 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1959
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| False Step three time winner of the NZ Cup |
Champion stayer beyond a shadow of a doubt, False Step won the New Zealand Trotting Cup for the second year in succession with a mighty effort over the final quarter - he raced clear of Caduceus and Gentry at the furlong and was increasing his eight-lengths advantage as the post was reached.
Cecil C Devine, who was driving his fourth New Zealand Cup winner, has also now trained four winners of the premier event in the last nine contests and is rapidly assuming the mantle of the late James Bryce as the wizard of a NZ Cup preparation.
This year's Cup contest will rank for many a day as one of the best races seen in this country, and the role played by False Step's stablemate Thunder - a sacrificial one as things turned out - was the main contributing factor in the pegging back of Caduceus. There was only one way to encompass the defeat of the brilliant Caduceus, and no doubt the master plan was C C Devine's. One or other of his two runners had to keep on Caduceus's girth at all costs and make doubly certain that stamina and not sheer brilliance would be the deciding factor in the result. And Thunder played his part magnificently and to perfection, ending in his complete exhaustion with two and a half furlongs to go.
It was when Showdown was attempting to set a slow pace with five furlongs covered that Caduceus set sail and ran right round the field within another furlong. And Thunder pursued him every inch of the way, parking one out from the rails, about half a length back from Caduceus, as the field sorted itself out under it's new pilot. Thunder kept up the relentless pressure all the way, and, his mission fulfilled, he collapsed crossing the top; but the duel had found out Caduceus, too, and False Step, who had been waiting to pounce at any stage of the last quarter, simply flew past the wilting backmarker as they straightened up.
The sectional times tell the vivid story of the cut-throat drama between Caduceus and Thunder. The first half mile was run by Showdown in 65 2-5secs. The first mile was run in 2:09 3-5, mile and a quarter in 2:42 3-5. The last half mile was paced in 61 1-5secs and the final quarter in 31secs. Cecil Devine would be the first to concede that Derek Jones, driver of Thunder, is entitled to equal praise with Devine himself as architect of False Step's victory. Cecil Devine first won the Cup in 1951, with Van Dieman. His next winner was Thunder in 1956, and False Step has won in 1958 and 1959.
The whole field moved off safely when the barriers were released and Showdown led past the stands the first time from Lady Shona. It momentarily appeared as though Showdown was going to slow the field up but racing round the showgrounds bend Caduceus moved smartly forward and was in front with six furlongs covered, with Thunder on his girth. At this stage False Step was almost last. With a round to go False Step made a forward move from the back and at the half mile the order was Caduceus, Thunder, Showdown, Lady Shona, False Step (wide out), Mayneen, Invicta, Scottish Command, Gentry, Lady Belmer and Macklin.
At the three furlongs False Step was showing up and the order into the straight was Caduceus, False Step, Thunder (who had had enough), Lady Shona and Gentry. False Step soon had the measure of Caduceus and continued on strongly for one of the easiest of wins. The full merit of False Step's victory is brought home sharply by the fact that except for the very early part, and near the finish, he was never closer than three sulky widths from the rails and was four wide rounding the bend into the straight. Gentry, once clear, finished well for second without ever looking a serious threat to the winner. Caduceus was a weakening third three lengths and a half behind Gentry and three lengths further back came Lady Shona.
The race was marred to some extent by a mix-up after the field turned for home, but when it occurred the race was virtually over. Seven horses finished, Mayneen, Macklin and Thunder following the first four home. The rest were involved in the accident.
Although beaten into third place, Caduceus made a game attempt to add the Dominion's premier two mile race to his outstanding list of success, and he was by no means disgraced in defeat. He was given little respite once Thunder moved up to him, and in the circumstances it was not surprising he was feeling the strain at the home turn. His share of the stake for third, £675, brings his total stake-winnings to £50,924 10s. Lady Shona was always thereabouts and battled on for her fourth placing and the other three to finish were beaten off.
False Step was bred by his owner, Mr J Smyth and is a seven-year-old brown horse by a New Zealand Derby winner in Fallacy from Dainty Direct, by Dan Direct-Queen Betty, by Four Chimes-Dot Robbins, by Frank Robins. Fallacy was an outstanding three-year-old and has distinguished himself as a sire of winners over the last few years, but False Step is undoubtedly his best. False Step took his total stake-winnings to £23,965. He has won 17 races and been in the minor places 27 times.
Interest had been mounting weeks before the event and tension was running high as the field was being called into line by the starter. The day could not have been better and the track was in perfect order. For the first time in several years there was an increase in the attendance at Addington on Cup Day. The crowd was approximately 19,000, which was about 600 more than last year. On-course investments on the race were down on those of last year and the off-course figures also show a decrease. This year the on-course figures were £20,925 compared with £21,199 last year and the amount invested off-course was £24,670 10s as against £26,811 last year. The on-course totalisator handled £160,348 10s compared with £164,834 10s last year.
Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 11Nov59