TROTTING HAPPY ENDING FOR N.Z. CUP

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 6

TROTTING HAPPY ENDING FOR N.Z. CUP

Lordship And Rocky Star Strongly Fancied

Happy Ending is “The Press” selection for the New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway tomorrow afternoon. But it is expected that he will be tested to the utmost by the b ackmarker, Lordship, with Rocky Star perhaps the pick of the remainder.

North Island gallopers humbled their southern rivals at Riccarton on Saturday and there will be heavy off-course support to say that Tobias or Great Adios will complete the two-cups double.

However, they do not exhaust the list of horses which appear to have sound prospects of taking part in the finish of what is expected to develop into a battle which will call on all of the skills of the participating reinsmen and all the reserves of staying powers of the contestants. Happy Ending and Rocky Star have had what are generally accepted as the correct preparations for the cup. Both were fairly well forward in August and they have had extensive hard racing to bring them to a high peak of fitness. Happy Ending is trained by C. C. Devine, who has trained the winners of five cups since 1950. He looked a picture of fitness at the cup trials on Thursday when he ran on strongly for second behind Tobias. Happy Ending’s trial could not have been more impressive and if he gets under way reasonably quickly, he should come out on top. Rocky Star, the winner of three races at the last cup meeting, has not been successful this season, but he has hardly been guilty of a bad race. He appears to thrive on strenuous racing and after a bold run at Kaikoura on a

track which did not suit him, he finished close up and under a hold at the cup trials. He will be driven by one of New Zealand’s top reinsmen, R. Young, who has as yet to drive a cup winner. Backmarker Lordship’s placing at the trials suggested that a third winning run in the cup was quite within the capabilities of Mrs D. G. Nyhan’s champion. Any loitering over the first half-mile enabling him to make up his handicap without too much effort will help him; but if the limit horses are capable of 4min 14sec or even better, then he might find the size of the field too much for him. Tobias fell from favour when he failed at Kaikoura. but he came back high on the list of favoured horses when he won on Thursday evening at the cup trials. Tobias looks likely to show further improvement as result of that run, but whether he will be as seasoned as some of his rivals is questionable. This applies, too, to Great Adios, which is working quite well. But he has had only one effectual race this season and he might not quite be ready for such a searching test as the cup. He was a shade disappointing at the cup trials, but worked pleasingly yesterday. He has the ability to begin quickly and maintain a good position, which is more than can be said for many of his rivals. Chequer Board will only have to begin smoothly to be one of the better prospects. He looks a picture of fitness,

as also does the Kaikoura Cup winner, Spry, a dour stayer with a great winning chance in any track conditions, but in particular if there is rain. Disband, an out-of-luck pacer, Doctor Barry and Waitaki Hanover are all capable of making winning runs, while Bobbinet looks to be coming back to form. Viking Water, like some of 1

the remainder, is comparatively out of form, but P. T. Wolfenden has him in great order. He has been comparatively neglected in most cup discussions, but could be one likely to effect a surprise. However, with reasonable luck in the running in a capacity field Happy Ending. Lordship and Rocky Star may! 1 fare best.