MELBOURNE CUP TO N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29973, 7 November 1962, Page 4

MELBOURNE CUP TO N.Z.

Great Win For Even Stevens (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, November 6. Even Stevens, a superb five-year-old chestnut stayer from New Zealand, strode into Australian racing history today with a four-lengths’ win in the 1962 Melbourne Cup. His win made him the fifth horse in more than a century of Victorian racing to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the same year. Even Stevens, owned in Hawke’s Bay by Mr James Wattie, showed versatility by winning the Caulfield Cup in driving rain by four lengths, and completing the double in the two-mile Melbourne Cup on a fast track at Flemington today.

The last big cups double in Melbourne went to another great New Zealand galloper, Rising Fast, in 1954. Even Stevene was ridden in both races by the New Zealand jockey, L. G. Cotes He started fa-wouswte ait 3/1 today and won a huge ovation from the crowd.

As the big cup field turned into the long Flemington straight, the Victorian champion, Aquanita, had the crowd roaring. Hie bounded into the lead and looked to be headed for victory, but with a furlong and a half to go. Codes gave Even Stevens his head and from then on it was just a matter of how much the New Zealand horse would win by. Aquanita (9/2), the topweight and a farmer sprint champion, found the distance and the scorching pace Even Stevens set in the straaght too much for him. He was beaten for second place by three lengths by another Victorian horse, Oomonquita. Comacquttta, son of two famous Melbourne Cup horses. Comic Court and Chiquita. started at 40/1 today, but got witinn a few lengths of making cup history himself.

The time, 3min 21 2-ssec, was outside the race record of 3mm ifijsec established by Comic Court in his 1950 cup win and equalled by Evening Peal in 1956, and Lord Fury lest year.

Earlier winners of the Caulfield - Melbourne Cup double in the same year were Poseidon (1906). The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), and Rising Fast (1954). Rsng Fast almost scored the double victory the next year when he wsas beaten by Tbparoa, and. two other New Zealand horses. Redcraze and Uumquh, have also come close to it in recent yeans. Grand Slam Even Stevens’s win gave New Zealand breeders- a grand slam in the four major handicaps of the Australian spring canavals. Rochdale and The Dip earlier won the E&som-Met-ropolitan double in Sydney. The win today was also the seventh by a New Zea-land-bred horse in the last 10 Melbourne Cups. The only accident to mar today’s race occurred about three furlongs from home when the New Zealand-bred Marco Khan fell heavily. His rater, A. Burton, was taken from the course by ambularce. The New South Wales “mystery horse” and rank outsider, Come On, ran a surprisingly good race being up with the leaders most of the way and actually leading the field past the half-mile. He was soon beaten in the straight and finished eleventh. Last year’s Cup winner, Lord Fury, was restrained behind the leaders in third or fourth place most of the way and finished eighth. The Dip, after being in second place to the home turn, tired in the straight to finish fifth. The New Zealand-bred Raajpoot, heavily backed to start at 8 to L was knocked right ou* of the race by the interference near the three and finished among the tailenders. Quite Able Fades The New Zealand Cup winner. Quite Abie, which started at 10/1, was heavily backed on the course today, but could not produce anything

near his best New Zealand form.

Most of the betting for Quite Able was by doubles bookmakers financing their Cups doubles, in which they had big commitments for the New Zealand gelding. One bookmaker laid £3OOO against Quite Able in one bet, and another laid £5OOO against in two bets. The demand for Quite Able was so persistent that bookmakers cut his price. More than 90,000 persons saw the Cup in warm overcast weather.

Even Stevens, whose fitness had been in doubt because of a leg injury, pulled up in excellent condition, looking as if he had little more than an exercise gallop.

Full credit for his superb condition must go to the Waikato trainer, A. McGregor, who has been battling to keep the horse fit after a skin injury on the bumper of the off-hind leg. Even Stevens injured the bumper before he ran in the Caulfield Cup, but it has made no difference to his racing in Australia. In addition to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup wins, he also won the Werribee Cup and Moora Welter at Caulfield.

The connexions of Even Stevens decided to come to Australia when they saw the horse was given only 7-8 in the Caulfield Cup and 7-9 in the Melbourne Cup But after he won the Caulfield Cup, he was given the full 101 b penalty and had to carry 8-5 today. The 8-5 appeared like a postage stamp weight on his back—even more so to the other riders in the race as they wacthed Even Stevens run right away to win bv four lengths. Cup doubles bookmakers have been hit extremely hard. They wagered heavily against the horse first when there was the doubt about him being able to get here and second when he did not appear likely to run in the Caulfield Cup. Moved To Rails Co]** rode Even Stevens quietly down the straight the first tune, creeping closer and closer to the inside running rau. When he went out of the straight he w*s one off the fence. Coles gradually improved Even Stevens's position, but was checked at the five furlongs when there was a scrimmage. He appeared to lose a couple of lengths. He quickly gathered his mount up again and at the half-mile was fifth. He then got a run through on the inside of Lord Fury. After the race. Coles said the horse was going "at working pace” at the home turn, and he knew he had the cup won. There was a roar from the crowd when Aquanita showed out a clear leader Into the straight, but no sooner was he being acclaimed the winner than Even Stevens appeared. In a stride it was all over. The brilliant chestnut streaked away and looked all set for an easy win when out of the pack came Comicquita (D. Lake) with a great run. But while Coles was merely waving the whip at Even Stevens. Lake was flogging his mount, but making no ground. Aquanita was struggling valiantly under his 9-4 and held off Blue Shaun for fourth place. Mr Wattie received a wonderful reception as he led Even Stevens back to scale. The cheering reached its height when Coles took off his cap and gaily waved It to the crowd. Mr Wattie said he did not think Even Stevens would race again before returning to New Zealand. The horse Is engaged in the weight-for-age C. B. Fisher Plate next Saturday, but he is most unlikely to run, his owner said.

Asked whether he would be back to run in the cups next year. Mr Wattie said: “That's a long way off. but maybe I will. The Australian people have been so wonderful to me."

Mr Wattie would not disclose how much he paid for Even

Stevens, which was originally owned by McGregor, but said he bought the horse as a two-year-old. McGregor, highly excited, shook Mr Wattie by the hand and said: “Thank God it's all over now. I can have some sleep." No Price On Horse Mr Wattie has had great faith in Even Stevens's ability and twice in Australia has refused to put a price on the horse. As late as Sunday, the millionaire philanthropist, Sir Adolph Basser, asked Mr Wattle to place a price on the horse, but Mr Wattie refused. Even Stevens's future racing had not been decided, Mr Wattle said. However, he probably would run in the Auckland and Wellington Cups during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Even Stevens's biggest success before he came to Australia was In the Avondale Cup, in which he carried 7-0. Mr Wattie said after the race: "It la a tremendous thrill. This is the greatest race tn the Southern Hemisphere and one of the top races in the world. “I would like to come back again. After all he is only a five-year-old and there’s every chance hell be beck again.” McGregor said later he doubted If Even Stevens would come back again for next year’s cups "They would weight him right

out of it after this,” he said. Mr Wattie gave all the credit for the wins to his trainer as well as to Coles and to the strapper, Judy Wilkinson. "Coles rode an excellent race, but I expected him to,’’ Mr Wattie said. "I have seen him ride good races In New Zealand and was quite confident of his ability.” In the last week Coles > has walked more than 20 miles round Flemington studying the track. It was a wise precaution because he had to manoeuvre Even Steven* from his wide barrier position at the start today. He rode a perfect race and had the cup won a long way from the finish.

Coles was elated after his great triumph "I’m 29, but I feel like 21," he said. •‘Everything went right for me. I prayed for a slowly-run race and I was laughing my head off at the half-mile.”

Coles took no risks when he drove Even Stevens past the leader. Aquanita. in the closing stages. "I put mv head down and gave him everything," he said.

Coles remembered to thank the New Zealander trainer, L. Wiggins, who helped and encouraged him In his riding career. "If it had not been for his encouragement I would not be standing here today,” he said.

Eleven years earlier. Wiggins, then a jockey, narrowly missed a Melbourne Cup triumph. In 1951 he rode Akbar, which was beaten three-quarters of a length by Delta. Coles, who was bom at Parramatta. said he would consider remaining in Australia if he received a suitable offer. "If not, I'll be back home with my family in New Zealand on Sunday.” he said. Coles is married and has four young children. He lives in Auckland.

The story’ behind Ever. Stevens' win In the two cups started in England back in July. Mr Wattie, then on a wortd tour, met a Victoria bookmaker. Mr Albert Smith, in England, and told him of his plan to try to win the double with Even Stevens. He asked Mr Smith to act as hi* commissioner and to back the horse to win the double when he returned to Australia for the spring carnival. 1