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Iman winning the 1995 NZ Oaks

1995 NEVELE R STUD NZ OAKS

Iman picked up where stablemate Paula Michele left off by winning the $60,000 Nevele R Stud New Zealand Oaks on a dismally wet night.

Ten days earlier, Paula Michele, also trained by Brian Hughes, was untested to score in the Nevele R New Zealand Sires' Stakes Fillies Championship. Both were driven by Maurice McKendry, who has found rich pickings at Addington this season from age group races. In February, he won the $180,000 New Zealand Yearling Sales Series final for 2-year-olds behind Kamwood Kango.

And on Friday night, McKendry is poised for an even bigger payout. He will steer Iman in the $100,000 DB Draught Fillies Final - and few will have one to beat her after her Oaks success - and Kamwood Kango in the $150,000 ANZ Bank Sires' Stakes Final. While Kamwood Kango will have his work cut out against Corumba, The Court Owl and other high-class 2-year-olds, Iman should get her way against the fillies.

Iman went into the Oaks without recent racing, although she had had two trials since winning at Auckland on March 31. McKendry had her trailing on the outer, but he abandoned that shelter after 800 metres and was soon in front. "She's a good stayer. I thought she would win the race by outstaying them," said McKendry. Iman never gave McKendry a moment's worry, even when OK Laura made a lightning dab along the inside right at the end, and Go Anna and Vance Royale made a rush wider made a rush wider out to dead-heat for third. "She's got a bit of class and she will probably improve a bit with that run," he said. Hughes agrees. "She will improve a ton," he said. Hughes modestly says Iman is "above average" but McKendry was more to the point when he said: "She is the best 3-year-old filly I have driven. She's been lucky with her draws, but she has won from three back, and she's won from sitting parked."

Hughes, who races Iman with long-standing stable client Don Cudby, has gained such excellent results by breeding to the best he can. Both Paula Michele and Iman are daughters of the wonderful stallion Vance Hanover, also sire of the grand racemare Vulcan Lady who went to Cup class for Hughes and Cudby before being sold.

The loss of Vance Hanover to the racing industry was emphasised by Mr Bob McArdle, co-proprietor with Wayne Francis of Nevele R Stud, in his presentation of the Oaks trophy. Runner-up OK Laura is from the first crop of Nevele R sire, OK Bye.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRNZ Weekly

Il Vicolo leads the 1995 Derby field into the straight

1995 JOHN BRANDON NZ DERBY

Champion 3-year-old Il Vicolo made a clean sweep of the John Brandon series, just as everyone thought he would. He led for all but the first 200m of the New Zealand Derby, and gave the others a sound beating, as he had done in the first two legs of the classic.

His next assignment is the Great Northern Derby, which will mark the end of a brief second-season campaign in which the best of his age group have been unable to test him, and in most cases were outclassed. Part-owner and driver Mark Purdon said it was likely that he would start off next season against the Cup horses... "We will plan it like that. We could race him in the New Zealand Cup next season," he said. Purdon said the key factor to Il Vicolo being so superior is his attitude. "He is very relaxed. He's a horse you can use up in a race, and he doesn't take a lot of work," he said.

Il Vicolo, who has now won nine races in succession and 15 from 18 starts, is part owned by Canterbury farmer John Seaton, who also has with Purdon a Soky's Atom 2-year-old from Il Vicolo's family, and a Vance Hanover colt from the Mark Lobell mare Bevie (dam of Alba Lobell) he will race in partnership with Tony Herlihy.

Ready For Love ran second, after driver Graham Ward made use of his gate speed to cross first, knowing Il Vicolo would give him cover. Mark Purdon did that before the 2200m, and Ready For Love made the most of a sit trip by lasting better than Brocketsbrae for second.


Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

Mark Purdon & John Seaton savour the win.

1995 DB DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

He was worth waiting for.

The question lurking but unsaid for weeks...whether youthful Il Vicolo was old enough, tough enough, man enough to take on the pack of seasoned older campaigners in the DB Draught NZ Cup over 3200 metres.

