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The Maceys with driver Todd Mitchell

1999 DB DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

A medley of incidents and accidents before the start added spark to the DB Draught NZ Trotting Cup at Addington on Tuesday.

The signs were there but hard to read when Ritchi reared in the birdcage as the horses left for the barrier. Once at the start, and when all was in readiness, Ritchie performed again, this time rearing backwards and buckling his sulky shafts. Driver David Butcher was lucky to be unhurt and he deserved a medal for holding on and saving what might have been a minor disaster. It was bad enough as it was. Club veterinary surgeon Cliff McGrouther was then despatched to the start to see if Ritchie was in the right health to start. He was, though Steven Reid, his co-trainer with Tremain Thorby, thought the prudent course might have been to scratch him considering the drama he'd been through.

The second attempt to line up was better but not good. Happy Asset nearly went through the strand and had to be taken out and put in line again. No sooner had he stood up again, and they were off, but not with Agua Caliente. Under Cover Lover was a clear leader and Ritchie was with her after 300 metres when starter Jack Mulcay whistled them back for a false start. Chief Stipe Neil Escott was soon in contact with Mulcay: "What's happening over there?" "Agua Caliente was side on," reported Mulcay.

Meantime, in the engine room, Racing Manager Tony Lye is reopening the tote, checking the start time of a North Island galloping race, and thinking the delay might mean a bigger handle. Nearly 20 minutes have gone since start time, and the field is still in the starters hands.

HRNZ Executive Member Charlie Hunter, who has seen his fair share of Cups, goes past: "Ever seen anything like this before?" CEO Mike Godber sees some relief in the situation. Sweating in his tails, he is able to remove his top hat and mop the brow. "I won't look. Just tell me if they're all away," he says.

At the third attempt, the field is despatched as one, with Under Cover Lover again leading out from Kate's First and Holmes D G. At this point, Barry Purdon, still thinking he had a lucky break over the false start when Holmes D G made a match-losing gallop, drives the favourite forward to lead. This was predictable. In the last five or six years, the Cup favourites have always led over the last mile and most of them for much more. This is the place for the best horse to be, and Purdon was happy to be there. Agua Caliente was back and Homin Hosed parked. No change, except for a plucky run by Bogan Fella who came up to be second with a lap to run. But still no pressure, and no time to talk of.

The race almost had a fairy-tale look on the corner. 'A driving win for Barry at his ninth attempt ...or was it 10?' 'A very worthy consolation prize for beleagured All Black coach John Hart who arrived home from England at 5am that morning.' 'The favourite delivers in the end.' And the picture developed with some certainty like this from the 400m to the 300m and the 200m, even the 100m where Bogan Fella finally let go. But shapes change and Purdon was somewhat dismayed a few strides later when he saw a head appear outside of Bogan Fella and coming at quite a rattle. "I couldn't see the horse, just a head. I thought it was Denis Wilson's horse," he said. The danger was greater than that. Homin Hosed.

Addington has been good country in the past for Holmes D G. It's also been the land of plenty for Homin Hosed. In two starts, he hasn't been beaten at Addington. At 3200m, his record at Addington is perfect. After looking so convincing for so long up the straight, Holmes D G lingered for just a fraction near the post. Purdon knew it. "I thought there might have been half a head in it," he said. There was a nose, and Homin Hosed still has a perfect record at Addington.

Time is critical but margins win races. 4:04.3 is the official time for Homin Hosed and Holmes D G in the DB Draught NZ Trotting Cup. In the space of less than a tenth of a second, when small fortunes can be won and lost, Homin Hosed nailed the victory in the very last stride. The difference was huge: $209,000 instead of $69,910, honourable mention in the record books, fame and fortune by a nose.

It was a Holmes Hanover quinella in the DB Draught NZ Cup, a North Island 1,2,3,4 with Bogan Fella third and Kate's First fourth - a tight finish after a tame race.

The winners are modest, retiring people. The Maceys, Bryan and his wife Marilyn, are 66 and 65. Instead of doing less at their age, they are doing more; Bryan busy with six horses besides Homin Hosed, Marilyn managing an educational trust. When it came to say thanks for so much to so many at the end of the race, it was Marilyn who took charge. "I don't think Bryan could say anything at the moment." Clutching the Cup, she said:"We've never been here on Cup Day before. It was going to be a wonderful day for us, even without winning," she said. After thanking the club, the sponsors, their driver Todd Mitchell, Marilyn said:"And I must thank the trainer. I am only a part-owner but I must say it's our most memorable moment." Later Bryan did have his say: "I can't really describe how I feel at the moment."

All agree, Homin Hosed has never run a bad race. He won his first race in modest company at Manawatu. "Peter Stephens loaned us Miss Piggy, a Noodlum mare, and one of the chaps from Pyne Gould Guinness said we couldn't go wrong sending her to Holmes Hanover," he recalled. Miss Piggy was from Halter Prize, by Mark Lobell, from the Lucky Hanover mare Lucky Lea, who earlier left the useful winners Hanover Heels and Halter Hal. Previously, she had been to Happy Cat, Slugger and Cheshire, none of which figured in the same commercial street as Holmes.

Macey, a retired vet, put his foot in the water as a trainer in the 80s when he bred an raced Royal Pandora, a mare by Royal Scotchman. "When she won her first start and then her second I thought how good it was. But then she never won another race." Then, he came up with the smart pacer Single Cee, by Crockett and from the same family as Homin Hosed, who won nine before going to the States.

With Homin Hosed, Macey has seldom had much to worry about. He had a little problem with a corn after Kaikoura but it was hardly worth a mention. If there was an issue, it might have been bringing Homin Hosed to the hard racing trim Macey wanted. Working at home, without the choice of companions a big stable can offer, Macey had to take what he could get. "He's a lazy horse at home and needed that run at Kaikoura. He's so tough, and he just relaxes," he said.

Homin Hosed will now embark on assignments equally challenging. He will race in the Miracle Mile if invited - "We will accept an invitation although he's not really a miler" - and then to Melbourne for the Inter-Dominions.

In Macey's care at home are a 2-year-old half-sister to Homin Hosed by Sundon, a yearling half-sister by Il Vicolo, and Miss Piggy is booked to In The Pocket this season.

Thrilled with the support of his local community, Macey acknowledged this by using the colours of Waikato on his pacer's breastplate. He also knows the value of sponsors. One of the first to shake his hand on winning the Cup was George Calvert, who sponsored the Easter Cup Homin Hosed won at Addington on his last trip. "He wrote me a great letter after it. He's one of the best," said Calvert as he congratulated Macey.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in the HR Weekly

Graham Bruton, Anthony & Tim Butt

1999 COUPLAND'S BAKERIES DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

West Melton trainer Tim Butt captured the biggest victory of his career when Lyell Creek demolished the $100,000 Coupland's Bakeries Dominion Trotting Handicap field at Addington. The 31-year-old West Melton horseman has been a consistent achiever amongst the training ranks, notching 20-plus win totals in each of his last five seasons. And now he looks set to take centre stage in the cauldron of next year's Inter-Dominion Trotting Championship in Melbourne. Thanks to Lyell Creek.

Dubbed affectionately by Butt and his brother Anthony as 'Creek the freak', trotting's latest sensation really is one out of the blue. This time 12 months ago he had only just made his debut, finishing fifth in a maiden at Kaikoura, and he was bought by Graham Bruton after winning his next start on January 4. Lyell Creek won first-up for the Butts at Motukarara later the same month, then at Addington early in February he stood on the mark and took no part, eventually being pulled up. Two wins in the space of three days at Trentham followed, but after returning home Lyell Creek took ill. "He got this niggly little virus and was quite crook for a long while," Tim recalled. "The virus was resistant to a couple of types of antibiotics that we tried, and in the end we took a swab out of his lung to find out how to kill it."

Lyell Creek resumed in August, knocking his opposition aside like tenpins. He stretched his winning streak to five prior to the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup, and treated that field with arrogance as well. If people were not starting to sit up and take notice by then, they certainly were after the geldings Cup Day run, because that was one of the greatest staying performances ever seen at Addington.

So Lyell Creek went into the Dominion with the picket fence formline intact, but on the score of experience he really had no right lining up in such an event. After all, it is the New Zealand Cup of trotting, a race for our most hardened and elite square-gaiters; with only 11 starts under his belt, Lyell Creek was a baby in an adult's world. No-one told him that. Beginning like only he does, Lyell Creek bounded away for his customary two strides and came down trotting. Anthony Butt held onto him until they were around the first bend, then he asked the 6-year-old to find the lead. That is where Lyell Creek loves it and it shows. Two laps later he was still there, and he embarrassed his more experienced rivals when jogging home by more than two lengths.

"We were not originally going to start him in the Dominion," his trainer said afterwards. "All along we were targetting the Inter-Dominions because of the stakemoney, and we felt that his best chance in them was to be off the front. But going by his run on Cup Day and tonight's performance, he's probably good enough to win it off 20 metres," Butt said.

Lyell Creek now heads to Auckland for the two major trotting events on their carnival, and then it's off to Melbourne. Butt is extremely excited about the trotters prospects across the Tasman, and why wouldn't he be. "The handicaps for the Inter-Dominions come out on December 1, so regardless of what he does after that he can't be re-handicapped," he said. "In a lot of ways Lyell Creek is still learning to be a racehorse - he shakes and shivers in his stall before a race so he should be more settled once he gets over that. He is a perfect beginner though, and Ants hasn't turned the stick on him yet. The trips up north and overseas are going to do him the world of good."

Credit: John Robinson writing in NZHR Weekly

The Brodie family

1999 SMOKEFREE NZ DERBY

Greg Brodie would agree that he took some short-cuts before making his fortune. He was a varsity drop-out and "lived on the punt" when he was still a teenager. He went to the best schools, mixed with lads from the class of landed gentry, and enjoyed the visits of ace race commentator Johnny Tapp when he'd call into the family hotel in Sydney and talk horses with his father, Cleitis.

Brodie soon learned that while short-cuts might have put him on the track to becoming a wealthy man, they did not prevent disasters on the way to finding good racehorses. Ten years ago, through the help of Martin Herbert and Bruce Negus, he was in the market buying horses in the range of $20,000 to $40,000. "They were running-along horses who hadn't done much for me," he recalled.

Then came the call that led Brodie into the arena of spending bigger money on a better prospect. "It was Bruce on the phone, and he said to me 'I've got one to make up for the others.' That was Ginger Man and he won over half a million and now I've got 30 foals by him."
Others of quality followed Jillbo, Franco Hat Trick, Bridge Hanover and One Way Traffic. As good as they have been, Negus did his best day's work for the Queenslander when he bought him a black 2-year-old colt by In The Pocket, a bit on the smallish side, in the spring of 1997. This was Courage Under Fire, Brodie's signature horse, the winner of the Smokefree New Zealand Derby and before that 16 consecutive races. He has won $721,000, and is an icon of the New Zealand harness racing industry. Soon, he will be off to Australia, for three derbies, and possibly four if Negus decides to add Perth to the itinerary of New South Wales on May 14, Queensland on July 3 and the Australian on July 10.

Brodie is a quiet, unassuming man who bought his wife Grietha and their three daughters Deahnne, Raquel and Yasmin to Christchurch to see the horse he had been telling them about. He was the only child of a suburban publican. In hindsight, he was surprised he didn't start off with a galloper because the parents of many of his classmates had farming ties and thoroughbred origins. His first horse, leased at 17, was Jam Raider, who never won a race. "During those times I lived off the punt, everything was off the punt. I dropped out of varsity, went into accountancy for seven years, then into real estate. Fouteen years ago I left Sydney and went up to the Gold Coast. It was a lifestyle thing,"

After the setback with Jam Raider, his first decent horse was Cam Raider, who won 12 races out of Cyril Caffyn's stable. In partnership with his father who also raced Cam Raider, they bought Bell Byrd from Jim Dalgety. "We paid ten thousand pounds which was a lot of money at the time but she was a very good mare and won us the Golden Easter Egg in Sydney before dying from a twisted bowel. Since then, Brodie's hobby has mushroomed to the stage where he now owns horses in Perth with Ross Olivieri, Brisbane with Vic Frost, Melbourne with Mark Peace, and with Barry Purdon and Bruce Negus in New Zealand. After seeing his 30 foals by Ginger Man during his Derby trip, Brodie says his hobby "is out of control."

He also says his policy of buying up and running young horses - he has never been a breeder - is laced with pitfalls and problems. "I have rarely bought at yearling sales, in fact I can recall only buying one. By doing it this way, it reduces the risk because you know what you are buying. But even after trialling them, vet examinations, opinion and price, the success rate is only twenty five percent. I would like to think it is fifty percent," he said. To qualify that, Brodie said the purchase of Courage Under Fire should not be considered in isolation. I bought six 2-year-olds at that time, and Courage Under Fire was not the dearest. Klim was dearer and he has won one. Congo Direct was a good juvenile in Australia last season but he is not worth two bob this season. Another was Mr Focus. I think he's won, but the others are no good."

Brodie, who used to build shopping centres and now manages the ones he owns, recalls that in the past Negus has done all the groundwork and developing of his young horses, and they have gone to Purdon when Negus has said it is time to go. "I gave Bruce the choice of keeping Klim or Courage Under Fire. I suppose it could have gone the other way."

Brodie says the stakes won by Courage Under Fire have also been a "fantastic earner" for his breeders, Neville Cockcroft, Patricia Inkpen and the estate of Ossie Cockcroft who died aged 83, just two days before the Derby. Under the sale agreement they earn 10% of what Courage Under Fire wins from Group 1 races and Sales Series Finals. "We actually offered a lower figure, but Wayne Ross, his trainer then, was keen for us to get him and this was one of the ways for doing so. It was a real smart move for them." From his perspective, Brodie is concerned about the long term future of harness racing. He fears there are too few young people getting hands-on contact, and he notices no less than anyone else the scarcity of young people at the tracks.

Courage Under Fire took 3:15.9 to win the 2600m Derby, the slowest in four years, since Il Vicolo ran 3:17.4. He ran his last mile in 1:57.7, final 800m in 56.2 and last quarter in 27.4. Trainer Bruce Negus, always refreshingly honest, said: "You really have to be a bad trainer not to win with him. This race was too slow to be hard on him. He does make it look easy," he said. Negus says the only hard race he's had was on Show Day at Addington when Stevies ran him close. In the meantime, Stevies hasn't made the slipstream. Colonel Anvil came out of the trail to run second, followed by Waitaki Warrior and Stevies.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZHR Weekly

Cedar Fella holds out Sundon's Way

1998 COUPLAND'S BAKERIES DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Warren Stapleton once told his family if he ever won the Dominion Handicap, he'd retire. By his own admission, Stapleton's "a trotting man" and winning the Dominion is his New Zealand Cup; winning it has always been his dream. "I've watched many, many Dominions, and it was always frustrating not to have a horse there," he said.

There had been times when he did though...Highwood twice, October Pride and Cedar Fella last year. "Highwood was plagued by asthma and arthritis and was never right at Cup time; October Pride just couldn't function at the top level, and Cedar Fella was sick when he lined up in it last season and broke out of sheer frustration. In him I always knew I had the horse to do it if I could ever get him right."

This year, the Rakaia trainer took a gamble, opting to bypass Show Day's Free-For-All to have Cedar Fella "fresh" for the Dominion. The plan almost came unstuck 10 days before the event. "I noticed a change in his disposition and attitude, and he was starting to show the same symptoms as he did last year. It's got something to do with getting extra protein from the seed heads in the grass. I had his blood tested, and it was slipping - I was sick in the stomach. But I caught it early, treated him myself, and kept him off the grass. Thankfully, he got over it very quickly."

Stapleton was uncharacteristically on edge before the $100,000 Coupland's Bakeries Dominion Trotting Handicap. "I knew this was my best chance of winning the race," he said. "I can normally take a fair bit of pressure but I was nervous in anticipation. I was trying something new having him fresh for an event like this, and when I saw Knight Pistol and Mark Purdon's trio parade before the race that is when the worry started - there were some great horses out there. "Ricky (May) knew how much this event meant to me, but I said 'just get him out there and get him round, don't worry about the race.'"

