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Cecil Devine hold the NZ Cup won by Van Dieman

1951 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

A pulsating finish in which Van Dieman, Johnny Globe and Young Charles charged across the line at neck intervals fully compensated Tuesday's dense crowd at Addington for the maudlin pace at which the first mile and a half of the NZ Cup was run.

As a staying test the 1951 contest was completely negated by the jogging tactics of the pacemakers for the first mile, run in 2:16 - the pity of this 'furious loitering' is that it probably made no difference to the result; Van Dieman's lightning run from the half-mile post to the finish in 58 3-5secs, and the high degree of courage he had to show to give Johnny Globe upwards of four lengths start over the final quarter gained him the fullest honours and the full-throated approval of the Addington public.

From whatever angle the race is viewed, Van Dieman deserved to win. On this occasion he did everything right from barrier rise, and even after making liberal allowances for some bad luck encountered by Young Charles, and a faulty beginning by Vedette, neither of them left the impression that they would have beaten Van Dieman on the day.

Vedette lost about 36 yards through tangling at the start, which increased his handicap to 72yds in the first furlong, and although the snails pace early enabled him to make up his loss without taking a great deal out of himself, he was a spent force a furlong from the post after making a fast run on the outer from the five furlongs - he finished sixth, several lengths from the winner. Young Charles would be regarded by many of his supporters as the hard-luck horse of the race. He put in a slight tangle at the start, losing about four lengths, and he was in a rear position practically all the way. Even coming round the home turn he only had three horses behind him, and his task looked hopeless at the distance, where Van Dieman was 'flat' in pursuit of Johnny Globe. At that stage Young Charles must have been standing up Van Dieman several lengths, and his effort to reduce this margin to less than a length was, to many, the outstanding feature of the race.

Real Scott took up the running from the start from Maori Home, Congo Song and Worthy Gold, but before the field had gone three furlongs Johnny Globe dashed up to the leaders and settled down beside Real Scott with half a mile covered. Van Dieman was sixth at this stage. Nothing showed any enthusiasm for the role of pacemaker and Real Scott was permitted to stroll along to the mile in 2:16, the mile an a quarter in 2:47, and the mile and a half in 3:20 3-5. The pace had certainly brightened up a bit between the mile and mile and a half - that section was disposed of in 1:04 3-5 - but it was still positively painful for Cup horses. That was the last of the go-slow policy, however, because the rest of the race was run well inside two-minute speed: Van Dieman's last half (timed seperately) works out at 1:57 1-5 to the mile - his last quarter was only slightly slower than his second-last quarter.

To take up the running again: Real Scott carried on in the lead on sufferance until Johnny Globe was pressed for some initiative by D G Nyhan between the three furlongs and two furlongs posts, and he sprang into action with all the alacrity for which he has become noted. He quickly put a gap of three to four lengths on Real Scott and Maori Home, and by the time the straight was reached he appeared to be increasing his advantage. But with one of his characteristic thrusts Van Dieman was instantly reducing Johnny Globe's lead, and they came to grips 150 yards out. Van Dieman actually gained the best part of a length on Johnny Globe, only to have to be tickled up with 50yds to go when Johnny Globe came again. A photo decision went to Van Dieman, and Young Charles was travelling faster than anything in third place, followed several lengths away by Maori Home, then Worthy Gold, Vedette, Good Review, Real Scott, Victory Globe, Congo Song, Dragoman,and Chamfer in that order, and Indigo last.

The wagering was a record for a trotting race in the Dominion. The total was £40,907 10s (win £20574 10s; place £20,333), compared with £40,717 10s in 1949 (the previous record) and £40,203 10s last year. The total for the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championship last February was £36,622 10s. The total investments on the totalisator at Addington on Tuesday (including £4061 15s in off-course betting), was £217,121 5s, a record for a trotting meeting in the Dominion. The previous record was £214,424 put through on Grand Final day of the Inter-Dominion Championships last February. The previous best of the £211,977 handled on Cup day last year.

Van Dieman's share of the NZ Cup stake was £5125 (including the gold cup valued at £250) and brought his winnings to £14,530. Van Dieman, a handsome five-year-old black horse by U Scott from the Jack Potts mare Reno (2:10 3-5), was bred by Mr B Forrest, of Kaiapoi, and has been trained and driven throughout his career by his owner, C C Devine of Prebbleton. Devine held him on lease until last season, when he exercised a purchasing clause. Van Dieman came to his greatness by easy stages - he was far from being a champion born and bred. In fact, as a two-year-old and three-year-old he was just one of the mob, by no means to be compared with Young Charles, Farlena or Burns Night as a two-year-old, and scarcely of the same ken as Young Charles when that horse was in his top three-year-old form. Development in Van Dieman became more and more apparent, however, and at three years he won the Charles Cross Stakes from Burns Night and Te Maru, the NZ Pacing Stakes from Preston, Morano and Te Maru, and the two-miles Peninsula Handicap at Addington from Piccolo and Morano.

Last season as a four-year-old, Van Dieman made great progress and, by a few pounds over another high-class four-year-old in Soangetaha, he became the leading Dominion stake-winner of his age. Van Dieman's wins included the Charles Cross Stakes a second time, the New Brighton Cup, the Forbury Park Ritchie Memorial, Flying and James Memorial Handicaps. This season he won the Louisson Handicap and Lightning Free-For-All in August before failing in the Farewell Free-For-All.

The man behind the Cup winner in a double sense, Devine has risen to the top of the training profession by his patience, his grit and determination, and the acquirement of a high degree of skill and ability in a much shorter space of time than many of his fellows. A Tasmanian, Devine came to New Zealand as a stropper to a good pacer in Evicus about 15 years ago. He first came into prominence as owner and trainer of a useful trotter in Teddy Gregg. He later trained a colt called Viceroy, who died young after a promising start. He also had some driving success behind the trotter Flying Scott.

In the 1949-50 season Devine trained and drove the sensational filly Vivanti, winner of the NZ Sapling Stakes, NZ Welcome Stakes, Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, and Canterbury Park Juvenile Handicap - all two-year-old races, and her 2:41 1-5 still stands as the Australasian mile and a quarter record for a two-year-old. She also won the NZ Oaks the following season.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 7Nov51

1951 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

Maori Home was responsible for a big upset in the New Zealand Free-For-All, in which the win favourite, Van Dieman, failed signally through going into a bad break at the start.

All the champions raced well below par - Vedette faded to fourth after attempting to lead all the way, and Soangetaha had to accept a moderate third. He appeared to leave his run far too late, otherwise the result might have been a lot different.

Maida Dillon and Dragoman lost a big stretch of ground at the start, and Maida Dillon showed all her old brilliance to reach second place at the finish. Young Charles, who was also slow to begin, made a move commencing the last half-mile, but he was not impressive.

Maori Home is the seventh different free-for-all winner in that many such contests this season. Van Dieman won the Lightning Free-For-All and Fortuna the Farewell Free-For-All at the Metropolitan August Meeting, Chamfer the Challenge Free-For-All and Parawa Derby the Metropolitan Free-For-All at the Wellington September Meeting, and Vedette the Hutt Park Free-For-All and Soangetaha the Wellington Free-For-All at the Wellington Spring Meeting.

Maori Home, foaled in 1942, is now one of the veterans of the best company. He ran fourth in the NZ Cup on the opening day of the Carnival. His stake-winnings have reached £12,060 and he has won 13 races. He was driven on Friday, and very confidently, by the youthful horseman W P Ireland, who is attached to the stables of V Alborn, Maori Home's trainer.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 14Nov51

1950 DOMINION HANDICAP

Dictation's winning run in the Dominion Handicap was momentous in every way. He not only spreadeagled the field in the Australasian winning record time for a trotter of 4:16 2-5, but also put up the phenomenal figures of 3:09 2-5 for the last mile and a half, time which compares with the performances of some of the greatest pacers that have raced in this country. The only time that Dictation's figures have been bettered by a trotter in this country was when Fantom was placed in 4:16 on the same track last year.

There were only three horses in the race at the finish, Dictation, Ripcord and Single Task, and Dictation was more than equal to the challenges of the other two from the home turn. On this occasion Dictation trotted solidly throughout, and his outstanding effort was not lost on the public, who gave him a warm ovation.

"The time may not be far distant," said Mr C S Thomas during his speech to the presentation of a trophy to the owner-trainer-driver of the winner, J Wilson, "when our best trotters are once again racing against our best pacers in the NZ Cup. There is no thrill," he declared, "like a race amongst the best trotters," and went on to pay tribute to the excellence of the performances of Highland Kilt and Dictation that day. He referred to the brilliance of Dictation's two records at the meeting, his mile and a quarter in 2:38 3-5 on the first day and his new winning record of 4:16 2-5 on Show Day. "This Club has pursued a policy of catering for the trotter and will continue to do so," said Mr Thomas, who then called upon Mrs Thomas to present the trophy to the owner.

Wilson bought Dictation as a yearling for £100. He picked him out of several in a paddock. Wilson remarked during his reply to the presentation of the trophy that for years "other people have been getting the cream" of his training of trotters. Wilson has certainly been one of our most successful trainers of trotters over a long period and richly deserves his fortune with Dictation, who was, in his own words, "a handful from the day I broke him in." He had never knocked the horse about, otherwise he could not have gone far. No horse which is doing its best deserves to be whipped," said Wilson.

Other good trotters Wilson raced were Quincey Thorpe and King Oscar back in the twenties, and later Ordinance and Calumella. He educated and first raced Acclaimation, and laid the foundation of her eventual champion's calibre.

Dictation is by Josedale Dictator (imp), from Seal Globe, by the Australian pacer New Derby from Thelma Axworthy, who traces back to Thelma.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov50

1950 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

Parawa Derby, who had won impressively on the first day of the meeting, was at surprisingly good odds when he won the NZ Free-For-All with a last-second dab that gave him a head victory over Congo Song. Parawa Derby received a lucky opening on the rails over the last 50yds or he could not have been in the money. It was a wonderful finish in which less than half a length would have covered the first four horses.

Parawa Derby's performance was outstanding, as he was drawn in the second line at the barrier and looked effectively snowed in when the leaders, Gantree, Gay Knight, Captain Sandy, Globe Direct, Single Direct, Nebula and Congo Song wheeled for home.

Parawa Derby, now on 4:22 for two miles, looks sure to become the early favourite for the £5000 Auckland Cup. Since he began racing as a four-year-old in the 1947-48 season, Parawa Derby has won 12 races and £9613 in stakes.

Parawa Derby was bred by his owner, Mr L T Padget, of Invercargill, and is by Dillon Hall from War Betty, a useful Southland winner by Man o' War from Betty Martin, by Prince Imperial from Peri, by Imperious (imp) from Fairy, whose descendants include such good ones as Todd Lonzia, Great Venture, Belmont Hall, Bulldozer and Talent.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov50

1950 NEW ZEALAND OAKS

Vivanti had a close call in the NZ Oaks, and a photo-finish showed her winning by the proverbial whisker. She was one of the smartest to begin, but after two furlongs was content to surrender the lead to Spring Princess. She was never further back than fourth at any stage of the race, and when she took the lead with a furlong to go she looked in for a comfortable win.

Riviera, however, came again with a late run and very nearly brought about the defeat of the win favourite. Riviera, a daughter of U Scott and Single Star, has inherited all the family speed, as after losing nearly 60 yards at the start she took over the lead with more than a mile to go, a position she shared with Spring Princess for most of the journey. After appearing to be beaten in the run to the post, she came again with impressive tenacity.

Moreto, who was always well placed stayed on well to earn third money. Manoa, who lost ground at the start, finished a very creditable fourth. Spring Princess, who was prominent most of the way, should develop winning form eventually. By Springfield Globe, she is out of Princess Maritza, a mare who reached quite good class. Alouette, who was sixth to finish, is a neat type of filly who looks like improving. Heather Brigade, a good looking filly by Light Brigade from a Sapling Stakes winner in Frisco Lady, returned a useful effort. She was seventh to finish.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 6Dec50

Mr & Mrs McFarlane, Lord & Lady Freyberg, Chamfer & Maurice Holmes

1950 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Narrowly averting disaster when Checkmate broke in front of him with a little more than half a mile to go in the New Zealand Cup, Chamfer came on from fourth position at that stage to unwind a sizzling last-furlong dash and leave such seasoned campaigners as Plunder Bar and Single Direct literally standing.

Except for the one hazard referred to Chamfer had a charmed run from barrier rise - he was nursed as no Plunket nurse has ever handled any ailing infant, by the Sir Truby King of trotting drivers, M Holmes, and when the Dillon Hall horse was switched out smartly from behind Single Direct at the distance he promptly flashed past the tiring backmarker and drew away to a three-length's victory over Plunder Bar, who kept Single Direct at bay by a head.

Any fears that the race would develop into a half-mile sprint were put at rest by repeated replacements in the role of pacemaker. Congo Song bounded out of the barrier to put a break of two lengths on Gantree; but C King, Congo Song's driver, emphatically indicated his reluctance to maintain his role by lying out flat in the sulky and bringing Congo Song's head into his chest. Gantree obliged by going to the front but had no sooner done so when Globe Direct streaked round from his rear mark to draw almost level with Gantree, who was the definite leader again at the end of four furlongs. At this stage Checkmate had raced into third place and Plunder Bar was 'going for the doctor' round the field. He was up second with six and a half furlongs covered and ran through to a clear lead with little more than a mile to go.

Commencing the last round Plunder Bar was closely attended by Single Direct and Checkmate, with Gantree and Chamfer next and Gough's Pride showing up on the outer. Nothing else except Lady Averil and Attack ever looked a possibility after that and neither of these at any time looked like matching the final run of Chamfer. Gough's Pride, who looked more like a show-ring exhibit than a race-horse was the first beaten; she began to give ground with five furlongs to run and was down the track at the finish. Attack got into the backwash in the middle stages or he might have paid a dividend. He was fifth and was followed in by Gantree, Navigate, Congo Song, Dundee Sandy and Docter Ted. The last named broke early. That there was no loitering at any stage is revealed by the sectional times of 33 4-5 for the first quarter, 67 for the half, 1:39 for six furlongs, 2:09 2-5 for the mile, 2:44 2-5 for the mile and a quarter, 3:14 4-5 for the mile and a half, 3:46 3-5 for the mile and three quarters, and 4:17 1-5 for the full journey by Chamfer.

The crowd was little, if anything, smaller than last year's, and the total investments on the race were only a few hundred pounds short of last year's record total. The public lost no time in installing the Chamfer- Globe Direct bracket a scorching favourite and the combination finished up with £4920/10/- for a win and £4338 for a place. Second in favour was Gough's Pride with £2501 and £2875/10/-, then Attack, Checkmate and Single Direct.

Chamfer is Mr D McFarlane's first NZ Cup winner, he is the first of the progeny of Dillon Hall to win the race, and is also the first winner of thr premier event trained by M Holmes, who drove Wrackler to victory in 1930 when that pacer was trained by the late D Warren; and finally the first winner of the race bred by Mr G Youngson. Chamfer is held on lease by Mr McFarlane from his breeder, Mr G Youngson, of Gore, who imported the sire, Dillon Hall, 2:00, from America. Rustic Maid, the dam of Chamfer, was bred by the late W J Morland, and was bought at auction for 250gns by Mr Youngson when Mr Morland's horses were disposed of at auction in 1943. At that time Rustic Maid was in foal to Light Brigade and there duly arrived a colt foal that raced during a short career with distinction as Free Fight, among his wins being the NZ Derby Stakes, Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes and Metropolitan Autumn Stakes. Every foal out of Rustic Maid that has raced has been a winner - 10 in all. Rustic Maid was a daughter of Rey de Oro and Country Belle, winner of the NZ Cup in 1915, so Chamfer has proved a worthy grandson.

Chamfer's Cup stake of £5125 (including the £250 gold cup) brings his total since he began racing as a two-year-old to £16,175; at his first start he won the Timaru Nursery Stakes. At three his wins included the NZ Metropolitan Challenge Stakes and Great Northern Derby Stakes, and last season, as a four-year-old, he won five races including the Premier Handicap at Auckland in the smart time of 2:38 for the mile and a quarter and the G W C Smithson Handicap at Addington in 4:16 2-5. This season he had won two races before his NZ Cup victory, the National Handicap at Addington and the Campbell Handicap at Auckland.

Additional distinctions he enjoys are of being the last horse to qualify for this year's Cup and the youngest of the field, a five-year-old, thus joining a select group of horses of this age to win the premier event during the past 20 years - Wrackler, Indianapolis, Lucky Jack and Highland Fling.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 8Nov50

1950 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

Johnny Globe, dogged by bad luck for most of the running in the NZ Derby Stakes, was good enough to overcome it all and get up with a brilliant last-furlong dash to shade Vivanti in a photo finish.

Drawn in the second row at the start, Johnny Globe became awkwardly placed from barrier rise. He appeared to reach clear running, racing to the three furlongs, but was immediately in a fix again and it was not until well into the straight that he was able to race clear and go in pursuit of Vivanti. If it had not been a winning run it would have been one of the real hard luck stories of the Derby, because if ever everything seemed to be loaded against a Derby horse it was in the case of Johnny Globe.

Johnny Globe had not won a classic race since he was an easy winner of the Timaru Nursery Stakes last season, but he had been a model of consistency in the interim, finishing fourth in the Welcome Stakes, second in the Manawatu Futurity Stakes, second in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes and fourth in the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes, all at two years, and second in the Canterbury Three-Year-Old Stakes and third in the Riccarton Stakes, besides winning in open class at New Brighton before his Derby success on Friday.

Johnny Globe is the first New Zealand winner by a great little Australian champion in Logan Derby, who has been at stud in Auckland for some four years now. Logan Derby, by Globe Derby from the New Zealand bred mare Bell Logan, is closely related on the dam's side to the NZ Cup winner, Chamfer. Sandfast, dam of Johnny Globe, is by Sandydale (imp) from Slapfast, a mare imported from America by Sir John McKenzie as a two-year-old in 1926, and who held a yearling record of 2:22.25 in the States. Slapfast bred winners in Greatfast, Prince Roydon and Silk Lady for Sir John before being sent up for auction at Tattersalls, where she was knocked down at the gift price of 12gns and became the property of the late F E Ward, of Pahiatua.

To Rey de Oro Slapfast left a more than useful pacer in Gold Flight, who died just when he appeared on the verge of high-class form. Johnny Globe, who was bought as a yearling by D G Nyhan for £50, is Sandfast's first living foal.

Vivanti began like a rocket and led out of the straight. Going through the back the first time she dropped in behind Kapeen and was content to accept the trail until the home turn was reached, where she came through on the fence to displace Adorian, Kapeen and Irish Orator and establish what looked like a winning break until Johnny Globe got out of his predicament. Kapeen, third, was merely solid, and Irish Orator never looked like doing any better than a minor placing. Adorian failed to stay. First Victory, Dual Flight, and Regal Parade lost a lot of ground at the start, and Prince Charming reared up and took no part in the race.

The first quarter was run in 35 2-5sec, the mile in 2:13 3-5, and the full journey in the race record time of 3:15.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov50

MAURICE HOLMES - CHAMFER 1950

With great horsemen the fact nothing exceptional happened in a race they won might be the highest compliment you can pay.

so it was with Chamfer, one of the hottest favourites in the history of the Cup, and one of the more moderate winners. Heck, he wasn't even the best horse in the stable. But Maurice Holmes trained and drove him and that was enough for most.

Chamfer hopped into the trail, worked clear in the straight and won easily from what was a moderate lot. He was a good horse but had a sprint about as long as your arm. Being cuddled up for one run was not a clever driving plan. The punters just never doubted Morrie could do it.

A few months later the real stable star Vedette, won the Inter Dominion Final at Addington with a drive for the ages, probably the most famous in a fabulous career. But that is another story.

TRIVIA FACT: Maurice Holmes might have had a fourth Cup win with True Averil(1971) who, like Morrie's 1957 winner Lookaway, was raced by his brother-in-law, Clarrie Rhodes. However the story was, there had been a difference of opinion over the terms of the Lookaway win and as a result Maurice declined the True Averil drive in the big race.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Oct 2016

Loyal Nurse & trainer/driver Colin Berkett

1949 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

"That crabby old so-and-so..." "She only takes it into her head now and again to do her best" These are some of the uncharitable things we all used to say about Saturday's NZ Jubilee Cup winner, Loyal Nurse, during her patch-work racing career of past years.

