 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1931
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1931 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES
Silver de Oro and Ciro carried the bulk of the investments for the New Zealand Derby Stakes. There was a delay at the start, and several of the runners were unsettled with the result that Gold Paper, Avernus and Silver de Oro did not leave the mark correctly.
Ciro led out from Tempest, Eureka Boy, Gold Paper and Mauser. When a quarter of a mile had been covered Gold Paper was in charge from Eureka Boy, Ciro, and Tempest, a long way back being Silver de Oro. With little less than half a mile to go Ciro set off after Gold Paper, and had his measure at the straight entrance, Tempest and Silver de Oro being next.
Nothing had a chance with Ciro in the straight, and Tempest finished best of the others to be within a length of Ciro at the post. Gold Paper was four lengths further back, and next to finish were Eureka Boy, Silver de Oro, Mauser, and Avernus.
The winner recorded a striking performance, and it would have taken an exceptionally good one to have beaten him on the day. The race was marred by the fact of Silver de Oro's not moving off, and there would have been a great contest between these two, as Silver de Oro showed a fine burst of speed to gather the field again after she had tangled and mixed her gait for a furlong. Gold Paper has an abundance of speed, but as yet is not a great stayer. He was asked for an early effort, which left him without any great dash at the finish. Eureka Boy ran a fair race. Mauser was solid without showing much speed, and Avernus lost too much at the start to have a chance afterwards.
Credit: THE PRESS 13 Nov 1931