West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 3 June 1954, page 17


Derby Outsider, Never Say Die, Wins At Epsom LONDON, Wed.-Never Say Die, a 33 to I outsider who is owned by the American Mr. Robert Sterling Clark, was ridden by Lester Piggott to victory today in the English Derby at Epsom.

Never Say Die won by two lengths from Arabian Night (33 to 1), with Darius (7 to 1) a neck away, third. The joint favourites at 5 to 1 were Rowston Manor and the French colt, Ferriol, both of whom were unplaced. Ferriol was ridden by the Australian jockey, Rae Johnstone. The Queen's horse, Landau, held a prominent position when the field of 22 turned for home at Tattenham Corner, -but he faded in the run home. Never Say Die (by Nasrullah out of Singing Grass) carried 9.0 and gave Piggott his first Derby success. The last American-owned horse to win the blue riband of the British turf was Mr. H. Duryea's Durbar in 1914 and the last American-bred horse was Iroquois in 1881. Name Appeals Never Say Die was -a popular choice with many small punters who liked the name of this flashy chestnut. There was a general feeling of disappointment when the Royal colt, Landau, weakened under pressure, but the victory of the American owner was extremely popular. Mr. Clark is in the United States and the honour of leading in the Derby winner well to the stable lad who tends him. The American jockey, Johnny Longden, said that he had had a- good ride on his Irish-bred mount, Blue Sail, who finished tenth. Elopement, a popular choice with women backers, finished

fourth, Narrator fifth and Blue Prince sixth. Bookmakers admitted that they had had a winning race, although many small punters had. had trifling amounts on the winner. Willie Snaith, the rider of Landau, said after dismounting: "Landau gave me good ride. I was in the lead going round Tattenham Corner, but then the horse dropped out. He failed to stay beyond a mile and a quarter." It was a chilly, dull day and the crowd was the smallest since the war, possibly because the race was on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday. The, going was goxod but slightly on the firm side. Never Say Die, who is trained at Newmarket by Joe Lawson, took 2.35 4-5 to cover the li-mile journey. The winner's share of the stake was £A21,324., The second placegetter won £A2,510 and the third horse LA1,258. Successful Sire Nasrullah has been one of England's most successful sires in recent years, but Never Say Die is the first of his progeny to win the Derby. Nasrullah, who is by the imported. Italian horse, Nearco, out of Mumtaz Begum, by Blenheim, has the blood of many previous Derby winners in his blood. Nasrullah topped the English stakewinning list for sires in 1951 when his progeny won stakes amounting to more than £A55,000.