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NZ FREE-FOR-ALL SORTS OUT CHAMPIONS

While we are conditioned by history in New Zealand to regard handicap racing as the ultimate test in both racing and trotting, it is odds on that any American visitors to the Cup carnival are likely to show at least as much interest in Friday's big pace event, the NZ Free-For-All.

The odd average stayer has fluked victory in the Cup on the Tuesday through a combination of circumstances but it very rarely happens that anything other than a pacer right out of the top draw bowls the same field from even marks over the sprint distance on the Friday.

The Free-For-All was first run in 1914 probably to give some chance to the top horses who were often out of major handicaps due to the old 'clock' method of handicapping. In the 60 contests run to date all but a couple have been won by horses who were and are household names. In fact in many ways the FFA is a better indication to the historian on who our great pacers have been than the Cup is, though of course it does not carry the same 'mana' as the two mile classic.

There are plenty of FFA winners who could well have been among the Cup winners. Acron and Great Bingen were two from the 1920's who come to mind while in later years Single Direct, Vedette, Tactician, Caduceus, Robin Dundee and Stella Frost were the tops of their day with the last named of course being first past the post in the 1969 Cup before being disqualified.

Only four horses have thus far won the event three times and all were champions. Author Dillon in the second decade of the century, the wonderful Harold Logan in the 30's, and Caduceus and Lordship in more recent times. Possibly by the time you have read this Robalan will have joined this illustrious group for he has won in the last two years. His win last year in world record time was almost certainly the highlight of the Cup meeting even allowing for his thrilling Cup win four years earlier.

In the days when the event was a standing start Robalan shared the record with Johnny Globe who clocked 2:33.6 away back in 1954 when that little pacer was, at least for those first two days of the Cup meeting, as good a horse as any in the world. In an earlier era Gold Bar set a long standing record with his 2:35. In 1942 and allowing for the difference in track surfaces in those days this was a feat as remarkable as any since.

Back in the 1920's the race was run over a mile for several years. Among the winners being Acron in 2:03.6 (1924) and the tremendously fast but 'rattle headed' horse Native Chief. Several top trainers gave up trying to instil some raceday interest into Native Chief, but his great speed always suggested that he could have been two-minute material.

Robalan looks very likely to make it three in a row this year for though his powers may be on the wane as the years catch up with him he can still give a sharp sprinting lesson to many of his younger rivals as he has already shown this season. With Noodlum out and Lunar Chance at the time of writing being something of an unknown quantity there is nothing in the Young Quinn class to worry Robalan as there was last year. Final Decision might take a special liking to this sort of contest while Micron is a most respectable sprinter and could bob up from behind the mobile start.

History strongly suggests that you forget the 'roughies'in the Free-For-All, the last winner not in the champion class possibly being Chief Command at the extraordinary meeting of 1969. Most of the winning list of this race reads like a who's who of the New Zealand standardbred and it's odds on that traditions will not be broken in 1975.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in the NZ Trotguide 13/11/75

1975 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

After fighting out the finish of the Cup, Lunar Chance and Final Decision clashed again in the NZ Free-For-All and once again the brilliant northerner had to bow to Lunar Chance. The margin was as close as the Cup's had been but this time the running of the race showed the two horses adopting tactics which were almost a complete reversal of the Cup running.

On Tuesday Lunar Chance had gone to the front at the 1200m with Final Decision, having gone off stride for no apparent reason after 200m, still making up the ground he had lost. The northerner must have gone his last 2400m in close to three minutes and he just failed to catch the stubborn Southland pacer who must be one of the finest stayers we have seen for some time.

In the FFA the boot was rather on the other foot, Final Decision going to the front quickly after a good beginning from the difficult No.1 barrier draw while the wider drawn Lunar Chance settled well back. At the turn it looked Final Decision's race but the Southlander staged a brilliant late run to get the nod by a head. Why Bill caught the eye with a performance as impressive as his Cup run was disappointing for third. Speedy Guest, seemingly always the bridesmaid in the big ones, was fourth.

It has been a great week for Keith Lawlor and Lunar Chance and a victory in top races for amateur trainers and drivers is invariably popular, especially to those who remember the days when trotting relied almost exclusively on the "little man" to keep the sport going at a time when it threatened to loose it's appeal. The Lawlor family are typical of the type of trotting enthusiasts who have played such a large part in the development of the sport. Keith's father and grand-father were both associated with horses for many years in conjunction with farming interests in Gore and perhaps the one regret Keith had on Tuesday was that his father, who died some years ago, could not be present to see the triumph of the horse whose family Lawlor Senior had bred from for many years. Like many Southland horsemen it was his practice to sell horses to northern owners once they had won their way out of the local classes but there seems little danger of Lunar Chance leaving the southern province for some time yet.

The Majestic Chance gelding is the first Southland owned, trained and driven horse to win the Cup for 50 years and appropriately the last one, Winsoon, is an antecedent of this year's winner. It seemed for a time after his impressive visit to Addington in the early spring that Lunar Chance may be robbed of his opportunity to win the Cup by a loss of form brought on by dehydration. But he "came right" at precisely the right time and after a stiff workout last Monday his owner pronounced him back to the best. A photo in a Christchurch newspaper showing Lunar Chance doing his regular galloping work brought some comment and Keith himself quipped on Cup eve, "I don't know whether to run him tomorrow or wait for Riccarton on Wednesday."

His run in the FFA was timed at 2:28.8 - not as fast as Robalan's record breaking effort last year but very quick for 2000m by any standards. Final Decision must wonder what he has to do to win a big one at Addington. His run in the Cup was the most brilliant effort from a horse with an interrupted run since Manaroa in the late sixties. He confirmed that form with his courageous effort on Friday and the third clash between he and Lunar Chance should be worth going some way to see. They are both expected to line up in the Alan Matson.

The FFA lost some of it's "needle" through Robalan breaking hopelessly after 300m to the obvious gloom of his many supporters. That mistake cost him any chance of an unprecedented fourth win in the event while Micron and Tricky Dick took an instant dislike to the mobile and took no serious part.

It was still a memorable race but the week's honours must lie with Lunar Chance.


Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide

The Lawlor family and Lunar Chance

1975 NZ CUP

If Southland stayer Lunar Chance was feeling dehydrated three weeks ago it was nothing to the state he left the huge crowd in at Addington on Tuesday.

In a grandstand finish Lunar Chance held off a brilliant late dab from the desperately unlucky northern contender Final Decision to take the 1975 New Zealand Cup by a rapidly diminishing head. for Gore owner-trainer-driver Keith Lawlor, a farmer, it was justification for turning down a $100,000 offer after winning the New Brighton Cup last season.

By far the most lightly raced horse in the field Lunar Chance was having only his 26th start on Tuesday and has now won 14 races, has been second three times and third five times. His stake earnings, including the $700 trophy attached to the Cup, now stand at $60,160. He looks certain to top the $100,000 mark in the very near future.

Lunar Chance posed Lawlor all sorts of problems after failing in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on October 6 but he picked up condition in the few days before the Cup and won it like the true stayer he is. He lost 40 metres at the start when he galloped off the mark but passing the 1600 metres Lawlor sent him forward to take the lead off Speedy Guest at the 1200 metres. Micron gave him no rest in front when he rushed up to dispute the lead at the 700 metres but soon after turning for home Lunar Chance slipped clear and just held off the brilliant late run from Final Decision.

The northern pacer was desperately unlucky. He went away well but left his feet after 300 metres and was giving the leaders at least 80 metres when he settled down. He was still last at the 800 metres when he followed Micron forward and on the home turn was seven lenghts from Lunar Chance in sixth place. He was closing rapidly on Lunar Chance at the post but just failed by a head.

Last year's winner and favourite Robalan had every chance and though he battled on gamely he was only third a length back. He received a good run on the outside and was carried up to a perfect trail on the outer at the 1200 metres as the lead changed. He looked a big danger on the home turn but the effort told a Lunar Chance went on to win in 4:08.6.

Speedy Guest and Vanadium led in the rest a length and a quarter and a neck back. Speedy Guest enjoyed a good run after leading briefly in the middle stages but Vanadium never really got into the clear from the middle on the outer. Deeside was beaten off sixth, six lengths back.

