The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-19 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES

THE DERBY HORSES.
Although speculation on the Derby has, since the
close of the last racing season, been pursued with little
activity, and although its progress has been marked by
no incidents of importance, yet it has been watched with
steady attention and unflagging interest. The " Salique
law" is not abolished on the turf, but so far as the
Derby is concerned it is seldom enforced. Much sur-
prise has therefore been excited that the reigning fa-
vourite for the great Epsom event should be a mare ;
and the very rareness of this occurrence causes the midi-
dates for the vacant blue riband to be watched with
unusual interest. On the " deposition "of Goldfinch,
Blink Bonny was enthroned the Derby favourite, and
down to my present writing she has maintained her posi-
tion with extraordinary firmness. About a week back
she seemed scarcely so steady i❑ the market, but despite
the strong opposition which was directed against her
she was scarcely driven back a point in the betting.
That Blink Bonny proved herself to be a two-years-old
of remarkable power is indisputable, and her
performances fully justify the confidence of her
partisans. From the period of her debut at the
York Spring Meeting when she was beaten by
both Magnifier and Nougat, down to the close
of her two-years-old career, she exhibited a steady im-
provement of form. She was only three times defeated ;
the first I have already referred to, the second time was
at Chester by Lambourn and Sprig of Shillelagh, when
she was shut out at the turn, and the third by Lady
Hawthorne and Augury,— her overthrow on that occa-
sion being caused mainly by an error of judgment on the
part of her jockey. Amongst the animals that have
been compelled to strike their colours before her may be
enumerated Saunterer, Double Glo'ster, Augury, Cheva-
lier d'lndustrie, Ayacano, M.D., Skirmisher, Gemma
di Vergy, and Loyola—all horses of approved and
acknowledged racing ability. The races which were won
by Blink Bonny were won in no clumsy style, and, so
far as people could judge from her two-years-old
achievements, she seemed to possess those very rarely
combined qualities of pluck and stoutness. The mare
had no easy time of it during the past season, and her
owner certainly did not throw a chance away of losing
any stake for which she was engaged. She, however,
displayed no symptoms of staleness from her severe
work, and she appeared to possess a strong frame, which
would enable her to be trained on to much advantage.
Should Blink Bonny winter well, and should she
attain that degree of improvement which her two-year's-
old form promised, I shall be fully prepared to see her
enrol herse fin the catalogue of Derby winners. Expe-
rience, however, teaches us that mares that exhibit won-
derful racing ability at two yrs old suddenly go off and
lose all form. For this reason lam disinclined to give
my unconditional allegiance to Blink Bonny. I prefer
selecting a colt to represent my interest for the Derby,
and I shall have no difficulty in choosing a champion
from the lists as formidable and as worthy as Blink

Bonny.
The slight liking which I was inclined to entertain for
Loyola, when I saw him run at Newmarket, circum-
stances have changed into a decided prejudice against
him. The horse is good looking enough, but there is
too much daylight under him to accord with my notions
of a Derby horse. His long legs and sweeping stride
were well served over the flat at Newmarket, but they
are little adapted to climb the Surrey hills. His victory
over Sydney, too, can scarcely be regarded as a true
test of his ability, for Sydney's head was turned the
wrong way when the sags were lowered, and Loyola
got off many lengths in advance. Despite the indica-
tions which Sydney gave of temper, I should be inclined
to stand him against Loyola, if they were to meet on
equal terms. Sydney has grown into a nice-looking
horse ; he has considerably thickened, albeit he has a
certain "flashy " appearance, which is not greatly to be
admired for racing purposes. His owner, trainer, and
jockey were very fond of him last season, and were not
a little annoyed and disappointed by his defeats at New.
market. Their expectations, however, may yet be

answered.
Mr. Howard's lot seems to puzzle the cognoscenti. If
report be true, it has recently received an important
addition in M.D., who, it is stated, was purchased by
Mr. Howard at Newmarket, prior the Nursery. The
price is said to have been very heavy, Mr. Parr, amongst
other contingencies, having been "put on 10,0001.
to 0. .That M.D. is as compact, good-looking a horde is
undeniable, and his running at the " back end " of the
season showed that his previous exhibitions were not
quite correct. Still lam induced to believe that he will
prove more serviceable in Handicap races than in the
Derby. When I saw Goldfinch last season at Ascot I
immediately conceived a great fondness for him, and this
fondness was not diminished by the horse's inglorious
performance at Doncaster. He is now under Harlock's
care at Newmarket. I have had a recent opportunity
of seeing him, and a more improving, or a more pro-
mising-looking colt, in my opinion, never looked through
a bridle. I shall not be surprised if, after all, he be not
the representative of Mr. Howard's interest on the 27th
of May. I trust he may prove more fortunate to his
plucky owner than Yellow Jack. Schiedam also belongs
to Mr. Howard's lot, but I deem him, for cogent rea•
sons, inferior to Goldfinch. Laird Duff is, I fancy, a
" duffer," and Arsenal shall receive none of my ammu•

nition.

On Wednesday I will resume the discussion on the
Derby chances, and give a few hints about the Chester
Cup, the weights for wbich event I hope to receive on
Tuesday.
Jan. 17.