Big Race History: Lingfield Derby Trial

General / Malcolm Pannett / 05 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

This race has thrown up eight Derby winners since its inception. Malcolm Pannett fills you in on the history...

The Lingfield Derby Trial dates back to 1932 and has done exactly what it says on the can producing eight winners of the Derby in its 70- race history.

The first of those was the inaugural winner April the Fifth trained and owned by movie-actor and theatre impresario Tom Walls. He was followed by Mid-day Sun (1937), Tulyar (1952), Parthia (1959), Teenoso (1983), Slip Anchor (1985), Kahyasi (1988) and most recently High-Rise (1998).

The race was the idea of Clerk of the Course Fred Wilmot who realised that the similarities between Lingfield and Epsom - an uphill back straight and sharp left hand decent into the straight - made it an ideal place for such a trial.

Other notable winners include Sayajirao (1947), who subsequently won the St Leger; Aureole (1953) who went on to finish second in the Derby in the colours of the Queen; Bustino (1974) who was one half of the 'Race of the Century' when just losing out to Grundy in the 1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes; Cacoethes (1989) who finished third to Nashwan and 500-1 shot Terimon in the Derby; Silver Patriarch (1997) who after losing out by a short head to Benny The Dip in the Derby gained some consolation by taking the St Leger

The race wasn't run between 1940 and 1945 due to the Second World War.

25 years ago - Guy Harwood's Alphabatim arrived in good heart on the back of success over Trojan Fen in Sandown's Guardian Classic Trial and was sent of 2-5 favourite. Lord Butch made the running until Brian Rouse asked the market leader for his effort with just over a quarter of a mile to go. The son of Verbatim readily drew six lengths clear of Get The Message who came through to take second. Alphabatim was sent off second favourite in the Derby finishing fifth of 17 behind Secreto before reaching the frame in Commanche Run's St Leger. He returned to winning form in the US in December when beating Raami in the Hollywood Turf Cup Invitational.

10 years ago - The John Dunlop-trained Lucido showed a decent turn of speed to come from last to first, off a slow pace, to win by a length and a quarter to favourite Daliapour. Owner Hildegard Focke paid the supplementary fee to enter her son of Royal Academy in the Derby only for him to trail in one but last after sustaining an injury to his near hind leg. Daliapour though beat all bar Oath returning the following year to capture the Coronation Cup.

Five years ago - It looked plain sailing for John Gosden's Percussionist after he had beaten off favourite Hazyview with two furlongs to go. However the son of Sadler's Wells started to hang away from the rail apparently inhibited by the Channel 4 camera car. Frankie Dettori managed to keep him going to win in the end by 10 lengths. Percussionist confirmed the placing in the Derby albeit for fourth and eighth places behind North Light and is now successfully plying his trade over fences and hurdles.

Last Year - Aiden O'Brien's Alessandro Volta, whose defeat in his previous race was at least partially down to a slipping saddle, came back to form with a vengeance making all to beat stable companion King Of Rome. At Epsom Alessandro Volta, named after the electricity pioneer, finished sixth to New Approach and then was demoted to fourth in the Irish version after hampering Tartan Bearer.