TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1468, 13 June 1918, Page 11

TROTTING.

CATHEDRAL CHIMES’ PHENOMENAL EFFORT. WINS BIG HARNESS EVENT AT CANTERBURY PARK. (From Our Christchurch Correspondent.) What was probably the best exhibition of pacing ©Yer given in the Dominion was that shown by Cathedral Chimes in winning the big harness event at the Canterbury Park meeting. After losing quite two seconds at the start through being late in striking his bell, he toiled along in the rear all through the first mile, at the end of which he had made up only half his handicap. Then, when half-way along the back straight, Bryce called on his champion for an effort, and, pacing in phenomenal style, he raced past the seven in front of him as if they were standing still. In a little over a furlong he went from nearly last to the front, and from that out had only to jog till the winning post was reached. Though the track was somewhat on the dead side, Cathedral Chimes reeled off his two miles officially in 4min. 26 2-ssec., though from post to post the writer made him break 4min. 25sec., his previous world’s race record. Had there been anything in the field capable of extending him it is hard to say what a knock Father Time would have received. The question now agitating local sports is “What mark will Mr. Brinkman put him on in the next New Zealand Trotting Cup?” Opinions differ as to whether it will be 4.21 or 4.22. No matter which he will be particularly hard to keep out o" the big money. Our Thorpe was not asked to measure strides with Cathedral Chimes in the King George Handicap, and probably it was just as well for his reputation that he did not, Fleming’s great pacer was reserved for the High-class Handicap, run over a mile and a-quarter, for which he was looked on as next to a certainty. Though beaten out of a place, the son of O.Y.M. showed sufficient speed to justify his favouritism. Starting off like a steam engine he soon got to his field, only to be stopped at the en c ] of a furlong as the result of interference. Once clear again he showed a rare turn of speed, but, with all the luck of the race against him, could only finish fifth. Fortunately for his backers he was coupled with the winner, Willie Lincoln, who was thought by the stable to have no chance with the great pacer.