 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1992
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Post-race celebration |
There was nothing in Directorship's 'CV' to predict he could topple the leading candidates from their seats in the DB Draught Dominion Handicap. The veteran of 106 starts had galloped on Cup Day after being upset by the tape, and performed streets below what he can do when 12th of 14 on Show Day.
Off 10m behind, and in such bleak form, there was little to indicate that trainer Gary Smith would engineer a sudden change to make him so competitive eight days later. For one thing, Smith was back home at Pukekohe. And even driver Tony Herlihy wasn't fussed about returning south. He had left the colours in Christchurch, not expecting to use them again at the meeting.
As he normally does, Smith left the horse in the care of Brian Kerr at West Melton. Both top men, Smith knew his horse. "Brian, who really did a great job with him, thought he was a bit short. I thought he had done a bit much," said Smith. So they decided to give him an easy week - a blow out on Thursday and a look at the scenery around the quiet country roads near the Kerr stable on the other days.
While Smith admitted that he didn't expect Directorship to win the Dominion, he was not surprised the stable favourite made a better fist of it than he did on the earlier days. "The tape hit the fence on the first day, so he might have had an excuse then, but on Friday he just had one of those days. He can have them. He was fit enough. It might sound funny, but on those hot, stinking days, like it was at Addington, he is not so good. He had two days off after that, and I thought he would go better racing on a cooler night," he said.
Having only his second drive in the Dominion - his other was Empire Lobell - Herlihy went to bat, and picked his way through the field until latching onto Ceddie's back, which was off to attack near the 1200 metres. When Ceddie got over near the 900 metres, Directorship was pounding on further out, and Herlihy, like his transport, started to enjoy the cool night air. "He sort of hesitated early, but started to feel good once he got outside them. Over the last mile he certainly felt better," he said.
In as close a finish as you could get, Directorship and tough little Taranaki mare Rosie O'Grady slugged it out over the last 100 metres, with Staka Pride making the most of a sweet run three deep behind Happy Tom and William Dee to finish a game third. First to congratulate the ace was Maurice McKendry, who was told in the kindest way by Herlihy that McKendry had "got off the quinella." McKendry drove Rosie O'Grady to win on Cup Day, and after winning the Rowe Cup last season with Directorship turned down the drive this season to stay with Aspiring Lass.
A 9-year-old son of Lordship, Directorship has been one of the great campaigners, starting off winning five races for Ian Cameron and three with Charlie Hunter before Smith took him over. "I took him over as a 4-year-old. He has had some problems with his joints, but he is no problem to train. He doesn't need that hard drilling work any more," said Smith. Now the winner of $438,198 from 30 wins and 27 placings, Directorship will be given a few days off before getting ready for the Auckland meeting.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 25Nov92