CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

ADIO STAR - Classic Winner Producing Mare

Adio Star (1957 Captain Adios-Loyal Guest) USA family of Brown Lancet, 2:10.6, $1,560; 3 wins; 15 foals, 13 to race for 10 winners and three qualifiers. Breeder: W F (Frank) Woolley. Foals bred by Alastair Kerslake (Loyal Adios); Francis Woolley (Colonel Adios, Adios Wren, Bachelor Star, Garrison Adios); Francis Woolley/Betty Kerslake (Adios Bachelor, Telstar, Main Adios, Supreme Adios, Main Star); Alastair/Betty Kerslake & Francis Woolley (Game Adios, Bionic Adios, Main Win, Star's Legacy).

Adio Star's sire Captain Adios was imported into NZ by Sir Roy McKenzie as a 4yo in 1956 having won the Fox Stakes and Review Stakes at two in USA. He was a son of Adios from the well-performed mare Shy Ann, dam of Adios Betty and fourth dam of Beach Towel. After three years at stud, he died prematurely suffering a broken thigh bone and a twisted bowel. Captain Adios left 49 winners, several successful sires and dams as well as four NZ Derby winners. His winners included Jay Ar, named after Sir Roy's father (ID Pacers Grand Final), Great Adios (NZ Cup, NZFFA, Easter Cup), Deft (dam of Champion juvenile and sire of Noodlum) and damsire of NZ Derby winners - Bachelor Star, Game Adios, Main Adios, Noodlum plus Main Star (GN Derby)[all except Noodlum were out of Adio Star], Leading Light (AK Cup), Olga Korbut (NZ Championship-2), Via Veneto (GN Oaks).

Dam Loyal Guest was a sibling of Margaret Hall, Paramount and GypsyBelle from grand producer Tondeleyo (Wrack-Estella Amos). Apart from Adio Star, Loyal Guest left True Guest (5 wins), dam of New Guest (dam of Hilarious Guest - Sapling, NZ Championship at 2, NZ Derby, NZ & GN Oaks, Messenger, NZ Breeders Stakes; Speedy Guest - GN Derby, Messenger). The Loyal Guest branch of Tondeleyo includes recent stand outs Village Hero, Champagne Princess, Lancome, Estella Rose, Fiery Falcon.

Adio Star was from the family of Brown Lancet who was discussed under Margaret Hall.

Adio Star's race career spanned three seasons hindered by unsoundness during which she recorded three wins (5yo - Timaru, Hororata; 6yo - Westport) before commencing her broodmare career. She was an immediate success being rewarded with the NZ Broodmare of the Year title (1978). Adio Star has the unique distinction of producing four Derby winners - Bachelor star, Game Adios, Main Adios and Main Star. All of her progeny were raced by Alastair and Betty Kerslake of Lauriston together with Frank (Alistair Kerslake's father in law) or Francis Woolley (brother-in-law), one time Hamilton motelier. Frank Woolley passed Adio Star onto his son Francis and daughter Betty in 1969 after breeding Garrison Adios.

Adio Star's male progeny included:

Adios Bachelor, placed at two before his only success at three (Waikouaiti Stakes at 3). He sired Bachelor Creed (Marlborough Winter Cup) among his 23 winners (28 as a broodmare sire).

Bachelor Star, nine-win horse with 2yo wins at ATC Scotchman and Thames Juvenile Stakes. His five wins at three included the New Brighton Stakes, NZ Derby (4th in GN Derby) and ATC Epsom Hcp-3/4. Placed at four, he won twice from three starts at five (Addington- Spring & Smithson Hcps). Bachelor Star retired following a solitary start at six, placing in New Brighton's A E Laing Hcp. At stud, he sired 44 winners including Dundas (Oamaru & Ashburton Cups; damsire of 53 winners (Lady Franco; Cambridge Gold Cup, Morrinsville Breeders; My Hanover Nugent: Bathurst City Cup).

Bionic Adios, winner of seven (Ashburton, Rangiora[2], Methven, Forbury Park [2], Waimate Cup); sire of eight winners including Aratika (Rangiora Winter Cup).

Colonel Adios, five race winner during three year career. Placed at three, before his first two wins at four (Methven, CPTC Cressey Stakes). At five, winner at Forbury Park, NBHRC Raceway Stakes and Masterton Cup.