One day at Ashburton she was the centre of a public demonstration that lasted for several minutes because she bolted in in a race after performing like a jaded Jezebel the day before. Official investigation confirmed what her connections told the stewards about her: she was something of an unpredictable flapper, she pleased herself whether she raced or not. All very true and confirmed time and again.

Which only goes to show that there must be something in heredity. Loyal Nurse's dam, War Maid, was as rattleheaded as they came. She could not be raced, and she drifted into the ownership of Mr T S Harrison something like this: he was on the look-out for a shepherd's hack for duty on his farm and one day in the Methven township he met Mr George Kelly, who promptly offered him War Maid for the paltry sum of £8.

To Logan Fraser, War Maid produced a useful winner in Trikkala, and her mating with Grattan Loyal resulted in Loyal Nurse, winner to date of £18,103, easily a record for a mare in New Zealand and Australia. Among her previous successes when trained by C V May, were the Ashburton All Aged Stakes, Auckland Cup, Auckland Champion Handicap, and she also performed with credit at the 1948 Inter-Dominion Championships at Auckland.

Loyal Nurse is just a plain black mare, nine years old; in a sale-ring she could scarcely aspire to be a top-priced lot on looks; but she is fleetly-built, light-fleshed, longer than most horses, constructed for speed rather than comfort, as evidence her last half-mile in a fraction better than 59secs on Saturday.

As we have already told you, Loyal Nurse was a bit of a character in some past seasons. Her inconsistency here and there earned for her the reputation of being moody, a 'sour old tart' on occasions. One day she just wouldn't or couldn't put her best foot forward; the following day she would put her long ewe neck in a different and more determined angle and win with lengths to spare.

On Saturday Loyal Nurse raced in mellow mood; age and a change of scenery up at Colin Berkett's stable coincided like a pair of rose-coloured glasses with Jubilee Cup day to such effect the Loyal Nurse lowered the existing world's race record for a mare, 4:13 3-5 (held jointly by Haughty and Loyal Nurse herself), by more than a second. Loyal Nurse's previous best two-mile figures, 4:13 3-5, were registered when she ran second to Emulous in the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championship at Auckland in 1948.

Loyal Nurse was bred by her owner, Mr T S Harrison, a member of the executive of the NZ Trotting Conference and President of the Methven Trotting Club for many years. Until last season Loyal Nurse was held on lease and trained by C V May, of Methven, who won close on £13,000 in stakes with her. Last season Loyal Nurse started 16 times without getting in the money, but she had had only one race since going into C R Berkett's stable before her Cup success and she dead-heated for fourth place in that race, the Hannon Memorial Handicap at Oamaru just five days before the Cup. She certainly reached Addington on Saturday, October 29, rejuvenated and refreshed.

C R Berkett was having his second driving success in the NZ Cup; he drove Highland Fling in his first Cup success in 1947, as the year Highland Fling's trainer, L F Berkett, held Nyallo Scott on lease and had to Drive him in the Cup. Loyal Nurse's time, 4:12 1-5, is the second fastest in the long history of the race, only Highland Fling's world's race record of 4:10 3-5, put up last year bettering it. Loyal Nurse is the 10th mare to win the race, her predecessors among the 'weaker' sex having won 11 Cups between them as follows: Marian 1907, Lady Clare 1911, Winsoon 1914, Country Belle 1915, Adelaide Direct 1917, Trix Pointer 1919, Reta Peter, 1920 & 21, Marlene 1940 and Haughty, 1942 & 43.

Loyal Nurse is the second of the progeny of Grattan Loyal to take Cup honours, his previous representative being the all-in flyer Gold Bar, who disorganised the 1945 field from barrier rise. Grattan Loyal, who has passed his 29th birthday, is still a remarkably well-preserved stallion, and at the present time he has a good lead on the sires' list this season. One of our leading progenitors for many seasons, Grattan Loyal has yet to top the list for a complete season. He went very close in 1946-47, when U Scott headed him by only £404/10/-, and it would be a fitting climax to his stud life, a life that has greatly enriched breeding in this country, if he were to retain his present position on the list for the remainder of this season. Foals by him continue to arrive.

Captain Sandy, as gallant as ever in defeat, carried his total stake-winnings to £14,399, and when his great effort in the last Metropolitan free-for-all is recalled, he will be rated a first-class prospect for coming championship contests on later days of the Cup meeting. When Lady Averil dashed into the lead after the pacemaker, Dundee Sandy, wilted at the far turn, she did so with such a flourish that at one stage it looked as though she might not be caught. She put a daylight margin on her nearest attendant with a quarter to go and her third placing was a good deal better than anything she had done previously.

The favourite bracket, Globe Direct and Attack, were locked together next. Attack was securely pocketed for all but the last three fulongs and when he did get out he stood no earthly chance of giving the leaders several lengths when those leaders were travelling at well inside a two-minute clip. Attack did well enough allowing for the difficulties he encountered, because only an out-and-out champion could have won from his position at the distance. He may yet prove to be that calibre of horse, but not on Saturday's performance. Single Direct never got near the front and was ninth to finish. Commander Scott made a promising dash on the rails at the distance and drew almost up to the leaders, but he was only sixth to arrive. Knave of Diamonds was seventh, then Sprayman, Single Direct, Plunder Bar, Integrity (who lost ground at the start), Maudeen and Dundee Sandy.

Totalisator investments on the race were easily a record, the total topping the £40,000 mark for the first time. Saturday's figures were £40,717/10/- compared with the previous record of £39,283 put through in 1947.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 2Nov49

Gladdy McKendry & Burns Night

1949 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

Burns Night overwhelmed the unlucky favourite, Young Charles, in the last 50yds of the NZ Derby Stakes and brought off the first major upset in the blue ribbon event since Air Marshal won in 1944.

Until his Derby success Burns Night was a maiden, but last season he performed consistently in a number of the leading two-year-old classics, being runner-up to Morano in the Timaru Nursery Stakes; occupying the same position to Young Charles in both the Welcome Stakes and the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes; and finishing fourth to Farlena, Young Charles and Van Dieman in the NZ Sapling Stakes. These were Burns Night's only starts as a two-year-old and no horse of his age raced more consistently last season.

The reason he drifted to seventh favouritism in the Derby was no doubt due to his failure in the Riccarton Stakes a week earlier, when he did not get away well. Morano broke up badly at the start of the Derby, slewing across the track and stopping Young Charles who lost fully 50yds. Farlena lost more than that and Van Dieman and Te Maru were slow to settle down. Racing into the back Casacando was sent in pursuit of the leaders and he soon took over from Anitra and Soangetaha. Flight Commander was hemmed in on the rails, and he never looked like finding an opening, eventually going into a tangle in the run home when literally climbing over Casacando.

Young Charles set out in earnest after the leaders with half a mile to go, but he had no sooner got within range of Casacando than Soangetaha came out from the rails to meet the challenge, thus forcing Young Charles to race three out right round the far turn. It was a fine spectacle when Casacando, Soangetaha and Young Charles wheeled for home almost abreast. Casacando was the first to weaken, and Young Charles was under a hard drive to hold a small advantage from Soangetaha. Then Van Dieman joined in. Young Charles was doing a little better than these when Burns Night came from the clouds, right on the outside, to clinch victory by more than half a length.

Burns Night won a truly-run race (the mile was run in 2:13 2-5, the mile and a quarter in 2:42 3-5 and the full distance in 3:16 1-5, a little below Croughton's race record of 3:15 4-5) in decisive fashion, but on top of his early set-back, Young Charles was desperately unlucky. None of the breaks came his way during the running, either, and the manner in which he fought off all challenges except the winner's was recognised on all sides as the effort of a young champion.

The story is told that Mr N G Mason, breeder of Burns Night, did not deliberately set out to buy the Derby winner's dam, Festival. He just happened to be passing that way when Festival was put up for auction, and he only had to part with £7 to become her owner. He bred Gay Piper from her, and sold this good pacer to G McKendry for £500 as a yearling. Gay Piper turned out to be so good that McKendry paid another £500 for Burns Night when this colt was only a few days old. Gay Piper and Burns Night are both entires and may be given stud opportunities later on, as they are attractive individuals.

The Derby result was a distinct triumph for U Scott as a sire, the first three-fillers all being by him.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 9Nov49