 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1948
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1948 NEW BRIGHTON OAKS
Perpetua outclassed her eight rivals in the New Brighton Oaks, the first race confined to three-year-old fillies in the long history of the sport.
Perpetua added to her task by beginning slowly and drifting all of 30 yards behind the leaders in the first quarter. With seven furlongs covered she flashed up to second place alongside Rayon. She was in front with three furlongs to go and ran on strongly in the straight to win unchallenged by a length. Her time 3:16 2-5, was outstanding, and revealed the winner as a youngster of exceptional class. It also confirmed her fine showing for a close third in the NZ Derby.
Perpetua was a top-class two-year-old, winning the NZ Sapling Stakes and she is proving a bargain at the 475gns, M A Todd, of Oamaru, paid for her at the 1946 yearling sales. An appealing feature of the win, although a distant one, is the fact that on the same course 49 years ago Perpetua's famous fifth dam, Thelma, won the principal event, the Brighton Handicap, two miles, by a dozen lengths.
Star Rosa, who was inclinded to hang in over the last furlong, looked dangerous only momentarily. She nevertheless went a good race and her barrier manners are gradually improving. Tradition, who pulled hard for more than a mile, was checked slightly when Rayon tired quickly coming to the home turn, but this probably made no difference to the result. It was Tradition's best performance for a long period, however, and the fast time she recorded was good enough to win races for older horses than three-year-olds.
Of the others, Scottish Nurse impressed most. She was just shaded into fourth place. Her greatest assets at present are her solidarity and honesty. She comes from a family that is well served by age.
Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Dec48
YEAR: 1948
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1948 NEW BRIGHTON OAKS
The New Brighton Trotting Club has instituted the New Brighton Oaks Stakes, a race for three-year-old pacing fillies, to be run over a mile and a half, at it's December meeting. The stake is £800. This is the first occasion that a race of this kind has been provided in the Dominion.
Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 20Oct48