TROTTING GRAND SPRINT RY CADUCEUS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 4

TROTTING GRAND SPRINT RY CADUCEUS

Champion’s Earnings Now £48,719

A brilliant sprint win by Cadueeus in the Farewell Handicap was among the highlights of some particularly fine racing on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting at Addington on Saturday. Other outstanding performances were returned by Beau Clair and Durban Chief, in the Winter Handicap, Light Nurse, in the National Handicap, and Sally Boy in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes. Cadueeus began so fast from the back mark of 36 yards in his race that he was sixth at the end of a furlong. He was being forced wide so J. D. Litten had no option but to keep him going. He joined Showdown at the end of the first quarter, which he sprinted at better than two-minute speed. He raced one out without a trail from the seven furlongs and ran right up to his best form in the straight to win well by a length.

Few horses ever raced in New Zealand could have won so decisively and in such fast time so early in the season after having so little in their favour in the running. The merit of Caduceus’s win was quickly recognised by the crowd, which gave him an ovation as he returned to the birdcage. Cafiuceus beat Light Nurse by a length, with his stablematc. Blue Emperor, right up third. Cadueeus had won this race two years ago when he also started from 36 yards. Earlier in the day Light Nurse had followed up her two placings of a week earlier with a narrow but impressive win over Guard's Brigade and Blue Emperor in the National Handicap. This win brought her back to a 4min 23sec mark for two miles and she is now eligible for the New Zealand Cup in November. Raced by Mr T. S. Harrison, she is trained by H. S. Donaldson at Tinwald. Loyal Nurse, the danj of Light Nurse, won the New Zealand Cup in 1940 for Mr Harrison. Reason Why continued the run of the Leeston trainer, W. J Doyle, at the meeting when he won the Wildwood Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double. Reason Why gave Doyle his fourth owning and third training success at the meeting. With You having won twice and Showdown once. The Light Nurse—Reason Why combination paid £42 9s 6d for £l. The on-course double was won by Beau Clair and Cadueeus, this combination returning £lB 13s. for £l. The meeting was held in perfect weather before a large crowd. The track was in splendid order, although a little dusty for a few races. Totalisator investments amounted to £91.430 10s, including £14,036 10s on doubles, compared with £91,704 last year. The total for the two days was £167,729 15s, compared with £163.371 15s last year. Caduceus’s Sprint

Caduceus began brilliantly from 36 yards in the Farewell Handicap and he was sixth at the end of a furlong. Showdown also began well from the outside of the front mark and he was in front soon after the start. Caduceus continued to sprint at better than two-minute speed and joined Showdown at the end of two furlongs. Lady Shona went on the inside of him forcing him three wide.

Caduceus was on the outside of Showdown at the six furlongs, with Lady Shona and Blue Emperor just behind them, ahead of Lucky Hall. Lady Belmer, Bonny Starlet, Unite and False Step. Showdown and Caduceus were on terms racing to the straight, just ahead of Blue Emperor, Lady Shona and Bonny Starlet. Then came Light Nurse. Lady Belmer. Macklin and Unite. Caduceus soon shook off Showdown and he did not have to be driven right out to win l by a length. Light Nurse finished boldly for second after having trouble working into the open in the straight. Blue Emperor, after receiving the run of the race throughout, fought on for third, half a head behind Light Nurse, with a similar distance to Showdown, which was tiring a little. Bonny Starlet could not get clear in the straight and she was fifth, ahead of Lady Shona. False Step, which made up a lot of ground, Macklin, Unite and Invicta. Lady Belmer, Lookaway and Mayneen lost ground at the start. Light Nurse’s Win

Auditor, Bon Ton, Lucky Hall and Lady Shona gave ground at the start of the National Handicap. Sicochet beginning well to lead from Con Scott at the end of a furlong. Blue Emperor was on the rails behind Ricochet.

with Light Nurse on the outside. Guard’s Brigade, on the inside of Macklin, Bon Ton, Auditor, Lucky Hall, Invicta, Lady Shona and Thunder were next.

The pace appeared to slacken a little near the mile post, but it increased sharply near the five furlongs. Ricochet raced clear by two lengths racing to the straight, with Blue Emperor, Con Scott, Light Nurse, Guard’s Brigade, Macklin, Auditor, Bon Ton, Thunder and Lucky Hall next.

Ricochet was soon beaten and Blue Emperor took over, to be challenged almost immediately by Light Nurse. Guard’s Brigade had trouble working clear and he challenged further out. Light Nurse fought on slightly the better to win by a neck. Guard’s Brigade did well to finish second, a neck in front of Blue Emperor with Macklin finishing fast for fourth half a length away, clear of Auditor, with another gap to Lady Shona. Thunder, Invicta, Con Scott, Bon Ton, Lucky Hall and Ricochet, which were in a bunch.