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Tobacco Road

1957 NZ DERBY STAKES

Although his winning margin in the NZ Derby Stakes was only half a length, Tobacco Road's success was too clear cut to offer any excuses for the beaten division.

The pace was leisurely in the early part and Tobacco Road soon became buried down on the fence and his driver, M Holmes, had to pull him back to get a clear run with five furlongs to go. Tobacco Road ranged up wide out at the home turn, but once straightened up he soon gathered in the leaders. He ran in under pressure but his driver kept him off Gay Baron nearing the post and he won convincingly. Tobacco Road's success stamps him as a high class three-year-old and his win brought M Holmes's tally of winning drives in this event to 10.

Zany, Montague, Matairiki, and Vanover lost ground at the start and Seafield Lad led out from Whippy Dillon and Rosalinda with Tobacco Road on the outside of Diamond Hanover, Gay Baron and Sebabu. Seafield Lad paced the first quarter in 34secs and reached the half mile in 69secs. It was at this stage that Tobacco Road became buried down on the inside. With six furlongs to go, Montague raced round the field to be on terms with Seafield Lad at the half mile followed by Whippy Dillon, Rosalinda, Diamond Hanover (on the inside), Gay Baron, Sebabu and Tobacco Road. Gay Baron improved his position racing to the straight where he was handy to Seafield Lad. Whippy Dillon, Montague, Sebabu, Rosalinda, Tobacco Road and Diamond Hanover were next.

Gay Baron worked clear early in the run home, but Tobacco Road soon challenged and took the measure of Gay Baron to win by a half length, with Diamond Hanover in third place. Seafield Lad hung on for fourth place, then came Whippy Dillon and Sebabu. Montegue was eight lengths back next, followed by Rosalinda, with Zany and Matairiki beaten off, clear of Vanover.

It was a fine performance on the part of the winner as he had little in his favour in the early running. Gay Baron confirmed his winning run in the Riccarton Stakes and he finished on gamely under a hard drive. He is a reliable colt who possesses his share of ability but he struck one just too good on the day. He looks certain to develop into a more than useful winner for Mr A E Ison, and W K Tatterson produced him in good order for his most serious test to date this season. Diamond Hanover paced a gallant race into third place and was far from disgraced. He received a bad run approaching the straight for the run home and had to change his course from wide out to the rails to get a run. Seafield Lad did not finish on as expected and Rosalinda received a grand run throughout. Whippy Dillon and Sebabu had every chance and the rest were beaten off.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calandar 20Nov57

1957 DOMINION HANDICAP

Only a five-year-old, Durban Chief returned a fine effort to win the Dominion Handicap, the premier event for trotters in New Zealand. His performance was marred to some extent however by two breaks during the running, but when balanced he showed his usual brilliance.

Bred at Westport by Mr W A Craddock, he is raced in partnership by Mrs M F Collins, Mr E Walsh and J R Woodcock, who trains him at Westport. Durban Chief was driven by W P Walsh, who has been associated with him in all his races.

One of the most brilliant displays of trotting seen at Addington for some time was returned by Recruit in the Dominion Handicap, and it was nothing short of a tragedy that he broke just short of the post when he had the race won. From 84yards Recruit began safely but soon became badly placed. He received a shocking run to the half mile and then had to race wide to make his run. His exhibition deserved a much better fate as he did not put a foot wrong until his lapse at the end.

PHOTO - There was an exciting finish to the Dominion Trotting Handicap when the brilliant Recruit(M Holmes) outer, came home in sensational style to cross the line narrowly ahead of Durban Chief(W Walsh) and Barravey(J Litten). Unfortunately for his supporters Recruit broke just short of the post and was relegated to third place for galloping across the line. This was one of the finest performances ever put up by Recruit and it was unfortunate that he lost the decision through breaking

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 20Nov57

1957 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Lookaway added further to his already grand record when he beat a field of high class sprinters pointlessly in the NZ Free-For-All. He was slow in the early rush for positions and was eighth, a good way from the leader, Suzendy, at the end of a furlong. Racing to the five furlongs he was given his head and had little difficulty in reaching the lead. From that stage the result was never in doubt and he coasted home an easy winner by four lengths.

Lookaway has now won 15 races for £13,491 5s in stakes.

The surprise of the race was the fine showing made by Suzendy. She has always been regarded as a sprinter of more than average worth, and she raced right up to the opinion held of her in this department by her connections. She should not be difficult to place to further advantage in sprint and middle distances in the immediate future.

PHOTO - Lookaway followed up his brilliant NZ Trotting Cup victory with a fine win in the NZ Free-Fir-All over a mile and a quarter. Driven by trainer M Holmes Lookaway was slow away but quickly settled into his stride to draw out and win by four lengths from Tactician(M McTigue), Suzendy and the favourite Caduceus(middle of the track). Don Hall(inner) was fifth followed by Trueco and Adorian(outer). Caduceus broke at the start but made a good recovery.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 20Nov57

1957 NZ OAKS

A bold finishing run gave Zany a clear-cut success in the NZ Oaks. She was always in the leading division and held too many guns for the remainder in the run home. This was her second success for the season and she should not be diffucult to place to further advantage.

Raced in partnershipby Mrs A and A Purdon, who trains her at Prebbleton, Zany is by Light Brigade from the Grattan Loyal mare, Admiration, dam of Esteem and others. Purdon purchased the filly for a would-be client, who went cold on the deal, whereupon Alec raced Zany with his wife Jess.

Gold Hanover paced her best race to date this season to beat all but Zany. She followed the pacemaker, Anne Peterson, into the straight for the run home and had little difficulty heading off Anne Peterson for second place. By Lucky Hanover from Daisy Gold (a full sister to Daisy Bar and a half sister to Te Maru and Sandy Scott), Gold Hanover is bred to win her way to good company.

Anne Peterson attempted to lead over the last nine furlongs and her effort was a game one. This good-looking daughter of U Scott and Ivy Peterson has the ability to win good races if she can be persuaded to overcome her nervousness at the barrier. She made a good beginning on Saturday.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 11Dec57

1957 NZ WELCOME STAKES

With one win to his credit at his only start the boom two-year-old Tobacco Road did not remain in the north for the smaller races but went south to annex the New Zealand Welcome Stakes.

Transferred from A Bryce's stable to the care of M Holmes, he gave a sound pacing performance, and after being back in the early running finished boldly from the turn to score by two lengths. Guiseppe's younger brother, Diamond Hanover(D J Townley) rails, was a good second ahead of Gay Baron(W Tatterson) and outsider Whippy Dillon.

Tobacco Road has now established himself as a top class juvenile and confirmed the early impressions gained of his ability in pre-race trials. He could quite well remain unbeaten this season but it is expected that the handsome black Diamond Hanover could provide him with strong opposition.

Credit: NZ HoofBeats Apr 1957

1957 RATTRAY STAKES

A New Zealand record was created in the Rattray Stakes when Tactician prevailed in a tight finish. His time for the flying mile was 1:59 4/5.

Driven by M C McTigue, Tactician was always well placed and he finished strongly on the outer to take the decision from False Step(J D Litten)2, whose time was 2:00. Local Light (T Webster) was almost in line in third place.

The Rattray Stakes, with its flying start and free-for-all conditions was a popular event with punters and owners alike and Tactician was given a fine reception when his time was announced.



Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Apr 1957

1957 EASTER CUP

Amid pouring rain and on a track which was literally a sea of mud the third day of Addington's Easter fixture provided no pleasure for racegoers or drivers.

It took Danniel's Pride, a proven mudlark, 3 minutes 49 seconds to run the mile and five furlong Easter Cup after leading all the way.

With drivers' colours completely obscured the horses could only be identified by their numbers and here Danniel's Pride and driver D C Watts are seen on the inner taking a head victory over Light Nurse(C Berkett) outer. Super Royal(M Holmes) outer, is taking third place from Stadium Chief(rails) and Don Hall.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Apr 1957

1957 NZ TROTTING FREE-FOR-ALL

In the NZ Trotting Free-For-All Recruit more tha atoned for his lapse in the Dominion Handicap by leading throughout to give trainer M Holmes an armchair drive and an easy victory. A hotly supported favourite, he downed Lenvin(D Jones) and Barravey(J Litten) with the greatest of ease. Six lengths back the remainder of the field was headed in by Battle Cry. Recruit ran the mile and five in 3.30 4/5.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Vol 7 No.11

Cecil Devine, Mrs Boyle and owner Erick Rutherford

1956 NZ TROTTING CUP

Thunder loitered with the New Zealand Trotting Cup field in a convivial sort of way for a mile and three-quarters and then went hot-foot for probably the easiest win ever seen in the race.

Call him clumsy, ungainly, or be even so uncharitable as to tag him carty, he is still the complete answer to any question of the fastest passage between any two given trotting or pacing points! Thunder is not by a long chalk, as smooth a pacer as Indianapolis was; but, barring accidents, he is the one horse racing at the present time who is capable of equalling that giant's supreme feat of winning the Cup three years in succession. It is a big errand, but Thunder is geared for the job. Big in physique, big in heart and gigantic in stride and staying power, we can still only have a faint suspicion of how good he really is, because on Tuesday he annihilated some of the best pacers in this or any other country, including two world record holders in Caduceus and Thelma Globe. A field of novices having their first outing at a matinee meeting could scarcely have been so utterly vanquished as the 10 good and true racehorses who struggled along in Thunder's wake. Such is the acid stamp of class.