Credit: Tony Williams writing in the NZ Trotguide

Main Adios (Derek Jones) easily from Direct Magic

1975 NZ DERBY

If some purists thought that the fiftieth NZ Derby lacked the presence of a three-year-old of champion potential, even they must agree that the contest lost very little in comparison with its forerunners on the score of excitement. From the time the warm favourite Smokey Lopez received a bad check at the start it was all action in the premier classic with Main Adios gaining a convincing three-length win in a time very much above the average.

It might be argued in the weeks to come whether Smokey Lopez or Olga Korbut would have made the winner work much harder over the final stages but Main Adios ran his race out in most convincing fashion - and no horse can be expected to do more. Main Adios had drawn attention to his chances with an impressive win over 2000m on Cup day beating a promising field of handicappers fair and square. He ran that one from the front but in the Derby improved sharply from a wide position early to get a trail behind a fairly fierce pace set by Lord Moose.

The winner benefitted from some masterly driving from Derek Jones (having his first Derby win), Jones moving him out from the trail at the 400m rather than risk getting held up later and taking the lead shortly after turning for home. He put a break on the field at that time and Direct Magic and Smokey Lopez just could not pull him back over the final stages. Direct Magic ran on well for his second placing though he had a much better run than most of his nearest opponents. All the same he is showing signs of soon laying to rest the sometimes heard allegation that his will to win is not as strong as it might be.

Ben Grice must wonder why fate continues to conspire against him in the Derby. Smokey Lopez seemed set to succeed where others from the Grice stable had failed but a bad check at the start possibly cost him the race. He found it hard to improve with the strong pace being set and the effort of doing so told over the final stages. But he was far from disgraced and if there is any justice in the world he will get one of the remaining classics later in the season. Lord Moose struggled on for fourth after setting a torrid pace, with Stanley Rio four lengths away fifth followed by Lumber Box, who broke at the start and checked Smokey Lopez, with the others making up a fairly tired bunch.

Olga Korbut was unable to repeat her half brother's win of last year and she had a most unfortunate race. Away well she trailed early and was allowed to drift under the hot pace. At the 1200 when angling out from the fence she nudged Star Chance and broke with Star Chance having to be pulled up. The Lordship filly had no chance after this mishap and her eighth place in the circumstances had some merit. Freeman Holmes felt she was going extremely well at the time and there is little doubt she would have been in the finish with an uninterupted run.

Though one can particularly regret the checkered runs of the first two favourites there is still no doubt that Main Adios is a worthy Derby winner. The only problem he now faces is one of history. It is surprising the number of outstanding Derby winners who have never had the chance to show their full ability as older horses, usually due to unsoundness. On the other hand a number in this category have had successful stud careers so the Methven colt is likely to win out either way.


Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide

1975 NZ OAKS

In Or Out, a shock failure in the Nevele R Stud Stakes 10 days previously staged a form reversal when she led all the way to win the NZ Oaks at Addington on Anzac Day.

In Or Out could only manage a distant eighth in the Nevele R Stakes, for which she was a warm favourite, after having a tough battle with Miss Honour for the lead in the early stages. This time, In Or Out bounced straight to the front on the sloppy track and was never in danger of defeat afterwards, winning by three lengths from Golden Nurse.

In Or Out came into calculations for the Oaks when she won the First Three-Year-Old Stakes at Addington at Easter, and followed this up with a third to Commissioner and Don Lopez in the Metropolitan Three-Year-Old Championship on Easter Saturday. Originally, she was entered for the North Island Oaks but was placed on the balloted list with right of re-entry by the Thames Trotting Club and did not make the trip.

In Or Out was bred by Mr H J Maw of Highbank, in whose colours she raced in the Oaks. She is trained at Methven by Alister Kerslake and has been regularly driven by Templeton horseman Derek Jones, who was recording his first win in the Oaks. In Or Out is a filly by Out To Win from the Arusa mare, Parusa. Parusa, out of the Grattan Royal mare Paramount, was bred by Mr W F Woolley of Christchurch, for whom Kerslake trained the 1971 NZ Derby winner Bachelor Star, and third placed Golden Guest.

