TROTTING NE WZEALAND CUP ON TUESDAY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29046, 7 November 1959, Page 7

TROTTING NE WZEALAND CUP ON TUESDAY

Success Will Depend On Tactics

Driving tactics have over the years been a deciding element in the New Zealand Cup at Addington, but on Tuesday when the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club will open its cup meeting these will be an even more important factor.

Favouritism for the race will be disputed by Caduceus, the False Step-Thunder bracket and Gentry, all of which will start from behind the limit. Caduceus is on 48 yards, Thunder on 36, False Step on 24 and Gentry on 18. Of the remaining nine runners only Lady Belmer, on 12 yards, is behind the limit.

An aptitude for pacemaking is not a feature of the capabilities of any horses on the front, although some have been known to lead from end to end in their races. The hesitancy of the majority of drivers to send their horses away to the lead and set a strong pace has in the past resulted in the Cup being run at a muddling gait, and that is what is expected to happen on Tuesday.

It is difficult to see any of the horses on the front pacing the first mile in 2min lOsec or better.

If the pace is slack early, the drivers of the handicapped horses may be content to stay towards the rear of the field and hope to outsprint their opponents over the final three or four furlongs. But if Caduceus begins with his usual brilliance, he will be handy early; and he is inclined to pull hard if the pace is sack. His driver, J. D. Litten, may then have little option but to send him round the field, in which case the drivers of False Step and Thunder, C. C. Devine and D. G. Jones (it has not definitely been decided which horse they will drive), are certain to attempt to go with Caduceus and if possible force him wide and make him work as hard as possible if he goes to the front.

Should Caduceus work to the lead in the first mile and a half and none of the others attempt to go with him, it is difficult to see any of them outsprinting him over the final quarter. However, it is most unlikely that he will be allowed to stride along unchallenged. False Step or Thunder are two of the most likely pacers to keep Caduceus up to his work, as both are died-in-the-wool stayers. If the race develops along the lines suggested above it would not surprise to see a pacer such as Gentry, which finished third in this race 12 months ago, coming from behind inside the last furlung after an untroubled run and taking the major part qf the stake for his Auckland owner, Mr H. S. Barry. Reliable at Start Gentry is usually a splendid beginner and he races kindly anywhere in the field. Like most of the progeny of his granddam. Rustic Maid, he has a devastating final sprint if restrained in a good trailing position until the straight entrance. Chamfer, winner of the cup in 1950, was a son of Rustic Maid, and he was renowned for his brilliant but short final sprint. Gentry has had a grand preparation for the cup. He had two sprint races at Auckland in September, and finished fourth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes and second in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru. Then last Tuesay he made a bold showing in the trial for cup candidates. He has come through each race an improved horse and he will be right at his peak on Tuesday. No matter how the race is run he is almost certain to earn some of the stake, and it will not surprise to see him run out the winner.

The eight horses on the front look an even lot. Scottish Command, and possibly Showdown, have the strongest form recommendations. Scottish Command will be attempting to give his Wellington owner, Mr R. A. McKenzie, his first win in the race. Success in the cup eluded Mr McKenzie’s father, the late Sir John McKenzie, during a long and most successful career as an owner of pacers and trotters. Impressive Form Scottish Command has shown outstanding form, particularly at Alexandra Park Raceway. His best form has been over distances of up to 13 furlongs, but there is no reason to doubt his staying ability. He could take beating. Showdown recorded a sound trial for the cup when he gained a runaway win in the Louisson Handicap in August. Thunder, Our Roger, Adorian, Mobile Globe and Van Dieman, have all gone on to win the cup in the November after their wins in the Louisson Handicap. Whether Showdown will be capable of achieving the same feat is doubtful, but he is a sound stayer with wins in the Dunedin and Ashburton cups to his credit last season. Lady Belmer, on 12 yards, is always entitled to respect. She will be driven by M. Holmes as R. Young, who drove her into fourth place in the event 12 months ago, will handle Fourth Edition in Tuesday’s contest. Lady Belmer has come through her preparation in fine style and with reasonable luck in the running she could be in the money once more. Improved Race Macklin, winner of the 1958 Auckland Cup. paced an improved race at the Addington trials on Tuesday, and if he continues to improve he could be prominent on Tuesday. However, his form background is weak and it is hard to see him returning a dividend. Fourth Edition, Invicta, Lady Shona, Mayneen and Robert Dillon complete the field. Their form against the best pacers in commission so far this season has not been good enough to encourage thoughts of the winner coming from among them. Unless they show unexpected improvement it is difficult to see any of them proving a serious threat to Caduceus. the False Step-Thun-der bracket, or Gentry.