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"* Acropolis Untested Newmarket Victor Favorite for Epsom Derby Has Lone Foe Who Swerves Off Course Twice in Race Special to Daily Racing Form NEWMARKET. Suffolk, Eng., May 11 • Reuters. — Acropolis, favorite for this years Epsom Derby, won the Newmarket Stakes as he pleased here today, but left his backers and the bookmakers still groping in the dark regarding his true merits. Todays 10-furlong event had been looked upon as a good pre-Derby test for Acropolis. The British Broadcasting Corporation put on a special commentary of the stake. But early today Solarium, owned by the young American sportsman, Gerry Al-bertini. one of the listed starters, was withdrawn because of the firm footing, leaving only Lord Roseberys Rowland Ward to provide the opposition. After the pair had covered a little more than a furlong, Rowland Ward swerved off the open race course. Acropolis continued smoothly on his way to win officially over the distance in the fast time of 2:04 2. After Rowland Ward had run out for the second time, his jockey Billy Ricka-by ; managed to Set him to canter past the winning post to be placed second while Acropolis was being unsaddled in the winners circle. Commentators Work Made Easy British Broadcasting Corporation commentator Peter OSullivan wryly remarked i during the "race" that "I am probably the first in history of racing to do a commentary on a one-horse race!" Although the race proved a complete fiasco as a Derby trial, several trainers of long experience were impressed by the smooth action of Alice Lady Derbys l strongly-framed chestnut colt. Significantly his time for the ten furlongs was four and one-half seconds faster than recorded I by Elopement when he won the event last year from Golden God and the subsequent Derby winner, American -bred and -owned, , Never Say Die on a similar track surface. The time record for the distance is a flat - 2:00 set up by Top Gallant in 1923. George Colling, trainer of Acropolis, said later the colt would miss the Derby Trial at Lingfield on Friday despite the fact he hadnt had a race today.
