TROTTING CARDIGAN BAY TOO GOOD AGAIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29989, 26 November 1962, Page 4

TROTTING CARDIGAN BAY TOO GOOD AGAIN

Falsehood Second In Free-for-all

The champion Auckland pacer, Cardigan Bay, gained his second win at the meeting when he outclassed his rivals in the Smithson Handicap on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Addington on Saturday.

Falsehood, which was second in two of his other three starts at the meeting, again filled the runner-up position, with King Hal, Gildirect and Blue Prince almost in line next

No excuses could be advanced for the beaten horses as Cardigan Bay set all of the pace and left the nearest of them struggling three lengths in his wake at the post.

The race was robbed of considerable interest with the scratching of Lordship on the rooming of the race. Lordship kicked In his paddock on Friday and his hind legs became entangled in a fence. He lost considerable skin in the incident, but fortunately he wm not seriously injured. “We will give him a fortnight or so off now," said his trainer, D. G. Nyhan, on Saturday.

The superlative performance by Cardigan Bay compensated for the absence of Lordship. The Hal Tryax gelding looked to be coasting along and he was inclined to race loxilcy inside the furlong. Even so be did not look like being put to the test.

Cardigan Bay paced the nine furlongs and a half in 2min 26 l-ssec, compared with Lordship’s 2min 27 3-ssec when he beat Cardigan Bay in the New Zealand Free-for-all. Cardigan Bay's time is the equivalent of better- than a mile rate of 2min 3sec. Cardigan Bay paced his last half-mile in 59 4-ssec. and his last quarter in 29sec. Cardigan Bay might race next in a sprint race at Claudelands next Saturday night, to be followed by the Auckland Cup and the InterDominion Championship series in Adelaide in February. The Smithson Handicap was the first leg of the double, the second leg being the Churchill Handicap won by the Invercargill-owned and trained Light Hood. On Saturday Light Mood was driven by D. C. Watts who sent him to the front soon after the start. From then on he was pacing comfortably and he won handily.

The Cardigan Bay-Light Mood doublepaid £45 Ils for £l.

The meeting was held in fine weather before a small attendance. A cold northerly wind made conditions unpleasant The track was fast Apart from in one or two races, the standard of racing fell a long way below that of the other days of the meeting. TotaUsator investments amounted to only £69329 10s. including £7544 on the double, compared with £79,424 last year. The total tor the four days was £513330 10s, compared with £506,562 ss. Free-For-All Jay Ar, Invicta and Master Alan dropped to the rear after a splendid start to the Smithson Free-for-all. Cardigan Bay accelerated brilliantly and he was in front at the end of 100 yards. Cardigan Bay led past the mile from Gildirect, Samantha, Falsehood, Blue Prince, Smokeaway, King Hal, Master Alan, Queen Ngaio, Jay Ar and Invicta, with Axis and Sun Chief at the rear. There was little change of note in the order, except that Blue Prince had moved up to second at the six furlongs and he was beginning to close on Cardigan Bay at the halfmile when he tangled for a stride or two and lost about two lengths. Cardigan Bay led to the straight ahead of Blue Prince, Gildirect. Samantha, Falsehood, which was improving at a great rate, Smokeaway, King Hal, Queen Ngaio and Jay Ar (wide). Cardigan Bay was kept up to his work, but he was

never in danger of defeat and he won easily by three lengths. Falsehood raced right up to his best form to get up for second, a short length in front of his stablemaites. King Hal and Gildirect, which were separated by a nose. King Hal came home well for his third. Blue Prince was only a nose behind Gildirect in fifth place, with a short length to Jay Ar, which finished fast, and a length to Sun Chief, which also came home well. Samantha was a neck away, with a length to Smokeaway, half a head to Queen Ngaio, a length and a half to Invicta, half a length to Axis and a length to Master Alan. Second Leg Antonius, Stormlight, Peebles, Van Rebeck, Notify and Aerobee gave ground at the start of the Churchill Handicap, the second leg of the double Garry Logan began best, but ait the end of a furlong he was being shaded by Light Miood, which went to a clear lead a furlong later. Light Mood set a solid pace, which had most of his rivals struggling before the straight entrance. He turned for home ahead of Robin Dundee, Garry Logan, Stormlight, which tangled, Kingsdown Patch, Stormont, Lucky Tryax and Van Rebeck.

Light Mood was not seriously tested in the run home and he won handily by three lengths from Robin Dundee, which was handy enough most of the way. Stormont, after appearing to be beaten at the two furlongs, came home well for third a length and a half back, with two lengths to Kingsdown Patch, five lengths to Morano Boy and two lengths to Van Rebeck, which was followed by Garry Logan and King Anjou.