Making his normal swift beginning in the 3200 test, Cedar Fella was heading for the lead before the first turn. McGrady came round at a serious speed soon after, so May let him go then quickly pulled the big horse out of the trail to head round to the front again. It was one of those instinctive decisions, made in a split second, and it was a beauty! Cedar Fella called all the shots from then on. The Son Of Afella gelding trotted the first half of his last mile in 60.6, came home in 61 and 29.7, and was giving everything he could when his massive head hit the finish line first.

"I am absolutely thrilled - this is the pinnacle of my career," Stapleton said. "Ricky drove him superbly, he's so cool under pressure. To win at that level with a sound horse is hard enough. Cedar Fella has always been terribly unsound, he really deserved to win a Group 1 event. People don't realise just how good this horse is. I don't rate myself in the top echelon of trainers; a win like this is good for the 'wee man.' it just proves that if you have a dream and hang in there long enough, it can come true."

Stapleton once told his family that if he ever won the Dominion Handicap, he would retire. His wife Wendy, daughters Kylie and Simone and son Dean were on-course to see him do that last Friday. But there's been no further mention of retirement; when Saturday dawned Stapleton was where he is every morning - out amongst his horses.

Credit: John Robinson writing in NZHR Weekly

Dan Campbell & Christian Cullen

1998 DB DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

If you'd seen Dan Campbell on Tuesday, you'd think it could've been a day at the Sunday Trials. Not a hint of a smile gave the show away. Not a wink or a blink to the waiting nation. Later, efficient, practical, calculated comments. Nothing to suggest this occasion was a beat up from any other. But it was.

Aged 26 and with the physique of a jockey, Campbell was the coolest dude on course after winning the $350,000 DB Draught NZ Cup with the Michael Jackson of the track, Christian Cullen.

What the pair lacked in ringcraft and experience they made up for in brilliance, verve and total faith in each other. As Tony Abell, the President of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, said later: "Christian Cullen was always going to be the one to beat. It was stamped so clearly, so indelibly in the lead-up racing. It is a huge thrill for a horse of such inexperience to win a race like this."

Like trainer Brian O'Meara and part-owner Ian Dobson, Campbell had no doubts that Christian Cullen had the stamina to stay the trip as well as the best and better than most. Speedy horses such as Master Musician, Our Maestro and many others have failed when hurt turns to pain in the final gasps of two mile at Addington. Christian Cullen was not one of them, neither was Iraklis who refused to give up the chase. But Campbell was honest: "No he'd had enough by the time he'd got to the post. I thought he would have to do the work he did, but when, I didn't know. He was pretty lucky the way it turned out, because I was able to give him a good breather once I got to the front. Breather! Not for the others. Christian Cullen flew the 3200m in 4:00.4, which equalled the race record shared by Luxury Liner and Il Vicolo.

He clipped along in front, with dainty, feathery steps, but all of them quick and bold. He had Iraklis outside him for much of the last lap and Roymark and Franco Enforce behind him. On the corner, where the levels of class were apparent, it was down to just the two, the old champ equalled by 10 metres and the new one.

Ricky May, who had won the race on Iraklis the year before, knew what he was up against. "We were going as good as Christian Cullen was going, but the ten metre handicap was the difference. I thought for one wee minute on the turn that we had him but then he kicked on." Trainer Robert Cameron had the evidence on his watch, halves, quarters, sectionals, telling figures ... his 3200m in 3:57.5, final 2400m in 3:00, last half in 59.7, final quarter in 28.41. Good enough to beat 13 but not number 8, the dashing bay with the regal carriage.

The Wayne Francis owned pair Franco Enforce and There's A Franco were third and fourth. Both had nice runs near the pace and did the best they could. The others simply did not get close enough for long enough to breath on the leaders.

Many of last year's supporters of Iraklis had seen the new bright light and moved onto Christian Cullen, backing him down to less than double the money to win. They were everyone's quinella when the pedigree kings drew swords 300 metres out. That was when May thought he had his name on it. Briefly, as he said. Still Iraklis was a game and gallant rival. He didn't give ground; he didn't make it. He gave the crowd a finish they'd come to see. It was not a classic finish of its type; more a matter of two great horses showing the way to 13 good ones. The margins were a length and a quarter and seven lengths.

Just past the post, I could've sworn I saw Dan Campbell smile.

Christian Cullen, almost in the mould of a spaceage horse being by super sire In The Pocket, gave part-owner Ian Dodson something to sing about afer winning the Cup on Tuesday. Dobson, who said he had a "nice collect" on futures betting, arranged for brother Andy to compose a tune and write the lyrics for a song about Christian Cullen. The result of this effort was sung by John Grenell in the birdcage after the presentation of the Cup. It says "Cullen, Cullen, Cullen" quite a bit which is pretty much the way songs go these days, but it is safe to say the issue might only be found in selected libraries.

Dobson was always bullish on Christian Cullen, from the time he asked Brian O'Meara to train for him. Letting the O'Meara eye do the finding, Dobson paid $15,000 to Paul Bielby for a three-quarter share in Christian Cullen as a yearling, was sent back to buy the other quarter for the same amount, then watched O'Meara nuture his vast potential. O'Meara has not let Dobson down. The horse is little more than a neophyte, earning $724,925 from only 20 starts.

Christian Cullen becomes the sixth 4-year-old to win the Cup, following Lookaway (1957), Lordship (1962), Stanley Rio (1972), Inky Lord (1982) and Il Vicolo (1995). "I have found the pressure very hard, yet I've always been confident in the horse, in Brian, and in Danny. I felt the pressure come off after the Flying Stakes, and now what he has done today has silenced a few critics," he said.

