 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1978
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Sovereign & Jack Smolenski |
Sovereign and Ostrava, two of the least experienced horses in the field, provided an exciting finish to the $25,000 NZ Derby Stakes after rival drivers adopted a costly sit and wait policy.
Sovereign, a beautifully bred colt by Bachelor Hanover out of the top class mare Royal Belmer, was having only his sixth start of the season and his seventh in all, while Ostrava, who also lacks nothing in breeding being by Nevele Romeo from Bravine, was having only his fifth season and career start.
Robin Butt took Ostrava straight to the lead with Sovereign dropping in to trail. It looked ominous for the others when Matai Dreamer made a safe beginning, while the hot favourite Genesis also became well placed early. But the writing was on the wall for these two when Ostrava was allowed to set a leisurely pace over the first 1600 metres. It was obvious that the race was going to develop into a sprint home and there was no way that those sitting further back in the field could outsprint Ostrava and Sovereign.
Sovereign looked as though he was going to be denied a run in the straight when Jack Smolenski went for a rails opening early in the run home, but once switched to the outside of Ostrava, he finished generously and wore him down by a neck. His time for the Derby was 3:29.6, the slowest time for the race since the distance was extended to a mile and five furlongs in 1970, then to 2600 metres in 1973.
Wing Commander, though beaten into third a length and a half back, turned in an exceptional run for third after getting well back early after a slow start. He was three quarters of a length clear of Matai Dreamer, who tried hard to make up ground over the final 800 metres but found the leaders travelling too well. Augustus Rex battled on well for fifth after racing in the open all the way and he was clear of Genesis who could made no impression over the last 400 metres.
Sovereign is raced in partnership by Messrs J M G & M Osborne and Jack Smolenski, and it gave Smolenski his first success in the Derby. Sovereign only started his racing career last June when he made an auspicious debut when third to Genesis and Prince Rapide in the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. This season, he has gained three wins, a third and a fourth.
Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotting Calendar