Tuesday's Addington outcome proved he was - absolutely.

Indeed, he had to pull out qualities he's never fully used before as first Master Musician and then Just Royce tested his courage and stamina dowmn the straight. Master Musician, feeling pain in his feet as pressure grew, drifted into the middle of the track and gently, slowly, fell back. No sooner had he left the pitface than he was replaced by a cheeky freshman, the M6 13th fancy, Just Royce. Hailed in few quarters - though Ashburton was one of them - Just Royce came at Il Vicolo like a dart. For more than a moment, he seemed likely to find his mark and tear off one of the great upsets of all time. "I had a good run all the way," beamed driver John Hay. "He felt tremendous on the turn. I kept passing them all in the straight, thinking I'd be fourth and getting closer all the time," he said. "For a moment, I thought it was going to be a dream come true," he said. It developed into such excitement in the end that already the older brigade amongst us are booked in for next year, and new fans will be waiting at the door.

The race very nearly had a fairly-tale ending, not for Il Vicolo who proved he's as cool as his trainer in a tight corner but Just Royce was one of three late invitees, paying more than $100 to win. Down at the top of the straight, 200 metres from the finish, Denice Swain, the trainer of Just Royce, didn't know what was happening. She saw the pair of them disappear in good style, changing ground as they went, but didn't know till later how close it had been. "I knew he'd go a great two miles. I had absolute confidence in him doing that. I was worried about putting him straight into this class, but I knew the owners would love it. I did the same with him as I did with Clancy the year he ran second in the Cup to Christopher Vance. He's such a lazy trackworker, it's hard to get a real line on him."

Buried deep for the entire race as he was, Just Royce didn't have to make any mid race moves. Purdon made his with Il Vicolo with more than a lap to run, when he followed up Ginger Man to settle like a gentleman outside Burlington Bertie. Master Musician came up with him. Robert Dunn, in the sulky of the 'Master' hollered at Purdon to see if he would ease, so he could slip across and give him cover. "He didn't even look round," said Dunn. Hoppy's Jet and Tigerish were handy on the inner, and Blossom Lady, tracked by Desperate Comment, were poised in the third line, Ginger Man just ahead of them. "I was a bit lucky that when I went up with a lap to run Burlington Bertie didn't race me," said Purdon. But the move still worried him. "I thought getting down to the quarter that I'd asked him too much...I'd set it up for the others behind me. I was going good enough, but I thought something would come at me. On the corner, I didn't really expect to win," he said. With one or two exceptions, neither did anyone else.

The race was run at a true pace, taking Il Vicolo 4:00.4, which equals the record for the race set by Luxury Liner in 1988.

It has been said before, and it's worth saying again, the Purdon, aged 31 and in his first season as a public trainer, and Cantabrian part-owner John Seaton are great sportsmen and ambassadors for harness racing. If there is any part of it that Seaton could well do without, it's making speeches. Now that Il Vicolo has won 21 races - from 26 starts - he is something of an old hand at it and he took the precaution of being prepared for this one. Purdon takes the pressure in his stride, just as the horse does.

A 4-year-old by Vance Hanover from Burgundy Lass, Il Vicolo has now won $976,777. Seaton had been buying Vance Hanovers in recent times, and thought if he stuck to stock by the top sire he might one day get a great horse. The winning hand was spending $21,000 for a black colt from Burgundy Lass offered by Yarndley Farms at Karaka. Burgundy Lass was a qualified but unraced mare by Noodlum from the Rosehaven family that has produced such standouts as Black Watch (14 wins), Remarkable (1:53.2), Reba Lord, The Unicorn, National Image and Pacific Flight. Il Vicolo is an entire with huge potential as a stud horse when he eventually ends his career. In the meantime, he is a star we cannot have enough of. Treasure him while we can.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Jeanne & Colin Calvert with Bee Bee Cee

1994 DB DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

Colin Calvert flicked through the racebook on his way from Chertsey to Addington on Tuesday, and couldn't help but remark to his wife Jeanne how strong the No.7 horses looked. There were six running - Perfect Trust, The Suileman, Lento, Diamond Field, Star Motoring, and the one they were towing in the float - Bee Bee Cee. "I said to Jeanne that seven is a lucky Chinese number, and there were all these good seven horses. I said she had to follow seven all day," he said.

