Zigfield Zebec clash

Press, 8 May 1982, Page 17

Zigfield Zebec clash

Zigfield and the recordbreaking Zebec will provide an ,■ attraction when they meet at the Canterbury Park meeting at the end of the month. Zigfield showed talent when he gained an easy win in the Sires’ Produce Trotting Stakes at Addington Raceway last evening. He marred his display when he broke after 400 m, but he recovered quickly and moved up to join Lady Jay in the lead about the 1200 m. He worked to the front 800 m out and came on to win by six lengths from Black Barry, which broke badly after 400 m, with Lady Jay and Host Time following. Zigfield, a colt by Out to Win from Leipzeg, is raced by his breeders, Messrs Dick Hopkirk, of Blenheim, and Rick Keeling and Gerald Cresswell, of Christchurch. He is trained for them by Leicester Tatterson at Rangiora.

Mr Tatterson said. “Zebec has never beaten Zigfield at trials and they dead-headed

in a $5OO race a week or two back." Zigfield trotted his last 800 m in imin 1.65. He was an odds-on favourite in the middle leg of an on-course treble, which returned only $10.55, the huge ' number of tickets which had to be exchanged on the final leg resulting in the programme’s being delayed for more than 10 minutes. The first leg, the C. E. Hoy Handicap, resulted in a very easy win for the even-money favourite, Hobart Star, which led for the last 900 m and beat Forgetful and Free Turn. Tipperary looked in for an easy win in the final leg, the Caduceus Stakes, a race for which he was favourite. He charged through along the rails, but near the end Lumber Jack came strongly and ran him to a head. Wimer Chase was a neck away, ahead of Young Beau. Shabby Tiger broke several times and was pulled up. Mark Smolenski moved up

to join Michael Heenan in second place in the Maurice Holmes Trophy contest when he drove Jenny’s Lad to win the Junior Handicap. He led for the last 2000 m and held on well to win by almost two lengths from Trevallen, which had eve.y chance. Dandy Blue battled on from the rear for third, ahead of Pacific- Chase. Game Command’s national record of 4min 23.9 s for 3200 m by a three-year-old trotter, established last Monday, was short-lived. Dragon’s Pride lowered the record to 4min 2.2 s when he won the Fantom Handicap in style. Richard Brosnan allowed him to sit in mid-field until near the 400 m. He then sprinted him up and he had control 250 m out.

Dragon’s Pride came on to win by more than three lengths from Bloxett, with Geena coming on well to cut Batal out of third. Game Command, after recovering extra ground early, followed Dragon’s Pride, but dropped out in the straight to finish sixth.