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1966 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Waitaki Hanover gained an all-the-way win in the NZ Free-For-All and beat Lordship pointlessly when it came to the run to the judge. It was a very easy drive for D J Townley, who considered he was most unlucky in the NZ Cup. Waitaki Hanover paced the last mile in 61.8, the final half in 59 secs, and the last quarter in 29.8.

He covered the mile and a quarter in 2:35 and ran to the post two and a half lengths clear of Lordship. Lordship did not quite show the dash which earned him NZ Cup honours, in the NZ Free-For-All. He trailed Waitaki Hanover from the start but could make no impression in the run home.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1966 NZ DERBY STAKES

Holy Hal overcame a slow beginning to win the NZ Derby Stakes at Addington Raceway and his performance entitles him to be classed with the greatest of his age.

Holy Hal was having his first start at a totalisator meeting since June when he won the NZ Sapling Stakes and he did not have to do his best to beat Killadar and Cardinal King. He has now won six successive races and has earned £4385 for his owners, Messrs D Keenan of Wyndham and J R Rodgers of Christchurch.

Holy Hal was driven by K Balloch who drove Tactile to win in 1962 when that pacer established the race record of 3:10.4. Holy Hal's time on Saturday was only one fifth of a second slower. The race was run at a solid pace, the last half mile taking 61 and the last quarter 29.4 secs.

When he tangled at the start, Holy Hal lost several lengths and had only Wyambie and James behind him when he settled down. Killadar went fast over the first two furlongs and Holy Hal was left out wide. However, Holy Hal went to the front with seven furlongs to go and in the race to the post he never really looked in any serious danger of defeat.

Killadar raced right up to his winning run earlier in finishing second. He came home strongly along the rails and there is no doubt he is a pacer well above average. Cardinal King was half a head behind Killadar and then came Fort Nelson who was responsible for a fine showing. He was stopped almost dead when checked at the three furlongs. Miles Gentry weakened to fifth and then came Stewart Hanover and Dark Sun who were well beaten.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

Doris Nyhan receives the Cup from Charles Thomas

1966 NZ TROTTING CUP

Lordship loitered with the NZ Cup field in a convivial sort of way for the best part of the last three furlongs. The manner in which he eventually won merely confirmed that he is a world class champion fit to rank with the Cardigan Bay-Bret Hanover-Adios Butler circle. He actually passed the post in little above second gear, certainly with a lot up his sleeve.

"I had to go to the front sooner than I meant to," said D (for Denis) Nyhan after driving Lordship to his second NZ Cup victory. "Lordship began to pull up of his own accord when well clear," continued Nyhan; and this compensated for a middling run in the early stages for the champion.

My own impression of the Cup race, run on a 'sticky wicket' was that Lordship was in a class of his own. He was not required to get into top gear until Tobias loomed up as a momentary danger at the straight entrance and, finally, Robin Dundee got to within two lengths of him only because he was actually easing down in the last 50 metres or so.

Oakhampton, Cuddle Doon and Doctor Barry broke at the start and Tobias was slow to muster speed. This left Full Sovereign to lead out from Waitaki Hanover, Disband, Lochgair, Master Alan and Robin Dundee. Lordship had made a splendid beginning and was already close up. Lochgair was the leader with half a mile covered and he was still there with a round to go, where Cuddle Doon (the pacemaker in the middle stages) had given way, and Oakhampton was lying third. It was at this stage that there was some jostling for positions, and the worst sufferers in the chain reactions that followed were Robin Dundee and Tobias, who finished up in the rear leaving the front straight for the last time. With half a mile to go Disband was half a length in front of the swift-moving Lordship, who went effortlessly to the front in another half-furlong and stayed there. The only time he looked in any sort of danger for the remainder of the race was when Tobias swept round the outer from the three furlongs and almost got on terms with Lordship at the furlong post. However, Tobias blew out almost as soon as he caught Lordship, who obviously won with plenty in reserve by two lengths from Robin Dundee.

Another valiant defeat was the lot of Robin Dundee. She was standing up Lordship fully half a dozen lengths with half a mile to go and battled on very gamely to beat Waitaki Hanover as decisively as she was beaten. Tobias was a creditable fourth, a bare head away, with three lengths to the fifth horse, Disband. Cuddle Doon was two lengths behind Disband, with a gap of four lengths to Master Alan, six lengths to Oakhampton, and then came Full Sovereign, Lochgair and Doctor Barry - last.

The first quarter was run in 35 secs., half-mile 67.8, six furlongs 1:41.8, mile 2:15.2, mile and a quarter 2:49.2, mile and a half3:20, mile and three quarters 3:52, and the full journey (gross) in 4:22.6. Lordship's net time was 4:19, an excellent return under the conditions. Lordship, whose racing career to date has been confined to New Zealand, has now won £48,170 in stakes and trophies. His first NZ Cup, in 1962, was also run on a wet track. Like many an out-and-out champion before him, he can handle all sorts of tracks, dirt or grass, wet or dry, with equal confidence.

Lordship is by Johnny Globe, the 1954 Cup winner. Lordship's dam, Ladyship, a U Scott mare, traces back to the Australian mare Lightnin' who reached good company on NZ tracks and was also ancestress of Emulous, a champion pacer of the 1940's who won the Inter-Dominion Championship at Auckland in 1948. Lordship was bred by his owner, Mrs D G Nyhan, wife of the trainer, D G (for Don) Nyhan, who has now trained three NZ Cup winners - Johnny Globe and Lordship (twice). D D Nyhan has driven Lordship in both his Cup wins.

The presentation of the Gold Cup on Tuesday was made to Mrs Nyhan by Mr C S Thomas, a past-president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and the NZ Trotting Conference, and at present treasurer of the Metropolitan. In his introduction to the Cup presentation, Mr Saunders paid a tribute to Mr Thomas's outstanding work as one of the principal architects of the Totalisator Agency Board.

Robin Dundee ran her third second in the race: she was runner-up to Cardigan Bay in 1963 and to Garry Dillon last year. Her stake-winnings in New Zealand have reached £37,340 and she has also won £10,000 in Australia. Lack of experience and racing in seasoned company could have told against Tobias, who is obviously a talented young pacer and a potential champion. He should show to advantage on dry tracks later at the carnival.

The on-course betting on the Cup, £26,395, was slightly down on last year's figures of £27,358; but the off-course total of £37,958 10s was commensurately up on last year's turnover of £36,842. After showery weather for some days beforehand, and up till a late hour on Cup day, the attandance of 18,250 was well up on expectations. Last year's attendance was 17,483.

The on-course totalisator receipts, £248,932, were a new record for a trotting meeting, and also a South Island record for trotting and racing. Last year's Cup-day total, £230,015, was the previous record. Tuesday's off-course total was £238,706, also a new record for a trotting meeting. The previous record was last year's total of £211,674 15s.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

Lofty Shaw, Jack Baker, Garry Dillon & Peter Wolfenden

1965 NZ TROTTING CUP

Adroitly shepherded through a traffic hazard just after negotiating the home turn, Garry Dillon decisively outstayed the favourite Robin Dundee in the NZ Cup at Addington Raceway.

Crack northern reinsman Peter Wolfenden had the winner in front from barrier rise, he took the trail behind Danny's Pal with about seven furlongs covered, and thereafter he stayed on the fence in the path of the pilot until he got the green light in the run home - he actually edged his way to the outer and had gathered in Robin Dundee half-way down the running.

Garry Dillon had three lengths to spare as he passed the post, too decisive a result to warrant any reaching for the excuse book. However, there were the usual casualties. Gay Robin looked as unlucky as anything. He showed a torrent of speed to finish fourth after striking trouble and going into a prolonged break with only a furlong and a half covered - this lapse cost him about a dozen lengths and he was less than five lengths from the winner at the finish. Orbiter fared little better in the battle of tactics than he did a year ago (when he was second to Cairnbrae) but on this occasion his chance got completely extinguised when he got squeezed back with less than three furlongs to go. He was running a fairly close eighth at the time. Jacobite also made a remarkable recovery to come third, because he misfired as badly as anything at the start and still had at least a dozen of the field to mow down with half the race to run.

Lochgair, Avante and Gay Reel were others to tangle at the start, and Garry Dillon's early attendants were Idaho, Robin Dundee, Orbiter, Danny's Pal, Pancho Boy and Garcon D'Or. Garry Dillon was a clear leader with a mile and a quarter to go, but then Danny's Pal rushed up to take over, and with six furlongs left he had Garry Dillon, Idaho, Avante, Robin Dundee and Tactile as his nearest pursuers. Cairnbrae made a short-lived spurt wide out going along the back the last time, but the one who really 'got cracking' as the field crossed the top was Robin Dundee - she was in full cry on the home bend and soon had Danny's Pal and Idaho in trouble, but no sooner had she drawn clear than Garry Dillon made his sweep well out on the track and Robin Dundee had no answer to his perfectly timed onslaught.

Robin Dundee was a length and a half in front of Jacobite, who was a head better than Gay Robin, and Idaho was the same distance back fifth. Danny's Pal, Lordship, Van Rebeck, Orbiter, Tactile, Avante, Pancho Boy, Garcon D'Or, Lochgair, Gay Reel and Cairnbrae followed in the order named.

P T Wolfenden, interviewed after the race, said he thought he was the only one with a chance of beating Robin Dundee from the home turn if he could get clear, "and I managed to." D J Townley, driver of Jacobite, thought he was "a certainty beaten." He lost fully 36 yards at the start.

Garry Dillon is raced on lease by Messrs E B S Grey and J H Shaw from his Southland breeder, Mrs E M Kirk. A seven-year-old bay gelding by Garrison Hanover(imp), who is now close to the top of the sires' list for the current season. Garry Dillon is out of Regina Dillon, by Dillon Hall out of Regina Pointer, by Logan Sun out of Regina de Oro, by Copa de Oro from Regina, a famous foundation mare whose descendants include Native Chief, Logan Chief, Grand Mogul and a host of other class performers; but this was the first New Zealand Cup winner from the family.

Garry Dillon has now won 12 races and £11,042 5s, including Tuesday's £100 gold Cup. The cup was presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr D Seath). Robin Dundee's stake-winnings have reached £23,055, plus around £5000 in Australia.

Despite a showery, gloomy morning, the attendance was good, 17,482 compared with 18,000 last year. The weather cleared after the second race. The on-course betting on the Cup was £27,353, an increase of £4850 on last year; the off-course Cup total, £36,842, was £1829 up on last year. The totalisator, on-course, handled £230,015 (including £23,644 10s on the double) compared with £216,064 10s last year. The off-course total was £211,674 15s (including £104,503 5s on the double), compared with £196,592 10s last year.

On a sticky track the time was relatively slow - 4:22.4 for the winner. Sectional times were: Half-mile 64.8; Mile 2:12.8; Mile and a half 3:19.8.

J P Baker, who trains Garry Dillon at Morrinsville, Auckland, told of Garry Dillon's arrival at Addington as late as last Friday following a 600-mile trip by float after a flight from Auckland had to be cancelled. Baker would have driven Garry Dillon himself but for meeting with an accident in recent weeks which injured his ribs and broke his collar-bone. Baker gives unstinted credit to veteran Cambridge trainer C G Lee for his assistance in the training of Garry Dillon in recent weeks, and also his care of the horse on his trying float trip south.

P T Wolfenden was driving his second NZ Cup winner in the last three years - he drove Cardigan Bay in 1963 when, incidentally, Robin Dundee was also second to him.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1965 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Robin Dundee gained a runaway win in the NZ Free-For-All on Friday and her success was well received by the crowd. Robin Dundee enjoyed a grand run in behind the two leaders, Anarca Direct and Gay Robin. Peerswick sprinted up passing the two furlongs but once M Holmes pulled Robin Dundee out she soon had full control of the situation.

Her success was her 17th and she has also been placed 40 times for £24,355 in stakes in New Zealand and more than £5000 in Australia. Robin Dundee paced her last half mile in 59.8 sec, the full journey taking 2:37.

Fairly well back early, Orbiter put in some telling work over the concluding stages for third. A win for this capable pacer shortly would be popular. Lordship backed out as the barrier was released and was a clear last soon after the start. His fourth placing was not devoid of merit. Garry Dillon made one of his rare lapses at the start and was never really dangerous afterwards.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1965 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Mighty Chief led for the greater part of the journey and then ran out a decisive winner of the Dominion Handicap. He was well rated by driver D J Townley and his success was all the more meritorious as Mighty Chief was having only his second start for the season. At his first appearance Mighty Chief was narrowly beaten by When at the Banks Peninsula meeting.

Mighty Chief took time to develop, but once he really got the hang of things he made a quick rise to the best classes. He won at his first race appearance as a three-year-old at Washdyke at long odds. When first tried, Mighty Chief "could neither pace or trot" and L R Clark must be given full marks for a grand job in developing Mighty Chief into the fine trotter he is today.

Mighty Chief was bred by F Oliver, Oamaru who sold him at a low figure at the yearling sales, and Mighty Chief was subsequently leased to Clark who, after trying him first as a pacer switched him to trotting. About 12 months ago Clark exercised a right of purchase clause in the lease.

By My Chief, Mighty Chief is a five-year-old bay gelding out of Gala Girl, winner of the first contest for the New Zealand Golden Slipper Stakes. Other good winners belonging to this family include Pala Royal, Pohutukawa and Grande Garrison. Alice Grey, the foundation mare of this family was got by the thoroughbred stallion, Balboa, and she was a noted show jumper.

D J Townley admitted he got a great thrill out of driving the winner, his first in the Dominion Handicap.

