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► : . International Field of Record Size Likely for English Derby Thirty-Nine Still Listed; * Biggest Band Thirty-Four In 1862; Wide Open Race By VERNON MORGAN Reuters Sports Editor LONDON, England, June 1.— An international field, likely to assume record proportions, will fight out the Derby on Epsoms famous Downs next Saturday afternoon. The Bang will be there to watch the runners strive for the richest Derby prize in its 169 years history, the winner receiving nearly 6,000, which is ,000 more than the previous record sum won by My Love last year. It is quite possible, too, that the size of the field will be a record for there were 39 acceptors this week. Some will fall out between now and the day of the race — the well-fancied Peter Flower has already done so owing to an injury — but there is a chance that the record field of 34 will be equalled or exceeded. It was in 1862, when Caracta-cus won, that 34 went to the post. Many trainers have advised their owners that the race is so open that they might just as well leave their horse in and let it run in the hope that it may prove best on the day. The prize is tempting enough to make them "throw away" the final forfeit of 00 in the hopes of winning 6,000. Only a few weeks ago the Derby was considered a two-horse race, a duel between Royal Forest and Swallow Tail, but opinions have changed since then with the unexpected defeat of Swallow Tail by a second rater and further evidence that Royal Forest is a horse of moods. Today there are many horses in the big field given a good chance of beating both Royal Forest and Swallow Tail, as is shown by the betting. Nimbus May Stay Distance The Two Thousand Guineas winner, Nimbus, has come back into the reckoning on the grounds that he may, after all, be able to stay the Epsom mile and a half. It is ten years since the Guineas winner won the Derby, the great Blue Peter being the last horse to do so, but the fact that Nimbus won the Guineas by his strong finish and that Charlie Elliott will again ride him, coupled with the uncertainties about the two first favorites, has led many backers to regard this son of Nearco as the best win and place wager in the race. Another horse heavily backed of late is one of the several French horses, Val Drake. Having recently visited Paris, the writer found great confidence across the Channel in the ability -of this colt to set up history by being the third French horse to win the Epsom Derby in successive years. Another record Val Drake would put up if he won would be the winning of the race three years running by the same sire, for he is by Vateller, who sired both Pearl Diver and My Love. Val Drake, owned by the French impresario M. Leon Volterra, who was joint owner with the Aga Khan "of last years winner, My Love, has shown brilliant form in France this season quite comparable to that shown last season by My Love. There appears from the latest market evidence to be little fancy for Val Drakes stable companion, Amor Drake, who finished fourth in the Guineas, or for the other "Frenchmen," Gades, owned by the American, R. Strassburger, who was at one time quite a tip for the race, and Marcel Boussacs Targui. Brown Royer Well Supported The third "Drake," Lord Drake, formerly owned by M. Volterra and now running in the colors of the English band leader, Jack Hylton, does not appear to be so well fancied as his French-bred stable companion, Royal Empire. Both were formerly owned by M. Volterra, who has a further interest in the race in that Bois Roussel, sire of Royal Forest and Swallow Tail, was a product of his stud before coming over to England to win the Derby. The United States has only one runner, Brown Rover. Originally William Woodward, chairman of The New York Jockey Club, had both Brown Rover and Lone Eagle entered, but only the former will run. This bay colt by Fighting Fox might be more of a St. Leger horse than a Derby prospect, as was Black Tarquin, his stable-mate last year. But it takes a stayer to win the Derby and Brown Rover has made such progress recently that he is being well backed win and place for next Saturdays big race. There are so many "ifs" and "buts" about so many of the runners that a genuine horse like this must have a splendid chance. Apart from the Australian interest in the race, in respect of the fact that jockeys Johnstone, Cook, Britt, Evans and Burns all come from that country, a well-fancied candidate, Barnes Park, is Australian-trained. Dick Colvon trains this son of Nasrullah, who surprised even his trainer by finishing third in the Guineas. His connections got 300 to 1, so they are "sitting pretty." Scottish Meridian has won his last four races. There are those who say that this big colt, by the 1937 Derby winner, Midday Sun, will not like the tricky Epsom turns, but he will at least be staying on when others have had enough and is a popular fancy among small punters. Candidates of Indian Prince The two Indian princes, the Aga Khan and Gaekwar of Baroda, are represented by Hindostan and Jai Hind, respectively, while Prince Aly Khan runs Iran. Both Hindostan and Jai Hind, the latter especially, have been rather disappointing this season, but that does not mean they can be left out of the reckoning. They are well enough bred for the task. Of the other runners, the best may be Courier, who runs in the Airborne colors — winner of the Derby in 1946— and Marco Polo n., who is owned by Peter Beatty, who won the race in 1938 with Bois Roussel. , Both could bring a second success to their owners. The former has been "nibbled at" in the market but the latter has been completely ignored. He seems to be the best 100 to 1 shot in the race and might easily create a surprise. It is true that this French-bred colt was well beaten by Royal Forest in the Sandown Park Trial Stakes, over a mile and a quarter, but he might be better over the longer course. In any case, all those hopeful of winning the Derby are banking on Royal Forest Jiaying an off day. Many punters will want to know if there is a gray horse in the race. The answer is "yes," the French-owned, trained and bred Highlander, but he is almost a roan and not a bright gray like Airborne. Summing up this tricky race, Royal Forest may have an off day but if he shows the form he has shown in some of his gallops at Beckhampton, he will reward Gordon Richards with his first Derby victory after 24 attempts.
