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RACING HISTORY

HORSES

COURAGE UNDER FIRE

Courage Under Fire's contribution to harness racing was far greater than 41 career wins, a string of feature race titles and almost $1.5 million in stakes.

Affectionately known as "Mighty Mouse" in Australia and "The Pocket Rocket" in New Zealand, Courage Under Fire alone took harness racing to the wider sporting world with his 24-race winning streak. It was common-place to see some big thoroughbred names making a special trip to the trots just to watch the pint-sized people-puller strut his stuff. Cricketing heroes Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting were also huge fans of the pacer.

Courage Under Fire first captured my imagination on Christchurch Show Day in November, 1998, when he overcame a torrid run to beat NZ's best 3-year-olds. It was a performance of a champion. In the nine months that followed, the son of In The Pocket proved himself one of, if not the best 3-year-old Australasia has seen with a record-breaking six Derby wins.

The best win of his career came at Moonee Valley on July 10, 1999. It was the Australian Derby and local star Shakamaker was at the top of his game. What was supposed to be a thrilling contest turned into one of the most emphatic and memorable wins in the history of Moonee Valley. In a stunning display of sustained speed, Courage Under Fire simply ran his rivals ragged. His 1:56.5 mile rate for 2540m not only destroyed the track record, but also bettered the world mark.

Another of his stellar performances came at the Gold Coast just weeks before the Australian Derby, when the colt came as close as I have ever seen to a horse winning by the length of the straight. The official margin was 48.75m and the time for the mile a sizzling 1:54.9. Racecaller Dan Mielicki superbly captured the moment of Courage Under Fire's first defeat - at Moonee Valley in January 2000 - with the words: "The world must be ending."

As dramatic as it sounded, Mielicki's call was closer to the mark than even he realised at the time. Life went on, but Courage Under Fire was never quite the same. Gone was that invincibility, that intimidating presence that terrorised his rivals. Trainer Bruce Negus handed the reins to Brian Hancock in a headline-grabbing stable change. Hancock was always in a no-win situation. Everbody expected Courage Under Fire to dominate the Grand Curcuit and nothing short of that would surffice. The truth is, Courage Under Fire, by the lofty standards of his youth, was a disappointment in the big league.

But, as Hancock said this week, if you forget his deeds at two and three and just judged him on his Grand Curcuit form, he "did a damn good job." He won three Grand Curcuit events, contested three Inter-Dominion finals and won six Inter heats. Racing against horses that dwarfed him, every race as an older horse was a war for Courage Under Fire. He was one of the most appropriately named horses we have ever seen.

My memories of Courage Under Fire will be as much about the huge crowds that surrounded his stall for a glimpse, as they will for his fantastic deeds on the track. He was a people-pleaser and I was pleased to have followed his career from start to finish. Farewell, little fella.


Credit: Adam Hamilton writing in HRWeekly 18Sep02

HORSES

MONKEY KING - Bargain Buy

MONKEY KING(2002) $20,000 39 wins $3.48m

$20,000 might not seem like much of a bargain but balance it against stakes won and it looks a steal. What is more, just one more bid around the ring and Steven Reid and Robert Famularo's dream would have been someone else's triumph.

After looking a smart but not a great pacer, one night 'The Monkey' produced a phenomenal last quarter in a race at Addington, and from then on it was a trail of riches. It took him a while to nail a New Zealand Cup with his pioneering of the modern 'bike' in this country but in the end he did it all.

Steven Reid later recalled that $20,000 was the last bid. Robert had that as his limit(a fairly sensible one in those years) and one more call from the rival buyer would have nailed one of the greatest earners of modern times. I wonder if someone still wakes up at night thinking about that.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed May 2016

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Yulestar defeating Young Rufus in the 2002 NZFFA

2002 LINDAUER NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Lorraine Nolan didn't know what she was going to do if Yulestar went another shocker in Friday's Lindauer NZ Free-For-All at Addington. She even dreaded having to think about it. Going back a month or two, the pacer she co-owns and trains with her husband Ron had looked right on target for Cup Week when he resumed with a victory at Alexandra Park. But things went downhill from there.

