 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1966
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Doris Nyhan receives the Cup from Charles Thomas |
Lordship loitered with the NZ Cup field in a convivial sort of way for the best part of the last three furlongs. The manner in which he eventually won merely confirmed that he is a world class champion fit to rank with the Cardigan Bay-Bret Hanover-Adios Butler circle. He actually passed the post in little above second gear, certainly with a lot up his sleeve.
"I had to go to the front sooner than I meant to," said D (for Denis) Nyhan after driving Lordship to his second NZ Cup victory. "Lordship began to pull up of his own accord when well clear," continued Nyhan; and this compensated for a middling run in the early stages for the champion.
My own impression of the Cup race, run on a 'sticky wicket' was that Lordship was in a class of his own. He was not required to get into top gear until Tobias loomed up as a momentary danger at the straight entrance and, finally, Robin Dundee got to within two lengths of him only because he was actually easing down in the last 50 metres or so.
Oakhampton, Cuddle Doon and Doctor Barry broke at the start and Tobias was slow to muster speed. This left Full Sovereign to lead out from Waitaki Hanover, Disband, Lochgair, Master Alan and Robin Dundee. Lordship had made a splendid beginning and was already close up. Lochgair was the leader with half a mile covered and he was still there with a round to go, where Cuddle Doon (the pacemaker in the middle stages) had given way, and Oakhampton was lying third. It was at this stage that there was some jostling for positions, and the worst sufferers in the chain reactions that followed were Robin Dundee and Tobias, who finished up in the rear leaving the front straight for the last time. With half a mile to go Disband was half a length in front of the swift-moving Lordship, who went effortlessly to the front in another half-furlong and stayed there. The only time he looked in any sort of danger for the remainder of the race was when Tobias swept round the outer from the three furlongs and almost got on terms with Lordship at the furlong post. However, Tobias blew out almost as soon as he caught Lordship, who obviously won with plenty in reserve by two lengths from Robin Dundee.
Another valiant defeat was the lot of Robin Dundee. She was standing up Lordship fully half a dozen lengths with half a mile to go and battled on very gamely to beat Waitaki Hanover as decisively as she was beaten. Tobias was a creditable fourth, a bare head away, with three lengths to the fifth horse, Disband. Cuddle Doon was two lengths behind Disband, with a gap of four lengths to Master Alan, six lengths to Oakhampton, and then came Full Sovereign, Lochgair and Doctor Barry - last.
The first quarter was run in 35 secs., half-mile 67.8, six furlongs 1:41.8, mile 2:15.2, mile and a quarter 2:49.2, mile and a half3:20, mile and three quarters 3:52, and the full journey (gross) in 4:22.6. Lordship's net time was 4:19, an excellent return under the conditions. Lordship, whose racing career to date has been confined to New Zealand, has now won £48,170 in stakes and trophies. His first NZ Cup, in 1962, was also run on a wet track. Like many an out-and-out champion before him, he can handle all sorts of tracks, dirt or grass, wet or dry, with equal confidence.
Lordship is by Johnny Globe, the 1954 Cup winner. Lordship's dam, Ladyship, a U Scott mare, traces back to the Australian mare Lightnin' who reached good company on NZ tracks and was also ancestress of Emulous, a champion pacer of the 1940's who won the Inter-Dominion Championship at Auckland in 1948. Lordship was bred by his owner, Mrs D G Nyhan, wife of the trainer, D G (for Don) Nyhan, who has now trained three NZ Cup winners - Johnny Globe and Lordship (twice). D D Nyhan has driven Lordship in both his Cup wins.
The presentation of the Gold Cup on Tuesday was made to Mrs Nyhan by Mr C S Thomas, a past-president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and the NZ Trotting Conference, and at present treasurer of the Metropolitan. In his introduction to the Cup presentation, Mr Saunders paid a tribute to Mr Thomas's outstanding work as one of the principal architects of the Totalisator Agency Board.
Robin Dundee ran her third second in the race: she was runner-up to Cardigan Bay in 1963 and to Garry Dillon last year. Her stake-winnings in New Zealand have reached £37,340 and she has also won £10,000 in Australia. Lack of experience and racing in seasoned company could have told against Tobias, who is obviously a talented young pacer and a potential champion. He should show to advantage on dry tracks later at the carnival.
The on-course betting on the Cup, £26,395, was slightly down on last year's figures of £27,358; but the off-course total of £37,958 10s was commensurately up on last year's turnover of £36,842. After showery weather for some days beforehand, and up till a late hour on Cup day, the attandance of 18,250 was well up on expectations. Last year's attendance was 17,483.
The on-course totalisator receipts, £248,932, were a new record for a trotting meeting, and also a South Island record for trotting and racing. Last year's Cup-day total, £230,015, was the previous record. Tuesday's off-course total was £238,706, also a new record for a trotting meeting. The previous record was last year's total of £211,674 15s.
Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar