The Derby

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 990, 5 June 1930, Page 14

The Derby

VICTORY FOR AGA KHAN Blenheim Outstays Field THE 147th race for the Derby was derided yesterday, and the success of Blenheim gave his Highness the Aga Khan his first success in this race. This big owner entered eleven horses for the Derby, so he was entitled to win this time. His ambition has now been realised.

United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, Wednesday. Epsom was en fete today, the second day of the summer meeting, when the Derby was run. The great classic resulted in a win for the Aga Khan's colt Blenheim, who was a good two.-year-old last season, the favourite. Diolite, finishing third. Details of the result are as follow: THE DERBY STAKES A sweepstake of lOOsovs. each, 50sovs. forfeit if declared by the Tuesday in the week before running. 25sovs. forfeit if declared by the last Tuesday in March, 1930, or ssovs. only if declared by the first Tuesday in July, 1929, with 3,ooosovs. added: for entire colts and fillies, foaled in 1927; colts, 9.0, and fillies, 5.9; the owner of the second to receive 10 per cent, and the owner of the third 5 per cent, of the w r hole stakes; the breeder of the winner to receive 500sovs. out of the stakes; about one mile and a-half (323 entries, 25sovs. forfeit declared for 109, and ssovs. for 120). BLENHEIM (H.H. the Aga Khan), br c, by Blandford —Malva, 9.0 1 ILIAD (Somerville Tattersall), ch c, by Swynford—Pagan Sacrifice 9.0 . .. . .. .. . . 2 DIOLITE (Sir Hugo Hirst), b or br c, by Diophon—Needle Rock, 9.0 3 Seventeen started. Won by a length: two lengths separating second and third. The result of the race was a triumph for the Irish sire, Blandford, who has now furnished the winner of the Derby last year and this in Trigo and Blenheim.

Apparently the fear that Diolite would not stay were well founded, for third was the best the Diophon colt could do. Early Quotations When the last mail left England, a fortnight before Diolite won the Two Thousand Guineas, this colt was already a hot favourite for the Derby, being then quoted, six weeks before the event, at just under double figures. Blenheim was at a True Blood quotation on the same chart, and as he failed to gain a place in the Guineas he would probably recede in the betting. Yesterday’s runner-up, Iliad, was at a third of a century quotation. Winner's Fine Record Last season Blenheim had a splendid record in two-year-old races, winning four races and being second in his three other engagements. He made his first appearance in the early spring at Newbury, finishing three lengths and one and a-half lengths ahead of the Spring Maiden filly and Diolite respectively in the Manton Plate (£166), five furlongs. There were 32 runners and Blenheim started at a short price—a shade better than Pennyplain on Tuesday. Bridge of Bath filly beat him at Sandown Park a fortnight later,-he won the Speedy Plate at Windsor; then he won the New Stakes £2,880) at Newmarket, and at his next appearance, at Doncaster three months later, he was beaten by Fair Diana in the Champagne Stakes, this being his first attempt over six furlongs. A win in the Hopeful Stakes (£1,265), five furlongs, and second to Press Gang in the Middle Park Stakes, six furlongs, both at Newmarket, closed his tAvo-year-old record. In all his races last year the Aga Ivhan’s colt was ridden by the Irish jockey, M. Beary. r His trainer is R. Dawson, one of England’s best known mentors. Big Field Left In There were no less than 94 horses remaining in the Derby after the declaration of second forfeit on March 30. Among those left in this year’s big classic was Sea Rover, by Pomm-de-terre from Gay Laura. The latter is the dam of the triple crown winner, Gay Crusader, of 1917, so that Gay Laura must now be getting to the sere and yellow stage. When the second forfeit for the Derby fell due on March 30 last, 109 horses dropped out, each at a cost of £25; these alone are responsible for adding £2,725 to the stake, which with £5 forfeit paid for 120, brings the forfeit money up to £3,325. Owners desiring to forego the Derby engagement could do so at a. cost of £ 50 for each horse by declaring forfeit by May 27; after that date it is really expensive; £IOO for each horse left in, a starter or a non-starter. Last year the Derby attracted a field of 25, the total stake money reaching £11.965. Too Hasty? Paradine. who finished second to Diolite in the Two Thousand Guineas, was among those dropped out last March. As Paradine beat all but Diolite a month later, the owner of the colt, Mr. W. M. Cazalet, may now be regretting action that appeared to be rather precipitate. Mr. Cazalet also withdrew his other Derby nominee, Bucwyn, so he is now left without a candidate in the Epsom classic. Among those left in the Derby was Lord Glanely’s chestnut colt Sky Cracker, by Skyrocket out of Jeunnesse (dam of Grand Knight). Skyrocket is by Sunstar from Maid of the Mist. Diolite’s Stamina Referring last month (prior to the Two Thousand Guineas) to the promising three-year-olds, the London critic. “Rapier,” said: Press Gang (it is a tragedy he is not in the Derby) pleased me most of all. In the first place his breeding, by Hurry On, sire of two Derby winners in Captain Cuttle and Coron-

ach, from Fifinella, winner in the same week of the New Derby and New Oaks of 1916, appeals to me more than the breeding of Diolite. who is by Diophon (by Grand Parade) from Needle Rock, a mare by Rock Sand. Needle Rock’s breeding is admirable, but I have yet to be convinced about Diophon. and at any rate as ayn individual and the way he is bred Diophon cannot be compared with Hurry On or Phalaris. Diolite is now a 16-hand individual which should dispose of the widely held belief that he is only a small colt. He most decidedly is not, and all who believe in him may be assured that he has done well and is thought to be destined to maintain the place of honour given to him last back-end by the compiler of the Free Handicap of two-year-olds in 1929. Diophon certainly made a fine start at the stud when he got Diolite, but he does not give me the idea of being able to sire horses capable of staying the Derby distance. However, the same thing might have been said of Phalaris and Sundridge. So do not let us be dogmatic on the point by any means. STOCK EXCHANGE SWEEP CLOSED AT £67,000 The Stock Exchange Mutual Subscription Fund —or Derby Sweeptsakes —was closed in the middle of April, and the total amounts to £67.000. By law this sweep had to be confined to

members of the London Stock Exchange. The fund was this year run on much more restricted lines than last year, when about £1,000,000 was subscribed. It is expected that, tjie .first prize will be £21,000. the second £IO,OOO, and the third £5,000, and the fourth £2,500. There will also be some smaller prizes. The Smithfield Mutual Benevolent Fund announces that, in consequence of a threatened prosecution. it has abandoned its Derby sweepstakes, which was in aid of St. Bart.’s Hospital. Probably the Calcutta sweep (conducted by the Calcutta Turf Club) will reach close to £1,000.000.