 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1977
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1977 NZ DERBY STAKES
The mastery of Peter Wolfenden brought about defeat for Glide Time and victory for Motu Prince in the 1977 $25,000 NZ Derby. In a race dominated prior to the start by Lord Module and Glide Time, Motu Prince's victory came as something of an upset, but it was thoroughly deserved in spite of this.
In a race marred by several minor incidents which detracted from the race as a spectacle, Wolfenden gave the son of Armbro Del a perfect trip, and it was this that proved the decisive factor over the last 200 metres.
Bob Cameron made sure the pace was on all the way and when glide Time scorched to the front 700 metres from home, he never backed off the pace at all. Wolfenden sent Motu Prince after Glide Time at that stage and turning for home, these two were the only ones in it with a winning chance. Glide Time responded gamely to a hard drive, but Wolfenden, keeping Motu Prince perfectly balanced as he pulled him out to challenge, got the most out of Mr G F Timperley's colt who went on to win by two lengths. Motu Prince's time of 3:21.1 was a new Derby record for the 2600 metres, and only .1 of a second outside Noodlum's New Zealand three-year-old record for the distance.
Timely Robin, outsider but two in the capacity field, ran on strongly for third but was four lengths back, three-quarters of a length clear of the pacemaker Quick Barry. Jayex made ground for fifth three-quarters of a length back with a similar margin to Hanover Don and two lengths to Lord Module, the favourite.
Lord Module, racing in a special plate suggested to Ces Devine by visiting American Del Miller to protect a bad quarter crack, was in trouble right from the start. He missed away slightly and then Devine could not release one of Lord Module's hopple shorteners until the 1900 metres. Lord Module was running on well at the finish, and did remarkably well to finish so close in such a fast run race. Third favourite Montini Bromac broke at the start and never got in contention again while Roydon Scott, the fifth favourite, also missed away.
For Wolfenden, trainer Maurice Flaws and owner Mr G F Timperley, it was their first Derby success and in spite of the failure of the three favourites, one which nobody could begrudge them. For Wolfenden, it ended a notable New Zealand Cup carnival, giving him the NZ Cup-NZ Derby double.
Credit: The Editor, NZ Trotting Calendar