FINISHED GAMELY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 473, 1 October 1928, Page 10

FINISHED GAMELY

When the news of Prince Humphrey’s success over Mollison in the rich A.J.C. Derby was announced at Ellerslie half an hour before the last race on Saturday there was much enthusiasm and the successful Auckland owner must have been deluged with a mass of congratulatory messages from this city alone. The story of how Prince Humphrey was purchased at the Sydney yearling sales for 70 gns. by Mr. H. R. McKenzie and passed on by that sportsman to another Aucklander, Mr. C. G. Macindoe (who recently refused 4,000 guineas), at 1,000 guineas, is well known. It is just one of those romances of te turf that lends to the sport its most fascinating aspect. To trainer J. T. Jamieson can be given all the credit for the preparation of the three-year-old, all of which had the A.J.C. Derby as its objective. One of the big.gest losers by Prince Humphrey would be jockey J. Barry, who this season is riding for the Takanini stable, for he came back from Australia a fortnight ago to pilot Mithra and the other members of the team here. By missing the Derby win Barry would lose the winning jockey’s fee, about £350. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and Barry’s misfortune was the means of swelling Sydney jockey J. Munro’s cheque. Incidentally. Barry rode at the Pakuranga meeting on Saturday and failed to earn anything but the fees for losing mounts. Such is the irony of the thing l Odds-on Favourite Of course Mollison was a hot favourite at Randwick on Saturdav, and his starting price was several shillings shorter than Cashier’s return on Saturday. while both Prince Humphrey and Oatendale were reported to be at odds against at a large figure, slightly exceeding Flying Juliet's great price. Full accounts of the race show that Mollison was a bit slow to move out of the barrier, but that he soon settled down, and going out of the straight he was with Ramulus and Coercion, Prince Humphrey, Roscrea and Cimbrian being next in order. Then Coercion burst into the lead at the mile, setting a merry pace, being at this point a couple of lengths in front of the favourite, with Roscrea and Prince Humphrey handy. The positions were unaltered at the half-mile, other than that Mollison and Ramulus had almost closed on Coercion. The Struggle Begins Ramulus (who was Geo. Price’s stable hope) hit the front three furlongs from home, and turned into the straight half a length in front of Mollison, with The Happy Warrior, Prince Humphrey and Oatendale all handy. The leader was quickly collared by Mollison, who drew out, only to be challenged by Prince Humphrey. This pair were on level terms at the Leger, and excitement reached fever heat as the duel was fought to the bitter end. Neck and neck they raced, but nearing the judge the New Zealander began to assert himself and gradually forged ahead. The favourite was weakening, and Prince Humphrey beat him by three-quarters of a length, while Oatendale finished well close up, third, Ramulus fourth, and then came

The Happy Warrior, The Dimmer, Yodelist, Cimbrian and Roscrea. Gameness Won After the race the rider of Prince Humphrey, J. Munro (one of Sydney’s leading horsemen) told Press representatives that: He had a good run all the way. He was confident turning for home that Prince Humphrey would run down Mollison, and he did. His very gameness won for him. A very different story was that related by Mollison’s jockey, J. Daniels, and therein lies the secret of the defeat of the hitherto unbeaten Victorian colt. It was the old story of a doubtful stayer being made to go fast all the way to hold his position. This is what Daniels said: “Had Coercion, the pacemaker, been out of the way, Mollison would have won. He ran the colt off his legs.” Tho exceedingly fast time recorded, 2.32?, certainly indicates that there was no loitering. It also goes to prove what a good one Prince Humphrey is, for he did not crack up, as apparently did Mollison, Ramulus and Coercion. Sydney critics had some good things to say of Prince Humphrey when he ran a good second to Limerick a fortnight previously, but some of them went off the Aucklander prior to Derby day. An explanation of this may not bo forthcoming until Australian files arrive next week. Amounis’s Win It was hard luck for Geo. Price that his Epsom Handicap hope, Reonui, was left at the post in Saturday’s race and took no part in the contest. On tho other hand, it would have been unfortunate if Amounis had been beaten. He was a short-priced favourite, a few half-crowns better than Mountain Guide’s dividend on Saturday, while Sion was at a point and a-half longer odds and Royal Tune at double figures. Cimabue was among che “25 to 100 to 1 others,” so apparently he was not fancied. At the end of the first quarter Amounis was near the rear of the field and at the five furlongs he was at the head of only four horses. Sion looked all over a winner, but the favourite came with a tremendous burst, to pull his supporters through. Cimabue got away well, lying fourth at the end of two furlongs, and was fairly handy at the turn, but he then faded out and was not in the first ten. Perception’s Defeat Starting at the same price as Amounis, Perception was the favourite in the second division of the Kensington Handicap, but he went under to a big outsider in Quince, while the third horse, Venetian Lady, was also at extreme odds. In the same race were First Acre, Fool’s Paradise and Boston, all New Zealanders. The lastnamed was very prominent into the straight, and stopped quickly. At the distance Perception was leading Venetian Lady and First Acre, but then Quince came along and beat them all. Fool’s Paradise was fourth and First Acre fifth, not a couple of lengths separating the quintet. Concentrate contested the Trial Handicap (won by Rionscup) and was at a double figure price. He was second soon after the start, fourth at the home turn, and finished about seventh. To-day’s big events at Randwick are the £6,000 Metropolitan Handicap and the classic for two-year-old colts and geldings, the Breeders’ Plate.