Game Adios, won eight beginning with placings at two. His initial win came in the First Canterbury Stakes at Addington, the first of seven 3yo wins - Forbury Park, Addington -3 (Metropolitan Show Day Stakes and NZ Derby), Hutt Park (Cardigan Bay Stakes) and Alexandra Park. Game Adios finished second in the Champion (Ashburton) and Balance (Wanganui) Stakes at three. His final victory was in the Ribbonwood Hcp at Addington in August 1980 and never placed from a further 12 starts over the next four seasons.

Loyal Adios, 7 career wins with 4 at age 3 (CPTC Pioneer Stakes and two other 3yo CPTC wins). His lone 4yo victory was at Addington before two successes at five (Addington - Wildwood Hcp, Timaru - South Canterbury Hcp).

Main Adios, 9 wins over three starting with four juvenile age group wins at two (Hosking & Roydon Stakes at Wellington , Forbury Juvenile, New Brighton Festival Stakes), also placed second in the Golden Slipper Stakes. At three, Main Adios's 3 wins included the Flying Hcp on NZ Cup Day and $19,000 NZ Derby (same night Kerslake won the Spring Time Stakes with Watbro Trick and the Harold Logan Stakes with In Or Out - NZ Oaks & Breeders Stakes). He finished second in the Champion Stakes. Main Adios' final season at four, saw 2 Addington wins from 5 starts, Ribbonwood Stakes, ans appropriately the Final Hcp in his last start on the 4th day (Night) of the NZ Cup meeting. He sired 22 winners and was the damsire of 20 (Young Whiz - Raith Memorial).

Main Star, eight race winner starting with a win at Alexandra Park at two and placed third in Timaru Nursery Stakes and NZ Championship and fourth in Welcome Stakes. A seven-win 3yo career brought victory at Addington(4) - New Brighton 3yo, Cross & Air NZ Stakes, NZ Championship; Alexandra Park (GN Derby & Derby trial) and Hutt Park (Cardigan Bay Stakes), also placed third in the Champion and Timaru Challenge Stakes. His only placing of significance at four & five was second to Miss Pert in the New Brighton Cup. At Stud, Main Star sired 17 winners (Rainbow Patch - Hororata Cup); damsire of 12 (Twinkle John - Ashburton Flying Stakes & Kurow Cup).

Adio Star's fillies included:

Adios Wren, two unplaced runs at three in NZ before being exported to Australia, producing Wrengari, among first 100 2:00 pacers in Australia (Geelong 2:00TT, 1981).

Stars Legacy, winner of RM Cameron Stakes (Ashburton), dam of a winner.

Bionic Star, winner of 8 of 23 starts in a career impacted by unsoundness (tendon problems) starting with a sole 3yo win at Addington. A dual winner at Forbury, then Addington before winning the Waikouaiti Cup in four successive starts before a further win at Addington was the fifth of her 4yo career. Two further Addington wins at five completed her career successes. Bionic Star was the dam of 10 foals for seven winners led by the outstanding race mare Bionic Chance (NZSS at 2 against the boys, Leonard Memorial, Golden Slipper, Kindergarten & Timaru Challenge Stakes, Wellington Cup, NZ Breeders Stakes, Hannon Memorial, Premier Mares Championship. 2yo filly and 4 mare pacer of the year; died of a ruptured bowel, January 1993). The fastest of Bionic Star's progeny was Bionic Raider who posted 1:56.2 in the US.

Supreme Adios, unraced, dam of 16 foals, 7 winners including:
. Oh So Fair, WA breeders Stakes
. Supreme Dream, granddam of Ballindooley (Invercargill Summer Cup, NZ Championship)
. Supreme Holmes, granddam of Supreme Mach (Redcliffe Derby)
. Most Happy Star, WA triple Crown-2f; dam of:
1. Windshield Star (Leonard Memorial 2f; dam of U Legend (GN Breeders Stakes-4m, NZSS SI 4&5m), Top Of The Line (WA Gold Bracelet-2f); granddam of Antares (Morrinsville Juvenile, NZSS NI Graduate-2)
2. Classic Speed, dam of Motu Speedy Star (Waimate & Kurow Cups)
3. star Rider, dam of Double R (Hororata Cup)
. Smokey Tabella, Morrinsville Breeders, dam of;
1. Rocket Warrior, TAS Guineas
2. Willie Walker, Bendigo Guineas & Derby, Geelong Guineas
. Supreme Knight, unraced, dam of;
1. Supreme Award, Cheviot & Wellington Cups.
2. Supreme Chip, Triple Crown Classic-3f; granddam of Caesar Supreme, 36 wins in Australia to date.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Aug 2015

Johnny Globe & D G Nyhan

JOHNNY GLOBE

Johnny Globe, the personality pacer of the Dominion over a long period, ran his last race when he finished fourth to General Sandy, Caduceus and Brahman in the NZ Pacing Championship at the Summer meeting of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. This dapper little pacing gentleman made his final bow to the public when he was paraded at the New Brighton Trotting Club's on Saturday, December 1st, and he will spend the rest of his days at the stud on the property of his owner, D G Nyhan, at Templeton.

Johnny Globe retires the holder of four world records, winner of 15 free-for-alls and £42,887/10/- in stakes, the result of 34 wins and 45 places. This is the largest amount credited to any horse - galloper or pacer - won solely in New Zealand. His winnings are exceeded only by Captain Sandy, who won £43,712 in New Zealand and Australia.

Like many other champions before him Johnny Globe was sold over the bargain counter. Read in his own words how his owner-trainer-driver D G (Don) Nyhan, came to buy him: "I went over to see Mr F E Ward, of Pahiatua, before he went to England in 1948, and while there he said: 'Make me an offer for that 10-month-old colt by Logan Derby-Sandfast.' He had to be sold before he sailed and my wife offered him £50, which he accepted. The colt was very small and didn't look much of a buy at the time, as he was a late December foal and was very backward."

"I broke him in and he started to do better and look more like a colt should. After a consultation my wife and I decided to put him in the Yearling Sales at Christchurch, thinking we might show a fair profiton our buy, so he was entered; but in the meantime we went on working him, and in January (he was only actually 13 months old) he ran half a mile in 1:06 on a rough grass galloping track at Ashhurst. Needless to say, we knew we had something extra good, and withdrew him from the sales. He was then spelled and we shifted to the South Island in August, 1949."

"After winning the Timaru Nursery Stakes (his first start as a two-year-old) he was affected with his feet and, although he raced well, he was never at his best, as he was continually sore; a lot of credit goes to my wife for curing his soreness, for she spent hours a day with his feet in hot water. Of course," concluded Nyhan, "Johnny is the family pet; in fact he has always been looked on as one of the family."

Debonair Johnny! He was always that way, right through his career, extending over eight seasons. His record as a four-year-old has never been equalled, let alone bettered. During that season, 1951-52, he was the leading stake-winner with £9360. He won won eight races besides finishing a very close second to Van Dieman in the NZ Cup, and he was the first four-year-old to start in the premier event for many years; it is an extreme rarity, even today, for a four-year-old to qualify, let alone go close to winning it.

Addington was the scene of Johnny Globe's greatest triumphs, 13 of his wins being gained there. His greatest performance was undoubtedly his success in the record-breaking Cup of 1954. This event was a supreme test of speed and stamina and the time recorded by Johnny Globe, 4:07.6, shattered all previous times for the race and set new world pacing figures for a race and out of a race. Johnny Globe's 15 free-for-alls is the greatest number credited to any horse in the Dominion, his nearest rival in this department being Gold Bar, with six. Other world records held by Johnny Globe are: A mile against time on the grass at Epsom in 1:59.8; a mile from a standing start in a race in 2:01.2, and a mile and three furlongs in a race in 2:50.2. Johnny Globe also holds the New Zealand mile and a quarter record for a three-year-old, 2:37.6.

After his success in the New Zealand Cup of 1954, few opportunities in handicapping events were left for Johnny Globe, and his racing was restricted to free-for-alls and sprint events. He started at the Inter-Dominion Championships at Auckland in 1955. He was sent out a firm favourite in the Grand Final, but after receiving a check, found Tactician a shade too good over the final furlong.

