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BLAST FROM THE PAST

1975 NZ DERBY: Won by Main Adios

1975 NZ DERBY

If some purists thought that the fiftieth NZ Derby lacked the presence of a three-year-old of champion potential, even they must agree that the contest lost very little in comparison with its forerunners on the score of excitement. From the time the warm favourite Smokey Lopez received a bad check at the start it was all action in the premier classic with Main Adios gaining a convincing three-length win in a time very much above the average.

It might be argued in the weeks to come whether Smokey Lopez or Olga Korbut would have made the winner work much harder over the final stages but Main Adios ran his race out in most convincing fashion - and no horse can be expected to do more. Main Adios had drawn attention to his chances with an impressive win over 2000m on Cup day beating a promising field of handicappers fair and square. He ran that one from the front but in the Derby improved sharply from a wide position early to get a trail behind a fairly fierce pace set by Lord Moose.

The winner benefitted from some masterly driving from Derek Jones (having his first Derby win), Jones moving him out from the trail at the 400m rather than risk getting held up later and taking the lead shortly after turning for home. He put a break on the field at that time and Direct Magic and Smokey Lopez just could not pull him back over the final stages. Direct Magic ran on well for his second placing though he had a much better run than most of his nearest opponents. All the same he is showing signs of soon laying to rest the sometimes heard allegation that his will to win is not as strong as it might be.

Ben Grice must wonder why fate continues to conspire against him in the Derby. Smokey Lopez seemed set to succeed where others from the Grice stable had failed but a bad check at the start possibly cost him the race. He found it hard to improve with the strong pace being set and the effort of doing so told over the final stages. But he was far from disgraced and if there is any justice in the world he will get one of the remaining classics later in the season. Lord Moose struggled on for fourth after setting a torrid pace, with Stanley Rio four lengths away fifth followed by Lumber Box, who broke at the start and checked Smokey Lopez, with the others making up a fairly tired bunch.

Olga Korbut was unable to repeat her half brother's win of last year and she had a most unfortunate race. Away well she trailed early and was allowed to drift under the hot pace. At the 1200 when angling out from the fence she nudged Star Chance and broke with Star Chance having to be pulled up. The Lordship filly had no chance after this mishap and her eighth place in the circumstances had some merit. Freeman Holmes felt she was going extremely well at the time and there is little doubt she would have been in the finish with an uninterupted run.

Though one can particularly regret the checkered runs of the first two favourites there is still no doubt that Main Adios is a worthy Derby winner. The only problem he now faces is one of history. It is surprising the number of outstanding Derby winners who have never had the chance to show their full ability as older horses, usually due to unsoundness. On the other hand a number in this category have had successful stud careers so the Methven colt is likely to win out either way.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide