DAPHNE DE ORO

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 403, 11 July 1928, Page 11

DAPHNE DE ORO

WONDERFUL THREE-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC WINNER’S FINE RECORD

FOK many years past Xew Zealand has been able to boast of something particularly good in the three-year-old section, but the champion of that age for the season just concluded, Daphne de Oro, has a record that should place her on the highest pedestal, and ensure for her further laurels during the coming year.

t me Canterbury -harness J. Washington, appears to en * b ? doubtful parentage on the sire’s be ,° f being given officially as either by sia ' Pointer or Key de Oro, and whichever can lay claim to the honour . indeed something to be proud ot. there is no disputing the issue on U maternal side and Daphne s mother, n’lddina who was by O.Y.M. from JJJEr? Princess, proved a splendid peras S youngster, winning the 1919 SspHng Stakes, the New Zealand Derby f IS-’O and the same year running a dead heat with Lady Swithin in the C p^ald"nl’ t s al brilliant daughter lias flvidently inherited tills famllj trait as besides winning both Derbies this seaion she has added several good handicap’ scalps to her belt. An Early Start Daphne de Oro only sported silk un one ocacsion as a two-year-old linishins third to Enawah and Max vest Child in the 1927 Sapling Stakes. She has risen to greater heights since her three-year-old birthday than the two who beat her on that occasion, although in fairness to Enawah it must he stated she has been off the scene practically all the season owing to an early injury before the Auckland Derby . Daphne de Oro attracted considerable attention early in the season by cleaning up a field of novices at Mutt Park in great fashion. Handicapped at 2.29 to the mile Washington’s filly conceded .starts up to 48yds to some smart ones and finished up a great task by winning m 3.28 1-5, clipping 14 3-ssecs off her handicap. That the field was by no means weak can be gleaned from the fact that Jean McElwyn, Quality, Derby Lynn, Bankhead and Dick Logan were among those who finished behind the three-year-old.

Capturing the Classics The Canterbury filly next came North to contest the Auckland spring classic and followers of the popular pastime in this part of the Dominion who witnessed the splendid and brilliant effort put up by Daphne de Oro have not forgotten the occurrence. Slow to get going, and bady placed afterwards, Doraldina’s daughter looked to have the original Buckley’s chance three furlongs from home, but F. G. Holmes driving with great judgment, and receiving a good share of luck in the straight, when Free Advice, who looked a winner, left her feet, got the tilly through to win by a length. Had she not been a really good one she could

never have accomplished the task, so hopeless did it seem when the field was in line for home. The following month Daphne de Oro did not cause her friends any anxious moments in the New Zealand Derby, which she won in comfort, traversing the mile and a-half in 3.25 4-5. Wonderful Performance At the Ashburton Christmas meeting the classic winner performed a feat that set New Zealand talking and stamped her as a great youngster. She was set the stupendous task of tackling a seasoned field of two milers, being placed on 4.36. While Daphne failed to return a dividend, owner Washington had

the pleasure of driving her into third place behind Pluto and Pan Yan, to find she had registered the remarkable go of 4.30 4-5. The filly was then taken across to Greymouth, where she gave Coasters a taste of her qualities by running third in an eight and a-half furlong heat in which she wound the watch up to 2.14 f for the mile—a great go on the Grey track. A visit was made to Dunedin for the Forbury Park summer fixture, where Daphne won a 13-furlong heat in 3.42 Unfortunate Incident The Timaru Cup was her next in the New Brighton Handicap, to Colene Pointer, the filly was placed third, her driver, F. G. Holmes, having been found guilty of interference with Author Jinks, and the latter was placed second. Another two-mile test was arranged for the champion three-year-old, and on a heavy track he ran third

i nthe New Brighton Handicap, to Colene Pointer (12) and King Pointer (12), the filly being on 24yds. Again at Easter, she tackled a two-mile contest and this time came home first from a 4.33 peg, in 4.47 on a sodden circuit. A second at the Forbury winter fixture was next recorded, this time Daphne trying her luck over a mile, in which she was handicapped to go 2.13. She was beaten by King Pointer, but recorded 2.14 2-5 for her effort. The final day she was made a hot pot in the chief heat of the day, being placed on 1.31. The filly ran a creditable race but finished behind such seasoned performers as Peter Swift, Dalmeny and Author Jinks. Owner Washington then asked the three-year-old a final question for the season and she stepped off a 2.45 mark in the 10-furlong Stewards’ Handicap at the Canterbury Park winter fixture last month. Daphne came home on t\ie steel —won pulling up by five lengths in 2.48 2-5. The wonderful improvement recorded during the season is revealed in the fact that in September Daphne de Oro won off a 2.29 mark, and in June was capable of notching a victory from a 2.12 peg. As a result of the filly’s fine achievement in registering six wins, one second and four thirds out of 14 starts, her owner has collected the handsome cheque of £2,247 for the season, a record he must be proud of. During recent years some fine totals have been reached by three-year-olds, but Daphne de Oro has set a high standard for future seekers of the honour. In 1914 Taurekareka won £1,925, and the following year Glenelg reached £1,955. Nantwich in 1926 lifted £1,320, while last season the Aucklander, Great Peter, secured £1,420. What of the future? Daphne de Oro has gone into winter retirement none the worse for the wear and tear of the season’s activities and she will come up again shortly ready to tackle the difficult problems that will be set her. Whether she will prove a good four-year-old remains to be seen, but only a hardened pessimist would be prepared to say the Washington pacer will not reproduce her three-year-old brilliancy. “Abaydos” is of the opinion Daphne will reach the highest society as the new season advances, and would advise Sun readers to keep her in mind when the 1928-29 carnivals are in progr^s.