TROTTING FESTIVAL CUP TO SUN CHIEF

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29739, 5 February 1962, Page 5

TROTTING FESTIVAL CUP TO SUN CHIEF

Admit And Patchwork Next In Fine Race

Sun Chief, the only horse left with much in reserve at the straight entrance, ran out an easy winner in the Dunedin Festival Cup Final at Forbury Park on Saturday night. His win probably earned him an invitation to compete in an international pacing series at Yonkers Raceway, New York, in June. Sun Chief was improving fast five wide at the straight entrance. He gathered in the leaders effortlessly and held off a solid finisher in Admit by two lengths, with Patchwork tiring slightly into third place half a length away, clear of Va Vite.

The race thrilled the capacity crowd which packed all vantage points around the course The pace was solid throughout with Lordship taking Imin 5 2-ssec for the first half-mile, and about 2min 9 3-ssec for the first mile. Lordship u'as still in front with Patchwork alongside him racing to the straight, but lack of experience in the top company told and he could not continue. When he began to shorten stride D. G. Nyhan did not press him and he was easing up in ninth place. It was a brilliant run by a three-year-old.

The leaders paced their last half-mile in Imin 2sec, and the last quarter in 30sec. Sun Chief was privately timed at 3min 6sec for his last mile and a half.

Sun Chief was awkwardly placed back beyond the middle of the field until three furlongs from the finish. He began to improve then, but tangled slightly with more than two furlongs left. Once into the straight he was the only horse in it and won very easily to receive a wonderful ovation from the crowd. Applause and cheering broke out before he reached the post and this continued until after the platings had been confirmed and Sun Chief had been driven along the Straight by Holmes. Good Run Holmes said that Sun Chief had obtained a good run all the way. "1 could not get off the fence until three from home, but when Samantha moved up I was able to improve three wide. I was wide at the home turn and thought of easing in behind, but he was going so w’ell and the others were all under pressure so I decided to carry on round the outer. He was going so well that I knew I had the others bieaten as we straightened up. He certainly ran on well." Admit and Patchwork were two of the tail-enders early. Both paced grand races but had no chance with the winner in the straight. Sun Chief, which is raced and trained by his Oamaru breeder. S. W. Easton, has had 30 starts in New Zealand for 12 wins and 10 platings worth £11,445 in stakes. In addition he won £3350 in Sydney. He will probably

have his next start in the Wellington Cun at Hutt Park on February 24.

Sun Chief has been lightly raced because of soreness caused by a fall in the Dunedin Festival Cup 12 months ago. He seems to be sound again and improved with each race at Forbury Park.

The Dunedin Festival Cup was the first leg of the double. the second. the Mornington Handicap, being won decisively by Dianthus Girl.

The Sun Chief-Dianthus Girl combination paid £23 3s for £l.

Cup Running

Aldora and Admit broke at the start of the Dunedin Festival Cup Final and Falsehood ivas slow. Lordship began quickly and took over from Queen Ngaio. Va Vite. Samantha. Waitaki Child. Frow’n, Falsehood (three wide). King Hal and Sun Chief. Aldora was back with Patchwork and two lengths in front of Admit.

Falsehood was on the outside of Queen Ngaio and just behind Lordship at the end of six furlongs. Va Vite was on the inside of King Hal. Aldora was improving next on the outside of Samantha and Waitaki Child, with Sun Chief on the inside of Frown and Admit end Patchwork together last Patchwork improved three wide racing through the straight with five furlongs left and a furlong later was on the outside of Queen Ngaio, two lengths behind Lordship. Frown and Va Vite were two lengths in front of King Hal, with Samantha. Sun Chief and Admit next. Sun Chief worked off the rails near the three furlongs,

but about 150 yards later he tangled slightly. Lordship was being kept up to his work inside the two furlongs and was joined by Patchwork racing to the straight. Frown was three wide, followed by Queen Ngaio and King Hal, with Sun Chief improving fast about five wide and Admit not far away. Patchwork was clear but under pressure at the furlong, with Sun Chief closing quickly on her. Sun Chief came away at the finish to win by two lengths. Admit, which had to change course in the straight, finished in great style for second, half a length in front of the tiring Patchwork. Va Vite battled on gamely for fourth two lengths away, a nose in front of Samantha, with Frown almost in line next, ahead of King Hal, Waitaki Child, Lordship and Queen Ngaio, with gaps to Aldora and Falsehood.

One of Queen Ngaio’s reins came away from her bridle near the straight entrance. D. G. Nyan, the driver of Lordship, led Queen Ngaio to the post and helped pull her up. Consolation Race Lookaway was slow at the start of the Dunedin Festival Cup Consolation Race. Gay Alabama broke and Bonny Starlet and Gildirect were checked. Johnny Guitar was first out from Vanity Scott, Zany and Diamond Hanover. Gildirect and Lookaway tangled and lost ground at the end of two furlongs. Gay Alabama raced up on the outside of Responsive and Johnny Guitar at the end of half a mile, but Responsive was soon dear.

Johnny Guitar and Diamond Hanover were together in front with two and a half

furlongs left and led for home ahead of Vanity Scott, Invicta, Zany, Gildirect, Bonny Starlet and Lookaway. Diamond Hanover was cleat at the furlong, but Vanity Scott came home solidly and beat him by half a length. Gildirect was an unlucky third half a head away, with a neck to Invicta. Lookaway was three lengths away, clear of Zany. Aquaplane and Johnny Guitar.