Dobson was born on the wrong side of the tracks during the Depression years. He was reared by foster parents who gave him a wonderful life. He was prudent during his early working years, telling his wife Doreen to resist the big spend; she could fill her wardrobe with fine things if she wanted to later on. It was not until he was 47 that he took the cover off the jam jar - he once bought a factory making jam covers - and bought his first horse. Later on, he stepped into the fast lane, outlaying big money for the galloper Royal Creation who won a million, and since then he's been sitting in the Merc.

He was thrilled that their daughter Lyn Umar was able to join them, flying in from Auckland the night before, and he has always welcomed the company of those genuine harness racing enthusiasts. He was just as keen telling everyone afterwards that the Christian Cullen - Iraklis quinella was good for racing.

We'll sing to that, Dobbie.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in the HR Weekly

The Second Five Syndicate with the Derby trophy

1998 SMOKEFREE NZ DERBY

Before the Smokefree New Zealand Derby much of the talk was who would run second to Holmes D G. In reality, that is exactly what happened. Holmes D G took the lead off Motoring Anvil after 600 metres, proceeded to run it hard, and kept the squeeze on. Totally dominant from the time of Christian Cullen's exit, Holmes D G forged clear at the turn, leaving the others to scrap and scrape for the minor money. Annie's Boy was the only chaser to charge with any real dignity, finishing from the back and very late for second. From last, where he must have been eight lengths from Holmes D G at on stage the gap was less than three lengths.

Holmes D G ran the 2600m in 3:11.1, a New Zealand record which would have raised a sweat even on Christian Cullen. He gave trainer Barry Purdon his third Derby win, coming after Kiwi Scooter in 1992 and Ginger Man in 1994. As good as they were Purdon rates Holmes D G a bit above them. 'I think he's better...the perfect racehorse really. Kiwi Scooter was a great stayer. I mean he won the Derby sitting parked for the last mile. Ginger Man had the speed, but wasn't tough," he said.

A 3-year-old half-brother to Giovanetto, a Cup horse and now at stud in Southland, Holmes D G was bred and trained initially by Murray Gray. He was from Bella Ragazza, a mare Gray claims is the worst horse he has ever trained. "She didn't want to be a racehorse, and I probably would not have bred from her but my partners did," he said. Besides leaving two outstanding horses and a useful one in Economizza, Bella Ragazza is the dam of a yearling colt by Soky's Atom, and is not in foal this season. She has left eight foals, all colts.

Holmes D G raced once for Gray, running second in a race at Forbury Park to Enter Hurry Zone. One of those impressed with this performance was Invercargill trainer and former Purdon employee, Tony Barron. As it happened, prominent Australian owner Terry Henderson also heard about the horse and arrived on the scene much the same time as David Sixton, John Hart, John Ede and Katrina Purdon. Four became five, in fact the Second Five Syndicate, which is already well into the black after buying Holmes D G for a sum just over $100,000. His earnings, from ten which include the Great Northern and Victorian Derbys, have how topped $300,000. All three classics have been won in identical manner, in front, rolling along at a good clip, but always in control. "He felt strong all the way," reported Purdon. "He really felt as though he was enjoying it," he said. Purdon said Holmes D G would have one more race this season, the $A100,000 New South Wales Derby on May 8, and then be given a spell.

While the Second Five Syndicate is only just over a year old, the principals have been Purdon clients for 12 years. They started with Volarco, a son of Vance Hanover and Via Volare who won a couple before being sold and racing in Australia. Next came Kenwood Don, a useful winner and sold after winning five from eight. They stepped up a notch for their next purchase, spending big money at the time for Montana Vance. He didn't let them down, getting to Cup class. They purchased The Sweeper before the biggest score of them all, Holmes D G. As owners, and enthusiasts of harness racing, Purdon rates them A1. "The good thing about them is the support they give. There's always an entourage. They all went to Australia, to watch them in the Derby, and they are here with all their families tonight," he said.

The syndicate also has a Falcon Seelster yearling filly they bought at the sales, while Henderson expects a big run from his galloper Doreimus in Saturday's Sydney Cup.

Credit: HRNZ Weekly

Christian Cullen winning the NZFFA from Holmes D G

1998 AIR NEW ZEALAND NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Holmes D G followed the path of Iraklis when finding Christian Cullen unbeatable at Addington on Show Day. A game and courageous run by Holmes D G was recognised but it failed to bring success in the Air New Zealand Free-For-All.

Out first from the 2 gate, Christian Cullen set all the pace and Holmes D G was left doing the hard yards - as driver Barry Purdon suspected he would - outside him. Christian Cullen then sped in from the 800m in 54.4, the fastest official last half recorded in a race in New Zealand, and Holmes D G didn't let go, finishing only half a length back. The underrated Happy Asset finished strongly from near last on the outside to be three quarters of a length back.

Trainer Brian O'Meara now has his sights set on the Miracle Mile, over 1760 metres, the race he was withdrawn from by the Harold Park club stewards last year. He believes Christian Cullen could handle the trip in a 1:52-1:53 mile rate. "After that, we will step back and look at things from there," he said. O'Meara has always maintained how good Christian Cullen is if he is allowed "to roll along". "And people didn't know how tough he is. He loves his work, too, although he was a little tired after Tuesday's Cup," he said.

