 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1976
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1976 NZ DERBY STAKES
The Roydon Lodge stable of George Noble still jubilant after Stanley Rio's success in the $60,000 New Zealand Cup on the opening day of the carnival had further reason to celebrate after the $25,000 NZ Derby Stakes.
This time, it was Rustic Zephyr who provided the cause for celebrations when he lead throughout to beat an even field of three-year-olds in the 2600 metre classic. Though Rustic Zephyr is owned in Nelson by Mr and Mrs A K Greenslade and Mr and Mrs R L Sanders, he has a lengthy association with Roydon Lodge, though he has been trained there by George Noble only for his three-year-old career. Rustic Zephyr was bred by Roydon Lodge stablehand Murray Steel, from Tiny Frost, a mare he leased from Roydon Lodge studmaster Fred Fletcher. Murray entered the Armbro Hurricane yearling in the Roydon Lodge Sale and it was then Mr Alan Greenslade entered the picture, buying the youngster for $2600. At the same time, he purchased a Scottish Hanover-Adios Heather youngster for $4100. This yearling, Scottish Heath, joined the Noble stable right from the outset and also contested the Derby.
Rustic Zephyr was given to young Richmond (Nelson) trainer Brian Hill and it was from his stable that he showed brilliant early season two-year-old form last term. Rustic Zephyr appeared to train off a little in the latter half of his two-year-old career and it was decided to sent him back to Roydon Lodge for his three-year-old racing, as he would be close to the scene of his regular racing venues. Rustic Zephyr after some smart trial performances, made a start to his three-year-old campaign at Kaikoura on November 1. He was not suited by the slushy track there when finishing second to Kathy Brigade over 2400 metres. He lined up next in the second Riccarton Stakes on Show Day of the Cup meeting and finished seventh in the event won by Worthy Lord. This was a roughly run contest which provided no real clues to the Derby and by the time it came around there was no pronounced favourite for the event.
John Noble, who had also driven Stanley Rio, took Rustic Zephyr straight to the front from an outside barrier draw and set a solid but not spectacular pace. In the home straight he was not too pressed to hold out the Southland colt Arden Bay who had tracked him all the way by two lengths, with a nose to the fast-finishing North Islander Greg Robinson the unlucky runner in the Derby. Greg Robinson was the slowest away and and he was still last starting the last 1200 metres. He started a forward move shortly after and though wide out turning for home maintained a strong finish for his close third.
He was followed home more than a length back by the other Northerner in the field, the favourite, Stephen Charles. Stephen Charles broke briefly at the start, but settled four back on the rails behind Rustic Zephyr, Arden Bay and Sunseeker. Though a little late working clear, it is doubtful he would have had any chance of catching Rustic Zephyr. Sunseeker battled into fifth ahead of Overcheck, Lordable and Scottish Heath.
Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotguide