 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1986
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1986 JOHN BRANDON NZ DERBY
"He's a real racehorse. He let the other horse get to him, but there was no way he was going to get beaten," Morrinsville horseman Graeme Harris said. Harris had not long earlier reined his brilliant three-year-old Alba's Reign to a dramatic win in the $110,000 John Brandon New Zealand Derby, outstaying the Southland colt Trident in the final stages.
In a finish reminiscent of the spine tingling Hands Down - Delightful Lady New Zealand Cup on the track a few years ago, Alba's Reign came back from certain defeat within strides of the post, and furthered a remarkable record for trainer Harris, who races the gelding in partnership with his breeders Charlie and Dawn Elliott.
Already the leading two and three-year-old stake earner in Australasia before the event, Alba's Reign soared past $250,000 when he notched up win number 15 from 25 starts, and he still has the $150,000 Great Northern Derby to come. "He's a little bit better the other way round too," said Harris. "Down here he tends to lug in a bit," he added. Alba's Reign simply ran his rivals ragged for much of the mobile 2600 metre event and when an old foe in Trident attempted to have the last say, he found stamina and character which was not easily lost on the relatively small crowd on hand.
Happy Patron and Ricky May were the first to show out from barrier two, but Alba's Reign (four) was right with him through the first 200 metres in 13 seconds and soon after crossed over to lead. The first 400 was cut out in 27.7. Harris was able to back the pace off down the back straight to pass the first 800 in about even time, but soon after the challenges came from the back from Laser Lad and French Lord. With a lap to travel the field was racing in threes, but Harris had begun to let the hot favourite roll. Laser Lad got past Dream Lustre to sit outside the leader with 1200 metres to run, while French Lord then pressed on to apply the pressure starting the run down the back straight the last time. Alba's Reign obviously had the measure of French Lord and Laser Lad before the home turn, but coming into contention three wide was John Hay and Trident, who had been noticeably out of form on the first two nights of the meeting. Trident joined Alba's Reign quickly turning for home and seemed to have the better of him 150 metres out with his head in front. But Alba's Reign, wearing half winkers, wasn't letting him get away and drew level again about 50 metres from the post. It was only in the final few strides that Alba's Reign got his nose back in front, winning officially by half a head, going away.
"I had him beaten everywhere but the post," Hay lamented afterwards. Three and three-quarter lengths away was Happy Patron, who looked a big threat on the home turn but only battled in the straight. "He pulled the whole way and did well to finish where he did," Rick May said. "He's never done that before, maybe we were a bit easy on him during the week," he added. Happy Patron just held on to third ahead of Lea Vance and Sir Alba, who both paced fine races. Lea Vance, handled by Colin De Filippi, followed Trident throughout and, after losing a handy position with a lap to run, fought on well for his placing. Sir Alba, four back on the rails throughout and surrounded by horses 200 metres out, found racing room half way down the straight and finished fast when it was too late. Like Sir Alba, who drew the inside of the second row, French Lord (sixth) and Laser Lad (ninth) were victims of poor barrier draws.
But there was no denying that Alba's Reign was a deserving winner of the 72nd running of the New Zealand Derby. The gelding had to twice force the pace into the teeth of a bitterly cold southerly and in the end recorded a fine 3:17.8 for the distance, a time seldom bettered by three-year-olds on the track. After running the first mile in just under 2:03, Alba's Reign paced home in 59.5, the last 400 in 28.6. They were sectionals which made the tasks of Laser Lad and French Lord impossible, while Trident would have easily bettered 59 after giving the winner at least half a dozen lengths with 800 to run.
Alba's Reign, who won the $100,000 B&H NZ Two-Year-Old Championship at Alexandra Park last season, has now raced four times at Addington for two wins and two seconds. Back in November, Harris made a hit and run trip south for the $125,000 Fay, Richwhite NZ Sires' Stakes Final and went down in the last few strides to Sir Alba, who clocked a New Zealand record of 1:57.4 for a mobile mile. Harris went home pleased with his showing but disappointed he had been beaten. He never saw the other horse until it was all over that day," Harris recalled. Stabling Alba's Reign and Lea Vance with Colin De Filippi for the Easter meeting, Harris became the second consecutive northern trainer to carry off the NZ Derby.
By Alba Byrd from the 1985 Broodmare of the Year Vice Reign, Alba's Reign became the third successive male line descendant of the great Meadow Skipper to win the Derby, following on from Naval Officer and Placid Victor. Like Placid Victor, Alba's Reign is a grandson of Albatross.
Credit: Frank Marrion writing in NZ Trotting Calendar