The track, slushy on top to start with, had dried out remarkably well by the time the Cup - the third race - was due to be run, and a couple of feet out from the rails the going was firm all the way round. It was a pity the pace was allowed to slacken so deplorably in the middle stages. The sectional times reveal how close the field came to a "walk" in the second half-mile, which occupied 1:09.8! The first quarter was run in 35.6 sec, half in 1:06.4, six furlongs in 2:46, mile and a half 3:17.6 and the full journey 4:21.8. From the mile post to the mile and a quarter post the tramped like champions are expected to - this section was left behind in 29.8 sec. Thunder paced the last mile in 2:05.6, but the extent to which to which he was enabled to ease off at the end is shown by his last half-mile in 1:04.2.

His official winning margin was six lengths, and he was slakening pace towards the close. "Although the slow pace early did not suit Thunder, he was always going like a winner," said C C Devine, "over the last half-mile in particular I felt very confident. He was a little sore before the race, but he soon got over that. The way he nods when he is going gives the impression of lameness, but that is just his style."

Cecil Devine won the 1951 New Zealand Cup with his own horse, Van Dieman, another accomplished stayer. Devine, a native of Tasmania, came to New Zealand about 20 years ago. The road to the top for Devine was not an easy one from the depth of the depression when he was glad to be a stropper to a good pacer of those "seldom" days in Evicus. Devine first came into prominence as owner and trainer of the useful little trotter, Teddy Greg. He had the bad luck to lose a promising colt named Viceroy, but he was compensated soon afterwards by some driving success behind the trotter Flying Scott. In the 1949-50 season Devine trained and drove the sensational filly Vivanti, whose mile and a quarter in 2:41.2 still stands as the New Zealand and Australian two-year-old record for a mile and a quarter. Van Dieman was well on the harness stage by then too, and he won the Royal Metropolitan Cup in January 1954, as well as the 1951 New Zealand Cup and a number of free-for-alls. Thunder's meteoric rise from maiden class to the top of the tree has been accomplished in the short space of 19 months. The New Zealand Cup win was worth £4975 (including the silver salver valued at £100) and brought his total stake-winnings to £12,097.

Excelsa was the only one of the field to make a bad break at the start, and Dancing Years showed the way out to Thunder, Roy Grattan and Caduceus, who made one of the best beginnings of his career. There was no inclination on the part of anything to "turn on the heat," and Thunder was in front with two furlongs covered. A furlong further on Caduceus took charge, and it was Worthy Chief's turn to lead by the time the first half-mile had been covered. They were closely packed by now, with Tactician bringing up the rear. Worthy Chief still lead at the mile, with Te Koi just shading him at the end of another two furlongs. Caduceus was third at that stage, and Thunder had drifted back to seventh. Down the back they sprinted, and by the time the three furlongs was passed Caduceus and Thunder were in charge. Two furlongs to go, and Thunder had ranged up on the outside of Caduceus. It was all over at the straight entrance: Thunder left Caduceus standing and he was all by himself at the winning post. Caduceus just failed to hold off Laureldale, who made a suprisingly fine showing for second, and Roy Grattan and Dancing Years were at the head of the remainder.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1956 NZ DERBY STAKES

The New Zealand Derby Stakes ended in a dual between Bon Ton and Lookaway over the final furlong, with Bon Ton eventually asserting himself as by far the best three-year-old of the season to date.

Drawn in the second row, Bon Ton shot through brilliantly at barrier rise and was trailing the pacemaker Gentry, within half a furlong. Reputation then dashed through to take the lead from Gentry, with Bon Ton close up and Dignus and Golden Hero next.

The leading positions did not change until Lookaway moved up from sixth with a round to go, to have a clear lead at the furlong from Bon Ton, who had worked clear of a pocket at the quarter post. Bon Ton did not collar Lookaway until as late as 100 yards from the post, and it was a solid effort on the part of Lookaway (who was also drawn on the second line), to have Bon Ton stretched out at the finish, and also beat the third horse, Dignus, so easily. Golden Hero was a fair fourth, followed by Gentry, Aksarben, Overdrive and Crimson Star. Shantung and Sextant extinguished their chances at the start.

Bon Ton dispelled all doubts about three-year-old supremacy to date this season. He had been described as desperately unlucky to go down in defeat to Gentry in the Riccarton Stakes on the first day of the Cup carnival



Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar