 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1935
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1935 NEW ZEALAND CUP
1500 sovs: 4min 26sec class: Two Miles
The heavy track took a lot of interest out of the New Zealand Cup from a time point of view, for it was early recognised that exceptional speed was out of the question. Yet it proved a great race won by a great horse for the second time in succession.
The start was delayed for a time on account of the restlessness of Tempest, and when the field was given the word Wild Guy refused to leave the mark and War Buoy going off at a tangle lost a few lengths. Tempest began with unusual brilliance, and soon had a good six lengths' lead from Evicus, War Buoy, and Sunny Morn.
At the end of the first quarter mile Sunny Morn was in front from Evicus and Worthy Light who were heading a bunched field, while making up ground were Roi l'Or, who had headed Indianapolis, with Wild Guy practically out of the race. With a round to go the excitment was intense, and at this stage Sir Guy was in command from Red Shadow, who had had a good run on the rails. Evicus, Worthy Light, Sunny Morn, Blue Mountain, and War Buoy, the three last-named almost in line with Roi l'Or going well on the rails, followed by Indianapolis.
Running out of the straight and into the back stretch F Holmes, behind Roi l'Or, gained a big stretch of ground through a run on the rails, but Sir Guy still carried on from Evicus and Red Shadow, with Blue Mountain, Worthy Light, War Buoy, Roi l'Or, Sunny Morn, who had dropped back, and Indianapolis following. Three furlongs from home War Buoy commenced a great sprint on the outside of the field, and was first into the straight in front of Blue Mountain, Evicus, Sunny Morn, and Indianapolis, who were almost in line, the last-named well on the outside.
War Buoy had a good advantage of Indianapolis at the straight entrance, but the latter, on the better going on the outside, fairly buried the younger horse for speed, and he had a comfortable margin in his favour as the post was passed, with Red Shadow two lengths away, followed by Sunny Morn, Blue Mountain, and Roi l'Or, with Evicus, Sir Guy, and Worthy Light followed in that order, and Wild Guy pulled up.
The winner was driven a very fine race by J Fraser, jun., who was not in a hurry from the start and exercised the greatest patience with the object of utilising to the full the well-known brilliance of the Wrack stallion. With three furlongs to go Indianapolis was still a good way from the leaders, but in racing on the outside of the field he had an advantage in the much better going on that part of the course. He put in a brilliant sprint that even the great horse, War Buoy, could not deal with. It was the second Cup won by Mr G J Barton's horse.
War Buoy may have been inconvenienced by his slow beginning, and while he was forced to cover extra ground all the way, he was possibly better served by having the advantage of the pace-making provided. In defeat he proved a truly great pacer, as plucky a racehorse as ever graced a trotting course.
Red Shadow, enjoyed the advantage of a run on the rails, but this was counterbalanced by the heavier going on that part of the course. He was well handled by L F Berkett, and went his best race since the Cup two years ago.
Sunny Morn, ran the solid race expected of him, and Blue Mountain had every chance, but lacked the brilliance that characterised his last year's effort.
Worthy Light impressed by the good showing he made, and he faded out two furlongs from home, as might have been expected after the interruption to his preparation.
Roi l'Or ran a great race, and after beginning smartly he streaked up on the rails to occupy a very handy postion four furlongs from home. The brilliant bursts of the others left him a hopeless case in the straight.
Evicus was at her best up to the last three furlongs, and may be improved by the race. Sir Guy is in the same category, but Tempest was not dangerous after the first half mile, and Wild Guy's chance was extinguished at the start.
Credit: THE PRESS 13 Nov 1935
YEAR: 1935
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
JACK FRASER Jnr - INDIANAPOLIS
Stable driver for trainer, Claude Dunleavy, Fraser drove a tactically brilliant race to win the horses second Cup off 40 metres.
His highly touted young rival, War Buoy, was proven at 3200m and went six lengths clear on the turn in the wet conditions he loved. It looked curtains for the champ. But a super cool Fraser waited back in the field and then drove to be widest on the home turn where the old clay track was firmest on a damp day.
From six lengths behind and off the track, Indianapolis won by a staggering three lengths. What a horse he was.
In his historic third win from 40m it had rained also and Fraser kept a weather eye out for the dangerous War Bouy and James Bryce's Red Shadow. Bryce drove a mighty race making a run for it at the 600m and Fraser was the only one on alert. Even so it was a terrific battle up the straight, one of the great Cups.
TRIVIA FACT: Fraser later took over the famous stables at Addington but lost his licence for several years for taking advantage of an owner. He later assisted at Roydon Lodge in the George Noble era, still a bit grumpy but a veteran who had been there, done that.
Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Oct 2016
YEAR: 1935
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| George Barton receives the Cup from Sir Heaton Rhodes |
Refer also 1934 Cup for comment.
Indianapolis, a son of imported parents in Wrack and Estella Amos, was bred at Durbar Lodge by Harry Nicoll's son Arthur and bought as an early 3-year-old by Dunedin's George Barton, the leading owner each year for a decade during this time, on the recommendation of Billie Tomkinson.
The entire was in 'star class' by the end of his 4-year-old season, but Tomkinson had died prior to the 1934 Cup and Indianapolis was prepared by his right-hand-man Claude Dunleavy for the remainder of his career.
His first Cup win was a mere formality from 12 yards over Blue Mountain(Fr) and Harlod Logan(72yds), but there was another star on the horizon at the meeting that year in the form of War Buoy, who was in the process of putting together an unbeaten career of 10 wins, a sequence that remained unmatched until Cardigan Bay eclipsed it some 30 years later.
War Buoy took his record to 15 wins from 17 starts when he won the August Handicap at the National Meeting as a 5-year-old, so as the Cup loomed with War Buoy off the front and Indianapolis off 48 yards, there was much anticipation. Particularly when War Buoy skipped six lengths clear turning for home for Stan Edwards, but Indianapolis was commencing his run at the same time six-wide and in the end had three lengths to spare.
It was no less exciting the following year when Indianapolis(48yds) became the first three-time winner after a great tussle with Red Shadow(24yds), War Buoy(Fr) and Harold Logan(48yds). A rejuvenated Red Shadow, back in the Bryce stable, had skipped clear at the three furlongs while Indianapolis appeared to be languishing in the rear. But with giant strides, Indianapolis drew level at the 100m for Jack Fraser and came away to confirm his status as one of the greatest stayers ever seen.
Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03