When 7th At Yonkers

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30116, 27 April 1963, Page 4

When 7th At Yonkers

(N.Z Press Assn,—Copyright) NEW YORK, April 26. W. J. Doyle, the owner-trainer of New Zealand’s top trotting mare, When, said today a split-second decision he made in the last lap cost the mare

a place in the United

Nations Trot at Yonkers Raceway last night.

When finished seventh in the field of eight international stars from five oountriee.

Duke Rodney, a five-yeor-old bay son of toe top American sine of trotters. Rodney got up in toe last stride to win toe 60.000-doUar event by a head from the pace-maker Orbiter, with toe 9-4 favourite Su Mac Lad. half a length away

n»e three place-getters were all American horses, and Italy's Fireetar did beet of the four foreign entries by finishing fourth Duke Rodney was second choice in the betting and a fraction longer than 9-4 Doyle said afterwards: “I wouldn’t have swapped my mare for any other horse before I left New Zealand and I still wouldn't”'

He said hit decision to go for a run on the inside tuning for home cost the mare her chance

"She was going very well and running on strongly but she was stopped cold by the Belgian horse Ravioli, which was falling back “If I had followed Duke Rodney down the centre she would have run a place—probably would have been secono best "

The 56-year-old beeston trainer said the race had also not been run as he had expected.

“I thought they would go fast all the way and that my mare, being a good stayer, might run over them at the finish, but they went slow early and bunched up and they sprinted home very fast ” Doyle added that he was very satisfied with the eight-year-old chestnut mare, which again raced last night with s shadow roll on her nose

It was only her third sppeanance under lights Doyle now intends to lease the mare with an American

trainer to race in New York, but he said he had not completed arrangements yet He will probably lease the mare or else race her in his own name "She is definitely not for sale.” he said. Under his contract with Yonkers toe mare is to remain in this country until toe end of 1964

Doyle intends to leave for home in about a fortnight. He said he would remain to watch toe New Zealand pacer Falsehood take on America's best in the 50.000-dollar International Pace at Yonkers next Thursday night

He also intends to look over the King Ranch in Texas and will be in Louisville on May 4 for the Kentucky Derby D. C Watts, who will drive Falsehood in the three international pacing races here next month, said the eight-year-old Fallacy gelding was working well. “I dont know whether he is right up to the st'andards over there but I think he'll give a good account of himself,” Watts said.

He added, however, that the rough air trip from New Zealand bad almost certainly taken the bloom off Falsehood and When and they could not be expected to be right at their best New Zealand form.

Duke Rodney’s owners, Mr and Mrs Pat Di Gennaro, of Rochester. New York, announced after last night's victory that they planned to

forbury park trotting CLUB (INC.) WINTER MEETING

MAY 4. 1963

WITHDRAWALS for all Events, second night, must be made not later than 4 PM.. MONDAY, APRIL 29. 1963. P.O. Box 82, Dunedin.

L. CLARK, Secretary. —Advt.

AMBERLEY RACING CLUB (INC.)

ENTRIES for all events at the Annual Race meeting to be held •t Amberley on SATURDAY. MAY IS. 1963. close at 4 P.M. on MONDAY. APRIL 29. 1963. with the Secretary, R. W Nurse, c/o. S. P. Godfrey and Co.. 70 Gloucester st.. Christchurch.

Telephone 60-494. P.D. Box 323. —Advt.

send their horse to France for the Prix d’Amprique at Vincennes next January.

Honours of the race were with the winner, which was near the rear of the field all the way and took some time to secure a clear run in the last lap

When clear he flew home with a real burst of speed to catch Orbiter at the line.