 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1977
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1977 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP
Nigel Craig, without doubt the best trotter racing in New Zealand today, gave further evidence of his class when he took out the Worthy Queen-Dominion Handicap double at the NZ Cup meeting. The Southern Hemisphere's first 2:00 trotter (1:58.8TT), Nigel Craig has encountered something of a big race 'hoodoo' in the past, and for a while it looked as though he might have to be second again.
Part-owner Bevan Heron took Nigel Craig to the front after 400 metres, giving northerner Best Bet the run of the race in the trail. Nigel Craig cut out the first 1600 metres in 2:06.6, a pace which ensured there would be no surprise attacks from the rear at a late stage in the race. After such a torrid pace, it was naturally left for Best Bet to lodge the only serious challenge, and momentarily, it looked as though the perfect trail he had enjoyed would prove the decisive factor in Best Bet's favour. But Nigel Craig showed outstanding fighting qualities, qualities of a true champion, to hold of Best Bet by three-quarters of a length.
Waipounamu ran on solidly for third nearly two lengths back, giving the first three placegetters in the Worthy Queen on the first day the major prizes again, though second and third placings were reversed in the Dominion.
There could not have been a more popular victory than Nigel Craig's and the reception given him on his return to the birdcage was one of the most generous at Addington for some time. It started again when the Governor General, Sir Keith Holyoake, presented the trophy to 73 year old Lance Heron and his 32 year old son, Bevan, who own and train the gelding at Amberley.
The rise to fame of Nigel Craig, in really just two seasons, has been well recorded, but his victory in the Dominion took his tally to 22 from 69 starts, in addition to 24 placings. His stake-winnings now stand at $75,365 in raceday earnings and a further $5100 as a result of earnings from a time trial and match race with Petite Evander.
Nigel Craig is 'still for sale' according to Bevan Heron, but perspective purchasers will have to come to light with better than the $80,000 offer which is the best to date. 'Six figures and he's for sale', said Bevan last week.
Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar