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PHIL WILLIAMS

Weedons trainer Phil Williams died at the weekend, aged 74.

He held a licence for nearly 50 years, and during that time had "enjoyed the challenge" of training the trotter. For more than 20 years, Williams was private trainer for electrician Horry Alston.

His most important win was the 1962 NZ Trotting Stakes at Addington with Spark Gap, who won by eight lengths from Grand Charge and Dreaming. By Thunder On from Transmitter, Spark Gap also won the Canterbury Park Trotting Stakes in 3:16 from Flaming Way and Snow Globe.

Another good trotter was Resistor which he took to open class. Resistor's wins included a handicap at Westport over two miles off 108 yards. "I used to love going to race on the Coast circuit," he said.

Other notable training feats were winning a double the same day at Hutt Park with Queen's Jewel; finishing first and second in the Cheviot Cup with Mountain Tarn and Green Valley, and running 1,2,3 in a trot at Greymouth with Copper Wire, Wire Wound and Resistor's Sister.

Other useful horses he trained were Component, Avon Spark, Blue Adios, Blue Spark, Tranmitter Sound - later to give Maurice Holmes his last winning drive - and Astro Blue, who dead-heated for first with Noodlum in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Waimate.

The last horse Williams had been involved with was Alias Charm, who he passed on to be trained by his son, Austin.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 30Mar94

INTERDOMINIONS

SYDNEY - WEONA WARRIOR
The training and driving skills of New South Wales horseman Brian Hancock, a former coalminer who had already etched himself into Australian harness racing history, enabled him to score an upset win in the 1994 Inter Dominion Pacers Grand Final in Sydney with Weona Warrior. Ultra Jet finished second with Valley Champ next home.

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Jeanne & Colin Calvert with Bee Bee Cee

1994 DB DRAUGHT NZ TROTTING CUP

Colin Calvert flicked through the racebook on his way from Chertsey to Addington on Tuesday, and couldn't help but remark to his wife Jeanne how strong the No.7 horses looked. There were six running - Perfect Trust, The Suileman, Lento, Diamond Field, Star Motoring, and the one they were towing in the float - Bee Bee Cee. "I said to Jeanne that seven is a lucky Chinese number, and there were all these good seven horses. I said she had to follow seven all day," he said.

By the time the DB Draught NZ Cup was run, The Suileman had run second, and Lento and Diamond Field had won. No.7 was going for three in a row when Jimmy Curtin, who picked up the drive this season after the Calverts shifted from Southland, went to the start. "The night before the Cup was the best night's sleep he'd had for two weeks," said his wife Sandy. "He wasn't confident, just so relaxed," she quivered. The drive was vintage Jimmy Curtin, though vintage could hardly describe Bee Bee Cee, whose win in the DB Draught NZ Cup at Addington was only his 27th start.

After a superb beginning that gave him the lead for a lap, Curtin found a hole for him three deep on the fence and put him to bed. He was wide awake and moving near the 600 metres, but Curtin set off after Master Musician with only slim hopes of winning and more for the minors. "We'll run second; that's the best I thought we would do," said Curtin. And that's how it appeared 200 metres, even 150 metres out, where Robert Dunn was suddenly showing signs of desperation in the cart. The race was taking a new turn. Bee Bee Cee had come out of the pack and continued bearing down on 'the Master' and relieved him of the lead inside the last 50 metres, winning in 4:01, which was a remarkable run in a wicked wind.

The Calverts were overcome at their good fortune, and although Jeanne said "it was an absolute dream," and "I can't really believe it," it was apparent that both had confidence in their young son of ill-fated Nero's B B. "We gave him four race day starts and six trials, which is what we planned. We wanted to win the Hannon, which we did, and the placing in the Flying Stakes was a bonus. I didn't mind what he ran in his trial last Thursday; all I'm interested in is what he has run his last quarter. He's a lazy horse and only does what he has to," he said. "You haven't seen the best of him yet," said Colin.

