Zebec's sorry defeat

Press, 31 May 1982, Page 21

Zebec's sorry defeat

Zebec. showing dividends of $1.30 and $l.lO. looked a near certainty in the New Zealand Two-year-old Trot-. ting Stakes. However, after a contest of almost comic opera proportions, he was beaten into third place behind two skilfully driven horses in Charlotte Wood and Host Time.

Zebec dropped in to trail Charlotte Wood as she set a reasonably sound pace for her Ashburton owner-trainer, David McCormick. Host Time and Nuclear Star moved up on the outside of Zebec, whose driver, Ron Stechman, just sat and waited for an opening which the other horsemen made certain would never eventuate.

Charlotte Wood came on to win handily by three-parts of a length from Host Time, with only a neck to Zebec, which finished with tons in reserve.

Charlotte Wood is a filly by the double-gaited horse.

Charlie Wood, which did good service for the McCormick family and is now gaining respect as a sire. Hi Binita, the dam of Charlotte Wood, was got by Hi Lo’s Forbes from Little Bridget, by Burns Night from the family which is best known as a producer of pacers such as the InterDominion Final winner, Massacre, Glint, Willie Win, Dale Craft, Chatterton, and so on. By far the best trotting winner of the family has been Indian Parrish, winner of the Rowe Cup in 1955.

Stechman’s driving of Zebec came under the scrutiny of the stewards. He told them that he had intended to take Zebec to the front, but after getting into the trail he had decided to stay there, eventaually becoming blocked in. Stechman was advised that his driving performances would be watched closely in future.