 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1957
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
 |
| Tobacco Road |
Although his winning margin in the NZ Derby Stakes was only half a length, Tobacco Road's success was too clear cut to offer any excuses for the beaten division.
The pace was leisurely in the early part and Tobacco Road soon became buried down on the fence and his driver, M Holmes, had to pull him back to get a clear run with five furlongs to go. Tobacco Road ranged up wide out at the home turn, but once straightened up he soon gathered in the leaders. He ran in under pressure but his driver kept him off Gay Baron nearing the post and he won convincingly. Tobacco Road's success stamps him as a high class three-year-old and his win brought M Holmes's tally of winning drives in this event to 10.
Zany, Montague, Matairiki, and Vanover lost ground at the start and Seafield Lad led out from Whippy Dillon and Rosalinda with Tobacco Road on the outside of Diamond Hanover, Gay Baron and Sebabu. Seafield Lad paced the first quarter in 34secs and reached the half mile in 69secs. It was at this stage that Tobacco Road became buried down on the inside. With six furlongs to go, Montague raced round the field to be on terms with Seafield Lad at the half mile followed by Whippy Dillon, Rosalinda, Diamond Hanover (on the inside), Gay Baron, Sebabu and Tobacco Road. Gay Baron improved his position racing to the straight where he was handy to Seafield Lad. Whippy Dillon, Montague, Sebabu, Rosalinda, Tobacco Road and Diamond Hanover were next.
Gay Baron worked clear early in the run home, but Tobacco Road soon challenged and took the measure of Gay Baron to win by a half length, with Diamond Hanover in third place. Seafield Lad hung on for fourth place, then came Whippy Dillon and Sebabu. Montegue was eight lengths back next, followed by Rosalinda, with Zany and Matairiki beaten off, clear of Vanover.
It was a fine performance on the part of the winner as he had little in his favour in the early running. Gay Baron confirmed his winning run in the Riccarton Stakes and he finished on gamely under a hard drive. He is a reliable colt who possesses his share of ability but he struck one just too good on the day. He looks certain to develop into a more than useful winner for Mr A E Ison, and W K Tatterson produced him in good order for his most serious test to date this season. Diamond Hanover paced a gallant race into third place and was far from disgraced. He received a bad run approaching the straight for the run home and had to change his course from wide out to the rails to get a run. Seafield Lad did not finish on as expected and Rosalinda received a grand run throughout. Whippy Dillon and Sebabu had every chance and the rest were beaten off.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calandar 20Nov57