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Tight Connection easily wins the Air NZ FFA from Rebe Lord

1990 AIR NEW ZEALAND NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Having proved his real class once again by trouncing high-class opposition in the $85,000 Air New Zealand NZ Free-For-All, Tight Connection is poised to write many more exciting chapters to his already memorable saga. Now foremost in the sights of the crack Auckland pacer are the $A300,000 Sydney Miracle Mile on November 30, the $300,000 Ansett New Zealand Auckland Cup on December 29 and the $500,000 Inter-Dominion Grand Final in Auckland next March.

Already, from only 26 starts - punctuated by a series of severe setbacks which he has shrugged off one by one - Tight Connection has bankrolled a remarkable $1,409,015 in stakemoney and bonuses. Thrilled with the Miracle Mile invitation, issued by New South Wales Harness Racing Club committeeman Tony McGrath after the Free-For-All win, trainers Roy and Barry Purdon have accepted and only misadventure will thwart the trip. The connections of Neroship informed McGrath before the Free-For-All that, win, lose or draw, they had decided not to accept a Miracle Mile invitation. Stablemate Reba Lord, Tight Connection's runner-up in the FFA after wrecking his Cup chances after an inordinately (even for him) bad start, remains in Christchurch for the Monsanto FFA (mobile 2600m).

Not in the clear until the New Zealand Cup was out of his grasp, Tight Connection showed what might have been with his end-to-end Free-For-All win in 2:26 for the mobile 2000m (a 1:57.5 mile rate), capped off with a sizzling 55.5 final 800m. "And he did it on his ear," said the chestnut's elated pilot Tony Herlihy. Reba Lord, cleverly handled by co-trainer Barry Purdon, had enough in the tank to get up for second two and a quarter lengths from Tight Connection, shading Bold Sharvid (who trailed the winner throughout) and Lord Magic (who battled gamely after being parked out for most of the last lap).

Tight Connection never left an oat after the win. "He's a nice horse, with such a lot of potential," enthused Roy Purdon. "He seems to be getting better and better. He's done no racing yet, really - not the miles of some of those other Cup horses. "He's had a lot of setbacks, and he's come through them all with flying colours. The wind operation he had seems to have been a hundred percent successful, which is great since they wouldn't guarantee it and gave him something like a 60-40 chance."

Raced these days by Ric Ellis and Ross Weavers (two of his original owners) with the Horseplayers Corporation Syndicate and the Club Connection Syndicate, Tight Connection, a five-year-old Soky's Atom entire, must also have excellent stud potential.


Credit: Ron Bisman writing in HR Weekly

The Cleine family pose with Gypsy Winkle after the Oaks

1990 NEVELE R STUD NZ OAKS

Before a small crowd on a cold Saturday night, Gypsy Winkle lowered the colours of hot favourite Jiffy's Girl in the $50,000 Nevele R Stud New Zealand Oaks.

Going for win number 13, Jiffy's Girl ran too keenly for her own good, especially passing the 800 metres and again when slipping clear near the corner. In spite of that, the tiny rich bay daughter of Jiffy Boy looked quite strong beginning the run in and still a winning prospect 100 metres out. The complexion of the race then began to change with alarming suddeness and major worries for the followers of the favourite came seconds later as Gypsy Winkle emerged on a finish she had started with determination some way out.

She was handled with 'big-race' skill by Colin De Filippi, who displayed equal determination in getting the better of Jiffy's Girl. For no other reason than poor luck in the running, Gypsy Winkle had failed in her three previous starts, and because of that was at rather long odds. But a workout in the mud four carts out on the Westport track in 4:24 convinced trainer Colin Cleine she was as good as he could get her. "It's pretty difficult knowing just how well they are when you have got little to work them with. That is why she has to race, and we get a line on her that way," he said.

Gypsy Winkle is the second successive Oaks winner sired by the stud's ill-fated sire Nero's B B - Adina Bebe was last year's winner - and it provided breeders, the Alexandra Breeding Partnership, with a $100,000 breeder's bonus.

Cleine, a Westport dairy farmer, bought the filly from the Australian bred mare Gay Van Winkle (Gay Reveler-Thelma Lass, by Pacing Gift) at the National Yearling Sales for $4,000. She won her first two races last July, and the Southland Oaks, but couldn't make Friday night's DB Draught Fillies Final after attempting to do so in three heats. Colin, and his wife Yvonne, bought a Nero's B B-Nile Queen filly at PGG's Premier Sale earlier this year. They have three other young horses, including a Bo Scots Blue Chip half brother to Gypsy Winkle who is making encouraging progress.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

The connections of Winning Blue Chip

1990 JOHN BRANDON 30 NZ DERBY

After sitting alone at the back, unfancied Winning Blue Chip came through to win the $175,000 John Brandon 30 New Zealand Derby.

The chunky bay gelding picked off seven tiring rivals to cause the biggest Derby upset since Naval Officer won the classic in 1984 when only five finished. That was the second surprise. The first was the sinking of Honkin Vision, the raging favourite who was beaten, and badly beaten, with less than 200 metres to run. And the third surprise was the remarkable achievement of Winning Blue Chip to demolish Inky Lord's New Zealand age group record of 3:15.1 by pounding out 3:12.2 for a mobile 2600m.

It was a muted audience who saw the scene unfold, because Winning Blue Chip rated in none of the pre-race forecasts and in the Brandon preludes had done nothing to suggest he was in the same league as the favourites. Driver Anthony Butt said: "I always thought he was a bit below the best of them. The only show I had was if they went hard all the way. I knew I had to take all the short cuts. He was not good enough to go around them."

Henry Skinner took Honkin Vision to the front, as the draw said he would. Sweating freely in the warmer conditions, Honkin Vision made play at better than a 2:00 clip, making the pace hard on the others and harder on himself. Said Skinner: "I was starting to get pretty busy at the quarter." No wonder. The horse had cut out his 2400 metres in 2:57.9 and was starting to hang his head. The Unicorn took him easily. He soon came to the end of it, allowing Winning Blue Chip to pick him off 50 metres out and race clear to win by three-quarters of a length.

The winner is trained by Barrie Lilley, who is not a household name in New Zealand harness racing circles. Formerly a freezing worker, Lilley, aged 46, took out a professional trainer's licence two years ago on the death of his father. One of those he started training was a colt by second season sire Bo Scots Blue Chip from Winning Maid, a winning Willie Win mare formerly trained by Murray Rennie.

Bred by Doody Townley and FA and Mrs JM Stakes of Ashburton, Winning Maid was from Locksley Maid, by Young Charles from Jonell, by Garrison Hanover from Mighty Imp, by Dillon Hall. Winning Maid was raced by Bill Parlane and twin brothers Graeme and Gary Chandler, who bred her to Noodlum after winning one race. She produced Mighty Adios to this mating, returned to win another race, then went to Nevele R Stud to produce her classic winner. She is also the dam of a Nero's B B filly and this season was served by Paulsboro.

On times, Winning Blue Chip was no faint hope. He had recorded a best time of 3:17.5 for the distance, and only Seafield Inca had gone quicker. "But although we didn't expect anything like this, his blood has been out for the last couple of weeks and credit must go to the Halswell Clinic vets for the work they have done getting him right," said Parlane. "He just did not fire on the first two nights like I knew he could."


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Jon Gadsby, TV3, presents the trophy to the owners of Tobago

1989 TV3 NETWORK DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Not since Dictation took nearly 10 seconds off the record for winning the Dominion Handicap has there been such a pronounced improvement in time as the one Tobago posted. In warm, near perfect weather conditions, and on a track tailored to meet such accomplishments, Tobago came through 3200m in 4:08.4. To do this, he was not alone at the end of the $150,000 TV3 Network Dominion Handicap.

Those who pressed him without mercy were Directorship, who was just a nose from taking $97,500 and old Troppo, the veteran of 117 starts, who looked in for the kill 50 metres from the finish. Tobago and Directorship had the best trips of all. Both were in midfield on the outer, and neither were used to the extent of Drott Moss and Idle Scott, who were baked before the turn after spending a great deal of energy making their runs in the middle stages. While the two northerners battled so hard to gain a toehold in the race, Troppo remained back and was still almost last at the 500 metres. By then the cracks had started to appear and first Tobago, then Directorship moved to open them up. Once the pair drew clear, the table seemed set, until Troppo began to thread his way after them, going at what seemed a winning rate. But he set his compass on the rail and the angle of this passage over the last 50 metres might have cost him a closer placing. As it was, he probably came up short just a few strides from the finish, but added to the chorus of an exciting end to a record race. The favourite Tyron Scottie ran 7th after leading at the 2000m and trailing at the 1400m. "He felt uncomfortable after a furlong," said driver Patrick O'Reilly jun.

When Dictation won the Dominion in 1950, he recorded 4:16.6. The previous best then was the 4:26.2 set by Wrackler in 1932. Before Tobago's 4:08.4, the record was Scotch Tar's 1978 4:11.6, which, when record changes are usually measured nowdays in 10ths, is quite a remarkable reduction. Of course, Tobago always had a time like this in him. Earlier this season, he became the first trotter in New Zealand to run a mile in less than 2:00, which he did at Ashburton in 1:59.3.

Tobago is a seven-year-old son of Game Pride and Ann's Globe, a mare by Johnny Globe. He is small but compact; a bay of good colour. His mother was raced by Harold and Joan Jenkins, the parents of Tobago's present owners, Ray Jenkins and his sister Diane Kean. The senior Jenkins raced Our Jimmy from Bob Young's stable when he finished fourth in the Dominion Handicap won by Min Scott in 1963. Ann's Globe was tried as a pacer by Les Norman, but it wasn't until she entered the stable of Arthur and Maurice Skinner and switched to trotting that she revealed ability. "I think they had only had her about six weeks when she won at Roxburgh for Henry Skinner," said Ray. Ann's Globe went on to win six races, including two in Canterbury when trained by Jack Carmichael. On retiring, the Jenkins gave the mare to Ray and Diane for breeding. "It's a real family thing with us. They are getting on, and they probably thought we are a bit more up with the breeding now," he said.

"The thing with Tobago is that he just didn't stop...he could just keep on going. I put that down to the Johnny Globe blood coming through...they've got the guts. With Tobago now, we'll go for it. He'll race at Auckland next and there's the $100,000 bonus if he wins either two of the Inter-Dominion Grand Final, the National Trot or the Rowe Cup this season," he said.

Ann's Globe is not in foal, and it is very unlikely the two partners will use her this season. "We are considering lending her out, but we can't say to just who at the moment," said Ray. Among the mares being sent to stud by the family this season are Montego (Sir Dalrae-Ann's Globe), Globe Pride, Blue Nun (dam of French Wine) and Beat The Freeze, the latter three all booked to Chiola Hanover.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Westburn Grant and admirers

1989 JOHN BRANDON 30 NZ DERBY

Vic Frost said it all..."this horse is outstanding. It's unfair to compare your three-year-olds with him." Someone had asked Vic if he had been disappointed the New Zealand three-year-olds had not given Westburn Grant more of a run for it in the John Brandon 30 New Zealand Derby.

Captain Lee had just run his last 800 metres a little outside 56 to finish second. It was a gallant run from a c3 horse, yet he was nearly nine lengths from the winner at the end. Hammer clung to the rail and just lasted for third, Bardolino had it hard in the open, but he was there at the gong and Inky Lord, far back at the 500m and not the horse he was, got past tiring runners in the straight.

Vic made no disparaging remarks about the quality of the country's best three-year-olds. All he would say about the opposition Westburn Grant treated so arrogantly was: "I thought they might have stuck with me for a while." Westburn Grant left the barrier in a blur. Vic managed to ease him near the 2000m. The others caught their breath and waited for Vic's second attack. About to let loose near the 800m, Vic decided to hold back. He had Hammer, an unknown quantity, on his back. A bit further on, he put his foot to the floor. Within a few seconds, there was a lone horse and a bunch of nine. The lone horse was widening a gap and the others couldn't find the legs to draw him in.

The fact that Westburn Grant won by such a margin was no surprise; anything less would have been an anti-climax. Those who have maintained Westburn Grant is up to the best in Australia and New Zealand now have a following, but Vic will see he is looked after.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Dillon Dean outfinises Inky Lord to win the 1989 NZ FFA

1989 AIR NEW ZEALAND NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Dillon Dean's win in the $100,000 Air New Zealand N Z Free-For-All could have been helped by trainer Don Dwyer standing closer to the winning post to watch the race. Well, at least Dwyer knew where his Shicker gelding had finished. "I got fooled in the Cup. I thought he had run third," Dwyer said, "but I didn't have any doubts today."

Dillon Dean's victory over Inky Lord was a total turn around from the DB Draught New Zealand Cup. Inky Lord had come from a 'mile' behind in the Cup, yet in the FFA the roles were reversed and Dillon Dean came off Inky Lord's back to win.

Dwyer now has a 100% record in the Free-For-All. His only other runner was Dillon Dean's half-brother Dillon Dale, who brilliantly won the coveted event in 1984. Ironically, Dillon Dale had run a placing in the Cup that year, running third to Camelot after losing a tonne of ground at the start.

Driver Colin De Filippi was full of admiration for the powerful pacer after the event. "He'd have to be the best horse I've driven," he said. "I was a little further back than I would have liked, but he just went when I asked him to," he said.


Credit: Harness Racing Weekly

Adina Bebe (John Hay) parades after the Oaks win.

