TROTTING Good Chase A Class Above His Rivals

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31409, 30 June 1967, Page 5

TROTTING Good Chase A Class Above His Rivals

Usually the winner of the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, run over 12 furlongs at Ashburton at Queen’s Birthday week-end, is ranked the top two-year old of the season. This term the honour rests with Good Chase, a youngster which did not contest the Ashburton race.

Just how good this son of Light Brigade and Torlesse really is is difficult to gauge; but there is no doubt that he is entitled to be placed alongside past champion juveniles such as Holy Hal, Lordship, Blue and Rupee, earlier winners of the Sapling Stakes.

The ridiculous ease with which Good Chase won the New Zealand Welcome Stakes at Addington Raceway, and the brilliant burst of speed he produced to come from what appeared to be a hopeless position at the straight entrance and win the Timaru Nursery Stakes, were equal to anything seen in juvenile events in Canterbury in recent seasons.

Just how far above average Good Chase really is remains to be seen, but he could be the best pacer racing in New Zealand in 15 months* time. It might be a little early to mention him in the same breath as Cardigan Bay, but he could be the horse most likely to threaten the records established by that great champion a few years ago. The Sapling Stakes winner, Royal Walk, fully justified the high claims made for him by his connexions earlier in the season when he gained a narrow win at Ashburton on June 5. He had to overcome a slow start and then forced most of the pace over the latter half of the race. He was headed inside the furlong and had to show great courage in a punishing finish to win by a nose.

His win aroused interest in his sire, King Creed, a son of Jimmy Creed, one of the toughest pacers of his time in the United States. Royal Walk may not be as reliable as some of the first-season runners, but he should become more solid next term.

Forward Star, one of many favoured candidates to meet trouble in a bustling first furlong in the Sapling Stakes, won in the North Island and also in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, thoroughly earning his place as the third biggest stake-winner in his age group.

Imperial Way and Lights Out were other four-figure winners trained in the South Island. The only other to achieve that feat was Spare Parts, the top-ranked northern juvenile. Nineteen youngsters won £3OO or more. Cardinal Garrison gained one win and two placings worth £865 in New Zealand. This lone winner in New Zealand sired by Garrison Hanover was also successful at Harold Park and recorded some placings in New South Wales. He is expected to be one of the leading contenders for classic honours next term.

The 128 horses which started in races for two-year-old pacers were progeny of 45 sires, 19 of which were bred

in the United States. Of that 19, nine are no longer available to breeders in this country. Light Brigade is dead and Morris Eden, Deep Adios, Stormyway, Ike Frost, Chief Rainbow, Hal o’ Matic, Flying Song and Thunder On are at the stud in Australia. Sally Boy and Yare are two New Zealand-bred horses at the stud in Australia. Four New Zealand-bred stallions on the list are now dead, and another has been gelded. Next season it is expected that there will be even greater interest in racing for two-year-olds as a number of sires will be represented by their first crops. Clubs may not run as many races for juveniles in September, October and November because some of those to do so this term found the experiment costly and the results most unsatisfactory. The following is a list of the leading winners during the current season: —

Other juveniles to win races and their stakes were _Goodray. £275: True One, £255; Amber King. £235; Thurber Scott, £220; Fury Star, Oscar, £195. (Concluded).

Starts Wins Placings Stakes £ Good Chase 5 4 — 1985 Royal Walk Q 1 — 1700 Forward Star 11 3 2 1410 Imperial Way 10 1 6 1367 Lights Out 8 1 5 1120 Spare Parts 4 2 1 1085 Cardinal Garrison 1 9 865 Willie Mac 5 2 1 762 Haladay 5 2 1 686} Single Hal 5 1 4 678} Happy Hal 10 1 5 675 Henry Allan 6 1 3 675 Regal Chief 6 1 2 477} Double Cross 5 1 1 475 Silverdale Chief 12 1 5 440 Leading Light 5 1 1 390 Peterson 3 1 0 355 Wattle Bay 4 1 1 340 Lords 8 0 5 335