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1959 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Caduceus won his third New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington on Friday to equal the records of Author Dillon and Harold Logan who both won the race three times. Caduceus was hard pressed by Gentry over the last furlong but he responded well and held off the Auckland pacer by a neck. His success brought his stake-winnings to £52,139 10s, the result of 41 wins and 41 placings.

The best to begin was Gentry, with Diamond Hanover and Robert Dillon tangling in the first furlong. Invicta and Thunder also lost some ground. Gentry led past the mile post from Caduceus, with Lady Belmer and False Step ahead of Ricochet, Invicta, Thunder and Diamond Hanover. Caduceus was fighting for his head racing through the straight and when pulled off the rails he soon took the lead off Gentry with less than six furlongs to go. False Step had improved with two and a half furlongs to run and was showing up wide out behind Caduceus racing to the straight, with Gentry, Invicta, Lady Belmer, Thunder, Ricochet and Robert Dillon next.

Shortly after straightening up Gentry tackled Caduceus and he momentarily looked very dangerous, but Caduceus fought back to gain a narrow decision. False Step had come to the end of his run just after turning for home, but his performance wa a grand one as he was hampered with a damaged sulky wheel for the major part of the journey. Lady Belmer finished fourth, and she was followed by Thunder, six lengths in front of Diamond Hanover. Then came Robert Dillon and Invicta, with Ricochet at the rear.

Caduceus paced one of the fastest quarters ever seen at Addington. He was privately timed to take 27 3-5secs. for his final two furlongs, the final half mile taking 59secs. The large crowd was quick to recognise a fine performance on the part of Caduceus and he was given a grand ovation on his return to the birdcage.

More than 21,000 people invested £162,674 on course during the day, compared with £152,432 15s last year. Off-course the investments amounted to £101,471 5s, as against £87,613 5s last year.



Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1959 NZ DERBY STAKES

Run in record time, the New Zealand Derby Stakes at Addington last Saturday proved a triumph for Stormont, a handsome son of Stormyway and Gold Leaf, and his connections. Stormont had won the Riccarton Stakes on the first day of the meeting with a brilliant run from the home turn and followed up that effort with a fine fourth placing in the New Zealand Metropolitan Challenge Stakes, a three and four-year-old race, on the second day.

On Saturday Stormont started from No.7 at the barrier, and was seventh when the field settled down, at which stage he became awkwardly placed. Stormont's prospects of getting a run in time did not look too bright as late as the half mile but he eventually worked clear and was showing up wide out as the field rounded the home bend. He responded gamely to the urging on the part of his driver K A Chapman, to get up short of the post and beat Sun Chief decisively by three-quarters of a length.

His success, after anything but a smooth passage, was accomplished in the manner of a high-class three-year-old and left little room for excuses for those who finished behind him. Stormont paced the mile and a half journey in 3:11 4-5 to establish new figures for the race, figures which also established a fresh New Zealand record for a three-year-old, the previous best being 3:12 1-5, established by Fallacy in 1951.

Blue Prince took the lead from Sun Chief at the end of a furlong and a half and set a solid pace. He led from Sun Chief at the mile post with Dark Wonder, Arania, Sally Boy, Samantha, Stormont, Peebles and Calumite following. Sun Chief tangled with six furlongs left to run but did not lose much ground and he was on terms with Blue Prince racing to the straight. At this stage Stormont was improving wide out and Arania, Peebles, Samantha, Calumite and Sally Boy were all handy. Sun Chief looked likely to win just inside the furlong but Stormont finished too well. Arania was next in front of Sally Boy and then came Blue Prince and Samantha, with Whipdale eight lengths back followed by Calumite, Massacre and Peebles.

The honours were all with Stormont and Sun Chief was by no means disgraced in defeat. He met with an injury in the NZ Metropolitan Challenge Stakes. Arania paced her usual honest race for third and Sally Boy's fourth placing was a useful one as he broke with five furlongs to run. Arania, who paced the journey in 3:12 1-5, set a new mile and a half record for a filly. Sun Chief paced the journey in 3:12 and Sally Boy returned 3:12 2-5, times which made it clear that the contest was truly run.

Stormont is one of the first get of his sire, Stormyway, who was imported to New Zealand by Mr J M Connolly, Geraldine. Stormont is a fine pacer and he was produced in grand order by his trainer and part-owner, K A Chapman, who races Stormont in partnership with Mr J E V Chapman. The Chapman's also bred Stormont. Gold Leaf, dam of Stormont, was got by Gold Bar from Kohua, by Jack Potts-Grace Dillon, by Harold Dillon. Gold Leaf ranks as a half sister to the good winner Roschana. Kohua is a full sister to the winners Karoro and Master Dillon and a half sister to Oro's Pride and Harvest Dillon.

It is not generally known that Stormont met with an injury three days previous to his Riccarton Stakes success and at the time a start appeared doubtful. A substantial offer was turned down for the Stormyway colt before he had won on the first day.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Nov59

1959 NZ OAKS

Arania, who drew number 20 at the barrier, forcing her to start from the second line, overcame this handicap to win the New Zealand Oaks at New Brighton on Saturday comfortably from Chantilly and Mary Mavis, with Samantha, bracketed with Arania, in fourth place. Arania's win gave Roydon Lodge its first success in the fillies classic; it was also G B Noble's first training and driving success in the race.

Arania dodged trouble in the early stages and was soon in a handy position and after taking charge with less than half a mile to run she was untroubled to win by two lengths. There was a good finish for the minor placings, Chantilly just beating Mary Mavis, who was a neck in front of Samantha. Then came Mystic Star, Lillian's Star a nose in front of Heathmount, who was followed by Rain Cloud clear of the rest. Arania proved a class above her opposition and received a just reward for several sound performances in a year particularly strong in colts.

Arania raced consistently last season as a two-year-old and in 10 starts she won one race and was placed six times. At her first start as a two-year-old Arania ran Sun Chief to a head in the Golden Slipper at Waimate. She again had to be content with second place behind Sun Chief in the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes. After finishing fourth in the Invitation Stakes at Geraldine, Arania followed Sun Chief and Blue Prince home in the Timaru Nursery Stakes. Her next placing, third, was to Hautapu and Prince Tangier in the Robert Mortlock Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Hawera. She next finished third to Jonboy Star and Calumite in the Two-year-old stakes at Methven. Taken to Hutt Park, Arania held off Velvet Drive by a neck in the Wellington Juvenile Stakes, a classic race for two-year-old fillies. In the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, Sun Chief again proved her master, beating her by three-quarters of a length.

Arania started her three-year-old career on a promising note when she beat all but Sally Boy in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes in which Sally Boy created a race record by pacing the mile and a quarter in 2:38 4-5. Arania returned 2:39 2-5. At the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting in September Arania downed a field of three and four-year-olds in the Grey Lynn Handicap and followed up that effort by finishing third in the Orakei Handicap on the second day. Arania's next appearance was in the Farewell Handicap at Oamaru on Labour Day. She drew the second line but after a brilliant beginning she was soon up in second place. In the run home she was never in serious danger of defeat and won unextended by a length.

In the New Zealand Derby Stakes, run in record time, Arania finished a close third to Stormont and Sun Chief, recording 3:12 1-5 for the mile and a half journey. Throughout her racing as a two-year-old and so far this term, Arania has been most unfortunate in that she has seldom, if ever, drawn a good barrier position. Arania is a grand mover however, and her reliability has helped her in no small measure to overcome these handicaps.

Arania, who is by U Scott from Local Gold, ranks as a half sister to Local Light and others in White Caps and Seagull. Chantilly, who was always handy, gave a forward showing and more should be heard of her before long. By U Scott, she is out of Fleuret, a daughter of Grattan Loyal and Spring Lily, by Springfield Globe-La Lilly, dam also of Goldina, Joyfree and others. Chantilly was bred and is trained at Greenpark by L A Williams and driven on Saturday by F Newfield. Mary Mavis attracted attention to her immediate prospects by a useful effort into third place. She is a bay filly by Garrison Hanover from Grattanello, by My Trick-Virello Grattan, by Grattan Loyal. Samantha is a brown filly by U Scott-Aileen Hall, thus three of the first four place-getters were sired by U Scott.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1958 NZ TROTTING CUP

One of the early leaders, False Step dropped back into the middle of the field but came again with a strong run to be one of the leaders into the straight in the NZ Trotting Cup at Addington. After a stern tussle with his one-time stablemate Caduceus, False Step got the verdict in a photo-finish by a head to give his trainer-driver C C Devine, his third training and driving success in the Dominion's premier event. The Auckland pacer Gentry, was four lengths back third and Lady Belmer fourth.

The race was not devoid of interest and the time of 4:18 3-5 could perhaps have been several seconds better if the field had not been slowed up considerably when Caduceus took over in the middle stages. He was not allowed to make his own rules long however, and the field was soon racing again at a pace befitting New Zealand Cup candidates. False Step is not a big horse by any means but he is all horse and his stamina cannot be doubted. When he showed up about the three furlongs, it was obvious he had something in reserve. The first half mile was run in 67secs, the mile in 2:12, the mile and a quarter in 2:46 1-5, the mile and a half in 3:18 and the mile and three-quarters in 3:48.

Thunder was a little slow to begin and Roy Grattan broke shortly after the start. Trueco took over from False Step and these two were followed by Bartender, Gentry, Caduceus, La Mignon, Lookaway and Roy Grattan with the remainder in close attendance. With a mile and a half to run False Step was showing the way from Trueco, Bartender, Lady Belmer, Gentry, Caduceus, Tactician and Thunder with Lookaway close to Thunder. Caduceus dashed into the lead with nine and a half furlongs to run and he immediately attempted to slow down the field. He was not permitted to stay there long. When two more furlongs had been covered, Tactician took over and he was followed by Roy Grattan, Gentry, Lady Belmer, Thunder, Caduceus, Bartender, Lookaway, False Step, La Mignon and Trueco.

Gentry was the leader approaching the half mile and shortly after False Step came into the picture to race into the lead after rounding the turn. He appeared to be in for a clear-cut success until Caduceus came onto the scene, but False Step responded gamely to vigourous driving to win by a head. Gentry paced a sound race for third and Lady Balmer raced right up to her effort at the trials. Next to finish was Lookaway and he was followed in by La Mignon, Thunder, Trueco, Roy Grattan and Bartender.

The hot favourite Lookaway, was well enough placed for most of the way. He received a slight check in the middle stages but he could be regarded as having every chance. He did not really finish on as expected though.

The winner, False Step, was one of the greatest four-year-olds to race in the Dominion and at that age he won six races and gained five seconds in 15 starts for £5545 in stakes. His success on Tuesday brought his record to 14 wins and 23 placings for a total of £16,945. False Step was bred by his owner, Mr J Smyth, and is by the successful colonial sire Fallacy (by Light Brigade), from Dainty Direct, by Dan Direct-Queen Betty, by Four Chimes-Dot Robbins, by Frank Robbins. False Step is the 1952 foal of Dainty Direct, who also left other winners in Josedale Direct, Dainty Joe and Tyrone Queen.

Fallacy was an outstanding three-year-old, winning seven races and gaining two places at that age. Included among his successes were the NZ Champion Stakes, the NZ Futurity Stakes and the NZ Derby Stakes. Queen Betty, granddam of False Step, besides Dainty Direct, who did not win a race, was also the dam of the winners Dainty Lady, Queenie Direct and Robin's Pride. Dot Robbins left a string of winners, one of her best being the big Author Dillon pacer, Big Author. The others were, besides Queen Betty, Dick Swithin, Golden Thread, Slip Along and Awatea.

Mr Smyth acquired Dainty Direct very "cheaply;" he got her in exchange for a hayrake, and Tyrone Queen was the first foal he bred from her, False Step being the second. False Step was educated and developed for his early racing by the West Melton trainer, J D Litten, and it was only towards the end of last season that he joined Devine's stable.

The race created keen interest weeks before the event and although most people expected Lookaway to win the Cup for the second time, there were many who thought False Step would be the most difficult to beat and he was sent out a firm second choice on the win machine and favourite for a place. On-course investments on the race were down on those of last year but the off-course turnover showed an increase. This year the on-course figures were £21,199 compared with £25,395; off-course investments were £26,811 as against £24,137 last year.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 12Nov58

1958 DOMINION HANDICAP

Few easier wins have been seen at Addington for some time than that of Durban Chief in the Dominion Handicap. Over the final stages he literally played with the rest of the field and was unextended in the run home to win by nine lengths.

He drifted slightly in the early stages and had increased his handicap of 36 yards, but he had no trouble in racing up handy at the half mile. He became the first horse on Saturday to win the Dominion Handicap in successive years and his time of 4:17 3-5 for the two-mile journey could have been a lot better if there had been anything in the race capable of making him go. The record for the race is 4:16 2-5, held by Dictation. Durban Chief was privately timed from post to post in 4:15. The first half mile was run in 66 1-5secs, six furlongs 1:38, mile 2:08, mile and a quarter 2:39 1-5, mile and a half 3:11 1-5 and last quarter 31 4-5.

Durban Chief was produced in grand order by his trainer, J R Woodcock, and was capably driven by W P Walsh who has been associated with Durban Chief from the beginning. Durban Chief's win on Saturday brought his stake winnings to £8515.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 26Nov58

1958 NZ DERBY STAKES

Blue won his eighth race in nine starts when he easily accounted for the rest in the NZ Derby Stakes on Saturday.

He proved a class above his opposition and his effort was an outstanding one in view of the fact that he started from the second line and had to be steadied to work clear going out of the straight just after the start. His time of 3:12 2-5 was only 1-5 of a second slower than that returned by Fallacy in 1951, time which still stands as the race record and a record for three-year-olds. There is no doubt that Blue could have improved a good deal on his time if he had been asked to do so.

Blue worked clear at the end of three furlongs and a half and set a sound pace from the stage which he increased considerably from the half mile. The first quarter took 33 3-5secs, the pace increasing sharply as the leaders attempted to force Blue wide entering the back straight for the first time. The first half mile was run in 63 1-5secs, six furlongs in 1:37 2-5, mile in 2:09 3-5 and mile and a quarter in 2:40 3-5.

Blue was untroubled in the run home and won with consummate ease to bring his stake-winnings to £5070. Some Lad raced right up to his Riccarton Stakes form and he was closest to Blue for most of the journey. He finished on gamely in the straight without ever looking like troubling the winner. His 3:13 for the mile and a half journey represented a smart effort, one which should assure him of his fair share of success in the future. Adroit lost some ground at the start and he did not faulter in the run home but he failed to reach Some Lad by a length. Smokey Diamond finished a useful fourth, a length back, and he was half a length in front of Stormlea, with another half length to Cheam. Red Cavalier, Prince, Fair Loan, Awarua and Young Kim were among those who lost their chances at the start.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 26Nov58

1958 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Caduceus has had a busy career but he has never been better and he made amends for his defeat in the NZ Pacing Championship by a clear-cut success in the NZ Free-For-All. Caduceus soon took command and set a solid pace, winning with the greatest of ease in the very good time of 2:34 4-5, time which he could have bettered if he had been required to do so.The U Scott pacer has now won £24,819 in stakes in New Zealand, the result of 22 wins and 25 placings. He has also won 10 races and gained 10 placings in Australia for £14,800.

The Auckland pacer Gentry, added yet another placing to his fine record when he beat all but Caduceus in the NZ Free-For-All, and he was far from disgraced in going under to a pacer of the calibre of Caduceus. Veteran pacer Tactician, is still capable of contributing something towards his keep. He was in the thick of the battle all the way and it took two very capable pacers to beat him into third place.

After winning the NZ Pacing Championship earlier in the day, False Step took his place in the Free-For-All but over the shorter journey he was not able to command a prominent position early enough. However, he paced a fine race and he was put off balance to some extent when trying to get on the inside of Tactician at the three furlongs. His driver was forced to pull False Step back and attempt to go round Tactician, but by that time it was too late. False Step has now won 16 races and gained 25 placings for £18,175 in stakes.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 3Dec58

1958 NZ OAKS

Fair Loan had little to spare from Cheam at the finsh of the New Zealand Oaks but she returned a game performance nevertheless. She was always handy and when she raced past the leaders shortly after turning for home she looked in for an easy win until Cheam and Stormlea came on the scene.

Fair Loan had shown consistent form as a two-year-old and three-year-old and she is bred to go a good deal further. By U Scott, she is out of the good winner at the trotting gait in Bellisima, by Certissimus-Moerewa, by Man o' War.

If anything could be classed as unlucky in the race it could be Cheam. She was a little slow away and raced up to be handy with a round to go but she was pushed back approaching the half-mile, and she experienced some difficulty in getting clear in the straight. Her finishing run into second place was a feature of the race. She is a bay filly by the Gamble horse, Jack High from Happy Returns, by Springfield Globe-Adonoro, by Rey de Oro. She was driven on Saturday by C C Devine.

Stormlea finished well for her third placing and her effort suggests she will more than pay her way.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 10Dec58

GREAT RACES: 1958 CUP CARNIVAL

The 1950s was a vintage era for the light harness sport in New Zealand. Champion horsemen combining with champion sires to produce champion racehorses all conspired to result in drama, controversy, intrigue, excitement and spectacles like no other decade. So much so that it is difficult to single out any races as highlights - there were so many of them - but one race that does sum up the careers of two truly great horses and horsemen was the 1958 New Zealand Cup.

As a race in itself the Cup was far from one for the purists, being a roughly run, stop-start affair where not one runner escaped serious interference, but the result so encapsulated the stories of the protagonists so vividly that it can be reflected upon as a truly magical moment in time. It was the history either side of the event which made it special.

One could say the public which flocked to the big occasions in those times were spoiled for such events, and while caught up in the events unfolding before them on the day it was only with the benefit of hindsight many years later that the full magnitude of the occasion could be fully appreciated.

Caduceus was a champion 8-year-old and False Step a 6-year-old 'rising star,' and they were well established arch rivals at the start of the season. As a U Scott blood brother to Highland Fling, Caduceus represented the bluebloods of the day, but that didn't count for much the day he showed up from Southland at Jack Litten's as a hairy, scruffy, lame, pony-sized yearling colt. He also toed out so badly that Litten called him Charlie, and he took a nail out of a hind hoof and chucked him in a paddock with no promises for Denis and Dudley Moore to subsequently train their youngster.

Fast forward seven years and Caduceus had pretty much won everything, including the NZ Derby and the Auckland Cup as a 4-year-old, except for the NZ Cup. In 1958, he would be making his fourth attempt from 30 yards with only the veteran Tactician behind him. Litten had also won the 1951 NZ Derby brilliantly by 12 lengths and in record time with Fallacy, a son of Light Brigade he also bred and owned and who had first brought him to national prominence. Fallacy did not win beyond his 3-year-old season however, having been badly injured in a mishap at home when he piled over a fallen horse, at a time when Litten was in America. Litten tried in vain to patch up Fallacy, but eventually decided to stand him at stud himself at West Melton, and the first mare bred to him produced False Step.

Dainty Direct was a 20-year-old broodmare with little pedigree and produce to speak of when Jim Smyth, a stable client and regular visitor to Litten's Preston Farm, acquired her for a 'fiver' and a hay rake. Templeton's Jack Adams, who raced top pacer Acropolis and who was setting up a stud farm, had needed a hay rake and knew the Irish-born Smyth had one going unused. Smyth had actually persuaded Litten to have Dainty Direct served by Fallacy a few days after his Derby win.

False Step was top class from the time he won the Methven Juvenile Stakes, while he had emulated his sire in the NZ Derby and won six races at four, when he had beaten Tactician under FFA conditions and finished second, beaten a nose, by the same horse in the first 2:00 race mile run in NZ. As a 5-year-old, False Step was fourth in Lookaway's Cup and was often doing battle with his stablemate Caduceus while he was at the peak of his powers.

But their rivalry had nothing to compare with that of Devine and Litten by the time the 1958 NZ Cup rolled around. After unsuccessfully campaigning Caduceus and False Step at the Inter-Dominions around the saucer-like Wayville circuit in South Australia that year, Litten had returned home to have a very public falling out with Smyth over a driving engagement for False Step in Auckland. Never one to mince words, Litten told Smyth to take False Step away, and with no doubt spite in mind, Smyth gave him to Devine.

What was adding to the colour and controversy here was the fact that Devine and Litten had had their infamous whip slashing incident at the prior NZ Cup Meeting, and both had been given six months on the driving sidelines to cool their heels. A special mile feature, the NZ Flying Stakes, had been carded on the final day to mark the South Island debut of the new mobile gate. 'The Flash' was publishing turn-and-finish photos of all the main horse racing meetings, and the photographer on the home turn captured Devine and Litten going at it in full cry. That issue, carrying the graphic print, was a sell out.

Caduceus, driven by Tony Vassalo, had won that encounter easily in 2:00 as Litten (driving bracketmate False Step) and Devine (with Don Hall) engaged in a spectacular whip fight through the home stretch, watched in amazement by the huge crowd. They had pulled up second and third and both horsemen were obviously distressed. It was an unfortunate exacerbation of a bout of friendly ribbing among several of the top Canterbury horsemen of the era, which had expanded in this case to some race jostling before exploding into their whip slashing duel.

It ended a friendship between the two outstanding horsemen, who for the remainder of their lives refused to speak to each other. Litten had a stable full of top horses at the time and did not need owners telling him what to do. Earlier, and when yet to make any real name for himself in the game, Litten had 'made' Vedette and similarly told the owner to take the subsequent Addington Inter-Dominion winner away as a matter of principle. Litten would have Inter-Dominion success with Caduceus, but the closest he ever got to winning the NZ Cup was when 'Charlie' came up a desperately unlucky head short of False Step and Devine in 1858.

After winning the Hannon, the 1957 Cup winner Lookaway with Maurice Holmes at the helm from 24 yards were the favourites to repeat ahead of Ces Devine's bracket of False Step, off the front, and the 1956 Cup winner Thunder from 30 yards. Gentry (18yds) with his northern support and U Scott mare Lady Belmer (12yds) were next in the betting ahead of Caduceus, who by now had the record book and the handicapper very much against him. Caduceus had come off 54 yards to finish within half a length of Lookaway at Oamaru in track record time, but hardly raised a mention in 'Irvington's' Cup preview in the NZ Trotting Calendar.

Lookaway, who had of course become the first 4-year-old to win the Cup the previous season, had also impressed in the Cup Trial, whereas both False Step and Thunder had not according to Irvington. This was the point however where the unsound Lookaway's career began an out of control downward spiral, and the rise of False Step really began, although it should be noted he was "one of the greatest 4-year-olds ever" under Litten's tutelage.

Trueco and Derek Jones led early, but False Step was showing the way after half a mile before Caduceus dashed past down the back and Litten slammed on the brakes. The field then rushed up and around Caduceus, who went back on False Step and he tripped and almost fell passing the mile. False Step had only La Mignon and the tardy Thunder behind him starting the last lap when Tactician took them along from Roy Grattan and Gentry, who had skied to a clear lead starting the last half and seemed likely to win coming to the home turn.

False Step and Devine had been inching closer out wide all the time however and forged to a clear-cut lead early in the run home, looking set for an easy win, but Caduceus came flying out wide to almost bomb him on the line after himself being severely checked in the backstraight. Gentry and F J Smith jnr were four lengths away in third ahead of Lady Belmer and Lookaway, who "had every chance and did not really finish on as expected."

"Caduceus was pacing well when he met trouble near the three furlongs, and almost went down on his knees," said a crestfallen Litten, "by the time he got going again, he had lost his position."

"False Step is not a big horse by any means but he is all horse and his stamina cannot be doubted. When he showed up about the three furlongs, it was obvious he had something in reserve," wrote Irvington.

False Step had of course given Fallacy a very good start to his siring career, although he would still want for support as a 'colonial-bred' sire. Litten had bred him from Diversion, a Rey de Oro mare from the outstanding trotter Escapade, a daughter of Nelson Bingen and the 1915 NZ Cup winner Country Belle. In the end he produced around 250 winners, with NSW Derby winner Dignus coming from his second crop and 1971 NZ Cup winner True Averil was another in a long list of quality performers. Light Brigade himself had four starters in the Cup that year - Lookaway, La Mignon (6th), Thunder (7th) and Trueco (8th).

Caduceus would have his revenge by brilliantly winning the mile-and-five-furlong Ollivier Handicap from 48 yards on Show Day and the NZ Free-For-All on the fourth day, winning the latter for the second time. Earlier on the fourth day, False Step (30yds) had again beaten Caduceus (48yds) in the two-mile NZ Pacing Championship in a much more strongly run 4:11 1/5, as Lady Belmer and Gentry again chased them home.

It was still not uncommon at this time for the top horses to race twice a day more than once even at the four-day Cup Meeting held over 18 days, the fans feasting on double helpings so to speak. Not something to be even contemplated today of course.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in 14Jun06

Lookaway, the first 4yo to win the Cup

1957 NZ TROTTING CUP

Records are made to be broken and Lookaway broke one last Tuesday when he romped home at the head of the field for the 1957 New Zealand Trotting Cup. He became the first four-year-old ever to win the race and a great horse and a great reinsman combined to achieve an outstanding performance.

Lookaway has had a meteoric rise to Cup company and on Tuesday he lived right up to the high opinion formed of him by his many admirers. Lookaway had gone from success to success, culminating in his clear cut win in the Dominion's premier two-mile race. His win gave M Holmes his third driving success in the race. He drove Wrackler to win in 1930 and trained and drove Chamfer to win in 1950.

The race was truly run from start to finish and the backmarkers were working hard from the time the barriers were released, and Holmes drove his own race. He waited for nobody, a habit Holmes has. The first half mile was run in 64 1-5secs, the mile in 2:08 4-5, the mile and a quarter in 2:41 2-5, the mile and a half in 3:12, the mile and five furlongs in 3:43 3-5 and the full journey in 4:14 4-5.

Once Lookaway became balanced he was taken up to sit in behind the pacemaker, General Sandy, and when that horse began to weaken just after passing the half mile, Lookaway streaked away into the lead and turned for home with a winning break on the rest. From that stage to the winning post it was only a matter of keeping him up to his work to win by the official margin of five lengths from last year's Cup winner Thunder. M Holmes must be given full credit for the manner in which he has developed Lookaway and he drove another masterly race on Tuesday.

Brahman was the only one to really break at the start but Thelma Globe was slow and Caduceus was also a little slow to get into his stride. Passing the stands for the first time, General Sandy was setting a solid pace from Roy Grattan with two lengths to La Mignon, Trueco and Lookaway, almost together. Then followed four lengths back, Worthy Chief, Tactician, Thunder, Laureldale, and Caduceus with a gap to Adorian. At the mile post Lookaway had moved up to trail General Sandy and M Holmes had settled down in his characteristic attitude. At this stage the two leaders were clear of Trueco, Highland Air, False Step, La Mignon, Thunder, Worthy Chief and Caduceus.