By the time the DB Draught NZ Cup was run, The Suileman had run second, and Lento and Diamond Field had won. No.7 was going for three in a row when Jimmy Curtin, who picked up the drive this season after the Calverts shifted from Southland, went to the start. "The night before the Cup was the best night's sleep he'd had for two weeks," said his wife Sandy. "He wasn't confident, just so relaxed," she quivered. The drive was vintage Jimmy Curtin, though vintage could hardly describe Bee Bee Cee, whose win in the DB Draught NZ Cup at Addington was only his 27th start.

After a superb beginning that gave him the lead for a lap, Curtin found a hole for him three deep on the fence and put him to bed. He was wide awake and moving near the 600 metres, but Curtin set off after Master Musician with only slim hopes of winning and more for the minors. "We'll run second; that's the best I thought we would do," said Curtin. And that's how it appeared 200 metres, even 150 metres out, where Robert Dunn was suddenly showing signs of desperation in the cart. The race was taking a new turn. Bee Bee Cee had come out of the pack and continued bearing down on 'the Master' and relieved him of the lead inside the last 50 metres, winning in 4:01, which was a remarkable run in a wicked wind.

The Calverts were overcome at their good fortune, and although Jeanne said "it was an absolute dream," and "I can't really believe it," it was apparent that both had confidence in their young son of ill-fated Nero's B B. "We gave him four race day starts and six trials, which is what we planned. We wanted to win the Hannon, which we did, and the placing in the Flying Stakes was a bonus. I didn't mind what he ran in his trial last Thursday; all I'm interested in is what he has run his last quarter. He's a lazy horse and only does what he has to," he said. "You haven't seen the best of him yet," said Colin.

The success for the Calverts is remarkable, and makes a good story. Six years ago Colin was put off from his job at the Ocean Beach freezing works where he was a carpenter. Keen to train horses, Colin was given the chance when Jeanne kindly said she would continue her career in education and give Colin the opportunity he wanted. They had a lucky break early on by selling two maideners Full of Dreams and Temporary Profit, and the money they received from that allowed them to consider stepping up in quality. They went to the Ryal Bush breeder Russell Morton and bought the Nero's B B yearling from Classic Countess that was Bee Bee Cee.

It didn't take Colin and Jeanne long to realise that Bee Bee Cee was something special, and this in turn created a problem once he started running out of Southland classes. With the welfare of the horse in mind, they left Southland last year and settled in Canterbury. In between the sale and the shift, the Calvert's bought Classic Countess, in foal to Corsica Almahurst, after the mare was advertised for sale in the "Weekly." Classic Countess has since given them a colt foal this season by OK Bye, and has been served by New York Motoring.

Bee Bee Cee has never missed a beat from the time he started. Respected Southland driver Allan Beck won his first 10, and Curtin has been with him in his two this season.

In some ways this was a fairy-tale ending to an epic contest, given spice by the unexpected failure of the Purdon trio Chokin, Christopher Vance and Montana Vance, the huge performance by third placed upsetter Matthew Lee, and the disappointing showing by Desperate Comment.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

David Moss winning the Dominion from Call Me Now

1994 DB DRAUGHT SUPERQUAD DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Someone as far away as Norway was tuning in to David Moss' delightful winning performance in the $100,000 DB Draught Superquad Dominion Handicap.

Part owner Captain Oddvar Andersen of Oslo managed to make the trip last year to watch his champion square-gaiter win the two mile feature but this time settled for the second best option. "Captain was ringing my brother Alistair in Auckland tonight to listen to the commentary," said John Cox whose late father Harry shared in the ownership of David Moss with Captain Andersen.