Yulestar hadn't raced up to expectations when seventh in the North Shore Stakes on October 11; he was again slightly disappointing when fourth after sitting parked in the Kaikoura Cup because "he should've kicked on a bit better", and then the 8-year-old produced one of his worst performances of his star-studded career when seventh in last Tuesday's New Zealand Cup after having every chance to win it.

At a time when Yulestar should've been peaking, he was going the other way. "It was so frustrating," Nolan said. "He was just too well to be performing like that. Everything appeared to be a-okay, and leading into the Cup he'd looked and trained the best he had all season. Ron and I were really apprehensive about the Free-For-All, because if Yulestar didn't race any better we were thinking...'what are we going to do?'" The Nolans didn't change much between Cup Day and Show Day; they couldn't, because time wasn't on their side. They "kicked a few things around", opting to put half-winkers on their pride and joy in the hope it might wake him up a bit, and off came the figure eight. So when the couple sat down to watch Yulestar score up behind the mobile in the Lindauer, they didn't have any cards left to play.

As it turned out, Yulestar must've decided he had already put his connections through enough heartache. It was time to show them that he still had what it takes. Slotted beautifully into the one-one, Yulestar sped along with the field as the event unfolded at record pace. Down the back straight the Nolans noticed him flicking his ears around, a sign that on any other day would mean Yulestar was happy and ready to pounce, But he'd done exactly the same thing in the Cup three days earlier so they couldn't afford to read too much into it. Rolling out of his cosy spot as he turned for home, Yulestar responded to the stern 'reminders' from his driver Peter Jones and levelled up alongside pacemaker Young Rufus, pulling clear at the finish to win by a length in the sensational time of 2:22.9

Caught up in the melee that goes with winning such a big event, Lorraine made her way down to the birdcage and was surrounded by family, friends, officials and the media. Ron knew he wouldn't see her for a while, but that's okay; that was her 'job'. Preferring to stay in the background, like he always does, Ron slipped quietly out of the limelight and took Yulestar back to the stables for a well-earned wash. "Even though he paid nearly twenty dollars, I can't believe how the crowd responded to him when he came back,"Ron said. "It was amazing. It's something I'll remember forever," he added, choking back a tear. Judging by this rare show of emotion, it was obvious that Yulestar's Free-For-All victory meant just as much to the Nolans as his Cup win two years ago. "No, this is more special than the Cup itself," Ron pointed out. "What with the bad press he'd been getting and the fact that a lot of people had written him off, this really means a lot. We've had the utmost faith in our horse throughout, and at no stage did we ever think of retiring him."

Peter Jones didn't look like he had just won the Lindauer NZ Free-For-All when Yulestar towed him back to the stables. In fact, he didn't seem happy at all. That's because he was in pain, and it showed. Stepping gingerly out of the sulky as Ron Nolan tied Yulestar up, Jones could only say one thing..."He got me a beauty." The reason for Jones's lack of a smile became quite clear once he rolled down his sock, for there on the inside of his right ankle was a glistening welt the size of a tennis ball. From the expression on his face, you could tell that it hurt. Like he is prone to do Yulestar had lashed out with one of his back legs; this time, he had caught Jones napping. He felt the thud of pain just as he was steering Yulestar into th birdcage following his victory in the Free-For-All. This was after Yulestar narrowly missed with his swipe at course interviewer Greg O'Connor when returning to scale, and ironically it happened just as Jones was warning everyone one else to watch out too. If there's anything Yulestar's connections don't like about their pacer, this would be it. The towering 8-year-old gelding starts throwing punches the minute you slip off his rug and begin to gear him up, and his little act is 10 times worse once he's been out there and had a run around. The Nolans are used to it by now, and know to stay alert round their pride and joy at these particular times, but an unsuspecting cameraman learnt the hard way two years ago when getting too close to Yulestar after he won the New Zealand Cup. Knocked off his feet with one swift blow, he ended up spending two days in hospital.

Jones can't say he has been lucky anymore. Doing well to grin and bear it through the myriad of congratulatory handshakes, kisses and photographs that he was met with in the birdcage, Jones was really feeling the throbbing after the long ride back to the stables down Queens Drive. "He was probably getting me back for hitting him so much," he muttered, finally managing a smile.

Jones was entitled to ask for every last ounce of effort out of Yulestar in the Lindauer though. He too has had to wear the pressure of the Hawera Hurricane's indifferent form, moreso than people probably realise. So having put the pacer in a positionto win the Free-For-All, he was determined to finish the job. Right from the word go it was a truly masterful drive by the 47-year-old reinsman, who would've well aware of the speedthat was all around Yulestar as the lined up in gate two.

Pic Me Pockets, Young Rufus and Disprove all left the mobile humming in the $100,000 Group 1 feature. Jones did not panic during the early rush, sitting quietly behid the trio and staying on the outside of Holmes D G to keep off the fence, then into the first bend he hunted up inside Disprove to force him and David Butcher to cross to the parked position. Pic Me Pockets had gone to the top and then handed over to race favourite Young Rufus, Yulestar slipped beautifully into the one-one sit. The pace was a cracker, and Jones had no need to change anything as Young Rufus led the field along at a breathtaking rate. Nearing the home turn Jones knew they had gone some time; he also knew that Yulestar felt better than he had three days earlier too. He eased the pacer into the clear once they rolled around the last bend, and after sensing that he was balanced Jones hit the turbo button and thet set sail for the line. Passing the 150 metre mark Yulestar was reaching top speed; 100 metres out the levelled with the gallant pace-maker who just would not lie down, and 50 metres from the finish the pair hit the front and started to draw away.

"He was the Yulestar of old today," Jones said. "You had to be disappointed with his run in the Cup. Everything worked out perfect for him, but when I pulled him out he just melted. Idon't really know if the half-winkers helped or not, but he was a hundred percent today."

Credit: John Robinson writing in NZHR Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

The Happy Valley Synd & Todd Mitchell

2002 CANTERBURY DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

The history of the Canterbury Draught NZ Cup took a twist of its own with a double quinella at Addington.
Who would have suspected that Tuapeka Knight, once a brilliant juvenile, would sire not only the winner but the second horse too. And by a strange coincidence both horses are prepared by the same trainers.

The winner, with a devastating sprint, was Gracious Knight, driven by 'The Wizard', Todd Mitchell. He overpowered his stablemate Facta Non Verba, who appeared to have done enough to win the race when he slipped clear by more than two lenghts on the corner.
He had set the pace from the 2000m, battling into the teeth of a cold southerly. Meantime, Gracious Knight was hiding with cover at the back. Mitchell was gambling on one killer-blow at the end, hoping there would be little resistance when Gracious Knight produced his dynamic last furlong burst. There was clear evidence that Mitchell still had a handful of horse near the 500m, and he knew Facta Non Verba would have his work cut out after what he had done.

"It was a bit tight at the start when Young Rufus broke, but we got through alright," said Mitchell. "I was in two minds whether to come out when Anthony went up with Young Rufus, and I was a bit lucky later when Franco Heir was pushed out down the back. He still paced a bit funny in patches, and was even a bit hitchy round the last bend." he said.

Mitchell praised the dedication and ability of Warren Rich, a young man of only 29 who trains the horse in partnership with Mike Berger. "It's great for Warren," said Mitchell. "He set him for this. He never says anything much, but after he worked on Saturday he told me he was spot on. And the last four hundred metres of a race is always the best for him." he said.

Mitchell has a wonderful knack of being associated with great horses who win big races, notably the NZ Cup three years ago with Homin Hosed - who nearly won it again for him last year - more recently Superstars winner, Just An Excuse, and Easter Cups with Facta Non Verba and Gracious Knight.

Facta Non Verba, who won the Easter Cup as a five year old, failed to win a race in a light NZ campaign at six and returned to win all three races at Addington last season, gave a generous showing in front. His beginning was sharp enough to have him third behind Pocket Me and Stars And Stripes after 400m, and then he was taken up by Robbie Holmes to lead from the 2000m. Ken Barron took Stars And Stripes to sit parked at the 1600m. He got cover soon after from Yulestar, but general movement after that forced him into a situation of near hopelessness by the time they turned in. He ran fifth, two places behind Holmes D G, who made a big run forward with Young Rufus, and Shorty's Girl, who ran a cheeky race and finished with will over the last 250m.

