TROTTING Efforts Of Cup Horses Suggest Grand Contest

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 4

TROTTING Efforts Of Cup Horses Suggest Grand Contest

Vanderford’s win in the Hannon Memorial Handicap at Oamaru on Monday overshadowed the performances of the other New Zealand Cup candidates, all of which raced at the week-end. However, most of the cup horses recorded encouraging efforts and Vanderford is unlikely to have things his own way when the £7OOO two-mile event is decided at Addington on Tuesday, November 12. :

Vanderford had a “dream” run at Oamaru, trailing the pacemaker for slightly more than the last mile, and then securing a clear run along the rails in the straight. Almost any horse could have won the Oamaru race after having such a run, but it is doubtful whether many could have taken the opening so quickly and had the others covered in such a short distance.

Few horses have been more impressive than Vanderford in their pre-cup racing, and there is little doubt that he will be a dominating favourite on November 12.

Vanderford is entitled to be ranked at least alongside other former brilliant horses of his age. No other four-year-old has won seven races from eight starts in his spring campaign, let alone retained auch brilliant form that he is considered by most as unbeatable in the cup. Vanderford is imperturbable and appears to thrive on racing. He looked in grand order on Monday and certainly did not show any signs of being affected by his eight earlier starts this season. His ability to accelerate quickly at the start and maintain a prominent position in his races ensures that he will gain a tug share of the major events to be run in the next few months.

Sun Chiefs finish was his best this season and his second placing suggested that he is not a spent force. He could improve still further, but it is doubtful whether he will be a serious threat to morefavoured rivals in the cup. Like Vanderford. he had a perfect run on the inside and he did not have to change course in the straight. He could not match Vanderford when the latter sprinted away near the furlong post, but he ran on reasonably well for his placing. Outside Vanderford and Cardigan Bay, none of the other cup candidates impressed more than King Hal, which was finishing at a great rate in third position, a neck behind Sun Chief. Drifted Early King Hal lost a few lengths at the start before he was properly clear of Doctor Dan's gear and he was ninth when the field settled down. He was duly three places in front of Cardigan Bay at the end of half a mile and had not made any noticeable improvement at the half-mile, where he was buried on the rails inside the back-marker and Highland Custom. King Hal did not show up as the field sprinted from the four to the two furlongs in 30 seconds, but over the final quarter in 31 2-ssec from the front, he put in a tremendous run from a long way back. He was doing better than most at the finish. King Hal has not won a race since February 1962. when he was successful at Hutt Park, but last season he was seven times placed from 14 starts. He looks much beMer this season and has improved at every appearance His two fifth platings at Forbury Park in the fortnight before Oamaru heralded an early win. King Hal won many admirers when he was placed at Oamaru and it will not be surprising if he makes a forward showing in the cup.

The Gore mare. Robin Dundee. raced right up to her best to finish fourth, only a nose from King Hal. She has ob-

viously thrived since winning on the first night at Forbury Park and paraded in great heart. She had to work hard to hold her position in the middle stages of the race and was not pushed unduly in the straight. She will not be one of the lesser lights in the cup finish. Cardigan Bay perhaps disappointed a little when he tired to sixth, but he may be sharpened up by the race. He was certainly forced over a lot of extra ground from the half-mile until the straight entrance, and his performance to be the co-leader at that stage was outstanding.

Hard Track The Oamaru track has poorly-banked turns, which make it extremely difficult for horses to improve from the back. Cardigan Bay must have paced the two furlongs from the half-mile in better than 29sec, so there was little wrong with his run. The smaller field in the cup and the longer distance will help him to overcome his handicap of 54 yards. Oreti ran on strongly for his seventh placing after being reasonably handy until the turn. However, he was then blocked for an opening or he might have finished closer. Oreti has improved considerably in recent weeks, and he will be fit for his cup engagement.

Grouse, after pacemaking, finished eighth, the encourag-

ing pert of her effort being the splendid manner in which she began. She has been inclined to be wayward at the start of some of her races this season, but on Monday she went much better. Grouse was one of the early favourites for the New Zealand Cup 12 months ago, but on the day she lost her chance at the start. She is one of the top pacing mares in commission and she looks to be approaching her peak. Dandy Briar, a stablemate of King Hal. finished ninth on Monday. He drifted early, but improved to second equal before the half-mile. He was handy to the turn and then dropped back a few places. He ran a fair race, but whether he will be at his peak for the cup seems doubtful.

In Mix-up Master Alan and Doctor Dan, the other cup candidates in the race, were a long way back after a mix-up at the start. Both horses look well and they will be fit for the cup. Two other New Zealand Cup entries contested the F. J. Smith Memorial Handicap at Auckland on Saturday. UrraU ran a great race to beat all but Dundee. He was well placed until one or two runners started to tire. Then his driver, D. J. Townley, had to move with him much sooner than he had wanted Dundee followed him through and secured the last run to win by a head. Urrall requires one win to be correctly placed in the cup and he will be strongly fancied to obtain that in the Spring Handicap tonight. Blue Prince, third in the cup last year, has had an interrupted preparation for next month’s race. He showed that he had lost none of his brilliance when he led in the middle stages of Saturday's race. He pulled hard and this left him with nothing in reserve in the straight He was not knocked about and is expected to be much improved as a result of the race. Interest will be taken in his showing in the two-mile Spring Handicap tonight.