TROTTING Robin Dundee’s Stakes Are Record For Mare

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 4

TROTTING Robin Dundee’s Stakes Are Record For Mare

Robin Dundee established a record for stakes won by a mare in New Zealand when she won the Patron’s Free-for-all at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Her winnings in this country now amount to £21,115, the result of 15 wins and 36 placings. In addition, she won more than £5OOO in a campaign in Australia in the late summer and early autumn of 1964.

The previous record for a mare was £20,440 credited to Thelma Globe, one of the greatest race mares of all time in New Zealand. She won 17 races and took records of 2.32 3-5 for 10 furlongs, 2.52 3-5 for 11 furlongs, 3.25 1-5 for 13 furlongs, and 4.11 for two miles. Before Thelma Globe, the record for a mare was held at £18,002 10s by Petite Yvonne, a U. Scott mare which gained 16 wins and 54 placings against stiff opposition more than 12 years ago.

Robin Dundee’s win on Saturday was her fifth of the season and brought her winnings for the period to £9135, not far behind Lordship, which has won £11,790 this term from seven wins and nine placings. Lordship has had 25 wins and 24 placings for £26,055 in stakes.

Robin Dundee will be spelled on the property of her owner, Mr J. W. Hewitt, of Mataura Island, and later will be prepared for spring racing. Her main mission will be the New Zealand Cup and other rich races at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Addington Raceway. Robin Dundee would be sent to Sydney almost immediately after the cup meeting, said Mr Hewitt recently. It was hoped that D. J. Townley, who had driven her in all but one of her wins this season, would be able to accompany her to Sydney where the Inter-Dominion Championship series at Harold Park would be in her programme. With Australian clubs prepared to cater for glamour pacers, Robin Dundee should increase her winnings substantially in the next 12 months.

Any approaches by Australian clubs are likely to receive favourable consideration from Mr Hewitt and the veteran Gore trainer, J. Walsh.

“The last time Robin Dundee raced at Harold Park, some tempting offers were made for her to attempt some of the track records, and Townley was confident she could have broken some of them,” Mr Hewitt said.

After her Australian racing Robin Dundee will return to New Zealand and later be retired to the stud. “She will definitely not race in America,” Mr Hewitt said.

Date Changed

The Christchurch Trotting Club has received permission from the Trotting Conference to run an equalisator meeting at Addington Raceway on Saturday, July 17, instead of May 29 as previously approved.

Pacing Lawn, which raced unsuccessfully in New Zealand earlier in the year, was sold recently for 25,000 dollars. Pacing Lawn went to New York for an international pacing series at Yonkers Raceway, but did not race at the carnival because of an infection. However, at his only American start, within the last fortnight, he finished fourth and on the result of that run was purchased for 25,000 dollars by American interests.

Fifth Win

Caught Napping gained his fifth win and bis fourth since being purchased earlier in the season by Mr J. E. Skinner, when he beat Caledonian Scott by a head in the Rodney Handicap at Auckland on Saturday. A four-year-old gelding by Court Martial from a trotting mare. Circlette, Caught Napping showed ability when tried at the trotting gait, but later was

Gallopers Retired

The two Canterbury gallopers, Ashleigh and Avast, have been retired from racing. Ashleigh’s most important win was the Oamaru Winter Cup. Avast reached open company only recently.

switched to pacing. He is now eligible for the main race at the Rotorua meeting on June 12 and might be a starter there. Two Wins Disband graduated to within two distance wins of New Zealand Cup class when she outsped her rivals in the Waiwera Handicap at Auckland on Saturday. Raced in partnership by her trainer, D. G. Jones, and Mr C. B. Foon, of Dunedin, Disband had been an unlucky runner on the first night at Auckland. She is a four-year-old mare by U. Scott from Dismiss and is one of the most promising pacers in commission. She is a fine stayer and should be untroubled to graduate to cup class before next November. Resuming Interest will centre in Moutere Bay’s effort in the Otematata Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double at the Kurow Trotting Club’s inaugural totalisator meeting at Oamaru on Saturday. Moutere Bay, a five-year-old gelding by Hal Tryax from Mighty Song, a half-sister by Springfield Globe to Tactics, created a good impression when he won twice at the Nelson winter meeting last season. He went amiss in the spring and has had a long

spell. If he reproduces his best form, he win be a bright prospect on Saturday.

Starting Gate

An American-style starting gate was used at Harold Park last Friday night to dispatch the eight starters in the free-for-all. The field included three horses—Voice Derby, Flaming Star and Double Adios—which normally break at the start of races from a standing start. On Friday all three began well, with Voice Derby breaking after 50 yards. Tarcoola won by a nose from Flaming Star. Last Friday was the first time the New South Wales Trotting Club had used a starting gate since 1955. Because of the success of the race, the club will stage frequent races from it next season. A starting gate was used for six races at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting on Saturday at Addington Raceway.