brother to Great Bingen and Peter Bingen is ready for the fray again, his activities will be watched with keen interest by supporters of the popular pastime. THE PLACE-GETTERS Shadowland, who finished a good second to Mr. Tim’s colt last yes.r, did not make good later as anticipated, and his subsequent displays were of a disappointing nature. The son of Realm should benefit by a good spell. It is worthy of note that Realm has no representative in the 1927 Derby Cornelian, who collected third money, is a very promising pacer by Author Dillon from Pearl Child, dam of Childe Pointer, Sea Pearl and Nantwich and promises to be a credit to the family. BACKED BUT BEATEN Of those who failed to get a situation, Richore, last year’s Sapling Stakes winner, and the Auckland - owned Haydock proved the most expensive to backers. Each had a large measure of support, but neither went a solid race. The pair have been given several opportunities to make good since, but in their races display instability. With another year over their heads both may make amends. THE REMAINDER | Of the rest of the field, the only candidate to attract attention since the big event is Gold Circle, a son of Gold Bell and Natalie, who has been responsible for some nice w*ork at different periods. At the Hawera Easter meeting. McQuoid’s representative went a stinging good mile and a-half, registering 3.45, or 10 seconds better than his handicap. Margaret Wallace, Peter Grattan. Lord Lou and Moko Fly have been spelling since the contest, and will not be seen in action again tdll after their fourth birthday. THE COMING DERBY The Great Northern Derby, which this season will be contested in the spring, is early creating a good deal of interest, and although it is several months yet till the richly-endowed handicap for three-year-olds will eventuate several promising candidates are undergoing an early education. The field for the 1927 Great Northern threatens to be a large one. GREAT SIRES REPRESENTED After payment of the second forfeit, 38 candidates remain in the early classic, representative of the finest quality stock in the Dominion Such sires as Logan Pointer, Nelson Bingen, Matchlight, Happy Voyage, Man oWar. Harold Dillon, Author Dillon, Sonoma Harvester. Blue Mountain King, A 1 Mack, Homeleigh Dick, Peter Moko, Ballin, Oinako, Peterwah and Real Guy, have progeny engaged, and from such a high-class collection, some champions should be unearthed. ONLY TWO BINGENS LISTED The only progeny of Nelson Bingen accorded an entry in the undecided Derby are a colt from Miss Spiers, the property of the well-known Taranaki Sr> ?i'-* Sman ’ r * R- Corrigan, and a gelding from l>ances Derby, which was

nominated by the Southen, lirv,, k ness enthusiast, Mr. H J Both are bred well enough to So 3,’ to any classic field, and the Corn?' colt comes of excellent stock. 1 ® u > A MAN O’ WAR SQUAD There are quite a number ol v ., u . Man o War pacers claiming •.'t*® 6 ments in the next Great NorthiaL few of which are owned ir this loAii,- ?> IrS i" ® weeta PP>«- has a gelding Peri Huon horse from Air Rilrt a ! is full of promise, and Mr. Edward 1 ” 1 colt from Canzonetta. A L?* Miss Polfe appears in the of Mr. A. Julian, and a daueht-* • Queen Chimes by the horse will race in Mr. J R. r.irriL, colours. » SIRED IN AUCKLAND The Auckland Cup winner of Blue Mountain King, has a Gassv 1”, insr representative engaged from B taghos, a sister of the wonder nwT. Onyx. The filly is showing earlv nrmise for her owner. Mr. G. McKendrirt The American-bred sire Ai Mark owned at Onehungn, is represented K a sturdy gelding from Geneta, which a receiving its tuition at the hands a the veteran trainer, E. Sandall. LIKELY LOGAN POINTERS In a race of such value, it is osh natural that progeny of the chamora sire, Logan Pointer, would be found among the field, and of those sired hr this great horse. Daphne de Oro. ths gelding from Dollar Princess, «<■ Monopole, the brother to Cardlnai Logan, threaten to make a big noise over the rich classic. AUTHOR DILLON WELL REPRESENTED A couple of promising- youngsters hr the young sire Author Dillon appear in the list. Ben Jarden has a promlrtr,youngster by his erstwhile champion from the speedy mare. Marie Tempest which promises to develop into a topnotcher next season. The Anckland owned Nella Dillon, whom chances at Cambridge were sploit through an accident. Is anoth-T that should early bring credit on Author's name. SOME SONOMA HARVESTERS The American sire, Sonoma Harmter, who has only been aJbout thru years in New Zealand, has several representatives engaged, the most promiting to date being a gelding from Flowii Dillon and a son of Gwenchild. A grey filly from Louie Drift is another of the American sire’s progeny da: may develop into a useful perform:. The form displayed by Harvest CU4 (Sonoma Harvester— -Gwenchild) at Ashburton last week in the SapUif Stakes will enhance his Derby prapects. TWO PETERWAH FILLIES Peterwah. the higlily-bred bold American trotter, has two representatives standing their ground, in Enawah, from that great mare Ena Bel and Bonniewah. from Ami Dilion. Tt( iatter is the property of the Auckland sportsman, Mr. F. Docherty, and l« under the care of Mr. Geo. Phipp*. She is a promising young lady. Enawah is a brilliant youngster, and her detrcut victory in the Sapling Stakes last Saturday stamps Mr. Fisken'n filly a* a high-class pacer, and will bring lw into,prominence for the early threeyea r-old test. MATCHLIGHT’S OFF-SHOOT Although there were several yo®* Matchlights entered for the Derby in the initial stages, the chief to surd** the second forfeit was Vestas, a COfrom Imperial Fan. Prior to the ded*

sion of the Sapling Stakes last WJ*** end, for which Mr. Barton’s yifUtr* was favourite, the colt was tiie e«jv fancy for the spring classic, bot decisive defeat has caused his scrip _ recede in value at the present tff* However, despite his downfall, he cJassy youngster and may eartf " trieve his lost laurels. PRETENTIOUS JUVENILES Of the remainder, Milo Minto,* of Oinako—Princess Minto, is the one that has been given serious and Mr. McNeill’s young shown very encouraging form ahJrA in his work A Happy Voyage*, youngster, from a point of should prove capable of delivering, goods, and a couple of/ sons °* Guy may be worth keeping an ey in the intervening period. A LIKELY DOZEN It will be readily seen thattWj* some excellent material avafiaow , the 1927 Great Northern allowing for a goodly number W' step the final issue, the field P r to be unusually strong, both * rally and in point of quality. Aiu it is a “long way to TipperaiT , Derby Day is yet a few montns * good deal of interest is being the classic and of those to see the post and play a *4 part in its decision can be me ' Enawah, Vestas. Daphne De vester Child Nella Dillon. Warplane. F.onniewah, the co Author Dillon—Marie Mountain King filly, Milo M Sonoma. G.N. DERBY STATISTIC* ’ 3.3* I 4 * 1916 Chid (J Bryce) .. - - - * * . 1917 President Wilson (A Hen- s** dricksen) - 1918 Locanda Dillon (A 3 ji 9 r> Pringle) - •• .*• ** 1919 Lady S -vithin <F. Holmes, 1920 Nelson Derby (J- j.jj H Robertson) • •• VrnV 1921 Great Hope (I*. A. Me Mi *jt , 3.J» h 1922 Acron J. J. Kcnnerley)--1923 Taurekareka (J. Bryce* - £ft*| * 924—Glenelg (A. Butterfield) 1925 Nantwich (D. Warren) •• jjp.- 1 * 1926 Great Peter (J. T. Paw