While the result was a rare siring quinella in the race, it was not the first but maybe the second. In 1928, the brothers Peter Bingen and Great Bingen, by Nelson Bingen from Berthabell, ran first and second, with half a length between them. They were not trained by the same trainer.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

The post race presentation

2002 WILSON'S TAB & SPORTS BAR DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Two perfect preparations. Two super racenight performances. In the end, two fairytale endings emerged from last Friday night's $100,000 Wilson's TAB & Sports Bar Dominion Handicap.

For the second time in the Group 1 events 91-year history, two great trotters crossed the finish line locked together, inseparable. Hot favourite Take A Moment and up-and-coming star Martina H shared this year's honours, mirroring the result of 1944's Dominion when Lady Scot and Will Cary deadheated.

Both Take A Moment and Martina H charged into the race with purpose rounding the final bend; the former sat back after starting off a 10 metre handicap and made one run at them, the latter followed him around the last corner having been handier earlier in the race before getting shuffled back. Martina H's co-trainer/ driver Derek Balle didn't have much hope of anything better than second at this stage. "But then she really started to flatten out half-way down the straight," he said, proud as punch with what his Sundon mare had achieved. "This time next year we might run past him."

Events like the Dominion and next March's Inter-Dominions had been more or less earmarked for Martina H for quite some time, all she had to do was prove she was ready. Balle says the mare's ability to pass her first open class assignment with flying colours was due mainly to the time she spent "learning the ropes" amongst the middle-graders in Auckland. Now five, Martina H proved she was ready alright. And the most exciting part is that Balle and training partner Steve Clarke both believe the best is yet to come from her. "She's still six months away from that," Clarke said.

Training the winner of a Dominion Handicap at Addington is a far cry from being Store Manager at a McDonalds restaurant in Auckland, but that is exactly where Clarke has come from. And you could not drag him back there now. "McDonalds was good, but it was getting monotonous; I'd been there since before I left school," he recalled. Clarke got to know Balle when he had a horse in his stable six years ago. Stylish Soky was "a rabbit" that never turned out any good, but nevertheless the pacer sparked Clarke's interest enough that he soon left his McDonalds outlet to start working for Balle. A couple of years later Clarke went to America for four seasons, getting jobs with the likes of New Jersey trainers Ross Croghan and Mark Harder for a couple of years apiece. He says it was invaluable experience, and taught him a lot. "Sure, they only have mile racing, but over there they are really big on keeping their horses on the fresh side. Derek never worked his horses too hard anyway, but I know we do not work them as hard as we used to." Clarke liked America so much that not so long ago he was even thinking about moving back there for another stint. He's pretty glad he didn't. "Yep, you can't beat that," the 25-year-old said, referring to winning such a big event in his first year as a trainer.

Gracious in sharing Dominion Handicap glory was Take A Moment's trainer Tim Butt, who had nothing but praise for both horses after the event. "That was a great run from the mare," he said. Deadheating is just the same as winning - it doesn't take any gloss off it, put it that way. I actually had a look at the photo finish print. The judge, Ernie Fuchs, says that on a bright sunny day they can get it down to one/two-thousandth of a second; tonight they got it down to one/thirteen-hundredth - and the horses were still even at that."

Overlooked in the drama that surrounded the deadheat was the fact that Butt has now trained the winners of the last four Dominion Handicaps - Lyell Creek twice and Take A Moment twice - which is a sensational feat.

Because of his lead-up form, Take A Moment was sent out the shortest-priced favourite in the event's history. Butt never expected his trotter to dominate like he had earlier in the carnival though. "It's always a bit harder when you start off a ten-metre handicap, or fifteen metres like he did in last year's Rowe Cup, because once you settle you are forty metres from the leader. And he was working the whole race, so it was a pretty good effort under the circumstances. Take A Moment's win on Show Day was undoubtedly the best run of his career. But that is his pet distance, and the mobile suits him because they go harder early. In the Dominion, the leaders ran their first mile in 2:09, and when they only do that it brings the whole field into it."

Take A Moment is now in Auckland, awaiting a flight across the Tasman to contest the Bill Collins Mile, Grand Prix (formerly called the Dullard Cup) and National Trot.

Martina H's connections are still tossing up between the Auckland carnival and Melbourne, but if not before the two great trotters will meet again in next year's Inter-Dominions in Christchurch.


Credit: John Robinson writing in the NZHR Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Jack Cade & Mark Purdon

2002 SMOKEFREE NZ DERBY

Mark Purdon says Jack Cade could not have won the Smokefree New Zealand Derby had it not been for the regular amount of swimming he's done in the last six weeks. Not only that, he doubts whether he would have even started in Addington's Group 1 feature.

For months, Jack Cade has been in the pool, firstly at the Riccarton galloping track, then at Cran Dalgety's. While Jack Cade was on the road here and there, Purdon was installing his own $60,000 pool and, six weeks ago, Jack Cade was in it.

Since then, the young star has done more of his training off the track than on it. Had these facilities not been available to the same extent, the cracks in Jack Cade's physical armour would have appeared earlier and with dire consequences. To explain this, we are back in the Spring and stable foreman Grant Payne is back off the track at Yaldhurst, and telling Purdon that the horse hasn't felt right warming up. "He was just at the trials stage, and he was a little sore before racing in September. Bill Bishop x-rayed him in the fetlock joints. Nothing showed, but he gave him an injection that would last for three months. I knew as we went along that he was not getting any better, but it was not getting any worse," he said.

By the time he got to Auckland for the Great Northern Derby, Jack Cade was showing the same signs again, and this time an x-ray was more forthcoming. There was a bone chip in a fetlock joint annoying him. Since then, his programme has been carefully monitored to get to the Derby, and perhaps a race or two on either side of it. This has happened, and there's a 3-year-old race at Auckland this month to conclude a campain that has been hugely successful and wonderfully managed. The operation will mean Jack Cade must be boxed for three months, and with the March-April Inter-Dominions being his primary target next season, there is nothing to rush for an little will be seen of him in the Spring.

In line with his Nobilo win the week before in similar company, Jack Cade did not have much more than a good workout to win it. Predictably he led, and just as predictibly, he got it pretty easy once he was there. "He could have gone three twelve, even better, if he had to," said Purdon. When Paul Kerr's horse dropped off at the quarter, he pricked his ears. I knew there was more petrol in the tank if I needed it. He's a bit better than good. He's a great horse. I don't think Vic (Il Vicolo) would be any better. There is a lot of bottom to this horse. Once we get his joints tidied up and he has a good spell, I think he will be a very good 4-year-old," he said.

A gallant second was Hot Shoe Shuffle, the only filly in the race, and a stablemate of Gracious Knight who was to win the Easter Cup just an hour or so later.

The son of the 1995 Derby winner Il Vicolo, who is owned by Purdon in partnership with John Seaton, has won 9 of his 19 starts, been second or third in eight others, and has stakes of $446,179. As well as winning the Derby, Purdon won two other Group races, the Welcome Stakes with Light And Sound and the Trotting Championship with Waihemo Hanger, another who has been the beneficiary of the Purdon pool. To win three Group races in a night is a remarkable achievement by a superb horseman, and while it is very rare it is not unique. In 1992, Roy and Barry Purdon achieved the same result at the Met's Easter meeting, winning tjhe Welcome Stakes with Hitchcock from stablemates Mark Roy and Mister Wolf Blass; the Easter Cup with Insutcha from stablemates Christopher Vance and Two Under, and the Derby with Kiwi Scooter.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZHR Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Elect To Live the winner of the 2002 NZ Oaks

2002 WAYNE FRANCIS MEMORIAL NZ OAKS

Running a New Zealand fillies' record to win the Wayne Francis Memorial New Zealand Oaks was just another day at the office for Elect To Live.

Once she reached the front, just 600m after the start of the race, few got even close enough to pick up the scent. She was always a clear leader, out by four lengths, sometimes five. At the finish, Goodnight Aveross had narrowed it down to a length and a quarter, and at the end Elect To Live had set a new mark of 3:13 for a 2600m mobile for 3-year-old fillies. The time is one that is achieved by only remarkable athletes, horses like Kate's First who had the record before Elect To Live. Trainer/driver Neil Brady said: "There wasn't much left, but she could have kept on going."

