CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

RACING HISTORY

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Lord Module wins from Trevira & Trusty Scot

1979 BENSON & HEDGES NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Lord Module rubbed salt into the wounds of his NZ Cup victims when he ran them into the ground in the New Zealand Free-For-All.

The brilliant five-year-old gave what amounted to a solo performance when he cleared out from his rivals over the 2000 metres to win by four lengths in the brilliant time of 2:26.7 for the distance, only 0.1 of a second outside Robalan's world record set when winning the same race for the third successive time in 1974.

Lord Module rated 1:58.1 for the mobile event, and cut out the amazing sectional times of 27.5, 27.6, 1:27.9 and 1:57.8. There was no horse in the field capable of making a race of it with Lord Module as owner-trainer Ces Devine bounced him straight to the front. He had the others struggling to stay in sight rounding the home turn, and it was left to dogged stayer Trevira to battle past Trusty Scot and take second. Trusty Scot trailed Lord Module throughout, with Trevira on his back. They were three lengths clear of Matai Dreamer who came home strongly from near the rear without ever looking like posing a threat. Wee Win was a further three lengths back with two to Delightful Lady, who broke in the run up.

The others were a tired lot headed by Greg Robinson, who never got into contention. His driver Max Robinson, came in for some barracking from the crowd when he returned to the birdcage, after comments he made following the controversial NZ Cup.


Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Alias Armbro wins from Even Speed & About Now

1979 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Alias Armbro, fourth in last year's contest and largely responsible for the record-breaking win of Scotch Tar, recorded a game win in the $30,000 Dominion Handicap. Capably handled by Mike De Filippi, who was recording his first win in the event, and also his first win at Addington this season, Alias Armbro clearly outstayed the best trotters in the country.

Alias Armbo's win was a triumph for Burnham trainer Brian Gliddon, as last Christmas Alias Armbro looked to be finished as a racing proposition because of a hock injury. Because of this, he was set for stud duty this season and up until last week, he had covered 20 mares, including one the morning of the race. His victory is certain to lead to more enquiries for the son of Armbro Del and Charming Widow as a stud prospect. He is raced by Messrs Bryan Crofts and Graham Pilkington, who purchased him for the bargain price of $1800 at the National Yearling Sales. Now an eight-year-old, he has won around $55,000.

Mike De Filippi made use of Alias Armbro's speed and staying ability over the 3200 metre journey, taking him to the front with 2300 metres to run. As happened last year, Scotch Tar moved up wide to tackle Alias Armbro with a round to go, but this time was unable to head him off, and Alias Armbro had his measure a good way out. Scotch Tar had broken briefly at the start and again at the 1700 metres, but recovered quickly both times and made a big run round the field to be in the open at the 1200 metres.

In the end, it was left to last Tuesday's Worthy Queen Handicap winner Even Speed to lodge the most serious challenge. He was favoured with a good run all the way, getting a drag up behind Miss Castleton on the turn, and 30 metres out it looked as though he was going to peg Alias Armbro back. "He came to the end of it the last 20 metres and went to pieces," his driver Wes Butt said after the event. "His legs were going in all directions that last bit and he just battled."

Denis Nyhan, driver of third placed About Now, was certain he could have won had he secured a run earlier. "She did not get a gap at the right time. If she had, then I would have won it," Nyhan said. The game little mare improved to be three back on the rails turning for home after getting back a bit early from her outside barrier draw, but was held up at a vital stage and could only get within half a neck and a length and a half of the first two. She shaded Scotch Tar by half a head for third, with Stormy Morn finishing fast for fifth ahead of Waipounamu who was handy throughout.

Game Folly was the best of the northern challengers in seventh place after breaking at the start and then came Cool Cat and the favourite, No Response. No Response settled back and was last passing the 800 metres. He was checked when starting to improve at the 500 metres when he ran into the back of the tiring Pointer Hanover. He recovered quickly to start a rapid improvement wide round the field on the turn, but could only battle into ninth over the final stages.

Alias Armbro's time for the 3200 metres was a fast4:12.3, the second fastest in the metric history of the race and only .9 of a second slower than Scotch Tar's record run last year.

Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Game Adios (Robert Cameron) trialling at Addington

1979 NZ DERBY

"You could put a jersey bull to that mare and she'd still leave a winner," a friend once told Mid-Canterbury trainer Alister Kerslake. And after Game Adios won the NZ Derby Kerslake would almost have to agree. For out of a dozen foals to get to the races, Game Adios' dam Adio Star has left nine winners...among them four individual Derby winners.

Bachelor Star won the three-year-old feature in 1971 for the late Frank Woolley, Kerslake's father-in-law; Main Adios won it in 1975 for Kerslake, his wife Berry and his brother-in-law Francis Woolley; Main Star won the Great Northern Derby for the trio in 1978; and noe Game Adios is on the list. "And don't you worry," a jubilant Kerslake said after the Derby victory, "we'll be back again next year with this bloke's brother Bionic Adios, also by Garrison Hanover." A representative from the Kerslake stable won't be beyond the realms of possibility the year after either, for the champion broodmarehas just left a nice colt by Out To Win for the partners.

Driven again by Robert Cameron who has done so well with Kerslake-trained horses over the years, Game Adios got to the lead with half the 2600 metres gone. He held on to win with a minimum of trouble from El Guago and Cheltenham with the unlucky Dictatorship fourth. Cameron actually made his move at the 2000 metre mark with a big run from the back of the field. Once in the lead with 1300 metres to go, he just kept up the pressure andleft it to the others to get to him. The win in the $30,000 Derby was Game Adios' fifth this term and he is due to have a few days off this week. "That was the race we wanted to win," Kerslake said.

Hot favourite for the race Ryal Pont was in all sorts of strife right from the start when he was very slow to begin. And then, about the 2000 metre mark he caught the backwash of some interference to Dictatorship by Regal Guy (an incident that was later to earn Regal Guy's driver Kevin Townley a holiday). Settled again by Kevin Holmes, straight from his world driving series assignments in Perth the previous night, the tough Tactile gelding made a big move four wide from the 600 metres but all that earlier buffeting had taken its toll and he weakened out. He finished near the tail of the field with Wickliffe, another to suffer at the 2000.

El Guago's run was a good one. He was facing the breeze most of the way and still had something left for Jack Carmichael once into the straight. Cheltenham, in the hands of Doody Townley, had a brief spell in the lead and after, got a good trail behind Game Adios. He was hard-pressed for room going for home but gave nothing away. Fourth placed Dictatorship would have to be the unlucky runner in the field. He suffered at the hands of Regal Guy, settled again well for Garry Smith and was finishing better than anything in the straight. The others could offer no excuses. At the end they were well and truly beaten.

And getting back to that idea of putting Adio Star to the bull? "Well, with the cattle prices the way they are at the moment, that wouldn't be too bad an idea," Kerslake said.


Credit: Graham Ingram writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1979 NZ OAKS

Minilima from Invercargill, and Shona Way from Balclutha, combined to shatter some useful reputations in the $13,000 New Zealand Oaks.

Minilima went into the Oaks as one of the best-credentialled runners, with three wins and two placings this season, but Shona Way was less experienced, having started only twice, though she won at her previous start. These two dominated the finish, drawing clear 300 metres out, and though Minilima went on to win by three and a half lengths, it is unlikely the margin would have been that great but for Shona Way breaking 100 metres out. Minilima had just gained the upper hand when Shona Waybroke. Shona Way had followed Minilima forward three wide and hit the leadat the 1350 metres giving Minilima a good trail. Bob Cameron decided to press on with Shona Way, and the pair looked to have the others struggling turning for home.

But lack of race experience probably told against the Balclutha filly, as when Cameron went for the whip she broke. Fortunately, she settled quickly enough to hold second a length and a half clear of Miss Coquette, who like Minilima is by the Morrinsville-based sire Gaines Minbar whose stock have now completed a notable double. Gaines Minbar also sired Speedy Girl, winner of the North Island Oaks.

Minilima paced the 2600 metres in 3:26.4, a good effort considering the strong cold north-westerly wind the runners had to contend with. For Mataura farrier Charlie Franks, it was his second driving success in the New Zealand Oaks from only three drives. He drove champion mare Robin Dundee to win the 1960 Oaks for Mr Jack Hewitt. Franks, who has handled Minilima in all her wins for Invercargill owner-trainer Colin Swain, expressed some doubts that she would peg Shona Way at the top of the straight. "Bob had me tootling along down that back straight and I just thought, 'God, he's got to stop sometime'" Franks said.

Minilima has now won four races and gained three placings for $15,940, the $8450 she collected for the Oaks win more than doubling her previous winnings.

Shona Way, who races in the colours of her breeders, Mrs E E Townley and Mr D F Young, and her trainer Ossie Thorp delighted her connections with her effort. Mr Young said after the event that they debated whether to come to Addington for the Oaks, or race at Invercargill. "We thought, 'why not,' and came here. Her second was worth more than a winning stake and I was thrilled with her," Mr Young said. Miss Coquette was a battling third after racing handily throughout and she held out the favourite Philippa Frost by half a neck. Philippa Frost lost a little ground at the start but was handily placed starting the last 400 metres.

Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Cecil Devine with the Cup won by Lord Module

1979 NZ TROTTING CUP

There have been many vocal receptions for winners at Addington over the years. But its been a long, long time since anyone got the reception Lord Module and his veteran trainer Cecil Devine had to face after their thrilling NZ Cup win last Tuesday.

The cheers started as the brilliant racehorse bullocked his way out of the ruck at the top of the straight, took complete charge 150 metres out and left the others to it. They continued, with a fair bit of admiring applause thrown in, too, as an emotional Devine brought Lord Module back into the birdcage before the howl of the protest siren changed the tone of the hubub. But they started anew as a still-shaking Devine emerged back into the sunlight of the birdcage from the gloom of the stipes room and made his way across the lawn to be presented with what must have been his dream come true...the gleam of gold at the end of a driving career lasting 43 years.

Devine had previously trained and driven five New Zealand Cup winners (Van Dieman in 1952, Thunder 1956 and False Step 1858-59-60)but none would have been achieved in such tense circumstances, and with such spectacular ease or with such significance as last Tuesday's victory. It was especially significant for it was Cecil's last drive in the Cup. He has to give up at the end of the present season, having reached the compolsory retiring age of 65.

It was especially tense for, even having drawn 3 on the front, Lord Module stood on the mark and swung round, losing forty of fifty metres before hitting out fairly.
After 800 metres he had caught the field to be three wide at the rear. Soon after, though, he got a good run through to be perfectly placed one out and one back behind Sapling. However Sapling, not going like a horse who won more than $130,000 last season, started to feel the pinch about 800 metres from home and Lord Module lost his place. He was wide at the turn, appeared to put in a couple of rough ones, and then charged out of the ruck and set sail for the line and that $52,000 first prize.

It was thought later that Lord Module might have interfered with the chances of third placed Trevira at that moment. But according to Gavin Hamilton, driver of the southern visitor, he knew Lord Module was "bursting to go" behind him and there was no way he could have beaten the Lordship five-year-old. The astute Devine had Lord Mobule trained to the minute, if not the second, for the big race. In seven previous starts this season, the horse had scored a win, four seconds and two thirds. His time of 4:09 for the 3200 metres equalled the time of Robalan in 1974 and was just .4 of a second outside the time set by Lunar Chance and Arapaho. It was a good effort considering the windy conditions.

As well as setting a personal record for Devine, the race also produced another unique statistic. When Lord Module goes to stud, which he undoubtedly will do before too many more seasons are over he will be the third in a direct line of Cup winners. His sire Lordship won the Cup twice (in '62 and '66) and that great performer's own sire Johnny Globe took it in 1954 in a time that was never bettered, 4:07.6 for the two miles. Winner of the Cup in 1916, incidentally, Cathedral Chimes went on to sire Ahuriri ('25 and '26) and in the following year, Kohara.

Lord Module is out of Module, a Bachelor Hanover mare out of Volatile, by First Lord out of Belle Volo, by Lusty Volo out of Belle Pointer by the great Logan Pointer, himself the sire of a double New Zealand Cup winner in Harold Logan. The blood of Logan Pointer is also prominent in the blood of Lord Module's male line.

For the beaten lot in this year's Cup, though - and most of them were a thoroughly beaten lot - there could be few excuses. Runner-up, hardy little Rocky Tryax enjoyed a perfect trail for most of the trip and Lord Module went past him in the straight as if he was tied to the rail. Trevira was doing good work at the end and Bad Luck, in the possie he seems to like the best, making the pace, just hung on for his forth. Driver Robert Cameron said later he was waiting for something to have him on but the challenges just didn't come to push him.

Tough mare Del's Dream did the best of the northern contingent and driver Denis Nyhan thought he was in with a good show going down the back for the last time. "I was going well enough and I could see that most of the others were flat," he said. But the mare, too, had no answer to the power of Lord Module's withering burst. Last year's winner Trusty Scot was slow away and then had to come wide from the turn, Greg Robinson was checked and broke at the 2000 metres and must have finished closed but for this and Delightful Lady broke for no reason. Wee Win was well enough placed on the outer and it was unusual for him, after having been where he likes it, not to have pressed on. Majestic Charger had his chance while Sapling, after a hard run early, had little left at the end. Sun Seeker made a flier at the start but then in the incident when Greg Robinson met trouble, put paid to any chance he may have had and that of Rondel at the same time.

It was probably ironic that while Cecil Devine was winning at his nineteenth drive in the New Zealand Cup, his son-in-law Kevin Williams (Sun Seeker) was earning himself a week's holiday for that incident in just his first Cup drive.


Credit: Graham Ingram writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

BUILDINGS & FACILITIES

ELECTRONIC TIMING

In July 1978 Mr R G Kennard presented his method of electronic timing to the NZ Trotting Conference and in April 1979 experiments on electronic timing were completed and a request made to operate a system on a trial basis under race day conditions at the Inter Dominion Championships. The question of costs to be clarified with the NZ Trotting Conference. In September 1982 Race Finishes Services Ltd quoted $160 per race, excluding operators fees, for the provision of electronic timing in conjunction with photo finish equipment provided it was used 70 times a year. This was approved in principle by the Committee and a demonstration of the equipment was held at the Trials on the 8th December 1982.

In March 1983 it was reported that the reliability of one camera was not entirely satisfactory and it was decided that two timekeepers should continue to be employed until the system was proved to be satisfactory. In July Mr A F McDonald of the New Brighton Trotting Club advised that an alternative method of incorporating the electronic timing with the photo finish was being investigated by Mr Brian Nairn. In August the Secretary stated that the photo finish electronic timing equipment was in operation and apart from the need to rule in the finish line on the photograph the system was working satisfactorily. In May 1984 it was reported that Messrs Gavin and Rogers would be trying out their new coloured photofinish camera in combination with the electronic timing equipment in late May. In October of that year it was reported that due to a delay in completing the new system to be operated by the Judge it could not be installed it was hoped until just prior to the Cup Meeting.

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes Compiled by D C Parker

PRESIDENTS: NZMTC

C E HOY

Well known trotting administrator Mr C E (Jack) Hoy died in Christchurch last week.

Mr Hoy was a real estate agent for nearly 50 years and spent almost 40 years as a trotting administrator. He became a principal of the Ford and Hadfield company in 1928 and continued to take a close interest in that company until shortly before his death.

Mr Hoy became a steward of the NZ Metropolitan TC in 1939 and was elected president in 1952, an office he held until 1956. This term as president included the first Royal visit to Addington, the Queen being present in 1954. He was elected a life member of the Club on his retirement as president. Mr Hoy also had a ten year term of office on the executive of the NZ Trotting Conference and served as treasurer from 1966 to 1971.

Mr Hoy raced many horses, the best of these being Intrepid, whom he raced in partnership with Murray Edwards. Intrepid won 16 races in NZ for $37,695 and later took a 1:57 mark in America. In more recent years, Mr Hoy raced Intrepid's half-sister, the smart mare Bronze Queen.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 28Nov78

PEOPLE

'GLADDY' McKENDRY

Mr Daniel Gladstone 'Gladdy' McKendry, a prominent trainer and reinsman for the better part of 45 years, celebrated his eightieth birthday in Christchurch last week.

Born in Lauriston in 1898, McKendry became involved in horses from an early age through his father who he describes as a 'great horseman'. Dennis, his father, had a 2000 acre farm at Lyndhurst and McKendry began working the horses when about 18 years old. It was just a hobby at that stage but about three years later he was persuaded by a friend, Bert McCormick, to take out a trainer's licence himself. "In those days about all you needed was a recommendation from a JP and this I acquired from Walter Good, a friend of the family who lived closeby," said McKendry last week.

A major problem for McKendry to begin with was finance but with a little help from friends he raised enough to take Epigram, an unsound horse he leased from Fred Jones, to Hutt Park for a saddle trot. With McKendry in the saddle Epigram duly won the event and hence started a long and successful career for him. Apart from his father, other members of the family had a great deal of success with trotters. His brother Dennis trained and drove many winners but the main help for McKendry came from a cousin, Frank.

Burns Night, which he owned himself, was undoubtedly the best horse he ever trained. McKendry's father had considered the Prince Imperial blood to be the best about and it was due to this assumption that McKendry came about buying Burns Night. Mr Norman Mason, from Rangiora, bought a mare named Festival at a dispersal sale of the late E C McDermott along with her colt foal Dunmore, by U Scott. Festival, who cost him £4 was by Sonoma Harvester from a mare by Prince Imperial. Dunmore had been passed around more than one trainer by the time McKendry decided to take him on, and it proved to be a worthwhile venture. "He (Dunmore) was very rough in the legs where he had kicked cart shafts and gone through sheep yards and I had to more or less break him in again. But once I got him going he won five or six races for me," he said.

Mr Mason bred two more foals from Festival by U Scott, Gay Piper and Burns Night. It was when McKendry had Gay Piper in work he decided to buy Burns Night. "I knew Gay Piper was ready to win so I offered Mason about £500 for Burns Night, when he was just a foal, thinking the price would go up if Gay Piper was successful." Burns Night developed into a top flight racehorse winning 16 races and £18,020 for McKendry, including the NZ Derby and NZ Champion Stakes, before fashioning a fine record at stud. Burns Night could possibly have downed Adorian in the 1953 NZ Cup, according to McKendry, if he had not broken down on the eve of the big event. "He had been slightly lame but I lined him up and under the circumstances he did remarkably well to finish fourth," he reflected.

Burns Night showed exceptional class at the NZ Metropolitan Easter meeting in 1953 when he broke two world records in one day. He won the Easter Handicap in 3:22 for the mile and five furlongs and three hours later won the Au Revoir Free-For-All over a mile in 2:02.6, then a world record from a standing start.
McKendry feels that it is very hard to make a comparison between the likes of Johnny Globe, Van Dieman and the other great horses of yesteryear to the present day champions. "Horses might be going faster now but tracks, especially Addington, are a great advantage. Generally the horses are very little, if any, better," he remarked.

McKendry feels that a lot of his training success can be attributed to the galloping pacemakers he used in work. "I'm sure the key to success is the use of a galloping pacemaker, making sure the horse pacing is always in front. This gives them a geat deal of confidence," he said. McKendry has a lot of derogatory remarks to make as regards trainers today. "In my opinion the average trainer today is damn poor and the majority of owners are getting a poor deal," he said. He made mention of the days when a trainer would have a horse ready to produce two top efforts on the one day. Now, he says, the owners are paying out for horses that aren't capable or ready for one honest run. He appreciates the problems for young trainers striving to make progress in the sport these days noting that only the discarded horses from 'name' trainers come their way. In McKendry's opinion Maurice Holmes was the best ever reinsman in NZ and went so far as to say that he was the best in the world. "Maurice would always be off a tight spot before the straight whereas today you see drivers waiting for an opening inside the last 100 metres," he said.

McKendry well remembers his last day on his home course of Methven when he produced No Trumps to win the first race and Pharoah to win the last. "I always lent a horse to the Clerk of the Course for the day and on this particular day he used Pharoah for half the day and then swapped to No Trumps while I got Pharoah ready for the last. Ever since he has gone round boasting about the two winners he rode in one day," McKendry said.

Credit: Rod Gardiner writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 1Aug78

PEOPLE

O HUTCHINSON

Mr O (Orm) Hutchinson, who died in Christchurch recently at the age of 82, was well known to trotting followers throughout the country.

Mr Hutchinson was elected a member of the New Brighton Trotting Club in 1938, a steward in 1940, a member of the committee from 1940 to 1943 and again from 1947 to 1973, and a steward again from 1947 to 1960.

He was Vice-President of the Club from 1943 to 1945 and President from 1945 to 1947. He was elected a Life Member of the Club in 1966.

Mr Hutchinson was elected to the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference in 1948 and was Treasurer from 1950 to 1965. He was South Island Vice-President from 1966 until his retirement in 1972. He served on the TAB Board from 1965 until 1971.


Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 27Jun78

PEOPLE

GRAHAM HOLMES

The late Graham Holmes was a sad loss to NZ trotting when killed in December in a freak accident while clearing gorse by a fence near his Meadowlands Stud property in Templeton.

Graham who was never suspended in 32 years of race driving, drove over 220 winners, the first with Calando at Motukarara in October, 1947, and the last being Prince Nugent at Ashburton in October, 1978. He also trained over 120 winners. He was a son of Freeman G Holmes and a brother to Freeman L Holmes

Ron Bisman writing in DB Trotting Annual 1979

-o0o-

Templeton studmaster and trainer Graham Holmes died suddenly at his home last Friday night at the age of 50.

Graham, who gained his driver's licence in 1946 at the age of 18 when employed by his father, the late F G Holmes, trained successfully at Templeton for a number of years.

In recent times he has been more prominent as a studmaster, standing the very successful imported stallion Armbro Del. Armbro Del was imported to NZ in the 1960s and has been one of the country's top sires.

Over the past few years, Graham had reduced the size of his racing team to concentrate on his duties as a studmaster, but among the good horses he trained were Co Pilot, who competed successfully in open company, Lord Nugent, Lady Nugent, Charlotte Rose and Gigilo.

Graham is survived by his wife Maureen, son Peter, and two daughters, Robin and Sandra.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 12Dec78