Christian Cullen and Iraklis are New Zealand's only Miracle Mile contestants at this stage, though Anvil's Star could earn a place if he wins one of two Quantas Springs at Harold Park. Holmes D G was invited, but will not be going. O'Meara is hoping to fly Christian Cullen to Sydney next Wednesday. Iraklis, who missed the Free-For-All, is there now, having left on Sunday.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZHR Weekly

Jerry Tulley, Under Cover Lover and Graham Pearson after the win

1998 NEVELE R STUD NZ OAKS

Only Tartan Lady was a match for Under Cover Lover in the Nevele R Stud New Zealand Oaks. Third placed Golden Charm was more than four lengths behind Tartan Lady who failed by a short neck to win the classic.

Although Tartan Lady picked up $12,000 instead of the $37,500 that went the way of Under Cover Lover, she did win on points. While Under Cover Lover spent most of the race in the clubhouse, Tartan Lady was busy in the field, parked second for the last lap. She got the better of pacemaker Natural Talker at the 100m, and during that operation, driver Anthony Butt was tacking across her back with Under Cover Lover. Quite late as it turned out, Under Cover Lover quickly levelled but little more, for a narrow but convincing win.

The only daughter of In The Pocket in the race, Under Cover Lover is raced by Jerry Tulley and Graham Pearson who will be on the road again after her Hydroflow Final on Friday night. She is expected in Bribane early in June to contest the heats of the Queensland Oaks, then down to Victoria for the heats of the $150,000 El Dorado Series in Mid July.

After that, a campaign in America. Pearson is serious about this, and so far Under Cover Lover has done nothing to put the trip in jeopardy. In February, Pearson booked in with the Bluegrass Staking Service, an organisation which selects suitable staking races and ensures payments are made when they fall due. So far Pearson and Tulley have spent $20,000 on races Bluegrass have Under Cover Lover staked for. This does not include the Breeders Crown later in the year which would mean a supplementary payment of $45,000.

After years of night work at the University to feed his hope of eventually doing his horses full-time, Pearson made the break two years ago. He was among the first to support In The Pocket, sending four mares when he first stood in New Zealand, yet Under Cover Lover is the only one he has. Of the first four he bred, one was sold to Australian trainer Ray Matthews, another to Michael House, and Catattack, a winner for John Lischner, was the other. The mares he sent next season did not produce live foals, and the following season the progeny from Vain Franco and Ice Queen, both by In The Pocket, were sold at the sales. His five weanlings this season are by Jaguar Spur, Soky's Atom, Safely Kept (2) and a half sister to Under Cover Lover by What's Next. This season, Tully has Vain Franco in foal to Armbro Operative, and Pearson has two in foal to Holmes Hanover and one to Safely Kept.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZHR Weekly

GREAT RACES: 98 NZ CUP

Great races usually involve more than a superlative performance from one horse, and by the time the 1998 NZ Cup rolled around, there were only two horses on everybody's lips - the 'defending champion' Iraklis in the red, white and blue corner and an upstart young challenger in Christian Cullen in the light blue and white one. They had met for the first time in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, where Christian Cullen had delivered a telling blow, but the injury-troubled star still had to make it to the post and there were many rating the great stayer Iraklis just as big a chance, even with a 10m handicap.

Brilliant northerner Agua Caliente, winner of the Taylor Mile/Messenger double the year before, had gone amiss with a breathing issue in mid-October, but the likes of such quality performers in Anvil's Star, Anvil Vance, Brabham, Franco Enforce, Kate's First, Surprise Package and There's A Franco hardly raised a mention, such was the hype around the 'favs'.

Anvil's Star was a 7-year-old and in his last campaign in NZ, having already won over $400,000. He was beaten less than a length when Il Vicolo won his second NZ Cup, and a fourth at Kaikoura where he was beaten a head and two noses showed he was still a force to be reckoned with. Anvil Vance was a year-younger son of Vance Hanover who had also won over $400,000 for trainer Barry Purdon. He had been placed twice in both the Auckland and NZ Cups and won that year's Easter Cup in 4:04 over Happy Asset and Franco Enforce.

Brabham was an 8-year-old winner of over $600,000 and also coming to the end of his career for Mark Purdon. He had been beaten a head by Kate's First in the previous season's Auckland Cup, and a devastating finish to win the North Shore City Stakes by three lengths in a NZ record 3:20.3 (MR1:59.3 for 2700m stand) showed he was in as good a shape as ever. Franco Enforce was a 5-year-old and had won nine of his 16 races starting the season. He had won the Sires Stakes Final by a nose over Franco Hat Trick and Lavros Star in a 1:57.5 mile rate in his third lifetime start, and was beaten a nose in Bogan Fella's NZ Derby before winning the Queensland/Australian Derby double in grand style. Resuming the previous February with three wins at Addington before a third in the Easter Cup, there was little fuss for Franco Enforce to qualify for the Cup with wins at Motukarara and Addington going into Ashburton. A sound fifth there didn't hurt his Cup prospects at all, although the 'OK Bye factor'was soon to rear its ugly head.

Kate's First was also a 5-year-old and the splendid stayer had won the NZ Oaks in 3:13.1 and as a 4-year-old the Auckland Cup in 4:01.2, both records. Surprise Package was starting to get a bit long in the tooth as a 7-year-old, but had won that year's Hunter Cup when 10 of the 14 starters were either NZ-bred or trained, or both, and banked over $700,000. He had only resumed at Kailoura, so was a bit of an unknown package going into the Cup, but class always has and had to be respected.