Invercargill filly Golden Nurse, who made a brilliant beginning from the second line, trailed In Or Out to the 600 metres where she moved off the fence to take a challenging position. She looked a danger on the home turn but In Or Out drew clear without too much effort and won decisively. Lauraine Hanover, who followed Golden Nurse all the way, held on well for third two and a half lengths back with four lengths to Young Lass, who enjoyed a good run on the outer.

Ripper's Delight, trying to add the NZ Oaks to her Great Northern Oaks and Derby, lost her chance at the start but turned in a tremendous performance to get up for fifth three lengths back. Ripper's Delight added at least 80 metres to her task at the start but put in a big run from last at the 900 metres to just shade the favourite Jascoe, who was forced wide when improving but never really looked a winning proposition. Third favourite Helen Of Tara blundered badly at the start and was pulled up.

Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotguide

Young Quinn and John Langdon

GREAT RACE: YOUNG QUINN 1975 INTERDOM FINAL

As the 1975 Inter-Dominions in Auckland loomed, New Zealand's chances of repelling the formidable Australian assault and ending their almost complete domination of the Championship for a decade seemed to be on very shaky ground. Outside of Stella Frost's promoted win at Addington four years earlier, following the disqualification of Junior's Image, and Phil Coulson for seven years - later remitted to four years by the NZ Trotting Conference - after a caffeine positive, New Zealand had not looked even close to winning an Inter-Dominion since the 1965 series in Dunedin was shared by Jay Ar and Robin Dundee.

This included the previous Inter-Dominion at Alexandra Park in 1968, a series dominated by Tasmanian champion Halwes and following his shock withdrawal from the Final with a quarter crack less than a hour before attempting a clean sweep, ultimately won by NSW's First Lee. This was Australia's first Inter-Dominion win on New Zealand soil, which was not supposed to happen. And the Forbury Park success had hardly counted, what with Blazing Globe being the only Australian contender of any note. A son of Stormyway and the grand NZ mare Thelma Globe trained by Perc Hall at Penrith, Blazing Globe won a heat on the third night, but a couple of fourths in the heats was the best that could be managed by the combined efforts of Guiness (NSW), Palpitate (Vic) and Minton Hall and Pacing Lawn from WA, and their trip seemed mostly about taking in the scenery.

The 11-strong Australian challenge for the Pacing Championship in 1975 though was spearheaded by two-time winner Hondo Grattan and well established stars in Paleface Adios, Just Too Good, Tarcoola Frost and Royal Gaze, all but the latter from NSW. Hondo Grattan had won 44 races at that point, while Just Too Good had won 46 and Paleface Adios 43 and Royal Gaze had just won the Hunter Cup.

Then a week out from opening night came the devastating news that Robalan had been withdrawn after being troubled by an abscess on the chest. The 8-year-old free-legged champion had brilliantly won that season's NZ Cup and NZ Free-For-All, the latter for the third consecutive year and in world record time, where a 5-year-old Young Quinn had arrived in Christchurch off the back of eight straight wins and proved fallible.

A few months later, New Zealand's hopes of an Inter-Dominion win seemed to rest squarely on the shoulders of the Auckland and Wellington Cup winner Young Quinn. The likes of Hi Foyle, Speedy Guest, Vanadium, and the 4-year-olds Captain Harcourt, Master Dean and Kotare Legend were considered good class, but hardly capable of beating the Australian champions even with a head start in the handicaps. But this was Alexandra Park of course, and a whole new ball game, or direction, for the visitors. And they were about to run into a horse who by the end of the Championship, would be talked about as the best seen since Cardigan Bay.

Young Quinn, affectionately nicknamed 'Garbage' by his Edendale connections due to his habit of eating everything in sight as a youngster, including his bedding, would also by the end of his 5-year-old campaign earn the label of 'the Mighty Quinn' from none other than Peter Wolfenden, who since being spoiled by 'Cardy' had rarely been heard to utter a generous word for any other horse.

When the dust had settled on the season, Young Quinn had raced 22 times in New Zealand for 19 wins, two thirds and a seventh, and in Australia, three times for two wins and a fourth, the latter in a heat of the Lord Mayor's Cup at Harold Park from 25m not long after brilliantly downing Mitchell Victory, Royal Gaze, Hondo Grattan, Paleface Adios and Adios Victor in the Miracle Mile, and Hondo Grattan in the Hurricane Stakes. Robalan had set the record for wins in NZ in a season the previous year at 12, while Young Quinn's 10 consecutive wins to complete his campaign was also a record within a NZ season. He earned $149,961 when no other horse had topped $100,000 in a year and became the first horse in Australasia to top $200,000 in career winnings, at a point when the only other six-figure winners were Robalan ($164,020), Arapaho ($128,345) and Lordship ($113,790). In today's terms, it was easily a million dollar-plus winning season.

He set New Zealand race records for one mile (1:57 in the NZ Miracle Mile) and two miles (4:06.7) and his records for 2200m, 2600m and 2700m from a stand were faster than the records from mobiles.

Bud Baynes and his son Des had bred Young Quinn after the former had bought his out of form dam, the Hal Tryax mare Loyal Trick, for a few hundred dollars in what was just his second venture into standardbred ownership, having earlier won a race with a son of Hal Tryax in Hal Away. Convinced he could get the Southland 3yo Stakes winner back into form, Baynes soon discovered that Loyal Trick was too far gone with arthritis to be a racing prospect and bred her to Young Charles, who was standing at stud for his brother Colin at nearby Ferndale. The resulting filly in Judy Charles was sold as a yearling to Christchurch's Colin McLachlan and had three wins, losing one on a protest, while Loyal Trick's third foal and first colt, by Young Charles, died of tetanus. Des Baynes was 19 and working for Colin, who coincidentally then offered him a free service to Young Charles, and Bud loaned Loyal Trick on the understanding they would race the foal together.

A very precocious youngster, Young Quinn had won seven juvenile trials before making his debut in the Mercer Stakes at Addington in January, 1972, where Baynes had asked a polished former Southland horseman in Robert Cameron to drive. Cameron agreed, but during the float trip to Christchurch he said to Baynes "they're pretty good up at Addington; I think we'll be lucky if we finish about sixth." Young Quinn was 12th at the half but got up to impressively down smart sorts in Willie Win and Marc Bohan and by the end of the season had won eight races from 10 starts, equalling the juvenile record for races won by Sam Tryax, and taken out the prized double of the Sapling Stakes and Juvenile Championship.

An early knee injury cost him dearly as a 3-year-old, and attempting to win the NZ Derby in his season's debut when not ready set him back even further. But after being placed with Charlie Hunter at Cambridge for a failed Great Northern Derby tilt, Young Quinn began to fulfil his considerable earlier promise at four, a season he started in open class. He chased Arapaho home in the NZ and Auckland Cups and came up half a head short of Robalan in the Miracle Mile, won in 1:58, but his wins included the Allan Matson and Ollivier at the NZ Cup Meeting with Hunter at the helm.

His failures however included the Perth Inter-Dominions, where he made no impression after not travelling well and failing to settle at all in the heat. Returning home to romp away with free-for-all in Auckland in March, Young Quinn went for a well earned rest, and was soon back in the new season and sweeping all northern rivals aside with seven straight wins in the hands of Wolfenden heading into the NZ Cup carnival. Starting hot favourite in the Cup, he got hooked up in an early speed duel and pulled himself into the ground, and only class carried him into third as Robalan carried the day in his fourth attempt over Kotare Legend, while he recovered from last early to finish a distant third in the FFA.

Another Allan Matson from 25m in record time was a mere formality in Robalan's absence however and then came the Miracle Mile in Australasian record time of 1:57, where Robalan was favourite but went off stride challenging at the furlong. Freshened for the Auckland Cup carnival, Young Quinn led up and inexplicably faded to seventh in the National Flying Pace as arch-rival Robalan swept by brilliantly, but this would be the last time he would meet defeat in New Zealand.

Going into the Inter-Doms, Young Quinn had bolted away with the Auckland Cup by 10 lengths over Robalan (30m) in very wet and slushy conditions, as well as the Waikato Flying Mile by eight lengths and Wellington Cup by five from 35m. Hunter had taken back the reins after the NZ Cup Meeting and must have been on good terms with himself when Young Quinn proved much too good for pacemaker Just Too Good and Royal Gaze on the opening night of the Inters. Jack Smolenski won the other pacing heats with Speedy Guest and Vanadium, as Paleface Adios finished a bold second to the latter and Hondo Grattan ran into strife after Tony Turnbull left his shadow roll at home and had to borrow an unsuitable one. But on the second night, Hunter was brought back to earth with a thud - literally - when involved in a pile-up which wiped out half the field, and put both his arms in plaster. Three races later, up stepped Hunter's 27-year-old right-hand-man John Langdon to not only quide Young Quinn safely through the remaining heats, but win the Trotting Final with Castleton's Pride for Roy McKenzie and trainer Hunter.

Come the $61,000 Grand Final and over 30,000 were on-hand to cheer Young Quinn on from 15m, with only Hondo Grattan behind him on 25m. The rest of the country tuned in to watch on television, this being still very much a novelty reserved for major events. Young Quinn was favoured, but it would not be easy, and the Australian record in the Final was to be not only respected, but feared.

Previewing the big event for the Trotting Calendar, Ron Bisman wrote "Young Quinn starts on 15m in one of the best fields of pacers to assemble for a race in New Zealand. He came from a similar mark to win in record time at 3200m on Saturday night, but had to work hard to do it and has a shorter distance here. Grand Finals are usually go-stop-go affairs, and the one thing necessary for a backmarker to get around the field to challenge when he wants in such big-time races in the fastest turn of speed. Young Quinn has shown this time and again, and with John Langdon driving very confidently and adroitly, they just have to be first choice. Big bold challenges are expected to come from Victoria's Royal Gaze and NSW star Hondo Grattan after their fine third night form, but just the same the second choice in this quarter will be the brilliant free-legged pace Final Decision."

With Smolenski opting to handle Vanadium over Speedy Guest after returning to top form with wins on the first two nights, he was Bisman's third choice, but also accorded chances of threatening off the front were Hi Foyle, Kotare Legend, Master Dean and Why Bill along with the aforementioned. Just Too Good had lost form during the heats and started rank outsider from 10m for Keith Pike, while Colin Pike's 5-year-old Paleface Adios had lost it altogether and couldn't even make an impression in one of the Consolations.

Nursed away by Langdon to avoid any trouble, Young Quinn still copped several checks and settled all of 80 metres behind the tearaway pacemaker Master Dean and Bob Cameron. His chances of success looked remote with only a couple of stragglers in Bomber Bill and Why Bill behind him in a strung out field with a lap to go, and then Final Decision was checked, broke and came back on him with just 800m to go. But that was also the point where Young Quinn turned on the stuff Champions are made of. Gradually but inexorably moving into contention wide down the back and around th last bend, Langdon brought Young Quinn into line six-wide and he stomped down the centre of the track to in the end win quite comfortably. Hi Foyle found a gap late to come on for second for Henry Skinner and ironically, the first two home were the two horses lured to Perth the previous year by travel subsidies to 'make' that Inter-Dom Series, and performed so dismally.

By everyone was just playing bit parts in the Young Quinn Show. The accolades flowed for 'the Mighty Quinn' and so did the invites. On-hand for the Inter-Dominions was Dr Thomas Siciliano, who had been a partner in Cardigan Bay's US campaigning, but Hunter advised against any lease deals and $100,000 was not enough to buy him. Young Quinn would instead head to Sydney for the $50,000 Miracle Mile and so emphatically dispose of a truly great field there from the dreaded six alley, and while withdrawn from the Lord Mayor's Cup after being checked and hurt in his heat, he had recovered to bolt away with his farewell Down Under race at Alexandra Park in May.

Two days later he was winging his way to America to compete in the rich International Series at Yonkers in New York and Sportsman's Park in Chicago, but that of course is the start of another story.


Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 28Jun06

CUPS KINGS - VANCE HANOVER

INTRODUCTION
Bettor's Delight in just about ready to make the list as a "Cups King"- the most influential stallion in the two major all-aged races on out calendar, the Auckland and New Zealand Cups. He already has three winners and given his domination that might grow rapidly.

But topping some of the "old timers" won't be that easy, even if he has gone past many already. Who are the best? My top 10, based on the following statistical model.
- 10 points for each winner of the New Zealand or Auckland Cup.
- 5 point bonus for each individual winner greater than one.
- 5 points for each broodmare sire win.
- 1 point for each winner sired by a stallion son.

2. VANCE HANOVER 1974
(Albatross-Valentine Hanover- Best of All)(Died aged 17)
Nine WINS, Seven WINNERS, Two BROODMARE WINS, Zero SIRE SON WINNERS = 135 points.

One of the great 'rags to riches' sire stories, he produced four Auckland Cup winners in five years and five New Zealand winners in seven years. Amazing. Two, Chokin and Il Vicolo were dual Cup winners. His mares were a mixed bag and his sons failed but Vance Hanover was a horse for all seasons.

I used to compile my own Average Earnings Index for pacing stallions because many thoroughbred breeders regarded it as the best measure of performance. Even with huge crops Vance Hanover won year after year. A ten premiership breeding legend, he broke U Scott's/ Jack Potts long standing title records and made northern pacers a dominating force. There should be a statue of him somewhere for what that little horse achieved up there...

TRIVIAL FACT: Vance Hanover turned his reputation from "who?" to champion while based at the most remote stud in New Zealand, at Tangiteroria in Northland (no, we don't know where it is either) operated by Dave Jessop. In spite of the unfashionable mares there he turned Jessop, who had gone broke on a stallion deal in Canterbury and worked nights at the pie cart in Cathedral Square to make ends meet, a millionaire.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed 2016

1974 NZ OAKS

Hurrania, a daughter of 1959 NZ Oaks winner Arania and one of the first NZ crop of the American stallion Armbro Hurricane, gave Wellington owner Mr Roy McKenzie his second success in the fillies' classic.

Though Hurrania won too well to leave any excuses for the beaten runners, it was in many respects a disappointing race. This could be attributed in part to the New Brighton Trotting Club's decision to start 14 fillies in the $9,000 event. Four runners received bad checks after only 350 metres when Grouse Call broke free of interference and a smaller field may have provided a cleaner contest in such an important event.

Of the 14 runners, Hurrania received by far the best run in the hands of John Noble who had her beautifully placed one out and one back from the 1600 metres. Once in the straight, she finished too strongly for the second favourite Forta Cavalla, who was once again gallant in defeat. She had a reasonable run four places back on the outside and though not making any impression on Hurrania over the final 150 metres, easily beat Ryal Anne for second by four lengths.

She in turn was a length and a quarter clear of Treble Cross and these two were not among the best served in the running. Ryal Anne, one of two Southland fillies in the race, was pushed back on the rails in the first half of the race, then had to go three wide over the final round. Treble Cross, Gay Stephanie (two lengths, fifth), and Paraville (a length, sixth), were among those checked when Grouse Call broke soon after the start and their respective efforts were good ones.

The disappointment was the hot favourite Gentle Miss, the tightest assessed filly in the race. She skipped at the start, settled, then left her feet completely. Once settled, she sprinted up fast to be handy in the open from the 1600 metres and though she took the lead off Gay Tennessee momentarily on straightening up, she quickly gave way to Hurrania and finished seventh.

Credit: 'Lookout' writing in NZ Trotting

1974 NZ TROTTING CUP

Eight-year-old free-legged pacer Robalan returned to the birdcage to a standing ovation from the crowd, who had just witnessed him win the New Zealand Trotting Cup at his fourth attempt.

For Robalan it was justification at last. At previous attempts at the New Zealand and Auckland Cups he had not always had luck on his side and was being hailed as a horse who could not win a big handicap. But all this went overboard as Robalan wore down Kotare Legend inside the final 60 metres and went on to win convincingly by two and a quarter lengths.

The race was a triumph for part owner-trainer Denis Nyhan who had the un-nerving experience on October 23 of having Robalan turn in a shocking performance at the race trials at Addington. A mysterious complaint was thought to be the cause of Robalan's form loss at the trials but he showed gradual improvement last week and showed that he was close to his best when he won at the Cup trials.

Favoured by a good run in the $50,000 Cup, Robalan clearly outstayed Kotare Legend and the raging favourite Young Quinn, who had to be content with third, a placing he filled last year. Robalan's victory took his lifetime earnings to $140,115 the result of 32 wins and 31 placings, one of these wins and two placings being gained at Harold Park in Sydney. The Lumber Dream-Elsinore gelding recognised as one of the fastest pacers in commission at present is raced in partnership by Nyhan, Invercargill farmer Alan Devery and company director Peter Hope. His time for the 3200 metres in the Cup was 4:09, the first 800 metres in a fast 1:02, the 1600 in 2:04.2 and the first 2400 in 3:10.2, the final 800 metres took 59.2 and the final 400 in 30.

Robalan was back in tenth place on the outer at the 1000 metres but Nyhan sent him forward to follow favourite Young Quinn up towards the leaders as Peter Wolfenden made his move. Robalan was travelling nicely in fifth place on the home turn as Kotare Legend slipped clear from Hi Foyle, Young Quinn and Noble Lord. Robalan moved to Kotare Legend 60 metres out and went on to win comfortably and in doing so he gave Denis Nyhan his third driving success in the Cup and his first training success. Previously Nyhan had won two Cups behind Lordship, a horse trained by his father Don Nyhan.

Kotare Legend who was handy throughout after leading briefly early, shot to the lead with 500 metres to run and though he looked to have a winning break at the 200 metres he had no answer to Robalan. Young Quinn was a big disappointment to his army of supporters. He opened up paying $1.25 and was still showing only $1.55 a few minutes before closing time. He started to pull about the 1600 metres and though he battled on solidly after getting up to third at the 500 he never looked like winning. Hi Foyle looked a big danger when he moved into second at the top of the straight but he wilted to fourth more than five lengths from the winner. Lightsey surprised many by battling on for fifth though four lengths further back and he was clear of Why Bill who was hampered at the start but ran past beaten runners in the final 600 metres. Well-supported Speedy Guest from the back mark of 10 metres attempted to follow Young Quinn and Robalan forward from the 1000 but he could not muster the pace and never really threatened afterwards.

Credit: 'Lookout' writing in the NZ Trotguide

1974 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

In what must be considered the greatest day's racing ever seen at Addington, Robalan, Noodlum, Easton Light and Game Lad starred on the second day of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club's Cup meeting.

In a day marked by many outstanding performances, Robalan's world record time in the 2000 metre NZ Free-For-All must rank as the greatest most racegoers have been priveged to see. As if to set the seal on his brilliant NZ Cup win of three days previously, Robalan shattered any previous best time over the 2000 metres, or its old equivilent of one and a quarter miles.

The world mile and a quarter record stands to the credit of Irvin Paul who went 2:29.6 in 1962, but Robalan's time of 2:26.6 for 2000 metres is well inside this. Irvin Paul rated just a shade under 2:00 in setting his record, but Robalan's rating for the journey was about 1:58.1, which shows just how brilliant that performance was.

In winning the NZ Free-For-All for the third successive year, Robalan took his stake earnings to $145,290, the result of 33 wins and 31 placings. The most eagerly awaited event now as far as trotting enthusiasts are concerned is the New Brighton Trotting Club's Stars Travel Miracle Mile at Addington on December 7. In view of Denis Nyhan's statement after Robalan's win that his free-legged star could have gone even faster, this next race over a mile must surely be a land-mark given the right conditions.

Though well beaten by Robalan, the performance of Hi Foyle (second) and Young Quinn (third) should not be allowed to pass without notice. Hi Foyle turned in a remarkable performance to take second three and a half lengths back being forced to race without a trail from the 1500 metres while Young Quinn, who dropped to the rear at the start, put in a very good run to get third though more than eight lengths from the winner.


Credit: NZ Trotguide