TROTTING CARDIGAN BAY IN GRAND FORM

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29983, 19 November 1962, Page 4

TROTTING CARDIGAN BAY IN GRAND FORM

Fine Win Over Strong Addington Field

Cardigan Bay confirmed a brilliant two-mile trial in 4min 14sec on Thursday when he gained a convincing win over Falsehood and Samantha in the Allan Matson Handicap. This was the main race and first leg of the double on the third day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Addington on Saturday.

P. T. Wolfenden kept Cardigan Bay well back in the field until inside the last half-mile. Then he gradually improved until he was sixth, about two lengths from the leader, at the straight entrance. He had the field covered just inside the furlong, although he had to be kept up to his work to win handily by a length.

Cardigan Bay’s win was one of a number of thrilling performances during a day of high-class racing, other particularly fine efforts being returned by Tactile, winner of the New Zealand Derby Stakes in record time, Junior Royal and When. Jay Ar set a strong pace early in the race won by Cardigan Bay, but this slackened after passing the seven furlongs and the field was closely bunched from the five furlongs. The pace was strong in the latter stages and the leaders paced their final halfmile in 58 3-ssec. Cardigan Bay was never further than three wide and he ran on strongly, pacing the 13 furlongs in 3min 23 l-ssec. Cardigan Bay’s win was warmly received by the crowd, and Wolfenden was applauded as he brought the Auckland pacer back to the birdcage. Raced by Mrs A. D. Dean, of Auckland, Cardigan Bay has now had five starts at Addington since being trained by Wolfenden for three wins, a second and a fifth. He was second to Lordship in the free-for-all on the second day of the meeting and a good fifth in the New Zealand Cup in conditions which did not suit

Cardigan Bay has now had 15 wins and six placings in New Zealand for £12,990 15s in stakes, while he has also won £1365 in Australia. Lordship, the backmarker on 36 yards, did well to finish fourth. He was four wide from the half-mile to the two furlongs and then he was forced out beyond the middle of the track. He was privately timed to pace his last mile and a half in 3min 4 l-ssec, his last half in 57 4-ssec. He lost no caste when he failed to return a dividend.

Falsehood and Samantha, the other dividend-payers, both paced sound races. Junior Royal was much too good for his rivals in the second leg. the Le Lievre Handicap. a race he won by two lengths from Robin Dundee. Junior Royal, a member of J. D. Litten’s team, was on Saturday driven by R. P. Nyhan. He paced the two miles in 4min 15 l-ssec, time which had most of his rivals struggling a long way from home.

Junior Royal has now won six races this season for his Halkett owners, Messrs C. T. and R. R. Wilson, and he has graduated to a 4min 27sec mark for two miles.

The Cardigan Bay—Junior Royal double paid £8 10s 6d for £l.

The meeting was held in perfect weather with the tr"k firm and fast, Totalisator investments oncourse amounted to £87,343, including £9214 on the double. compared with £78,259 10s last year. First Leg Gildirect. Grouse. King Hal. Smokeaway and Susan Blue lost ground at the start of the Allan Matson Handicap. Jay Ar led out from Queen Ngaio, Samantha and Urrali.

Blue Prince moved up on the outside of Samantha, just

behind Jay Ar, at the mile post. Falsehood was eighth at this stage, with Cardigan Bay tenth on the outside of Master Alan. Lordship was five places further back, with Giidirect at the rear. Susan Blue tangled racing to the seven furlongs. The pace slackened near the six furlongs, but increased sharply near the half-mile, where Lordship

started to improve, but four wide. Cardigan Bay was just in front of Lord ship, but not so wide. The field bunched near the three furlongs and racing to the straight Jay Ar and Blue Prince were together, with Falsehood improving three wide. Samantha was next on the inside of UrraU, Cardigan Bay and Smokeaway. Lordship was further out in the next line. Cardigan Bay took the measure of Falsehood just inside the furlong and he was kept up to his work to hold that runner off by a length. Samantha, which had looked a possible winner at the furlong, battled on for third a length back, with another length to Lordship, a short length to UrraU, a short length to Blue Prince, half a length to Bonny Starlet, a head to Invicta, half a length to Jay Ar, a nose to Grouse, half a length to Queen Ngaio, a head to

Smokeaway, a head to King Hal and two lengths to Master Alan. Too GooJ Junior Royal was much too good for the field in the second leg of the double, the Le Lievre Handicap. He began slowly but safetly, but was never really far from the lead. Pagliacci went to the front at the end of five furlongs, forcing a strong pace until two furlongs and a half from the finish where Robin Dundee took over. Junior Royal, which looked to get into an awkward position inside the last half-mile, moved up smartly and followed Robin Dundee into the straight, with Axis. Kingsdown Patch, Lorator, Fox Able, Maharaja and Massacre showing up. Junior Royal soon mastered the field and won as he liked by two lengths from Robin Dundee in the smart time of 4:15 1-5 for the two miles. Kingsdown Patch was never far away and battled on for third three lengths and a half back, with a similar margin to Fox Able, which shaded Light Mood. Then came Peebles, Massacre, Lorator and Axis. Prince, Florita, Massacre, Meadow Scott and Guiness lost ground at the start.