The Aga Khan's Mirza LI has been considered by many enthusiasts to have the Derby for 1938 already in his pocket. The assumption that he could not be beaten is reflected in the odds betted on him in the race for the Champagne Stakes. Yet once again the turf certainty crumbles unexpectedly and Sir Humphrey de Trafford's Portmarnock by Fairway out of Derk's Double has given further evidence of his sire's excellence by upsetting the favourite. Portmarnock won a small race at Kempton in his debut on the course, but at Ascot in June, starting as a firm favourite for the New Stakes, he was beaten after three furlongs. He was believed to have been coughing, so his supporters were not too perturbed at the result, especially as in July at Newmarket he won the National Produce Stakes by a length and a half from the favourite Tahir. Meanwhile Mirza IT was continuing his victorious career, the July Stakes having already been secured by him at Newmarket by six lengths from Jubilee Day, his price being 100 to 6 on. By half a length Portmarnock has succeeded in blotting Mirza I's copy book. This does not necessarily dispose of the Aga Khan's hopes for 1938, but it certainly shows the danger of over-confidence. Candour, however, impels the admission that victory in the Champagne Stakes does not automatically raise Derby hopes. Since 189 Derby winners who went to the post as winners of the preceding year's Champagne Stakes have
to tell Portmarnock not to be uplifted over their Doncaster encounter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.