| FEATURE RACE COMMENT |
YEAR: 1992
 |
| Post-race celebration |
There was nothing in Directorship's 'CV' to predict he could topple the leading candidates from their seats in the DB Draught Dominion Handicap. The veteran of 106 starts had galloped on Cup Day after being upset by the tape, and performed streets below what he can do when 12th of 14 on Show Day.
Off 10m behind, and in such bleak form, there was little to indicate that trainer Gary Smith would engineer a sudden change to make him so competitive eight days later. For one thing, Smith was back home at Pukekohe. And even driver Tony Herlihy wasn't fussed about returning south. He had left the colours in Christchurch, not expecting to use them again at the meeting.
As he normally does, Smith left the horse in the care of Brian Kerr at West Melton. Both top men, Smith knew his horse. "Brian, who really did a great job with him, thought he was a bit short. I thought he had done a bit much," said Smith. So they decided to give him an easy week - a blow out on Thursday and a look at the scenery around the quiet country roads near the Kerr stable on the other days.
While Smith admitted that he didn't expect Directorship to win the Dominion, he was not surprised the stable favourite made a better fist of it than he did on the earlier days. "The tape hit the fence on the first day, so he might have had an excuse then, but on Friday he just had one of those days. He can have them. He was fit enough. It might sound funny, but on those hot, stinking days, like it was at Addington, he is not so good. He had two days off after that, and I thought he would go better racing on a cooler night," he said.
Having only his second drive in the Dominion - his other was Empire Lobell - Herlihy went to bat, and picked his way through the field until latching onto Ceddie's back, which was off to attack near the 1200 metres. When Ceddie got over near the 900 metres, Directorship was pounding on further out, and Herlihy, like his transport, started to enjoy the cool night air. "He sort of hesitated early, but started to feel good once he got outside them. Over the last mile he certainly felt better," he said.
In as close a finish as you could get, Directorship and tough little Taranaki mare Rosie O'Grady slugged it out over the last 100 metres, with Staka Pride making the most of a sweet run three deep behind Happy Tom and William Dee to finish a game third. First to congratulate the ace was Maurice McKendry, who was told in the kindest way by Herlihy that McKendry had "got off the quinella." McKendry drove Rosie O'Grady to win on Cup Day, and after winning the Rowe Cup last season with Directorship turned down the drive this season to stay with Aspiring Lass.
A 9-year-old son of Lordship, Directorship has been one of the great campaigners, starting off winning five races for Ian Cameron and three with Charlie Hunter before Smith took him over. "I took him over as a 4-year-old. He has had some problems with his joints, but he is no problem to train. He doesn't need that hard drilling work any more," said Smith. Now the winner of $438,198 from 30 wins and 27 placings, Directorship will be given a few days off before getting ready for the Auckland meeting.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 25Nov92
YEAR: 1989
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| Jon Gadsby, TV3, presents the trophy to the owners of Tobago |
Not since Dictation took nearly 10 seconds off the record for winning the Dominion Handicap has there been such a pronounced improvement in time as the one Tobago posted. In warm, near perfect weather conditions, and on a track tailored to meet such accomplishments, Tobago came through 3200m in 4:08.4. To do this, he was not alone at the end of the $150,000 TV3 Network Dominion Handicap.
Those who pressed him without mercy were Directorship, who was just a nose from taking $97,500 and old Troppo, the veteran of 117 starts, who looked in for the kill 50 metres from the finish. Tobago and Directorship had the best trips of all. Both were in midfield on the outer, and neither were used to the extent of Drott Moss and Idle Scott, who were baked before the turn after spending a great deal of energy making their runs in the middle stages. While the two northerners battled so hard to gain a toehold in the race, Troppo remained back and was still almost last at the 500 metres. By then the cracks had started to appear and first Tobago, then Directorship moved to open them up. Once the pair drew clear, the table seemed set, until Troppo began to thread his way after them, going at what seemed a winning rate. But he set his compass on the rail and the angle of this passage over the last 50 metres might have cost him a closer placing. As it was, he probably came up short just a few strides from the finish, but added to the chorus of an exciting end to a record race. The favourite Tyron Scottie ran 7th after leading at the 2000m and trailing at the 1400m. "He felt uncomfortable after a furlong," said driver Patrick O'Reilly jun.
