ADELAIDE FINAL Cardigan Bay Cuts Wayville Record

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 4

ADELAIDE FINAL Cardigan Bay Cuts Wayville Record

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) ADELAIDE, February 24. The New Zealand champion, Cardigan Bay, a hot favourite at 10-9 on, won the £13,000 Inter-Dominion Championship at Wayville last night. The backmarker on 24 yards, Cardigan Bay won by a yard and a half from the fastfinishing Victorian pacer. Dusty Miller, with the other New Zealand finalist, Waitaki Hanover, three yards away third.

Dusty Miller was runner-up to the South Australian pacer Young Pedro, in the 1959 final.

The highlights at a sensational race were a four-horse pile-up. in which the New South Wales champion, Idle Raider, was involved, nearing the home turn in the bell lap: the brilliant tactics employed by Cardigan Bay's driver. P. T. Wolfenden: and the sight of two drivers finishing the race In one sulky. Cardigan Bay smashed the track record for 12 furlongs and 208 yards with his time of 3m in 29 4-ssec. a mile rate of 2min 8 7-10 sec. exactly one second better than the previous record by Young Pedro The runner-up, Dusty Miller, which reted 2 9 2-5. also broke the previous record. His run was a tonic for his popular owner, Mr H. E Taylor, who was confined to his bed with pneumonia and was unable to see the race.

Dusty Miller's £2OOO second prize brought his stake earnings to nearly £30,000, but Cardigan Bay, which has now woh 24 races and more than £33,000 in stakes, is the leading money earner among pacers in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney Campaign Cardigan Bay has now been taken over by the Sydney trainer-driver, W. Wilkins, and will race at the Harold Park Easter carnival for the £5OOO Lord Mayor's Cup (thirteen furlongs and a half). Wolfenden’s superb tactics brought about the downfall of the Sydney horse, Idle Raider, which surprisingly began smartly from the 12 yards mark. However, Card!. g.n Bay had joined Idle Raider a>t the rear of the field after half a furlong. At the post the second time, the pair were still last, but then Wolfenden moved up on the outside of Idle Raider, which immediately took off. Cardigan Bay trailed, and at the end of another lap Idle Raider was sitting outside the leader, Waitaki Hanover, with Cardigan Bay seventh but three wide.

Wolfenden then made another dash and Ryan, bent on preventing the New Zealand horse getting past, sprinted again. Wolfenden dropped Cardigan Bay into the gap opened behind Idle Raider as he shot forward and from there on had a perfect trail two back on the outside row.

Waitaki Hanover, going well, led at the bell from Idle Raider. Cardigan Bay, Bln Oro, Dusty Miller, Ayr’s Idol and Columbus. Pulled Out

Half-way down the back straight, Wolfenden pulled out from behind Idle Raider, and Cardigan Bay quickly raced around that horae.

It was just as well Wolfenden made the move when he did, as next ninute Idle Raider, under extreme pressure, became unbalanced and fell, and in a flash. Kiwi Dillon and Young Judy came down over him. Smokey Eric almost fell, unseating hia driver, W. Shinn, who catapulted into the air and landed in the sulky alongside C. Parsons, the driver of the Sydney mare. Cede. Cardigan Bay, under the whip, challenged Waitaki Hanover rounding the home turn and got the upper hand about 50 yards from the poet Dusty Miller "flew" to run second and was doing better than the winner on the poet. Stewards later reported that no blame could reasonably be attached to any driver for the fall.

H. Craig, the driver ot Young Judy, suffered concussion and an ankle injury and was taken to hospital. The other drivers who fell, M. Johnson and P. Ryan, escaped with minor abrasions.

Idle Raider fared worst of the fallen horeee. Hi* off hind leg was swollen and sore today, but the injury i* not regarded as serious. However, he is not likely to race for some weeks Asked after the race when he became confident of victory, Wolfenden said: "You are never confident on this track. I thought things were going well when I was able to get in behind Idle Raider with two laps to go."

At the presentation ceremony, Mrs A. Dean, of Auckland. the winning owner, gave sU credit for Cardigan Bay’s win to Wotfenden, who, she said, was

responsible for the horse's remarkable comeback after meeting with a serious injury in Perth last year. Wolfenden demonstrated

throughout the aeries that the reputation he has gained at home ae an outstanding trainer-reinaman is well deserved. He quickthinking and tactics completely foiled the efforts of P. Ryan. the driver at Idle Raider, which Wolfsnden regarded as his main danger. Wolfenden forced Ryan to go much earlier than he wanted, with the result that Idle Raider was one out alongside the leader for three laps. Cardigan Bay has become immensely popular with Australian trotting fans because of hia great courage and his magnificent comebeck after being written off as a recu< proposition after his serious accident at Perth last year. Cardigan Bay’s win was costly to bookmakers. It is estimated that they face a pay-out of at least £lOO.OOO over his success. The beet odds offered at any stage about the champion were 8/1. Mr M. Dean the husband at Cardigan Bay's owner, said after the race that he had got odds of up to 8/1 about the horse and added: “We had quite a few pounds on him.”

Consolation races of the championship were won by the South Australian horse. Sheffield Globe, and the Victorian horse. Future Raider. The New South Wales trotter, New England, which is likely to race in New Zealand later thia year, ran the fastest mile rate ever by a trotter at Wayville when be deefated Gramei (a Johnny Globe mare) in the Reeves Handicap. He rated 2min 11 4-Ssee tor the 15 furlongs and 98 yards from 38 yards behind to beat Gramel (12 yards) by half a head. The previous record was 2m in 14 4-ssec Details:—

INTERDOMXNION CHAMPIONSHIP FIN AU £18,000; 12f 208yds.—

CARDIGAN BAY (ND 36 P. T. Wottsndsn 1 DUSTY MUXSt (Vis.) 12 D. G. Wilson > WAITAKI HANOVE*

(N.Z.) H D. J. Towntaff 8 BIN ORO (W-A) It A. Woodworth 4

Others (in finishing order): Odlumbus, Lew’s Hops, Cede. Ayr’s Idol. Young Judy fed. Kiwi Dillon fell. Idle Raider fell. Smokey Eric lost driver. One and a half yards; three yard*. Time, 3:99 4-5. Win. tier's mile rate 2:9 7-10. (Fastest and track record). Dividends for 9s 9d: Win: 6* fid. Places: 4s 9d. Us 9d, Bs.