SPORTING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 514, 4 October 1890, Page 2

SPORTING.

THE A.J.C. DERBY.

Tqx following graphic description of the contest for lhe A.J.C. Derby is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald; —“No time was lost before the flag dipped to a good start, and Gibraltar was about the first to move. For a few strides they came along in an unbroken line, and than suddenly Vanderwarden appeared to make up his mind to force the pace, and, dashing Whitnbrel to the front, he led Gibraltar four lengths past the stand ; while Titan, with Paris at bis girths, was going strongly a couple of lengths away, and Bradley and Gatling tbe same distance off with Victor Hugo a length away waiting and not taking the faintest advantage ol his superb condition by forcing the running. The pace was comparatively slow until passing Oxenham’s when Gibraltar reduced Whimbrel’a lead to two lengths, and Huxley succeeded in getting another pull on Titan, who was fighting hard to get his head. After they flashed past the seven furlong post, a sudden change took place, and almst .before one oou'd realise what was the matter, the pace sc’tled down to something terrible in its severity. The pace was heart-break jng as they raced up the incline, but still Whimberel showed no signs of faltering, and as he swept past the sixfurlong post things began to look serious for the favourite, and nine out of ten thought that the son of Curlew wou'd never resign his command. Still no change and the pace was desperate as they made the bend, and then Huxley allowed"']. ! i'tah a little liberty, and he raced up to Gibraltar, and Gatling following suit, the pair were within a length of the leader as they swept into the straight. Here Paris, Bradley, and Victor Hugo collapsed, and a cry went up from the crowd as Titan on the left was ?egn to settle down to one of those bri'liant runs for which l,e js so famous. For a moment it looked as though the favorite would pull through, for Nerrieker’a spurs were red, and Gatling was reeling about and figh'ing against exhausted nature. So tqey raged Jo the half-distance, when ffie whip was tarqed pn to the favorite, and he went all abroad in less than half a dozen strides, leaving Gatling to catch Whimberel, while Gibraltar was fairly at his top, and still with half a neck the worst of it. Whimberel, against the rails, reeled out ever so little, and interfered with Gatling, but Harris had bis head as straight as an arrow ih a moment/ Ten strides from the post the three were locked iexelj but ' Gibraltar, reepondjqq right gallantly to Nerricker's resolute final call, wore down bis two gallant opponents in the lost tour strides, and wan a well ridden and brilliant race by a head from the New Zealander, who defeated the wearied out Whimberel by the same distance. Titan, who esme again with wonderful gameness, was three quarters of a length away, and then, some lengths off, succeeded Victor Efugoj Rfqdley, and Paris, on whom the weight told a sad tqle. Tinie, 2m. 395.”