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COUNTRY TROTTING DERBY
Red Runner's Race Record.
THE fourth Country Trotting Derby was
decided at Gloucester Park on Satur-
day night, and it resulted in a rather
easy win for the General Mavista three-
year-old, Red Runner, who scored from
Master Antique and Kwobrup Bell, Red
Runner is owned by Messrs, Patroni and
Cunningham, and is trained for them by
the former Victorian trainer-reinsman,
G. F. Kelly. The owners of Red Runner
have every reason to feel pleased with
the horse's success, as, had he been a year
younger, he would not have been eligible
for classic races. Red Runner is a geld
ing, and a rule brought in by the W.A.T.A.
last year stipulated that geldings would
be barred from all Derby races commen-
cing from 1941.
This is the second Derby won by Red
Runner, for he was successful in the
south-West Derby at Harvey last month.
On that occasion he was fully extended to
win by a yard from another of General
Mavista's progeny in Whixmsta. The pair
raced stride for stride from barrier-rise.
Red Runner had the pole position, and,
in the opinion of most of those who saw
the race, it was this fact which gained
victory for the gelding.
There is no doubt that Red Runner
has improved greatly since then, and on
Saturday night he established a record
for the Country Trotting Derby. Red
Runner paced at a 2.19 rate, which bet-
tered by more than a second the previous
record of 2.20Í held by Lelaine who scored
in 1938. In the initial race in 1937 Idol's
Son registered a 2.22½ rate, while last
year Glen Wilfred did not have to go
faster than a 2.23½ rate. Glen Wilfred also
raced In the nomination of Messrs. Pat
ronl and Cunningham when he won the
classic event. Both Glen Wilfred and Red
Runner were bred by Mr. Joe Lyon, of
Donnybrook.
When the barriers were released for the
Derby on Saturday night Red Runner
skipped for a few strides after the start,
but he did not lose much ground and
settled down in second place behind Kwo-
brup Bell, who attempted to lead all the
way. Red Runner was pulling extremely
hard and for a time it seemed that Kelly's
tactics in restraining him so much might
have the effect of choking the gelding
down.
With half a lap to go Kelly gave Red
Runner more rein, but the chestnut took
a little time to increase his speed. When
he did, however, Red Runner gathered
in Kwobrup Bell In a few strides and the
race-barring accidents-was then eil
over. In the straight Master Antique
threw out a strong challenge, but, al-
though he easily ran past Kwobrup Bell,
he had no chance whatever with Red
Runner. Kolrock was the favourite for
the race, but he was well back at the fin-
ish. He was running third inside the last
half-lap when he broke and lost a lot of
ground. Still, it made no difference to
the result, as at that time Red Runner
had the race in his safe keeping. After
the race Red Runner was decorated with
a sash by Lady Mitchell, while the suc-
cessful owners were presented with a
trophy by the Lieut.-Governor (Sir James
Mitchell).
A feature of the meeting was the suc-
cess of P. J. Woolley, who won a double
with Kitty Olwyn and Anicent Mary. The
former gave a brilliant display in the
Kununoppin Handicap, for which she
firmed from 6's to 5 to 2. At the start
she galloped off the mark, and was so
far back when she settled down that
her chances appeared hopeless. Making
up her ground gradually Kitty Olwyn had
caught the main bunch with a lap to go
and, continuing her run, she scored from
Pleasant Surprise and Brent Light, who
had made most of the running. Rhoda
Lou shared fevouritism with Kitty Olwyn,
but she also galloped off the mark and
was never a danger. Ancient Mary (5's
and 6's) was never further back than sec-
ond in the Merredin Handicap and she
came away in the straight to win from
the pacemaker, Little Pick, and Plain
Percy.
Backed down from 6's to 7 to 2 for;
the Country Clubs' Handicap as the re-
sult of a sterling trial during the week,
Red Ray ran to the front as soon as the
barriers lifted and was not headed winning
with something in reserve from Arabian
Lass and Tiny Heather. The favourite,
Phyllis Derby, galloped off the mark and
never really had a chance. She, however,
showed good pace during thc race, as did
Auburn Childe, who was also slow to strike
his straps.
The High-Class Handicap resulted in an
impressive victory for the former Vic-
torian pacer, Prince Pirate, who has had
only four starts here, and the manner
in which he silenced the opposition on
Saturday night indicates him a pacer of
no mean ability. Prince Pirate dropped in
behind Serene Derby (who was slow off
the marked, but who was soon rushed to
the front) and he trailed her for most
of the way, with Casatar and Alfred's
Double following. These four were the
leaders throughout.
$