1989 NEVELE R STUD NZ OAKS

As far as the Nevele R Stud was concerned the scriptwriters couldn't have done it better. Locked in a desperate struggle at the end of the Nevele R-sponsored New Zealand Oaks were Adina Bebe and Looks The Part, both first crop daughters of the stud sire, Nero's B B.

But had Looks The Part closed the gap on first and second by a nose and a short neck the result would have been rewarding for one of the stud's key figures. Looks The Part is race by Wayne Francis, the principal with Bob McArdle in the Nevele R Stud. Being the breeder of the horse, he would have gained a $100,000 bonus payment; as it was the bonus went to Lloyd Ashby and his brother-in-law Brian O'Meara.

Adina Bebe was superbly driven in a marvellous race run in record time by John Hay. She was in the last handful approaching the 1000 metres but made good headway in the line following Happy Hazel; this included Joy's Girl and Adrenalin. Near the 500 metres, Adrenalin started to give way, drifted in, and Hay found Adina Bebe still well in the chase. Passing Joy's Girl, Adina Bebe soon had Happy Hazel in her sights. Happy Hazel, so gallant, had been in every attack, but was she ready for this? Before the post and after the post, Happy Hazel was in front; on the line, the nose belonged to Adina Bebe. Right alongside and only a short neck beck was Looks The Part, the veteran of only two starts who tracked Adina Bebe into the last 400 metres.

Lloyd Ashby, who races the filly in partnership with his wife Patricia, is a former All Black fullback. He bred Adina Bebe after her dam Gaelic Nurse (by Smooth Hanover from Nurse Lea, by Van Hanover) was advertised in the "Trotting Calendar" for $1300. "Brian picked her out for me. She apparently only had one start, but also finished second in a trial to Trusty Scott," said Lloyd. Bought off Robert Crooks, Gaelic Nurse went to Sholty Imp - leaving Sir Anlon, who Hay trained to win a race - then left Adina Bebe to Nero's B B. "It was a calculated gamble going to such an unproven sire," he said.

For a start, Adina Bebe was placed in a professional stable, but she became a problem horse and didn't make the progress Lloyd hoped she would. "It was one of those things. She's just a horse who needs a bit of time spent on her, and sometimes it's hard to give them that," he said. After making a winning debut and qualifying for the DB Fillies Final with a 1:58.4 placing at Ashburton, Adina Bebe went through patchy form. "You may think it's a bit odd me saying this, but I still think she is a race short. She had a little setback and a wee spell, but the funny thing was that nothing showed up in her blood," he said. Lloyd paid tribute to Brian O'Meara for the knowledge and advice as he fine-tuned Adina Bebe in the few weeks leading up to the Oaks.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Stable Foreman Hamish Molloy with Inky Lord

1989 DB DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

A small handful of grit might have been the key to Inky Lord's dynamite performance to win the $400,000 DB Draught NZ Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday. Driver Ricky May arranged for a starters assistant to place the tiny stones in Inky Lord's mouth just before the start. He thought the grit would be a distraction while he was at the barrier and could make the difference between a good start and a poor one. "I've got Jimmy Curtin to thank for that wee secret," said May later.

It was national news on Friday that Inky Lord had failed to begin cleanly at the pre-cup trials on Thursday and any show Inky Lord had in the Cup depended on a safe start. This information was enough to put the breeze up the best of Inky Lord's admirers.

Curtin and May are good friends and as they walked around before the start of the first race on Cup Day, Curtin said to his mate: "Put some grit in his mouth just before the start. Nine out of ten have gone away when I've used it." May had tried the bribe on other horses, but had never before thought of using it with Inky Lord. "It gave him something to do at the barrier, but he was so settled and relaxed that I'm sure he would have begun well in any case. Brian spent about two hours with him on Saturday; he was just such a relaxed horse this time," he said.

May confessed that he was still in two minds after his Hannon Memorial success whether it was right to start such a young horse in the Cup, but he was also aware the horse was improving so much with each race.

At a "rough count", May puts his number of wins at 260. He has driven Inky Lord in every trial and every race - bar one, and that was in the Sapling Stakes when Kerry O'Reilly stood in during a term of suspension.

Had it not been for a dreadful check 450 metres from the finish, Inky Lord may not have won the Cup. Buried back in the pack, 12 lengths away from pacemaker Kylie's Hero, Inky Lord appeared to lose all chance when Debbie's Boy broke ahead of him after interference, and drifted back. Driver Ricky May saw the benefit of a brilliant beginning and a chance of winning the Cup fall apart. The situation appeared hopeless. "It just took me out of the race. I didn't have a dog's show when that happened," he said.

