TROTTING Spry Promoted To First In N.Z. Trotting Cup

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32143, 12 November 1969, Page 5

TROTTING Spry Promoted To First In N.Z. Trotting Cup

Spry’, at odds of more than 41 to one, was promoted to first in the 522.500 New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway yesterday. He finished second to the favourite, Stella Frost, but she was disqualified for causing interference to Garcon Roux, which fell with less than three furlongs to run.

The decision to disqualify the winner came more than an hour after the finish of the race and was greeted in a hostile manner by the large crowd, many of whom had stayed round the birdcage after the sounding of the siren which indicated an inquiry was being held into the race.

The decision to disqualify Stella Frost cost her owner, Mr L. H. Tilson, the winning share of the stake, amounting to $14,000, and a trophy valued at $2OO.

Her trainer-driver, D. J.i Townley, had his drivings licence suspended until afterd December 6. His penalty was i not announced until he hadh driven Cleome to win the ; i Worthy Queen Handicap. He t then withdrew her from' thed remainder of her engage-,, ments at the meeting.

Ti Ison has. lodgedtaiiapp** again* thejfcsqualifieation of his mare. ■' I Gareon Roux received cut*; and abrasions when be was brought down, and his trainer' G. B. Noble, said he would; not be started again at the' meeting. His absence will' rob the feature races of much interest i Spry, trained by hlsi breeder, C. A. Winter, of Bel-' fast who races him in part-, nership with his wife, was driven by the Highbank traineer, P. G. O’Reilly, who has been associated with him in his races in the last few . weeks. O’Reilly, who has had a , long and fairly successful 1 association with trotting, was 1 having his first drive in the cup. "I would rather have won it outright than this ' way,” he said. Spry, a rugged seven-year-old stallion by Johnny Globe, winner of the race in world record time in 1954, from Fifth Brigade, a winner at the trotting gait, has now had 11 wins and 21 placings for $28,535 in stakes. Began Well O'Reilly got Spry away well' and he was in the first two or three practically all the way. He sprinted past the pace-' maker, Diarac, when this, horse began to tire about the' three furlongs and quickly > opened up a break of three! lengths on Chief Command, Meadow Bank, Stella Frost, Co Pilot and Hob’ Hal racing to the straight. Spry was quickly challenged by Stella Frost, but! he did * not give in easily.l However, the mare beat him! quite convincingly by a! length. Holy Hal, after being pushed back in the early rush for positions, bad only Tobias, Allakasam and Chequer Board behind him after two furlongs. Holy Hal's driver. K. Balloch. was delighted with his horse's run. “The breaks just did'nt go my way," he said. Chequer Board, after being checked at the start, broke! badly and was tailed off: early. He put in an amazing run to finish fourth, later) being promoted to third. Every Chance Co Pilot had his chance and he went quite well to finish, two lengths behind Chequer' Board. Chief Command, another to receive a splendid run close to the lead, was beaten off sixth, with a nose to Cuddle i Doon, a gap to Meadow Bank, and a longer one to Wipe Out, which was forced three wide early and received a shocking run. Diarac set a fairly leisurely pace before collapsing near the three furlongs and< dropping out to eleventh. The mix-up inside the last three furlongs resulted in: Garcon Roux falling and Leading Eight losing his driver. Allakasam and Lords, which lost his driver, also met serious trouble and were pulled up.

Garcon Roux had begun splendidly from wide out and the settled down in a perfect position one off the fence .with six horses in front of ‘him after half a mile. He had not improved one mile later, I but appeared to be pacing i easily and looked almost cer- ■

tain to play a prominent part in the finish. “I could not have planned a better run," said a dejected J. B. Noble after the race. “He waa just jogging when he ! went down.” ' The cup was run at a ■ muddling pace, the third ; quarter being run at a lei- ! surely 35sec. However, the 1 last mile took less than 2min ’ ssec, with the final half-mile ’ in 59sec and the last two furlongs in 30sec.