 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1937
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1937 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES
Until last week the question of three-year-old supremacy was open to wide debate, but the New Zealand Derby Stakes cleared the air, and now there is no doubt regarding the position.
Twos Loose made hacks of his opposition and never left the question in doubt to win pulling up by five lengths. On the day he was in a class of his own, and there is not the slightest doubt that there is not another juvenile in the country to come up to his standard.
Always in the firing line, he left the opposition behind with half a mile to go and came home, running his last mile in 2.9 1-5 and his final four furlongs in 1.2 1-5. This makes his third win, all classics, in four starts. He was defeated in Wellington by Refund and Sandusky, but previous to that Dil Edwards had not been able to give him the work necessary to bring him to his best and there was good reason for his defeat.
Although Twos Loose was given his early education by Arthur Cox, and some kudos must be given to that trainer for the ground work, he is a wonderful credit to Edwards. He has natural speed and stamina, and he is the best mannered youngster in commission. The type that will improve and carry on, time should find him further emphasising his superiority over the season's crop of three-year-olds
Refund was disappointing. He had every chance, getting the run of the race, but he failed badly, to finish a long way behind the winner and only a short distance in front of the last horse. He was a winner in his only two starts before the Derby, but it would seem that he is more at home with the sting out of the ground. At the same time, he is a handsome colt which should redeem himself with a bit more time.
Each time Sandusky has been in the South Island he has left with the credit of being good but unlucky. He got in all the trouble going here over the first mile, and he could not raise anything above the ordinary in the final four furlongs, being beaten by a head for second money. There was a tendancy to regard him as a good thing beaten, but "Truth" does not support that contention. Sandusky is a good colt and he will improve to be a class performer. At the moment, however, he is not outstanding. To our way of thinking he has been unlucky for the simple reason that he has not been good enough - has not had the ability - to get out of trouble.
Perula is a solid little pacer which has a good deal to be said in his favour. He behaves and does his work like a gentleman and although he lacks some of the dash others of his age put into their racing, he is a worth while propostion.
Outside the winner, probably most speed was shown by Taruna, which finished fourth. He was poorly served at the start, and lost a great deal at the start. His last mile was run at a merry clip and when he learns to jump into action smartly, he will do well for himself. Horsepower and Bayard performed only fairly, and Rerekahau showed nothing to justify his presence in the field.
Credit: THE TRUTH 17 Nov 1937