To Inky Lord's advantage, the gaps ahead had opened, but it was a matter of whether the little black grenade would have time to muster his usual explosive finish. Moving to the outside of the track, following the bold challenges being made by Bold Shavid and Dillon Dean, Inky Lord used speed and competitive spirit to join in the chase after Kylie's Hero.

By this stage, the second favourite was finding the last 50 metres uncomfortable, and Bold Sharvid passed him bravely. Dillon Dean, driven a treat by Colin De Filippi, then took over. But Inky Lord was still in full cry and five metres from the finish, the four-year-old had his head in front.

"When I started to catch Luxury Liner I thought there might be some of the money in it for us. And, then as we got closer to the finish I knew there was a chance we just might get up. It was a phenomenal sprint. I really thought Colin had it until those last 10 metres," said May.

Tony Herlihy, who drove the favourite Luxury Liner, said the backmarker went good and tried hard. "He just couldn't get a breather at any part."

"I thought to myself 'where'd the black fellow come from',"said James Stormont, who drove the third placegetter Bold Sharvid.

"I was confident he would see it out and he fought well. It was only in the last stride or two that he lost it, said Colin De Filippi, the driver of Dillon Dean. "I was pretty confident I had everything covered. I had forgotten about Inky Lord, because I knew he was behind me, and I didn't think anything would come from behind Dillon Dean and beat him."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Dillon Dale defeats Godfrey in the 1988 Derby

1988 JOHN BRANDON NZ DERBY

Much as predicted, Dillon Dean defeated Godfrey in the $150,000 John Brandon New Zealand Derby.

He confirmed his rating as New Zealand's best three-year-old with a win by more than two lengths in the classic and in a time that was a race record. Godfrey had his chance and tried hard, but didn't have a hope of trimming much off Dillon Dean's lead over the last 300 metres. "He went a bit rough on the corner. That cost him two lengths, but the other horse was too good. He usually goes better the Auckland way round. He doesn't wear a murphy like he had to here," said driver Tony Herlihy.

After being steadied during the early rush for positions, Dillon Dean was taken to the front by Maurice McKendry near the 2100 metres. McKendry had it the way he wanted from there, allowing Dillon Dean to run his last mile in 2:01.2, and his last 800m in 58.5. Gidfrey ran on gamely, followed wider out, by the two Taranaki colts, Joker Man and Reba Lord, neither of whom had it easy over the last lap.

This was Dillon Dean's 12th win from 20 starts, and the $97,500 first prize took his earnings to $318,650.

Credit: Harness Racing Weekly

John Langdon, Trevor Allingham & Landora's Pride

1988 DB DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

It was a case of the 'old girls' showing them how in the DB Dominion Trotting Handicap when Landora's Pride and Tussle headed the field home.

The nine-year-old Landora's Pride once again continued the outstanding run of success her sire Game Pride has achieved in trotting events in New Zealand when she powered home from the rear to snatch victory. It appeared that with 600m to run that Landora's Pride was once again going to have luck against her in the prestigious event as she was back on the rail at the rear of the 14-horse field. Regular driver John Langdon, who was shooting for his first win in the big trot, eased her back and took off around the outside rounding the home turn.

Meanwhile, Tussle was once again doing a grand job in front, holding off all challengers, but she could not hold out the powerful finish of the much travelled Pukekohe visitor. "She's amazing; she just keeps giving more," said a delighted Langdon. "After her run on Show Day I knew she wasn't a hundred per cent, but she finished fourth and she did well to finish there considering. Trevor's (trainer Trevor Allingham) been working on her since and he could not have had her better. She suffers from tying up, and things like that don't make his job any easier," he said.

For Langdon, the win continued an outstanding run of success with trotters, having won the Inter-Dominion Final with Castleton's Pride, two Rowe Cups (Jenner and Landora's Pride) and having also been associated with the fine trotters Best Bet and Petite Evander. "I've had some good horses along the way, but ever since I was a kid I wanted to win this race," said Langdon.

It proved to be third time lucky for Landora's Pride as this was her third attempt at winning the race, having finished third and fourth in previous runnings. She has now amassed stake earnings of $439,592 for her Pukekohe owners Trevor and Judy Allingham from 104 starts for 30 wins and 29 placings. Allingham moved to Pukekohe eight-years-ago, and around that time purchased the Goodland mare Landora, with her Game Pride foal from Oxford horseman John Burrows for $3,000. The filly foal was Landora's Pride.


Credit: Steve Wilson writing in HR Weekly