By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Monday will mark 70 years since the first running of the Ashburton Flying Stakes.
In that time only 11 horses have won the race and then gone on to win the New Zealand Cup in the same year.
Only two horses have done it twice – Lazarus in 2016 and 2017 and Terror To Love in 2012 and 2013.
The first horse to do the Stakes- Cup double was Our Roger. He won the very first Ashburton Flying Stakes on Oct 1, 1955 for driver Doug Watts in 2:53 and then went on to win the 1955 New Zealand Cup five weeks later in 4:12.2.
Technically Jack Litten trained the quinella in the Flying Stakes with Our Roger and Caduceus though Caduceus dead heated for second with Johnny Globe who started off the back mark of 30 metres and had just run a world record of 2:50.2 for the mile and three furlongs (2200 metres approx)!
Watts won the Stakes the very next year as well with Caduceus. They were his only wins in the race. He drove in the New Zealand Cup 27 times. As well as winning with Our Roger in 1955 he was also successful with Integrity in 1946.
In the very first edition of the Ashburton Flying Stakes front marker Gay Lyric, one of the outsiders in the 18-strong field, led and set a hot pace and around the final turn was the one to catch along with Recent Choice.
Our Roger, Ohio, Thelma Globe, Au Revoir, Caduceus, Johnny Globe, and Rupee were the most prominent of the rest until Watts shot Our Roger clear at the 200 metre mark as the leaders started to tire.
Caduceus and Johnny Globe issued their challenges wider out but it was Our Roger who had their measure, winning by a length.
Favourite Rupee was the day’s hard luck story. He was checked and lost ground around the 1200 metre mark but staged a remarkable recovery, making up eight lengths in the home straight before finishing fourth.
Rupee was second in Our Roger’s New Zealand Cup, beaten by two lengths. Our Roger had settled just off the pace before overhauling Rupee and Excelsa to win going away by two lengths.
It was Our Roger’s 15th and last career success as it turned out – not bad for a horse that had been written off earlier in his career because of a “wind affliction”.
Horses to have completed the Ashburton Flying Stakes – IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup double :
Lazarus – 2016/17
Adore Me – 2014
Terror To Love – 2012/13
Flashing Red – 2006
Yulestar – 2000
Christian Cullen – 1998
Iraklis – 1997
Trusty Scot – 1978
Lordship – 1962
False Step – 1960
Our Roger – 1955
To see the field for this Monday’s Ashburton Flying Stakes click here
