BLAST FROM THE PAST
1931 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP: Won by Harold Logan
1931 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP
The final of the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington yesterday was a race worthy of the occasion. Nowhere in New Zealand, and probably in few places anywhere, is there a trotting race in which the interest of the public is so intense. At Addington there is always the biggest crowd of the year to see this race for the best proved horses in the country, and it is also a fact, obvious enough to those inside the ground, that many hundreds, possibly a few thousands of people, contrive to spare a half hour or so from daily tasks to see it from points of vantage outside the ground.
Yesterday they saw a very thrilling race. A comparatively slow pace was set with the field strung out almost in single file for a mile, but for the last mile the speed was fierce, and Harold Logan's effort over the last half mile of the race was the most brilliant ever seen on the course. The time recorded, 4mins 18 2/5secs, was two-fifths of a second faster than the previous record for the race made by Peter Bingen in 1929.
The racing in the other events was interesting, and as the track was in its best condition, the times recorded were very fast. The weather was ideal. Only three favourites prevailed, but a number of well-backed runners returned dividends, with the result that the money was kept in circulation, and at times speculation was quite brisk. The sum of £37,803 was handled as against £51,189 on the corresponding day last year, and the total for the two completed days is £69,473 10s, is a shrinkage of £31,044 10s as compared with the total for the first and second days of the 1930 Spring Meeting.
After his disappointing run on Tuesday, Harold Logan receded slightly in public estimation, when he was paraded for the final of the New Zealand Cup, Wrackler being installed favourite, with the Free Advice-Logan Park bracket next in demand.
The field went away to a good start, although Kingcraft made a slight break in the first furlong but he was in front when the stands were reached. Free Advice, Logan Chief, Harold Logan, Lindberg, and Wrackler following in line at length intervals, with Logan Park bringing up the rear, four lengths behind Wrackler. They travelled in this order for a round, when Lindberg and Wrackler moved up and passing the stand with six furlongs to go Kingcraft still held command from Lindberg and Free Advice together, Wrackler and Logan Chief being in line with Harold Logan on the rails behind these two, and Logan Park still a couple of lengths in the rear. The order down the back was Kingcraft, Lindberg, Free Advice, Wrackler, Logan Chief, Harold Logan and Logan Park.
Kingcraft piloted the field into the straight from Free Advice, Lindberg, Wrackler, Harold Logan, Logan Chief and Logan Park. Harold Logan had begun a fast run from the quarter peg, and ranged alongside Kingcraft, Free Advice and Wrackler, who were spread across the track, and continuing his run on the outside, he had Wrackler beaten first, then Free Advice weakened, and he went on to account for Kingcraft by a length, half a length separating Free Advice from the second horse, with Wrackler a further half length away. Logan Park, Lindberg and Logan Chief finished in that order.
It was a triumphant success for Harold Logan, as he was giving a good start to Kingcraft, Free Advice, Lindberg, and Wrackler when turning for home, but the patient driving tactics employed by R J Humphreys on this occasion, bore good results. He was asked for a great effort over the concluding stages, and the manner in which he responded left no doubt as to his superiority at the finish. Kingcraft gave another brilliant display and repeated his first day's form to within one-fifth of a second. He tried to make the pace all the way, and nearly succeeded. Free Advice was always handily-placed, but found Harold Logan's stout-hearted finish too good. Wrackler surprised that he did not finish on better, as the final furlong of a race is always his best. Lindberg evidently felt the strain of Tuesday's race, as he showed no keenness in the fighting finish, and Logan Chief was also lacking dash at the end. Logan Park was last most of the way, his fifth place at the finish being the closest he ever was to the leader.
Credit: THE PRESS 13 Nov 1931
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