 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1970
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1970 NZ DERBY STAKES
New Law made his owners, Templeton trainer, F E Newfield, and Mr L Law, feel mighty pleased they decided to pay the late penalty price of $500 by squeezing home narrowly to win the rich $11,000 New Zealand Derby Stakes at Addington Raceway.
According to Newfield, New Law was actually entered for the classic but somehow the papers arrived much later than he anticipated. And while New Law's owners are still recovering from the spirit of success, the owner of the dam of New Law, Mr G W Brown must now be feeling some pangs of regret. About two months ago he lost New Law's dam, Sirretta, because of an internal complaint as well as her foal by Garrison Hanover, and just to make his consternation worse some weeks earlier he had sold a full sister to New Law to G B Noble. Now two, the filly is shaping up nicely at Roydon Lodge.
New Law's preparation for the Derby was completed when he won the Second Riccarton Stakes on Show Day. In the Derby his bracket with Royal Ascot appealed to the majority of bettors and they paraded favourites for the event. New Law was well away and soon was nicely placed with the cover behind Courtesy Tedlo, while Royal Ascot settled down with only Noble Lord behind him. Coming into the stretch for the run in Courtesy Tedlo ran wide and New Law forged through and quickly stuck his head in front. He had them all covered, until Royal Ascot, who was the first to move going past the half mile, made a healthy sort of claim into his lead on the line that even made the judge mention him first in the visual call. This was a bit of a surprise for Newfield raised his hand in the air (Stirling Moss style), and had a victory grin on his dial when he looked across to A M Harrison, the driver od Royal Ascot just after passing the post. Scottish Warrior dashed home from midfield for third ahead of Noble Lord, who lost ground at the start and followed Royal Ascot when he moved. Next home was Lee Frost, with Violetta and Allenton not far away.
Siretta (2:07.6, 13f) was by Adorian out of Fightaway, by Free Fight out of Alloway, by Dillon Hall out of Ochiltree, by Wrack out of the imported Trix Pointer. There is no shortage of winning blood here for Trix Pointer has had a great influence on New Zealand breeding since she was purchased in America by the late Mr Freeman Holmes many years ago and over 100 winners stem from her. Fightaway, the secon dam of New Law, has left other winners in Sirrah Jay, Sirrah, Sironto and Sirrella, while her sire Free Fight, won the 1946 NZ Derby from Snowflake and County Antrim
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ Trotting Calendar