There's A Franco was a 6-year-old and had won 11 of 24 races starting that season, having missed her 4-year-old term through an injury. She had been placed in four races going into Ashburton, where she was a close and solid sixth, and as one of four mares starting in the Cup that year, also gave them a high card in a strong hand. Holmes D G, the winner of four Derbys the previous season, had been brilliant when resuming in the Kumeu Stakes in late October, but Barry Purdon opted to bypass the Cup and wait for a return bout with Christian Cullen in the FFA.

Thus, while Agua Caliente and Holmes D G were not there to challenge for the north, and there was the usual amount of 'padding' to make up a full field, it can be seen that this was a good Cup field, even without Christian Cullen and Iraklis.

Iraklis had been Horse of the Year as a 4-year-old after blowing away Brabham in the Junior FFA and NZ Free-For-All, where he also dealt to the dual Cup winner Il Vicolo, before winning the Miracle Mile in a race record 1:54.2 and finishing third in the Inter-Dominion at Globe Derby Park. The previous season he had again been unbeatable in the spring, winning twice at Addington, the Hannon and Ashburton Flying Stakes before winning the Cup, although the half-head over rank out-sider Smooth Dominion was a bit scary for those who had made him the odds-on favourite and shortest price winner in the history of the event. On the comeback trail as a 6-year-old after going amiss the previous December, Iraklis had looked just as good again in romping away in good company at Addington and again winning the Hannon inpressively, and a pending first showdown with Christian Cullen loomed at Ashburton.

Iraklis had opened the $2.75 favourite with Fixed Odds for the Cup and Christian Cullen was at $4.75, but a lot was about to change. There was a nagging doubt that the In The Pocket entire would both remain sound and take the next step to Cup class, given that he had already twice gone amiss on the eve of Group 1 assignments.

He had looked a budding superstar from the time he won his first two races as a juvenile - the first such race in the South Island at the Cup meeting in November by five lengths and a 2600m M0 stand in January by six in 3:18.6. The Welcome Stakes and PGG Sales race proved mere formalities, but after getting a knock to a tendon in the week leading up to the latter, a week later he had to be withdrawn from his Sires' Stakes heat and the rest of the season. In the spring he won the Rising Stars, but was beaten in his other four races going into the Sires' Stakes. Christian Cullen was too strong for Holmes D G on that occasion however, and on the final night of the meeting, against mostly open class horses, he convincingly downed Anvil's Star and Brabham in the $100,000 Round Up 1950.

That controversial late withdrawal from the Miracle Mile over a supposedly contaminated swab when Chokin had already found the task as a 3-year-old so overwhelming and an unlucky third in the Great Northern Derby followed, and then Christian Cullen was on the sidelines again when the NZ Derby was run and also won by Holmes D G, who would be 3yo Pacer of the Year by virtue of also accounting for the Victoria and NSW Derbys. Resuming in August with two wins over Good Mate in intermediate company from a handicap and the Superstars from 20 metres, set the stage for Christian Cullen's first clash with Iraklis.

Adding fuel to the fire in the pre-race hype - it was pretty much the Cup field - was the fact that Ricky May had opted off Christian Cullen after winning the Sires' Stakes, in light of the pending clash with Iraklis in the Miracle Mile. The drive went to O'Meara's 25-year-old stable foreman Danny Campbell, who had earlier worked for Cameron and been the regular driver of Iraklis going into the 1996 Cup Meeting, only to be replaced by May. May could hardly be blamed for being faithful to the horse who had won the Miracle Mile and NZ Cup, but now Christian Cullen was coming back to haunt him. There must also have been a nagging doubt in the back of his mind that Christian Cullen would not be around for long at all. In the decade prior, O'Meara had had a host of top pacers including Naval Officer, Really Honkin, Trident, Tuapeka Knight, Bold Sharvid, Tight Connection, Reba Lord, Hey Jude and Spirit of Zeus, and for one reason or another, none had made it to the start of a NZ Cup.

When the dust had settled at Ashburton though, any doubts remaining existed in the minds of Campbell's rival drivers to the effect of 'how on earth are we going to beat this horse?'. May was the first to move and had Iraklis in front passing the winning post the first time, but stalking them were Campbell and Christian Cullen and they smoked past soon after. Campbell stacked them up a bit on the turn and Christian Cullen sprinted them home; try as he might, Iraklis could make no impression at all. Christian Cullen had been timed over his last mile in 1:53.5 (58.4, 55.1) and finished 2/10ths of a second outside Master Musician's national record of 2:57.8, set in winning a Kaikoura Cup from 15 metres. He hadn't raced for seven weeks and O'Meara believed the run would improve him.

And as if that was not enough, Christian Cullen trialled over 2400m at Ashburton a week before the Cup and beat There's A Franco and Iraklis by six lengths in an unbelievable 2:56.8 - a mile rate of 1:58.5 from a stand. The stage was thus set for not just a two-horse race, but a two-horse war.

THE RACE
'Cullen' had firmed in favour dramatically with the 'bookies,' but Cameron and May were not lying down even though Iraklis would have to concede 10 metres - the two miles of the Cup tended to be a great leveller and Iraklis was a great stayer. May was happy with his drive without being overly confident, but O'Meara and Campbell were quite bullish. Anvil Vance, third at Ashburton after following the first two around and never leaving the fence, and Tony Herlihy were the third choice but at double figure odds, ahead of Brabham, Kate's First, Franco Enforce, Anvil's Star, There's A Franco and Surprise Package - the rest were just there to get in the way.

As the big Cup Day crowd began to fill every vantage point in the stands, the growing 'hum' from anticipation and chatter increased exponentially as the race approached, and then before you knew it they were off! Roymark and Franco Enforce showed out early and as they settled, Christian Cullen was well back but Campbell was about to seize a three-wide cart into the race, and Iraklis had only the wayward Aussie visitor Hilarity Lobell behind him.

'Cullen' was in command shortly after the first lap had been covered at the 1900m, and when Campbell then eased the speed a bit, around came Iraklis to sit at his wheel for the last lap - this was what the people had come to see. Seemingly jogging down the back, Christian Cullen dropped Roymark passing the 400m and Iraklis dropped on to his back, hoping for a slingshot late in the piece. Iraklis was travelling well and May briefly entertained the idea of upsetting his nemesis and the $1.90 shot, but Christian Cullen "kicked on" and never really looked in danger of defeat.

Just as at Ashburton, Iraklis could get to Christian Cullen's wheel but no more, and the margin was again a length and a quarter. If there had been a mid-race breather it hadn't been for long - Christian Cullen's 4:00.4 equalling Luxury Liner and Il Vicolo's race and track record. Iraklis had gone terrific and was gallant, being timed post to post around the field in 3:57.5 as they came home in 28, but the 10m and Christian Cullen were the big difference as they finished seven lengths clear of Franco Enforce and There's A Franco.

For Christian Cullen it was his 14th win from 20 starts, and he was of course just just getting started. Soon to follow and fall were the Free-For-All over Holmes D G; that spine-tingling Miracle Mile and a magnificent Auckland Cup performance in 3:59.7 in what was a memorable two months. Christian Cullen would go amiss again that season after winning on the first night of the Auckland Inter-Dominions, but it had been an unbeaten and glorious 12-start campaign and he would be an overwhelming choice for Horse of the Year in a season where Courage Under Fire remained unbeaten in 22 races and won six Derbys.

That year was in fact the beginning of the end of Christian Cullen's racing career, but all that really meant was that it would signal the start of an equally if not more sensational one at stud.


Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 2Aug06

Merinai beats Buster Hanover and Wago Apollo

1997 DB DRAUGHT DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Top horses normally collect a long list of superlatives as the go through their career. In the case of Merinai, she is simply brilliant. The 6-year-old Helensville-based mare completed her Addington assault with a sensational win in the $100,000 DB Draught Dominion Trotting Handicap.

Breaking and losing 20 metres at the start, regular pilot James Stormont had her up outside leader Bay Talent with a lap to travel. Despite not having the ideal trip, Merinai was still too good and defeated one of the best selections of trotting talent ever put together in the same race. "It's a fairytale come true, and it has only really hit me now," owner/trainer Ross Baker said after returning home earlier this week. "I was so pleased that it wasn't presented to her on a plate. If horses get a soft run then you're never sure how they would have gone if they had a tough one. She is new to the top grade too. She's had a peep at the big time but the Dominion field was right up with the best of them," he said.

Merinai's record now is 15 wins from 16 starts, but that could have all been different if Baker hadn't taken a close friend's advice some years ago. Baker had lost a Save Fuel filly out of of Merinai's dam Meriden. The time came to have her served again, so when Baker bumped into Frank Cooney at a Kumeu cattle sale, he asked him what were nice yearlings. "Frank had a couple by Tuff Choice; he said they had broken in very nicely with good manners and good gait. The stud had actually rung me a couple of days earlier, so Frank's advice sealed my decision. Tuff Choice had the record, and a bit of breeding, but he was a big rough horse when I saw him and I almost changed my mind to McKinzie Almahurst," Baker recalled.

Meriden foaled a lovely little filly some months later, and Baker called her Merinai. "She was a proper loaner. You just could not get near her and she wouldn't even come up for a scratch. Even as a foal if you ever did anything around the other horses, she'd walk away and go and do her own thing," he said. Merinai "broke in beautifully" as an early 2-year-old. "She was a faultless pacer, and I remember thinking I've got a nice horse her."

Baker's opinion changed when Merinai was brought back for her second preparation though. She just was not happy in her hopples and she tried to trot in them. On days when she knew I was going to work her I couldn't catch her in the paddock. One day I took the hopples off and she trotted like poetry in motion - the next day she was at the gate waiting for me." he said.

The time soon came for Baker to take his "baby" for her first run at the workouts. She was a 3-year-old, and it was at Alexandra Park, but Baker didn't have a driver. "I wanted someone with soft hands. Merinai wasn't soft in the mouth, she just needed to be driven by someone with light hands because she liked to do her own thing. I only knew James Stormont to say hello, but when I saw him that day I asked if he had a full book of drives. "I wouldn't have blamed him if he declined driving an unqualified trotter in an unqualified trot, but I saw him later and he agreed to take her out for me." Stormont returned after the event, and told Baker that if he wanted a driver to "take" Merinai through the classes he wanted to be that person. The rest is now history.

Home safe and sound again now, Merinai will be jogged down and swum over the Christmas period before Baker makes a decision about her next campaign. The Rowe Cup in May is an obvious target, and several Australian Clubs have also approached the Parakai horseman about getting his mare across the Tasmen.

Baker and Merinai's trip to Addington may have only been brief, but they have already developed fond memories of Christchurch's headquarters. "Southerners love trotting. Another thrilling part of her Dominion win was the warmth of the crowd and the way they adopted her," he said.

Credit: John Robinson writing in HRNZ Weekly