The success for the Calverts is remarkable, and makes a good story. Six years ago Colin was put off from his job at the Ocean Beach freezing works where he was a carpenter. Keen to train horses, Colin was given the chance when Jeanne kindly said she would continue her career in education and give Colin the opportunity he wanted. They had a lucky break early on by selling two maideners Full of Dreams and Temporary Profit, and the money they received from that allowed them to consider stepping up in quality. They went to the Ryal Bush breeder Russell Morton and bought the Nero's B B yearling from Classic Countess that was Bee Bee Cee.

It didn't take Colin and Jeanne long to realise that Bee Bee Cee was something special, and this in turn created a problem once he started running out of Southland classes. With the welfare of the horse in mind, they left Southland last year and settled in Canterbury. In between the sale and the shift, the Calvert's bought Classic Countess, in foal to Corsica Almahurst, after the mare was advertised for sale in the "Weekly." Classic Countess has since given them a colt foal this season by OK Bye, and has been served by New York Motoring.

Bee Bee Cee has never missed a beat from the time he started. Respected Southland driver Allan Beck won his first 10, and Curtin has been with him in his two this season.

In some ways this was a fairy-tale ending to an epic contest, given spice by the unexpected failure of the Purdon trio Chokin, Christopher Vance and Montana Vance, the huge performance by third placed upsetter Matthew Lee, and the disappointing showing by Desperate Comment.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Bee Bee Cee outfinishes Master Musician in the NZFFA

1994 AIR NEW ZEALAND NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

The dream continued for Colin and Jeane Calvert when their handsome pacer Bee Bee Cee took the $80,000 Air New Zealand Free-For-All. It has been a magical week for the Calverts who race NZ Cup winner Bee Bee Cee purely for enjoyment. For this reason the Calverts were faced with a difficult decision in whether or not to accept an invitation to contest the $A320,000 Sydney Miracle Mile.

The former Southlanders gained great satisfaction from Bee Bee Cee winning the Invercargill Cup last season and would have loved to return home for a second attempt. Colin Calvert said Bee Bee Cee could not race in both and the change in conditions of the race swayed him towards the Miracle Mile. "If we raced in the Invercargill Cup (Dec 17) we would have to start from at least 30m as the race has changed from a mobile to a two mile stand - in the end I wasn't keen in starting him from that far behind when we can run in mobiles. The other reason for going was winning a race like the Miracle Mile could help him as a stallion," said Calvert.

It may seem an easy decision when looking at a $25,000 race compared to one worth $A320,000 plus speed bonuses. But the Calverts look after Bee Bee Cee first before looking at financial reasons and want him cherry ripe for the Inter-Dominions at Addington next year. A start for him in the Auckland Cup is still undecided. "Money has never been an issue and the welfare of the horse has always been put first," says Calvert.

Bee Bee Cee, Colin Calvert, Master Musician and Bruce Wylie will travel north by truck on Thursday morning. Bee Bee Cee will stay at Dale Cameron's in Waiuku before flying out of Auckland to Sydney on Monday night.

Tactics became an important part of the Free-For-All. Bee Bee Cee took the lead early before driver Jimmy Curtin allowed Blossom Lady to take up the running. Curtin knew all too well that Blossom Lady has a tendancy to run outwards in the straight. Bee Bee Cee, who became the 24th horse to win the NZ Cup-FFA double, did well after the Cup. "He came through the race brilliantly and if anything it sharpened him up for today's race," said Calvert. Bee Bee Cee recorded 2:26.6 for the mobile 2000m with the leaders running their last 800m in 56.7.

The favourite Master Musician was gallant in defeat after facing the breeze over the last 800m and Lento ran on well for third. Blossom Lady faded to fourth just ahead of October Atom. "She received a good run through on the rails," said Lento's driver Clark Barron. "She ran on strongly without threatening the first two."

Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Robyn's Treasure powers home to take the Oaks

1994 NEVELE R NZ OAKS

For Robyn's Treasure, who produced a powerhouse finish to win the $60,000 Nevele R New Zealand Oaks (2600m) at Addington, practise made perfection. "The last three weeks I have concentrated on teaching her to stay and sprint home," said Whiterig (Gore) trainer Ross Wilson. "She has a tremendous sprint if you can sit and wait to use it."

Robyn's Treasure began from position 8 on the front line with Ricky May electing to ease her back from the wide draw. She was last with 600m to run and had to fly over the concluding stages to pick up the pacemaker Pretty Kiwi. There was a nose back to Perpetual Fiddler who fought on well for third. "Ricky said to me we were going to need a lot of luck from the draw," said Wilson. "And I told him he was the right man for the job." Wilson said that regular driver Ken Barron had done a good job but May had been given first choice seven months ago. "Ricky drove Robyn's Treasure to win her first race at Gore and we said to him then that we would give him first option to drive her," he said. "She won by more than six lengths that day."

Robyn's Treasure had one workout as a 2-year-old and was subsequently turned out to mature. The large Son Of Afella filly has shown Wilson that she has a mind of her own. "She is a hyper-active horse and has wrecked all of my carts," He said. "She is just learning how to settle now." It was Robyn's Treasure's second trip outside the Southland-Otago area. She had finished second to Countess Caroline (forced out of the Oaks through injury) at Ashburton in the sixth heat of the DB Draught Fillies Series.

The victory took her career record to three wins, three seconds and four thirds from 14 starts - earning her owners Ross Wilson and Tapanui's Graeme Edgar $51,950. Robyn's Treasure had been going sound races against older horses in her lead up form to the Oaks and was credited with 1:58 when finishing third to Mickday over a mile at Invercargill at her previous attempt.

Wilson, who is a part-time farmer and employee of Crawford's Chemical Company, was asked to pick out a yearling for Edgar at the Southland Sale (yearlings and mixed stock) in 1981. Robyn's Treasure's dam Ryal Robyn was thus purchased for $1200. "It was a Southland family I liked and Graeme wanted a horse he could race and breed from later on," said Wilson. She won three races and recorded seven places for trainer Ray McNally before leaving her first foal Pride of Robyn (by Lordship) in 1986. She won two races and has since left a yearling by Vance Hanover. The second winner from Ryal Robyn was Robin's Lad (by Lumber Dream) who gained one NZ win before being sold to Australia. The fourth foal and other winner to date is Robyn's Treasure.

Ryal Robyn, by Nevele Bigshot from Ryal Faye, is a sister to Blue Sapphire (4 wins) and a half sister to winners Ryal Hanover and Van Baron. Her granddam Petronella (by Whipster from Ronella) left useful performers Vita Man (9 wins) and Kelly Dillon (3 wins).


Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

David Moss winning the Dominion from Call Me Now

1994 DB DRAUGHT SUPERQUAD DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Someone as far away as Norway was tuning in to David Moss' delightful winning performance in the $100,000 DB Draught Superquad Dominion Handicap.

Part owner Captain Oddvar Andersen of Oslo managed to make the trip last year to watch his champion square-gaiter win the two mile feature but this time settled for the second best option. "Captain was ringing my brother Alistair in Auckland tonight to listen to the commentary," said John Cox whose late father Harry shared in the ownership of David Moss with Captain Andersen.

David Moss posted a NZ record when trotting the 3200m in 4:06.6 - 0.8 of a second inside Idle Scott's time achieved in 1992. He came with a big stayers finish in the straight to get past a gallant pace-making Call Me Now who fought all the way to the line. Breton Abbe was not far away in third placing after enjoying the trail. Diamond Field lost his chance at the start when breaking for Tony Herlihy.

Cox did the initial training of David Moss before handing the 11-year-old on to Bob Cameron at the end of October. The veteran of the field along with Game Paul (fourth), David Moss has an abundance of determination and sheer guts. He is unreal," said Cox. "He is all heart - it's the mark of a true champion. This was better than last year's effort." Captain Andersen and Cox discussed David Moss' future earlier this year. "We decided that everything from this season onwards is a bonus," said Cox. "Captain said that if he ever started to struggle we would retire him so he could finish on top."

