 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1958
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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Few easier wins have been seen at Addington for some time than that of Durban Chief in the Dominion Handicap. Over the final stages he literally played with the rest of the field and was unextended in the run home to win by nine lengths.
He drifted slightly in the early stages and had increased his handicap of 36 yards, but he had no trouble in racing up handy at the half mile. He became the first horse on Saturday to win the Dominion Handicap in successive years and his time of 4:17 3-5 for the two-mile journey could have been a lot better if there had been anything in the race capable of making him go. The record for the race is 4:16 2-5, held by Dictation. Durban Chief was privately timed from post to post in 4:15. The first half mile was run in 66 1-5secs, six furlongs 1:38, mile 2:08, mile and a quarter 2:39 1-5, mile and a half 3:11 1-5 and last quarter 31 4-5.
Durban Chief was produced in grand order by his trainer, J R Woodcock, and was capably driven by W P Walsh who has been associated with Durban Chief from the beginning. Durban Chief's win on Saturday brought his stake winnings to £8515.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 26Nov58