Mark Jones, the driver of Goodnight Aveross, said he wasn't surprised Brady would drive with supreme aggression. "He told me at Motukarara the week before,'you will have to be good to keep up.'"His lead was a wee bit exaggerated by me staying back, but I also knew my filly would stay," said Jones, who led the chasing bunch.

This was Elect To Live's 19th win from 27 starts in New Zealand, and her stake earnings have passed $500,000. To pass it off as a remarkable achievment is a gross understatement. Brady has been a genius and Elect To Live is proof of it.

Here is a sample of some respected opinions...

Bob Negus, who won the Oaks with Glint in 1955: "I wouldn't have thought he'd get away with it, going out and driving like that. He gets them to start. I haven't seen a filly as good as that, especially with the speed she has. She's a fantastic filly, to do all the travelling she's done, and Brady's a magic fellow to manage it. I was proud of what Glint did. She got me out of poverty lane. She set a record on the grass at New Brighton, and was beaten a nose by False Step in the Derby. There have been some very good fillies, especially that Grice breed, horses like Glamour and Riviera who a beautiful looking mare, and I think Elect To Live is from the same family."

John Butcher, trainer of 1991 Oaks winner, Smooth Performer: "She's the best horse I've seen win the Oaks. Hilarious Guest won the Oaks and beat the colts in the Derby, but this horse is incredible and I don't see much else in her class. You've got to hand it to Brady, he's done a wonderful job with her."

Maurice McKendry, who drove Iman to win the Oaks in 1995: "What she's done is unbelievable, and Brady has taken training to a new level. I don't think Iman could have stood it, done what she's done. Was I surprised that Brady would take her out like that? No, not really. That's where he likes to be, and his horses are trained for it. He knows they have to close on him, and it's hard for them when you've got the best stayer. The 2600 metres finds them out. It will be interesting over the shorter distance this week, because one of two have said they were unlucky. We'll see..."

Paul Davies, Canterbury Standardbred agent: "She's number one, without a doubt. The best filly ever, in my mind. Under Cover Lover was very good, so was Tupelo Rose, and Hilarious Guest beat the colts, and Jack Smolenski and the Purdons have had many good ones, but I haven't seen one as good as this. She's left the one-one, and cleared out. We were told Oaxaca Lass was special. She was off her game, but even at her best she wouldn't have beaten this filly. She's travelled to Sydney and Tasmania, and won in both places. At this time of year, other trainers are bringing their horses to their peak, but she's gone up another notch."

Lindsay Turner, trainer of Tigerish who won the Oaks 11 years ago: She's a true racehorse. To win it so easily after a hard campaign - and she's got eight starts or so still to come - shows how tough she is. And she did it all on her own. She deserves to win the Triple Crown and I hope she does. Some of the others appeared to be a bit disappointing, but you take it away from what she has done."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZHR Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2002 WYATT AND WILSON PRINT SUPERSTARS 4YO CHAMPIONSHIP

Just An Excuse kept his unbeaten winning record when he set up a race record to win the Wyatt and Wilson Print Superstars 4yo Championship. He thumped 12 others, giving all but Muscle Machine a start, and recorded 3:15.1 for the 2600 stand. The previous best for the race was Defoe's 3:15.8, followed by Christopher Vance and Hoppy's Jet who both went 3:16.6.

Just An Excuse is raced by his breeders Ollie and Irene Haines; Ollie, a former HRNZ Executive member whose last trip to race a horse at Addington was 11 years earlier with the classy filly, Smooth Performer. He has culled his stock considerably since then, and Just An Excuse made his arrival when only a few were left.

A 4-year-old by Live Or Die, Just An Excuse is trained by Robert Mitchell who said the horse "has been a bit of a revelation. He has never ceased to amaze us, and he's come along when I was looking to cut back a bit. I haven't had a horse who has done what this guy has done," he said. Mitchell has been behind enough good ones to know where Just An Excuse stands, including the open class Court Martial pacer Hoover, Rain Girl and Royal Consent.

The only concern Mitchell had was the gap of three weeks between races, and what effect the trip away from home would have on him. "He was quiet for a couple of days, then started kicking his bucket in the yard, so he handled it okay," he said.

Just An Excuse is the sixth foal from My Excuse, a Smooth Fella mare, who has since left a Make A Deal filly, now two, and a yearling filly, also by Live Or Die.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing HRWeekly 09Oct02

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2002 PGG YEARLING SALES 2YO SERIES FINAL

Light And Sound's rivals had their best chance to put an end to the brilliant colt's winning streak at Addington last Friday night, but they probably didn't even know it.

Light And Sound was justifiably a red hot favourite for the biggest race of his career, the $194,000 PGG Yearling Sales Series Final, and he duly obliged by breaking his own national record. But afterwards, trainer/driver Mark Purdon revealed that he wasn't as happy as he could have been leading into the event. "Because it was such a big race, I decided to get him blood-tested at the start of the week," Purdon said.

"The results came back showing he was lacking in iron, and that his white cell count was at the top end of normal. Then on the Wednesday he didn't work that good. A southerly came up while he was out on the track, which we thought might have been part of the reason, but he didn't feel like his old self. And later in the day he developed a slight cough. "Purdon kept close tabs on his champion 2-year-old over the next couple of days, and history now shows that they didn't have much to worry about.

As always with the consummate professional though, the welfare of his horse came first and he says he would not have hesitated to scratch Light And Sound if he had thought it necessary. Having compiled a record of eight starts for a first-up second and seven straight victories, Light And Sound has netted his owners $222,885. He should add the biggest slice of this Friday night's $150,000 Sires' Stakes Final to that, and then it is the spelling paddock for the In The Pocket colt. Purdon is still deliberating over the decision to geld Light And Sounds between seasons. "I am still in two minds about it. He has matured a lot in that respect recently."

Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 08May02

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2002 PGG NZ YEARLING SALES 3YO TROT

Auckland pie man Roger Bond has an appetite for winning big races at Addington. His first big one was the Pyne Gould Guinness NZ Yearling Sales 3-year-old Trot last Friday night with Tony H, and he hopes there will be a repeat of it in the $50,000 Trotting Derby this week.
There is no certainty of that because Sundon's Luck is the fresh face in the ranks and a shiney one at that. He gave Tony H a serious test, and only failed by a neck.

Tony H had not raced since Ashburton earlier last month, and indeed, had not been off the place for a trials of workout tightener. So trainer Tremain Thorby pretty much expected something as close as this. He will certainly be a lot sharper for Sundon's Luck this week, and Bond and his partner Shirley will again make the trip from Auckland to watch him perform.

Bond settled in New Zealand from Sheffield 32 years ago, when he was 13. After being in Timaru for a start he moved to Christchurch where he became the manager of a rental car firm. His early visits to the races were mainly social, and enjoying the pleasure of watching two greats, Noodlum at Addington, and the galloper Grey Way at Riccarton.

On shifting to Auckland, he was introduced to Colin Kennedy, whose wife Karen is Shirley's cousin. This is when the horse thing started to get serious. The Kennedys suggested that Bond share the ownership in a couple of horses they had starting up, Lord Graceland and Shardon's Star. "It has been great. We have had a huge amount of fun," he said. Bond also had a share in the club syndicate that raced Matai Mackenzie, Parisian Falcon and Moschino.

Two years ago, they stepped up a cog. Deciding that there were opportunities going begging in the Sales Series for trotters - "there was a lot of money available and the prices for trotters were less than half what you had to pay for a pacer," said Bond - they combined with Kennedy and radio host Peter Earley to impliment the plan. "We had wanted to get five," he said, "but finished up with three."

They bought William Edward, Crystal Bella, who has since been sold, and a Sundon colt from a Chiola Hanover mare - the same cross as Sundon's Luck - for $6500. This was Tony H, who is unbeaten in his last four starts, and has won over $60,000. "He has been a natural," said Bond. "He has matured a lot and become a lot more settled and Tremain is a good trainer and very thorough.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 27Mar02