The preparation of David Moss this time in has been a difficult task with the 'hamstring' muscle on his hind leg taking more time than expected to heal. It was an injury that forced him out of the Rowe Cup in May. "He would have gone up to Bob's stable earlier if he had been more forward," said Cox. "He had a few problems early on and it has been a bit of a worry. Bob has done a beautiful job with him and topped him off well."

Cameron drove David Moss in his second start this campaign at Gore on October 27. "He didn't feel 100% when I drove him at Gore," said Cameron who guided him to victory in last year's Dominion Handicap. "We have since made a few alterations to his shoeing to get him more balanced."

Maurice McKendry was the successful driver behind David Moss and enjoyed his first win in the race after some close placings in previous years.

David Moss became the first horse to win back to back Dominion Handicaps since Durban Chief did so in 1957-8. The Gekoj gelding will be prepared for a tilt at the Inter-Dominions at Addngton in March. "I was talking to Bob before the race and he is likely to stay with him now through to the Inter-Dominions," said Cox. David Moss has now won 27 races including two Dominion Handicaps and a Rowe Cup taking his earnings to $433,485. He was beaten a neck by Night Allowance in the Inter-Dominion Grand Final at Alexandra Park in 1993.

Credit: Philip O'Connor writing in HRNZ Weekly

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Ginger Man holds out Rare Touch to win the Derby

1994 JOHN BRANDON NZ DERBY

The $125,000 John Brandon New Zealand Derby fell to Ginger Man, but victory in the classic was a close shave for the favourite.

Spirited opposition was supplied by Rare Touch, who put the breeze up the Ginger Man supporters when he almost levelled with the leader about 80 metres out. If it was not quite head to head, there was still very little between them as Ginger Man grimly clung to the tiny margin he had. "I thought about 50 metres out that I'd get to him," said Anthony Butt, driver of Rare Touch. "I have no excuses I didn't," he said. Knowing the class of the horse, Butt was not surprised Ginger Man responded the way he did, and won the Group 1 feature by a head in 3:15.7 - not the fastest but certainly hard and quick.

The race was a good one, made to a major extent by the closeness of the finish and that it involved the two favourites. Ginger Man led after 2000m, while Butt tucked Rare Touch under cover, within striking distance of the leader. He made his move with sudden quickness near the 500m, which effectively blocked He's Gotta Go from attacking on the outer. A betting person wouldn't have wagered on the outcome halfway along the straight, but near the end Ginger Man was giving as much as he was getting and survived, shakily but sure, by a head. He's Gotta Go was a safe third, not far behind, but not quite in the same class as the first two. The others, headed by Hoppy's Jet, were well beaten.

Ginger Man is the third successive New Zealand Derby trained by Roy and Barry Purdon, preceeded by Kiwi Scooter who Barry drove, and Mark Roy, handled last year by Barry's brother, Mark. A son of the deceased Vance Hanover, Ginger Man is raced by Greg Brodie, who will see the horse in his home state during the winter. Ginger Man will soon be off to Australia, where he will be cared for by Andrew Peace. He will contest three Derbies, including one in Queensland, where Brodie lives. The Derby win, worth $78,125, has shot Ginger Man into second place in the list of leading stake-winners, behind Chokin ($394,790), and ahead of Motoring Magic ($167,875) and Il Vicolo ($130,755). Nine of the 22 horses who have won more than $50,000 so far this season are stablemates of Ginger Man.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRNZ Weekly

PEOPLE

'DINNY' MORLAND

The death occurred last Friday of Dennis (Dinny) Morland, aged 75, a former licenceholder and harness racing enthusiast. Morland became prominent through the deeds of Bon Ton, a chestnut horse he bred by sending Noble Reta to Light Brigade in the early 50s.

Bon Ton was a brilliant juvenile, winning his first three starts - the 1956 Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes from Golden Hero, the Timaru Nursery Stakes by seven lengths from Overdrive, and the NZ Welcome Stakes from Overdrive and Finestra.

He won four as a 3-year-old, including the T S Harrison Stakes at Methven off 36 yards from Lookaway, the NZ Derby from Lookaway and Dignus, and the Champion Stakes at Ashburton. He failed to win at four, beat Showdown and Golden Chimes in the Henry Mace Handicap at Addington at five, and paid £15 in winning the Methven Cup from Fourth Edition as a 6-year-old. He was disqualified from that win after returning a positive swab.

Morland also had some success with Bon Deed, also from Noble Reta, and Golden Splendour

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 8Sep93

PEOPLE

BILL CUNINGHAM

The death occured on Christchurch on Sunday of Bill Cuningham, a distinguished harness racing administrator.

His abilities and service to the industry were honoured with a special tribute by Peter Andrews, president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at the club's annual meeting on Monday night.

Mr Andrews said Bill had become a member of the Metropolitan club in 1960, Canterbury Park the same year and New Brighton in 1963. He became a steward of Canterbury Park in 1962, joined ths committee in 1965, became vice-president in 1973, president in 1976, treasurer in 1979, a life-member in 1979, and an honorary steward in 1991.

Mr Cuningham was a director of Addington Raceway from 1979 to 1990, and was on the TAB board from 1987 to 1992. "He loved his racing," said Syd Cordner, 81 this month, and a former president of the Canterbury Park club, "and he liked a bet...bet on anything. And of course he was a very able solicitor and administrator," he said.

Bill is survived by his wife Margaret.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 17Jul93

PEOPLE

JACK HEWITT

John William (Jack) Hewitt, who died in Invercargill on Monday, aged 76, became a household name in harness racing as the owner of champion racemare Robin Dundee in the 1960s.

Robin Dundee, who was trained by the late Jack Walsh of Gore, was actually bred by owner Hewitt's late Gore relations by marriage, Myra and Bob Ritchie, who virtually gifted the Hal Tryax-Cherry Blossom filly to him. The favour was extended to Mr Hewitt in return for his generosity in grazing Cherry Blossom free of charge for the Ritchie's on his Mataura Island farm.

Robin Dundee (1:59) won $229,272 in NZ, Australia and USA. She was the first pacer to better 2:00 in a race in Australia when she won the 1967 Craven Filter Miracle Mile at Harold Park, Sydney. Bob Cameron reined her in that feature win. Maurice Holmes drove the mare in many of her earlier NZ races.

Having her first race start, Robin Dundee served notice of her exceptional ability when she won the Southland Stakes by 16 lengths at Invercargill on October 29, 1960. She was reined by Charlie Franks, then attached to trainer Walsh's operation. They again triumphed in their next outing, the 1961 NZ Oaks at Addington. Robin Dundee won 33 other races outright and shared the major honours with Jay Ar in the 1965 Inter-Dominion Pacing Grand Final at Forbury Park with 'Doody' Townley at the reins. The NZ Free-For-All and Auckland Cup were feature wins for her that year.

Robin Dundee was three times runner-up in the NZ Cup - to Cardigan Bay (1963), Garry Dillon (1965) and Lordship (1966). Blossom Lady, her close relation from the Fashion Queen (by Bellfashion) taproot, won last year's NZ Cup. After her demanding career and when her powers may have been waning, Robin Dundee still won further races in North America for the late Eddie Cob, of Adios Butler fame, who part-owned her there. Easily Robin Dundee's best son was Genghis Khan (1:51.8), a world champion son of Meadow Skipper, subsequently a fine sire who has also stood in Australia.

Born in Palmerston North in 1917 and the second of six children, Mr Hewitt shifted to Winton with his family as a child, being educated there before spending two and a half years at Southland Technical College. Mr Hewitt later settled on and developed a 550-acre farm at Mataura Island and on September 5, 1946, married Joan Ritchie, who died six years ago. In 1975, Mr Hewitt sold his farm and shifted to a 14-acre section on the corner of Mill and Findlay Roads on the outskirts of Invercargill.

Credit: Don Wright writing in HRWeekly 13Oct93