Passing the half mile Lookaway raced into the lead and reached the three furlongs with a handy break on Trueco who was closely followed by General Sandy, Highland Air and Thunder. Lookaway continued his fine run to reach the post a clear-cut winner from Thunder with La Mignon in third place and False Step fourth. Then came Caduceus, Highland Air, General Sandy, Worthy Chief, Trueco and Tactician, with the rest beaten off.

It is safe to say that there would be no more happy man on the course than Mr C L Rhodes, owner of the Cup winner. Mr Rhodes bred and did the early training of Lookaway and no owner is more deserving of success in the light-harness sport in the Dominion than Mr Rhodes. Lookaway is the first foal of Raceaway, who was a useful winner herself and took a record of 3:41 4-5 for one mile and five furlongs. Raceaway was got by U Scott from Loyal Bonny, by Grattan Loyal-Bon Rey, by Rey de Oro-Bonilene (imp) by the Bondsman. This is one of the most successful families in the NZ Trotting Stud Book.

For more than twenty years Mr Rhodes has raced pacers and trotters and he has won much more money with his horses than most people, and he has owned more horses than most people. They have not all been winners - some have not even got to the races - but this has never daunted Mr Rhodes. He has kept on pressing on regardless and no one would get a greater thrill out of Lookaway's fine win than his owner-breeder and one-time trainer.

Mr Rhodes made an inauspicious start in the light-harness game. His father-in-law, Mr Free Holmes, gave him a Sonoma Harvester gelding called Harvest Child in 1933. Harvest Child was then eight years old. He had been raced extensively, and with a good deal of success, before becoming the property of Mr Rhodes. Harvest Child made no return for some time and then Mr Rhodes leased him to L A Maidens who then trained at Winchmore. Maidens won three further races with Harvest Child and these successes stimulated Mr Rhodes's interest in the sport. He has never let up since.

Mr Rhodes has been in the limelight in recent years through the deeds of the 'Peterson' family. Mr Rhodes has put much of the money his horses have won back into his training establishment, 'Peterson Lodge' at Templeton. His 150 acre farm, and ideal training quarters and track (formerlythe late R B Berry's establishment) are praised by every visitor. Horses raced by Mr Rhodes have won over £60,000. Lookaway's latest success brought his record to 14 wins and £12,711 5s in stakes, a grand record for a four-year-old.

In presenting the Cup to Mr Rhodes, the Governor General, Lord Cobham, paid tribute to a fine horse and an expert driver and congratulated Mr Rhodes on his fine win. Mr Rhodes replied. Lord Cobham stated that he had seen trotting several years ago in Perth when he visited that city with the MCC cricket team.

This year's New Zealand Cup created widespread interest weeks before the big event, and there appeared to be a new spirit in the large crowd which turned up at Addington on Tuesday. The weather was threatening in the morning but had improved by the time the Cup came up for decision. The new spirit was reflected in the totalisator investments on the race which showed an increase over those of last year. The on course total on the race was £25,395 compared with £22,096 10s last year and the off course total was £24,137 as against £23,329 last year.

Attendances and totalisator figures for Cup Day showed a sharp increase over the figures for the previous year. The crowd was officially estimated at 21,000 compared with 18,000 twelve months ago. The crowd tested the capacity of the totalisator and many hundreds were shut out on the outside enclosure on several races. There was not the same congestion on the inside. On-course totalisator investments amounted to £191,118 5s, including £17,965 15s on the duoble, compared with £165,908 5s last year. Off-course investments also showed a substantial increase, amounting to £151,052, compared with £128,443 10s last year. The meeting was held in fine weather, but a cool southerly wind made conditions unpleasant early in the day. The track was in good order.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Nov57