Acquit must be given full credit for an excellent effort for second. Early in the run home he looked as though he would be a danger to Mighty Chief but less than half a furlong out Acquit had come to the end of his run. Flying Maiden raced right up to her first day form - when she won the Worthy Queen Handicap - when she finished third in the Dominion. She received a good run all the way and stuck to her task in solid fashion in the run home. Flying Maiden is a much improved trotter who should experience little difficulty in continuing to pay her way.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1965 NZ DERBY STAKES

Always well positioned in the NZ Derby Stakes, Bass Strait showed determination in wearing down Inky Boy in the race to the post. These two capable three-year-olds practically had the finish to themselves, the third horse, Scotch Cherie being three and a half lengths back.

Inky Boy was only just caught and beaten in the last stride or two. It was disclosed later that Inky Boy was inclined to run out in the straight and could not be driven to the best advantage. Inky Boy had been suffering from a cold before the meeting and at one stage he came close to being scratched. Phillmark failed to justify the solid support to come for her in the Derby but she could be excused to some extent. She had been suffering from a cold and she choked during the running. There was some merit in her fourth placing in the circumstances. From the second line, Courtier, a hot favourite carrying one-fifth of the total pool in the race, broke badly at the start and lost far too much ground to be a real threat. Maluka, Atanui, Athenian and Goldmount were others to break at the start.

Bass Strait, a bay gelding by Hal Tryax from Laura Ann showed fine promise last season as a two-year-old but he has taken time this season to return to his best. His win on Saturday night gave trainer C C Devine his second training success in the Derby and his first driving success. Devine trained Bellajily to win in 1963 when driven by D J Townley. Bass Strait is the third NZ Derby Stakes winner sired by Hal Tryax in the last six years, the other two being Student Prince and Tactile.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1965 NZ OAKS

Have Care proved far too good for the rest in the New Zealand Oaks. She lost ground at the start but once balanced she raced into the lead effortlessly with five furlongs to go. About 100 yards out Scotch Cherie looked to have the measure of Have Care, but Scotch Cherie's effort was short-lived and shaken up, Have Care ran right away for the easiest of wins from Scotch Cherie. Belle Luronne tangled slightly at the start but soon caught her gait and was in front after about a furlong and a half.

The hot favourite, Phillmark, was slow away and broke badly after less than a furlong, a lapse that wrote finish to her chance, though she showed fine speed to finish seventh.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

PETER WOLFENDEN - GARRY DILLON 1965

'Wolfie' won four Cups, every one an immaculate drive, usually trailing or handy on the outer. So it was with the longshot 'who's he?' Garry Dillon, in 1965, our first and soon trailing. But Peter knew that his charge lacked the brilliance of many of his rivals and was still going to need all the help in the run home he could get.

So he worked him into the lead earlier than expected at the turn and headed wide to get the firmer footing on the outside of the damp track. PTW was the first to get out there. The horse sprinted clear to win easily and against names like Robin Dundee, Lordship, Orbiter, Tactile and previous winner Cairnbrae, it had to be the "outside lane". They should have put Wolfie's name on the Cup.

TRIVIA FACT: Wolfie's most dramatic trail/win at Addington was the 1979 Inter Dominion final with Rondel. He noted how pacemaker Sapling tended to run out on the bends so he risked being locked into the trail(no Passing lanes) confident he would eventually get a gap as Sapling came under pressure. He did, very late and won by half a neck. You had to be ice cool to do that in a $125,000 race then. What a great driver he was.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Oct 2016

1964 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Lordship produced his best form in the NZ Free-For-All. He hesitated a little at the start but was into top gear quickly and was soon handily placed. He waited on the leaders till well inside the furlong before challenging. Lordship caught Orbiter 24 yards out and went on to win by a length in the smart time of 2:34.6 for the mile and a quarter journey, a 2:03.6 mile rate. The leaders sprinted their last half mile in 60.2, the final quarter in 28.8 secs. Lordship appeared to be a much keener pacer than he was on Cup day, and he was given a rousing reception on his return to the birdcage. Lordship has now won £25,930 in stakes, the result of 24 wins and 21 placings.

Orbiter made a game attempt to win but found Lordship just too good on the day. Orbiter was alongside Cairnbrae racing to the straight and had that pacer covered after turning for home. He looked a winner until Lordship put in his claim, and he was far from disgraced in going under to a pacer of the calibre of Lordship.

Jay Ar finished in good style for third after being several places back at the home turn, with Vanderford in fourth place, followed by Cairnbrae and Waitaki Hanover, with three lengths to Flying Blue, who was followed in by Gay Reel and Dandy Briar, with Grouse tailed off.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar