Cup Outsider Has Had Most Two-mile Wins

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 7

Cup Outsider Has Had Most Two-mile Wins

Form shown over two miles would generally be accepted as a guide to prospects in a race such as the New Zealand Cup. However, Valcador, the horse with the best record over two miles among the 14 acceptors for next Tuesday’s contest, is expected to be among the outsiders of the field.

Valcador, a son of Young Charles, one of the most brilliant pacers racing a decade ago, has had 10 wins and 12 placings during his race career. Seven of his wins and three of his placings have been gained over two miles.

Valcador has not yet measured up to the best classes, most of his wins being gained from D. R. Grantham’s Hawera team against medium-class opposition in the North Island. His fastest two-mile time is 4min 19 4-ssec, recorded at Auckland in 1961 when he finished third, a head and half a length behind Friendly Persuasion and Student Prince, in the Franklin Cup. Gay Reel was among the unplaced horses that night.

Cairnbrae and Oreti, too, have shown splendid staying form. Both have had five wins and four placings over two miles. Cairnbrae makes more appeal than Oreti in next Tuesday’s race, but Oreti is, perhaps. the more reliable pacer of the two. Cairnbrae has always shown extreme speed and outstanding stamina. Unfortunately a number of race accidents early in his career left him unsound and nervous at the start of his races. He has improved considerably in his starting in the last 18 months under the care of the Belfast trainer, C. S. Donald, but lost admirers when he tangled at the start of the cup trial on Tuesday. Cairnbrae has the fastest two-mile time of 4min 12sec among the cup candidates. That was recorded when he finished third from 42 yards to Orbiter (limit) and Great Credit (36 yards) in the New Brighton Cup last February. If Cairnbrae makes a reasonable beginning, he could be the biggest threat to the more-favoured horses on Tuesday. Oreti has been rather dis-

appointing in his racing in the last 16 months. His Methven trainer, C. V. May, has him in great heart for this year’s contest and he could easily surprise by being placed. Twelve months ago he rushed to the front near the three furlongs in the cup, but he weakened in the run home to finish fourth behind Cardigan Bay, Robin Dundee, and Master Alan. His form before the last cup was no more encouraging than his efforts this spring so he cannot be left out of calculations on the grounds of a lack of stamina. Four Wins

Urrall. too, has proved himself a fine stayer. He has had four wins and nine placings over two miles. His form background is rather weak, but he enhanced his cup prospects by running on for fourth in the Hannon Memorial Handicap at Oamaru on October 26. Earlier in the month he made up ground for fifth in the G. J. Barton Memorial Handicap at Forbury Park. Orbiter, with 4min 14 4-ssec to his credit, has the second

fastest two-mile time among the cup horses. He recorded this when he led from end to end in the New Brighton Cup last February. Orbiter has had three wins and two placings over two miles, and in four of those efforts he has bettered 4min 20sec. He recorded 4min 19 l-ssec when he won the Kaikoura Cup in brilliant style 12 months ago, 4min 19 2-ssec when second to Avante in the Ashburton Cup, and 4min 18sec when he won the Johns Handicap by two lengths from Vanderford in September. Those efforts, plus wins at Oamaru and at the trials, put Orbiter high among the favourites for Tuesday’s race.

Had Three Wins

Dandy Briar, an Auckland Cup winner, has also had three wins, while he has been placed five times at two miles. He has improved considerably since being trained by C. C. Devine and could show up. King Hal has had two wins and three placings over two miles, while Waitaki Hanover has had two wins and two placings. King Hal made a pleasing return to winning form in September, and his

few efforts since then have lost him no admirers. Waitaki Hanover also has useful form to his credit, but others are preferred on Tuesday. Lordship, the early favourite for this year’s cup, had had only one start at two miles before he won the cup in 1962. Since then he has had one fourth from very few attempts at the distance. Garcon d’Or is another to have raced most infrequently over two miles, a distance over which he has had one win, gained at Auckland in September. His stablemate, Jay Ar, has also had one win, while he has been placed twice.

Gay Reel and Deft have each had one win and three placings, while Vanderford has had one win and six placings.

Vanderford is the most favoured of this trio, although many claim that he is not a true stayer. His record is such that there is no reason to question his stamina, in spite of his failure in the cup 12 months ago. On that occasion he was left in front, a role which did not suit him. In addition, he had had a lot of hard racing earlier in the season and that had obviously taken Its toll. This spring he has been carefully placed and he has thrived on the racing he has had. He appears almost certain to be one of the principals in the finish on Tuesday, in spite of his lack of winning form at the distance.