David Moss posted a NZ record when trotting the 3200m in 4:06.6 - 0.8 of a second inside Idle Scott's time achieved in 1992. He came with a big stayers finish in the straight to get past a gallant pace-making Call Me Now who fought all the way to the line. Breton Abbe was not far away in third placing after enjoying the trail. Diamond Field lost his chance at the start when breaking for Tony Herlihy.

Cox did the initial training of David Moss before handing the 11-year-old on to Bob Cameron at the end of October. The veteran of the field along with Game Paul (fourth), David Moss has an abundance of determination and sheer guts. He is unreal," said Cox. "He is all heart - it's the mark of a true champion. This was better than last year's effort." Captain Andersen and Cox discussed David Moss' future earlier this year. "We decided that everything from this season onwards is a bonus," said Cox. "Captain said that if he ever started to struggle we would retire him so he could finish on top."

The preparation of David Moss this time in has been a difficult task with the 'hamstring' muscle on his hind leg taking more time than expected to heal. It was an injury that forced him out of the Rowe Cup in May. "He would have gone up to Bob's stable earlier if he had been more forward," said Cox. "He had a few problems early on and it has been a bit of a worry. Bob has done a beautiful job with him and topped him off well."

Cameron drove David Moss in his second start this campaign at Gore on October 27. "He didn't feel 100% when I drove him at Gore," said Cameron who guided him to victory in last year's Dominion Handicap. "We have since made a few alterations to his shoeing to get him more balanced."

Maurice McKendry was the successful driver behind David Moss and enjoyed his first win in the race after some close placings in previous years.

David Moss became the first horse to win back to back Dominion Handicaps since Durban Chief did so in 1957-8. The Gekoj gelding will be prepared for a tilt at the Inter-Dominions at Addngton in March. "I was talking to Bob before the race and he is likely to stay with him now through to the Inter-Dominions," said Cox. David Moss has now won 27 races including two Dominion Handicaps and a Rowe Cup taking his earnings to $433,485. He was beaten a neck by Night Allowance in the Inter-Dominion Grand Final at Alexandra Park in 1993.

Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

Bee Bee Cee outfinishes Master Musician in the NZFFA

1994 AIR NEW ZEALAND NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

The dream continued for Colin and Jeane Calvert when their handsome pacer Bee Bee Cee took the $80,000 Air New Zealand Free-For-All. It has been a magical week for the Calverts who race NZ Cup winner Bee Bee Cee purely for enjoyment. For this reason the Calverts were faced with a difficult decision in whether or not to accept an invitation to contest the $A320,000 Sydney Miracle Mile.

The former Southlanders gained great satisfaction from Bee Bee Cee winning the Invercargill Cup last season and would have loved to return home for a second attempt. Colin Calvert said Bee Bee Cee could not race in both and the change in conditions of the race swayed him towards the Miracle Mile. "If we raced in the Invercargill Cup (Dec 17) we would have to start from at least 30m as the race has changed from a mobile to a two mile stand - in the end I wasn't keen in starting him from that far behind when we can run in mobiles. The other reason for going was winning a race like the Miracle Mile could help him as a stallion," said Calvert.

It may seem an easy decision when looking at a $25,000 race compared to one worth $A320,000 plus speed bonuses. But the Calverts look after Bee Bee Cee first before looking at financial reasons and want him cherry ripe for the Inter-Dominions at Addington next year. A start for him in the Auckland Cup is still undecided. "Money has never been an issue and the welfare of the horse has always been put first," says Calvert.

Bee Bee Cee, Colin Calvert, Master Musician and Bruce Wylie will travel north by truck on Thursday morning. Bee Bee Cee will stay at Dale Cameron's in Waiuku before flying out of Auckland to Sydney on Monday night.

