The 91st running of the Irish Derby was held on Wednesday 27th June 1956 over 1 mile 4 furlongs of The Curragh. Subscriptions were 60 sovereigns with a pot of 4000 sovereigns added, 750 sovereigns to the second and 250 sovereigns to the third. The winner was owned by Mr Gerald A Oldham, bred in Ireland by Brigadier C M Stewart, trained by Harry Wragg and ridden by Emmanuel Mercer. The winner won by 6 lengths in 2 minutes 30.92 seconds, with 3 lengths between second and third. |
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IRISH DERBY 1956
TALGO (Bay colt by Krakatao out of Miss France) SR 1961
The winning owner won 6256.25 sovereigns, (The equivalent of £148,500 in today's terms based on Bank of England inflation calculator). |
 
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|
| Pos. |
Horse |
Weight |
Jockey |
Owner |
Trainer |
| 1 |
TALGO |
9.0 |
Manny Mercer |
Mr Gerald A Oldham |
Harry Wragg |
| 2 |
ROISTAR |
9.0 |
James Eddery |
Mr Joseph McGrath |
Seamus McGrath |
| 3 |
NO COMMENT |
9.0 |
Patrick Powell jnr |
Mr F N Shane |
George Robinson |
| 4 |
VAUDEMONT |
9.0 |
Rae Johnstone |
Le Comte R de Chambure |
William Clout |
| 5 |
CHIEF III |
9.0 |
Roger Poincelet |
Prince Aly Khan |
Charles Semblat |
| 6 |
BEAU CHEVALET |
9.0 |
T P Burns |
Mr N S Macnaughton |
John Oxx |
| 7 |
MILESIAN |
9.0 |
Liam Ward |
Mrs Anne More O'Ferrall |
Michael Dawson |
| 8 |
VAQUERO |
9.0 |
Douglas Page |
Mr Herbert Kerr |
Kevin R Kerr |
| 9 |
MAELSHEACHLAINN |
9.0 |
P Matthews |
Mr Terrence Gray |
Michael Hurley |
| 10 |
SOUVERLONE |
9.0 |
John Wright |
Mr Joseph McGrath |
Seamus McGrath |
| |
Betting |
JOCKEY PROFILE
Emmanuel Lionel Mercer, universally known as Manny, was born in Bradford, Yorkshire on 15th November 1928 and had racing in his blood. His brother, Joe Mercer, was a Classic winning jockey, while his father-in-law was the famous jockey and trainer Harry Wragg. Keeping racing in the family, Manny had two daughters, including Carolyn who married Champion Jockey and multiple Classic winner Pat Eddery. Manny won the 1953 1000 Guineas on Happy Laughter (SR 1907) and the next year captured the 2000 Guineas aboard Darius (SR 1998). In 1956 he captured the Irish Derby on Talgo (SR 1961). Manny died from a fall on Priddy Fair at Ascot races on 26th September 1959 aged just 30 and was buried in Newmarket Cemetery. |
| 4/5 fav |
Roistar |
| 9/2 |
Talgo |
| 7/1 |
No Comment |
| 8/1 |
Chief III |
| 100/8 |
Vaudemont |
| 100/7 |
Beau Chevalet |
| 100/6 |
Vaquero |
| 25/1 |
Milesian |
| 33/1 |
Souverlone |
| 50/1 |
Maelsheachlainn |
| |
Over round 126% |
| FORMLINE:- The winner raced off level weights and beat the favourite Roistar by an easy 6 lengths in the fast time of 2 minutes 30.92 seconds. Milesian (7/1) was unplaced in the English 2000 Guineas behind Gilles De Retz (SR 1982). Roistar was third in the Epsom Derby beaten a neck and 2 lengths by Lavandin (SR 1938). Talgo, after winning this Classic, was fourth in the Doncaster St Leger behind Cambremer (SR 2036). |
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