When Dictation won the Dominion in 1950, he recorded 4:16.6. The previous best then was the 4:26.2 set by Wrackler in 1932. Before Tobago's 4:08.4, the record was Scotch Tar's 1978 4:11.6, which, when record changes are usually measured nowdays in 10ths, is quite a remarkable reduction. Of course, Tobago always had a time like this in him. Earlier this season, he became the first trotter in New Zealand to run a mile in less than 2:00, which he did at Ashburton in 1:59.3.
Tobago is a seven-year-old son of Game Pride and Ann's Globe, a mare by Johnny Globe. He is small but compact; a bay of good colour. His mother was raced by Harold and Joan Jenkins, the parents of Tobago's present owners, Ray Jenkins and his sister Diane Kean. The senior Jenkins raced Our Jimmy from Bob Young's stable when he finished fourth in the Dominion Handicap won by Min Scott in 1963. Ann's Globe was tried as a pacer by Les Norman, but it wasn't until she entered the stable of Arthur and Maurice Skinner and switched to trotting that she revealed ability. "I think they had only had her about six weeks when she won at Roxburgh for Henry Skinner," said Ray. Ann's Globe went on to win six races, including two in Canterbury when trained by Jack Carmichael. On retiring, the Jenkins gave the mare to Ray and Diane for breeding. "It's a real family thing with us. They are getting on, and they probably thought we are a bit more up with the breeding now," he said.
"The thing with Tobago is that he just didn't stop...he could just keep on going. I put that down to the Johnny Globe blood coming through...they've got the guts. With Tobago now, we'll go for it. He'll race at Auckland next and there's the $100,000 bonus if he wins either two of the Inter-Dominion Grand Final, the National Trot or the Rowe Cup this season," he said.
Ann's Globe is not in foal, and it is very unlikely the two partners will use her this season. "We are considering lending her out, but we can't say to just who at the moment," said Ray. Among the mares being sent to stud by the family this season are Montego (Sir Dalrae-Ann's Globe), Globe Pride, Blue Nun (dam of French Wine) and Beat The Freeze, the latter three all booked to Chiola Hanover.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly
YEAR: 1992
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| Giovanetto beats Master Musician & Blossom Lady |
"I only wish it had been the Cup," was driver Jack Smolenski's comment following Giovanetto's impressive win in the Monsanto Free-For-All. The 4-year-old Fitch II entire gained some compensation, having beaten all but Blossom Lady in the NZ Cup on the course 11 days earlier. Smolenski had experienced more bad luck just two races earlier when Rosie O'Grady failed by a nose to overhaul Directorship in the Dominion Handicap.
With the field reduced to seven runners following the late withdrawals of Remote's Dream and Anvil Lad, Giovanetto's chances were made somewhat easier coming in to six behind the mobile. He made the most of this and after beginning like a bullet, was eased to trail Blossom Lady with 1700m to run. With Master Musician moving forward to challenge the leader at the 800, it seemed the favoured trio would battle out the finish and so it proved.
Master Musician quickly headed Blossom Lady in the run home, but, not to be denied, Giovanetto, the least favoured of the three, stormed home along the fence to win by a length in 3:18.2."He felt good tonight ans I was able to make use of his gate speed to get to the front. I thought if I backed off a bit in the lead, Blossom Lady would challenge me early, and we got a good run through in the straight," Smolenski said. Runner-up Master Musician was not disgraced, turning in his best effort at the meeting, while third placed Blossom Lady "had her chance" according to driver Anthony Butt.
Credit: Greg Heller writing in HR Weekly 25Nov92