CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

1927 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

Due to the display on the part of New Zealand's greatest pacer, Great Bingen, the Free-for-All was a very disappointing contest. Great Bingen took fright at the start and galloped a furlong and a half before he could be induced to strike his gait. By that time the field was well on its journey and he had no chance of making up his ground.

The winner, Native Chief can-canned at the start, lost several lengths and then had the race won at the head of the stretch. It wasn't a race at the finish, Native Chief winning easily in the slow time of 2.11 1-5. He really went in 2.8. That is from the time he left the starting peg.

Bell Harold and Loganwood loafed over the first half-mile which took 1.8 to cover, hence it is easy to understand why Native Chief gathered them so easily. In the straight, Peter Bingen put in his claim for second money and got it without doing any damge from a record point of view. Great Hope went away badly. Had Bonny Logan been able to have got clear m the straight she would have made the finish more interesting.


Credit: 'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 17 Nov 1927

1927 NEW ZEALAND DERBY

The New Zealand Derby Stakes saw some good three-year-olds in action and it took a high class filly in Daphne de Oro to gain the honors.

Admirably handled by F. G. Holmes, she got on the journey nicely and after mixing it with her opponents for nine furlongs she drew away to give her pilot "a ride in the park" down the straight. She won very easily.

For second money there was a keen set-to between Eugene de Oro and Harvest Child. Both youngsters answered gamely to the demands made upon them in the straight and it was only after a real battling finish that Eugene de Oro gained the upper hand. The honors of the race from a sire's point of view were all with Rey de Oro, which is the father of both Daphne de Oro and Eugene de Oro.

Donard did his best to get the money. He is a real pacer and one that will take Maurice Holmes first home on several occasions later m the season.


Credit: NZ Truth 17 Nov 1927

1926 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

The Free-for-All was won by J. R. McKenzie's wonder horse, Great Bingen, which, after making a recovery from his indisposition, beat a select field of the eight best horses in training.

It was unfortunate that Waitaki Girl and Acron should break at the start and a greater pity that Native Chief should tangle and lose fully three lengths. Hendricksen allowed him to find his feet and moved him up gradually until he was in fourth place. He got that position four furlongs from home and putting in a sensational run in the straight he gained the distinction of beating all but Great Bingen. The first half-mile was negotiated in 1.6 and the last in 1.3, the concluding two furlongs were cut out in 3O l/5secs.

After tne race J. R. McKenzie stated that, he was so delighted With Great Bingens performance and the fact of his good horse having regained his health sufficiently to win that he had decided to donate half of the stake to Lady Truby King's fellowship fund.


Credit: NZ Truth 18 Nov 1926

1926 NEW ZEALAND DERBY

Though only four three-year-olds went out to contest the New Zealand Derby stakes, the contest was one of the best nerve tingles of the meeting. The coupled youngsters Richore and Shadowland were elected a few tickets better favorites than Rey Logan.

Richore broke at the start and lost about eight lengths. He ran up to the leader with a round to go but when the speed was turned on over the final quarter he quickly took the knock. He finished third, but don't forget that he was 50 yards behind the second horse.
Tomkinson had the bat on Shadowland at the end of half a mile, to which the three-year-old responded. He got to the front, but Rey Logan was doing his work on the bit and so with Shadowland in front, Richore alongside of him, and Rey Logan trailing, they set out to complete the final circuit.

Two furlongs from home Rey Logan set out to beat his two rivals, the fourth candidate, Petronius, being well down the course. Richore was soon left behind, and Rey Logan and Shadowland set out to fight out every inch of the straight, Shadowland getting to the judge a neck in front of Rey Logan.

Credit: NZ Truth 18 Nov 1926

1926 DOMINION HANDICAP

The Dominion Handicap which is the most exclusive, contest in New Zealand for unhoppled trotters only, provided a thrilling finish after Master Audo had led for a mile and threequarters. The two big guns, Money Spider and Peterwah set to work and down the straight they came inch by inch and fought out the last part of the event. Peiterwah beat Money Spider by a neck. Five lengths away came Escapade, who was not quite herself.

It was a wonderful exhibition of trotting and Peterwah was given a rousing reception on returning to scale. Peterwah was bred in America, where he was purchased by R. C. Fisken, of Gisborne, who drove his good horse. Peterwah is by Etawah, 2.3, from Janava and is destined to prevail in the fastest classes in the Dominion.

Credit: NZ Truth 11 Nov 1926

J Bryce & R Morten after the1925 NZ Cup

1926 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

In 1925 and the following year Ahuriri was successful in the Cup. His dam was the great mare Muricata. Muricata was by Mauritius, imported from America by the late R McMillan in 1905, and was a son of Bingen, Mauritius served a few mares before being sent to Australia, amongst them being Queen Wave,the dam of Muricata. Muricata was a roan mare favouring her dam in colour and a great trotter in her time, winning freguently against the pacers. The late Mr N L Price, who trained her for most of her races, once stated that she was the only trotter he had ever known who could change from trotting to the pacing gait at top speed, and for that reason he was always on "pins and needles" when racing her in trotting races.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 31 October 1945

1926 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP
Two of the possibilities in Native Chief and Queen'a Own spoilt their chances by an inaccurate beginning and Great Bingen took i11 during the early part of the race and was pulled up. Of the 14 acceptors Black Admiral was not started. The favorites were Ahuriri, the coupled horses, Acron and Great Bingen, Native Chief and Waitaki Girl.

Had Native Chief not misbehaved at the start he may have occupied a winning place. As it was the pace he had to go for the first half-mile to regain his lost ground took all the steam out of him and he died right away three furlongs from home. From the word go Ahuriri never looked like getting beaten when the field had gone a furlong. He was in fifth place, where Bryce was content to allow his candidate to shelter from the wind till a mile and a-half had been completed. At this stage of the race he dashed into second place where he stayed till well into the home stretch, where he gave him a tap with the whip and home he came winning comfortably by twp lengths. Prince Pointer, who filled second place, began smartly and went into the lead at the two-furlong disc and acted as a pacemaker right into the home stretch, though he beat Talaro by five lengths for second money. He had no chance of finishing m front of the winner.

Talaro went a stinging good race. He led for a quarter- of a mile where he dropped in behind Prince Pointer. Even when Ahuriri collared his position three furlongs from home he boxed on in determined style and gathered third money. Considering the ground he lost at the start Jack Potts went a wonderful race to occupy fourth place to which is attached 300 sovs. Acron and Man-o-War had every chance. Waitaki Girl and Sheik battled hard through their field but neither ever threatened danger.

This is the second time that Ahiiriri has annexed the New Zealand Trotting Cup. He won it last year he is owned by R. N. Morten who bred him, and is trained by J.Bryce.

The first mile was cut out in 2.l3 2/5; the mile and a half in 3.20 4/5 and the full journey in 4.25.

His connections must have been confident.

The judicial stewards severely cautioned J. Bryce, driver of Ahuriri, for interfering with Talaro and fined him £15.


Credit: NZ Truth 11 Nov1926

1925 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Ahuriri left the mark well in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, and after trailing Delavan Quest for a mile and a-half, he went to the front where he remained, to win nicely by four lengths.

Paul Dufault broke when the tapes were released and Dolly Dillon lost twelve yards through putting in a skip. When the field had gone a furlong Delavan Quest was out in front with Ahuriri and Dolly Dillon racing four lengths behind him.

When six furlongs were covered, the field bunched with a round to go. Acron dashed up on the outside, and along with Delavan Quest, he led into the back stretch. Then Bryce let Ahuriri go. He quickly hit the front and drawing three lengths clear of the field led into the home stretch with Great Bingen in hot pursuit.

But, despite a game effort on the part of Great Bingen, Ahuriri held safe to win in convincing style. Realm broke at the end of five and ruined his chance. Dolly Dillon tried to mix her gait going out of the straight the last time. Delavari Quest punctured badly three furlongs from home, where Vilo and Paul Dufault also cried enough. Acron finished on much better than expected to gather third money, with Great Hope at the head of the others. Logan Chief was driven his usual quiet race for ten furlongs where Kennerley elected to move him into a handy position. He had to hook him out to avoid a bit of a mix. Going out of the straight the last time he was outside of two sulkies going into the back stretch. From there on he tried to overhaul the leaders, but at the finish he had to be content with fifth place.

The first half-mile was negotiated in 1.8 1/5, mile in 2.16 1/5, mile and a half in 3.23 1/5, and the full journey m 4.28 1/5.


Credit: 'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 14 Nov 1925

Lady Rhodes presenting the Cup to Ahuriri's owner Richard Morten

1925 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The Bryce family was soon back in business when Ahuriri, a son of 1916 winner Cathedral Chimes, decisively won a memorable contest.

Ahuriri, who was often his own worst enemy with waywardness, was a classy sort who had been astutely placed since winning the Sapling Stakes and entered the 1925 Cup favourably handicapped on 12 yards and won convincingly from Great Bingen(60yds), Acron(48yds), Great Hope(72yds) and Logan Chief(60yds). Sheik(84yds) and the grand mare Onyx(90yds) had been withdrawn through injury.

Ahuriri was owned by his breeder R M Morton and was from a top class trotter in Muricato who had the ability to switch gaits when at full speed. Great Bingen confirmed his status as the best pacer in the land when he came off 84 yards to win the Christchurch Handicap by three lengths easing down.

When the qualifing standard was tightened the next year, Ahuriri was again well placed on 24 yards, the favourite and an easy winner over Prince Pointer, Talaro and Jack Potts. The unsound Jack Potts marked the first Cup drive for Ces Donald and he went on to become champion sire on 10 occasions.

Great Bingen, again handicapped out of it from 84 yards, was pulled up in a distressed state after a mile when it was thought he had suffered a heart attack.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03

1925 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

From the word go Acron clapped on the pace in the Free-for-all to such a tune that with six furlongs covered he had his opponents at Addington fighting for breath.

He dashed off his first two furlongs in 30sec, his half mile in 1.1. At that stage Great Hope, Machine Brick, Great Bingen, and Logan Chief were following him closely. Then at the tanks, Great Bingen mastered Great Hope, Logan Chief and Machine Brick and, turning for home, he was a length behind his stable mate, Acron.

From there on Mr. J. R. McKenzie's representatives had the opposition silenced. Acron finished a length in front of his stable mate in 2min. 4 3-5sec. Both horses pulled up well, and looked as if they could have put in an extra kick had anything come at them over the last furlong.

Machine Brick has only been in New Zealand twelve days, yet despite his voyage from Australia he filled third place, running the mile in 2min. 5 3-ssec. When he is right at the zenith of his form he will make it hard for the others to beat him.

Logan Chief was off color, and with seven furlongs covered Great Hope fell back into the ruck. Realm was last all the way.


Credit: NZ Truth 21 Nov 1925