Tactics became an important part of the Free-For-All. Bee Bee Cee took the lead early before driver Jimmy Curtin allowed Blossom Lady to take up the running. Curtin knew all too well that Blossom Lady has a tendancy to run outwards in the straight. Bee Bee Cee, who became the 24th horse to win the NZ Cup-FFA double, did well after the Cup. "He came through the race brilliantly and if anything it sharpened him up for today's race," said Calvert. Bee Bee Cee recorded 2:26.6 for the mobile 2000m with the leaders running their last 800m in 56.7.

The favourite Master Musician was gallant in defeat after facing the breeze over the last 800m and Lento ran on well for third. Blossom Lady faded to fourth just ahead of October Atom. "She received a good run through on the rails," said Lento's driver Clark Barron. "She ran on strongly without threatening the first two."

Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

Robyn's Treasure powers home to take the Oaks

1994 NEVELE R NZ OAKS

For Robyn's Treasure, who produced a powerhouse finish to win the $60,000 Nevele R New Zealand Oaks (2600m) at Addington, practise made perfection. "The last three weeks I have concentrated on teaching her to stay and sprint home," said Whiterig (Gore) trainer Ross Wilson. "She has a tremendous sprint if you can sit and wait to use it."

Robyn's Treasure began from position 8 on the front line with Ricky May electing to ease her back from the wide draw. She was last with 600m to run and had to fly over the concluding stages to pick up the pacemaker Pretty Kiwi. There was a nose back to Perpetual Fiddler who fought on well for third. "Ricky said to me we were going to need a lot of luck from the draw," said Wilson. "And I told him he was the right man for the job." Wilson said that regular driver Ken Barron had done a good job but May had been given first choice seven months ago. "Ricky drove Robyn's Treasure to win her first race at Gore and we said to him then that we would give him first option to drive her," he said. "She won by more than six lengths that day."

Robyn's Treasure had one workout as a 2-year-old and was subsequently turned out to mature. The large Son Of Afella filly has shown Wilson that she has a mind of her own. "She is a hyper-active horse and has wrecked all of my carts," He said. "She is just learning how to settle now." It was Robyn's Treasure's second trip outside the Southland-Otago area. She had finished second to Countess Caroline (forced out of the Oaks through injury) at Ashburton in the sixth heat of the DB Draught Fillies Series.

The victory took her career record to three wins, three seconds and four thirds from 14 starts - earning her owners Ross Wilson and Tapanui's Graeme Edgar $51,950. Robyn's Treasure had been going sound races against older horses in her lead up form to the Oaks and was credited with 1:58 when finishing third to Mickday over a mile at Invercargill at her previous attempt.

Wilson, who is a part-time farmer and employee of Crawford's Chemical Company, was asked to pick out a yearling for Edgar at the Southland Sale (yearlings and mixed stock) in 1981. Robyn's Treasure's dam Ryal Robyn was thus purchased for $1200. "It was a Southland family I liked and Graeme wanted a horse he could race and breed from later on," said Wilson. She won three races and recorded seven places for trainer Ray McNally before leaving her first foal Pride of Robyn (by Lordship) in 1986. She won two races and has since left a yearling by Vance Hanover. The second winner from Ryal Robyn was Robin's Lad (by Lumber Dream) who gained one NZ win before being sold to Australia. The fourth foal and other winner to date is Robyn's Treasure.

Ryal Robyn, by Nevele Bigshot from Ryal Faye, is a sister to Blue Sapphire (4 wins) and a half sister to winners Ryal Hanover and Van Baron. Her granddam Petronella (by Whipster from Ronella) left useful performers Vita Man (9 wins) and Kelly Dillon (3 wins).


Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

Ginger Man holds out Rare Touch to win the Derby

1994 JOHN BRANDON NZ DERBY

The $125,000 John Brandon New Zealand Derby fell to Ginger Man, but victory in the classic was a close shave for the favourite.

Spirited opposition was supplied by Rare Touch, who put the breeze up the Ginger Man supporters when he almost levelled with the leader about 80 metres out. If it was not quite head to head, there was still very little between them as Ginger Man grimly clung to the tiny margin he had. "I thought about 50 metres out that I'd get to him," said Anthony Butt, driver of Rare Touch. "I have no excuses I didn't," he said. Knowing the class of the horse, Butt was not surprised Ginger Man responded the way he did, and won the Group 1 feature by a head in 3:15.7 - not the fastest but certainly hard and quick.

The race was a good one, made to a major extent by the closeness of the finish and that it involved the two favourites. Ginger Man led after 2000m, while Butt tucked Rare Touch under cover, within striking distance of the leader. He made his move with sudden quickness near the 500m, which effectively blocked He's Gotta Go from attacking on the outer. A betting person wouldn't have wagered on the outcome halfway along the straight, but near the end Ginger Man was giving as much as he was getting and survived, shakily but sure, by a head. He's Gotta Go was a safe third, not far behind, but not quite in the same class as the first two. The others, headed by Hoppy's Jet, were well beaten.

Ginger Man is the third successive New Zealand Derby trained by Roy and Barry Purdon, preceeded by Kiwi Scooter who Barry drove, and Mark Roy, handled last year by Barry's brother, Mark. A son of the deceased Vance Hanover, Ginger Man is raced by Greg Brodie, who will see the horse in his home state during the winter. Ginger Man will soon be off to Australia, where he will be cared for by Andrew Peace. He will contest three Derbies, including one in Queensland, where Brodie lives. The Derby win, worth $78,125, has shot Ginger Man into second place in the list of leading stake-winners, behind Chokin ($394,790), and ahead of Motoring Magic ($167,875) and Il Vicolo ($130,755). Nine of the 22 horses who have won more than $50,000 so far this season are stablemates of Ginger Man.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRNZ Weekly

David Moss convincingly wins the 1993 Dominion

1993 DB DRAUGHT DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

For Captain Odvaar Andersen, a trip around the world to watch his horse race for 12 seconds past four minutes at Addington was worth it. Especially when the horse was the $100,000 DB Draught Dominion Handicap, especially as he had never seen the horse win a race before, and moreso because he bred the horse from a stallion he imported from France 11 years ago. All this made the win by David Moss a poignant moment. The joy was shared by part-owners, the family of the late Harry Cox, whose son John has trained the horse for much of his illustrious career, though the training this season has been handled astutely by Robert Cameron.

David Moss was a warm favourite for the race, mainly on the strength of his second on Show Day behind Diamond Field. This looked the perfect tightener. He had, before that, won on the track, and his trial work had been all quality. From 10 metres behind, Cameron said he had not expected to be in front, where he was and stayed from the 2100 metres. "But I thought once I was getting round that I would use his ability. I wasn't too sure when Tony Herlihy came at me with Diamond Field after turning in just how much he had left, but he kicked again at the furlong and got there well," he said. David Moss has a record to match his impressive size. His win in the Dominion was his 19th from 57 starts, and took his earnings past $250,000.

Captain Andersen, aged 68, is now living in retirement in Oslo. He settled in New Zealand in 1966 after his appointment as consulate-general for Norway. He met the Cox family through an introduction from Peter Mills, then with the old stock firm of National Mortgage, during a visit to meet some shipping agents in Invercargill. His first acquisition was a pacing filly that neither he nor John Cox recall. But he later decided there were benefits for the New Zealand breeding industry to use the European trotters he so admired.

In the late 70's and early 80's he brought out four French stallions - Beau Nonantias (2:04.7), Gekoj (2:02.5), Iguassou (2:09.5) and Jet d'Emeraude (1:59.2) and the Norwegian horse Inter Du Pas (2:07.3). Gekoj was probably by far the best of them as a sire. He stood four seasons in Mid-Canterbury and left 83 live foals - 17 of them winners - before his death at the age of 19. In his first season at the stud he served Proud Countess, a mare by Hickory Pride that Captain Andersen had bought off Sir Roy McKenzie. Proud Countess was born in 1970, had her first foal in 1972 - to Pompano Flash in America - and was imported to New Zealand in 1974. Gekoj also sired Drott Moss, who tried twice to win the Dominion for Captain Andersen. The seafarer still has close relations to David Moss and Drott Moss in New Zealand. He is breeding from a sister to David Moss who has been served this season by Armbro Invasion. He is standing at stud in Southland Dahl Moss, a 9-year-old son of Gekoj and the Light Brigade mare, Jeepers Creepers. And he has Erling Moss, a 4-year-old three-quarter brother by Dahl Moss to Drott Moss he intends to race in Europe "if he is good enough."

The enthusiasm Captain Andersen retains for New Zealand, and its breeding industry, is mirrored in his plan now underway to stand the Super Bowl stallion Taylored Way with Cox next season. The winner of $250,000, Taylored Way is out of a Speedy Scot mare and took a 1:59 mark. He is 11 and served 30 mares this past stud season in America. "I think he is an ideal type to cross with some of the mares with French blood in New Zealand, and the three I have by Gekoj," he said. To illustrate his truly international interests, Captain Andersen in 1980 bought Robyn Tudor, a Tudor Hanover half-sister to Diamond Field from Grant Sim, and sent her to Norway where she is now breeding.

Game Paul made his contribution to give the result an overseas flavour by running third for his Australian owners, ahead of Idle Scott and Falstaff, the latter running the race of his life by finishing fifth after beginning the last 1000 metres with 10 in front of him. He tracked Diamond Field on his burst forward near the 800 metres, but found a torrid last half - which took David Moss 58.7 - just a little too hot to handle.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Chokin outlasts Master Musician in the Free-For-All.

1993 AIR NEW ZEALAND NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

The scratching of stablemate Two Under on the morning of the race was a significant factor in Chokin joining a long line of NZ Cup/Free-For-All double winners. Two Under's late withdrawal with a stone bruise meant Chokin was the only second line starter, allowing Tony Herlihy the choice of which horse to follow from the mobile.

Herlihy was well aware that Tigerish, from barrier three, had plenty of gate speed and a brief chat prior to the race with James Stormont confirmed their intentions. Pre-race predictions that Chokin would follow out Giovanetto from the pole and wind up at best three back on the fence in the early part proved totally unfounded as Chokin scored up behind Tigerish and received a charmed run through to the one-one behind his biggest threat Master Musician. From that point the result was never in doubt, although Master Musician fought tenaciously to the line to lose by a long neck. "That's the way it goes. They are both great horses and if the runs had been reversed on both days, so would the results," reflected Robert Dunn afterwards. "Maybe we'll have better luck in the Miracle Mile," he added.

Like the NZ Cup, the Air New Zealand sponsored Free-For-All was a relatively tame affair. Both Herlihy and Dunn were surprised they had run the journey in 2:25.9, with the final half in 56.2 and quarter in 26.8. "It didn't really feel that quick and I didn't push things much because I felt our only chance of beating Chokin was to outsprint him from the furlong," said Dunn. However those plans went awry when he was left alone in front at the 450m by the galloping Tigerish, who upset the chances of Giovanetto and Sogo. The latter was a surprise early favourite for the race due to an All-Up bet. "I saw her prick her ears at something on the track and then she tried to jump it," said Stormont. The Stipendiary Stewards later comfirmed it was a lost whip.

Master Musician and Chokin then engaged in a classic stretch duel, with the latter always holding a norrow advantage - Herlihy quiet and confident in the silky. They were out by three lengths at the finish fron Christopher Vance, who had tracked Chokin, with half a head to Giovanetto. Blossom Lady was next in, valiantly trying to make ground three wide from the 800m after settling towards the rear. Two unlucky races during the week netted her connections $17,000.

Chokin's double was worth $230,000 and took his earnings close to $800,000, the result of 23 wins in 35 starts. The 5-year-old Vance Hanover gelding remains unbeaten in nine starts at Addington.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HR Weekly