 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1960
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1960 NZ DERBY STAKES
The Auckland owned and trained three-year-old, Student Prince, caused a minor surprise when he finished too well for King Hal in the NZ Derby Stakes to give his owner, Mr H S Barry, his most important classic success to date. He beat King Hal by two lengths with Jay Ar a similiar distance away third and Flying Note fourth. Student Prince had paced useful races in his earlier appearances at the meeting and received a fine trail behind his stablemate, Paysan Bleu, and later behind Moose. Driver, M Holmes, pulled Student Prince out inside the furlong and after collaring King Hal, soon had the result in safe keeping.
The start was marred to some extent when Southern Cross, Jar Ar, Flying Note and Wekin all gave ground, and King Hal was also slow to become balanced. Paysan Bleu made a quick beginning and he was followed early by Student Prince, then came Morsel, with gaps to Moose, Master Alan (who broke), King Hal, Wekin, Flying Note, Southern Cross, Jay Ar, Adios Heather and Summit Road. The whole field was strung out at this stage. At the end of six furlongs Paysan Bleu began to feel the strain and Moose raced clear. King Hal had improved at this stage and was doing slightly better than Moose racing to the straight, with Student Prince just behind. Jay Ar, Summit Road, Flying Note and Southern Cross were all handy.
King Hal soon worked clear once into the straight, but Student Prince was not done with by any means and set out after King Hal at the furlong. These two were together half a furlong out but Student Prince did best. After the four placed horses came Summit Road, Adios Heather, Morsel, Southern Cross, Wekin and Paysan Bleu last.
Student Prince's success would no doubt be most heartening to Mr H S Barry, who has spent a lot of money on the sport, paying big prices for handicap horses and younger stock and he has also built an up-to-date training and breeding establishment at Mangere. Student Prince is trained by R Stockdale, private trainer to Mr Barry, and was at one time attached to M Holmes's stable at Yaldhurst when Holmes was public training. He drove several winners for Holmes, including champion trotter Recruit and Lookaway.
Student Prince is a bay colt by Hal Tryax from Little Toff, a winner herself, and the 1947 foal of the prolific broodmare, Rustic Maid, dam of the NZ Cup winner Chamfer, and others. Little Toff was got by Dillon Hall. Bred at Gore by Mr G Youngson, Student Prince was purchased at the 1959 yearling sales for 625 gns when offered on account of Mr J W G Irving, Oamaru. Student Prince's win gave M Holmes his 11th driving success in the classic.
King Hal made a gallant attempt to add this classic to his already fine record and was far from disgraced in defeat. He had a fair stretch of ground to make up to reach the lead and the effort to do so told when it came to the concluding stages. Jay Ar also paced a fine race after being towards the rear in the early stages and the same could be said of Flying Note.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 23Nov60