TROTTING New Law shades Royal Ascot in N.Z. Derby

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32461, 23 November 1970, Page 8

TROTTING New Law shades Royal Ascot in N.Z. Derby

New Law, one of two horses in the race for which a late entry fee of $5OO was paid, beat his bracketed mate, Royal Ascot, by a nose in a spectactular finish to the $ll,OOO New Zealand Derby Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday.

The result could hardly have been better for the Templeton trainer, F. E. Newfield, who holds a half-share in both the winner and runner-up, and trains and drove New Law. Newfield missed the original entries for the Derby by a few minutes and it was not until a few days before late entries closed that he succumbed to pressure from the other part-owner, Mr L. Law, of Blenheim, and formerly of Mid-Canterbury, to pay his share of the $5OO.

Saturday’s win was worth $6500, -while Royal Ascot received $2650 for second, this amount including $650 paid to the nominator of the horse. Because he was a late entry, New Law was not eligible for any of the $lOOO set aside to be paid to the nominators of the first four horses to finish. The Metropolitan club’s committee decided that the; $lOOO would be distributed! among the four horses to fin-' ish behind New Law. As a result the fifth horse, Lee Frost, received $5O.

New Law began best on Saturday, but Courtesy Tedlo was soon clear. Later, New Law got a perfect run, moving inside the leaders early in the run home. “He was inclined to run about when in front, but he was going on strongly when Royal Ascot came up on his outer and Scottish Warrior challenged on the rails,” said 'Newfield. “He was never actually headed.” ' The judge (Mr R. F. MeCoubrey) called Royal Ascot’s ‘ number ahead of that of New Law in his visual call, but qualified it*by saying: “It is very close for first” The photograph of the finish showed that New Law won; by a nose. I New Law will race next at the New Brighton meeting on December 5. to be followed by the New Zealand Championship Stakes, and probably the Great Northern Derby Stakes. Classic wins

New Law is a colt by Garrison Hanover from Siretta, by a New Zealand' Cup winner in Adorian (by Springfield Globe) from Fightaway, by the 1946 Derby winner, Free Fight tracing back to Trix Pointer, a mare foaled in 1914 and imported by the late Mr Freeman Holmes. Trix Pointer, the ancestress of more than 100 winners in New Zealand, founded a ‘highly successful family. New Law is the fourth Derby winner tracing back to Trix Pointer, the others being Wrackler (1928). Arethusa (1930) and Aidershot (1938). Local Lie (New Zealand Oaks) is another of her classicwinning descendants. Ordeal, Orbiter and Humphrey are but three of the i many outstanding winners tracing back to Trix Pointer. Sirretta, which died recently, was raced by Mr G. W. Brown, of Christchurch, who lent her to Mr Law to breed from. Her first foal was Spanish Fiesta, a winner at I Greymouth last month. New . Law is her second. Her third was sold by Mr Brown just before Sirretta died. The running Noble Lord broke and dropped to the rear, while Royal . Ascot and Violetta gave ground. The pace was a moderate one with Courtesy Tedlo leading past the mile post from Dreamy Mom, which had sprinted up quickly to be on the outside of New Law, 'with Allenton, Scottish Warrior, Mickey Dhu. Violetta, !Lee Frost, Rangatira, Royal Ascot, and Noble Lord fol- ; lowing. Royal Ascot improved sharply soon after passing the half-mile and was close to

Courtesy Tedlo, Dreamy Mom, and New Law racing to the straight, with Allenton and Noble Lord showing up. New Law soon took over, with Royal Ascot pressing him hard and Scottish Warrior coming solidly along the winner. New Law won by a

nose from Royal Ascot, with a short length to Scottish Warrior. Noble Lord, after being almost four seconds from the leaders at the end of a furlong, came with a determined run wide out for fourth half a length back, with a length to Lee Frost and a head tq Violetta, which was never in the clear and looked to be full of running. Allen- ' ton was only half a neck , away seventh, six lengths clear of Dreamy Mom. The winner took 3:28 4-5 • for the 13 furlongs, not par- , ticuiarly fast in the perfect ! conditions. The last 12 fur- ■ longs took 3:10 2-5, the final > mile 2:7 4-5 and last half in 1 1: 1 4-5.