There is no parallel to Johnny Globe's career in light-harness history. This grand little stayer and sprinter bore many of the characteristics of the previous public idol in Harold Logan. The Johnny Globes and Harold Logans are far too few in our sport, and Johnny's retirement - which has been well earned - leaves a void which may not be filled for some time.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in the NZ Trotting Calendar

Gold Bar & Allan Holmes

GOLD BAR

Gold Bar, 1:59.6, a champion pacer up till 1946, died at the property of his owner, A Holmes, Yaldhurst in November 1956.

Gold Bar was the greatest individualist ever to wear harness in this country. It was all or nothing with him. He was a horse who strongly resented anything savouring of a "perfect trail." He loved the wide open spaces, and he annihilated many cherished conceptions of rating, pacemaking and driving tactics. Once he reached maturity, there was scarcely a dull moment in any race he contested. Never before in the history of trotting had we seen a horse capable of running the first half-mile, even the first mile and a half, at a speed that would win 99 races out of 100, and carry on to win over two miles.

It was uncanny. Uncanny because mere flesh and blood had never achieved anything like that before; because all staying conventions were throw to the four winds by this machine-like marvel, this pacing Pegasus who left trail upon trail of burnt out carcases in his wake. From barrier-rise Allan Holmes put the trottle hard down on Gold Bar, who responded like Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird. In a matter of seconds they would be away out in front, 50-80 yards, half a furlong clear of anything else. Far from spoiling a race, disorganising a field, or some other uncharitable comment, Gold Bar's lone flights, particularly in Addington's big races, charged the public pulse with an electric anticipation that made him the glamour horse of his day.

Gold Bar first contested the New Zealand Cup in 1941. Until 1945 they caught him every time, but except in 1944, when he burst a blood vessel a long way from the finish, he still beat more than beat him, and in 1945 came his big moment, his greatest triumph: the only horse who so much as saw the way he went in the first £7500 Cup was Integrity. Gold Bar's "scorched earth" tactics proved the funeral pyre of many great pacers generally regarded as "truer" stayers than Gold Bar. Until the 1945 New Zealand Cup the jet-propelled pacemaker had invariably come back to his field, but that year those who sat and waited filed past the post looking for all the world like the remnants of a turtle Derby! Never had the defeat of a Cup field been encompassed with such complete disregard for staying technique, if there is any such thing. And if there ever existed any rules about how big two-mile races should be run, Gold Bar broke the lot of them. He drew up a new set of his own - total warfare from flagfall to finishing post.

There were all sorts of windy perorations about Gold Bar's ruining the Cup as a spectacle. We would have none of this. Many of the same people who later called upon Gold Bar and Allan Holmes to adopt more "reasonable" tactics were just as loud (before Gold Bar put in his appearance) in their condemnation of the crawling pace adopted by pacemakers in big races. You can't have it both ways, and Gold Bar's way was "As You Like It" with the Addington public. Gold Bar's way left no room for the tattered excuse on the part of other drivers that the "got hemmed in" or "met with interference" in a close running field. And the old bogy of club executives of the premier events deteriorating into half-mile sprints was effectively disposed of as long as Gold Bar was on the premises; the sorry spectacle of one horse slowing the field to a jog until all those in attendance were literally climbing over one another and playing hide and seek on the turns was put to rout when Gold Bar was in full cry. The rest had no alternative but to go in pursuit or finish up in a state of total eclipse.

Perhaps all this about Gold Bar has left you with the impression that such a horse, always in a desperate hurry, would naturally be a highly-strung temperamental bloke. Nothing of the kind. He was a docile, beautiful-natured stallion, with a head full of brains. In his yard at home he was as quite as an old sheep, and children could handle him or go into his box with perfect safety.

Gold Bar was retired in 1946, with records of 1:59.6 for a mile, 2:35 for a mile and a quarter, 3:27 for a mile and five furlongs, and 4:14.6 for two miles. He raced from two years (finishing third in the Timaru Nursery Stakes in his only appearance that season), to 11 years, winning 22 races, including six free-for-alls. His stake-winnings amounted to £12,968/10/-. He was by Grattan Loyal (imp) from the Rey de Oro mare Imperial Gold.

At stud Gold Bar's best winners have been Brahman (whose 2:02.2 against time as a two-year-old is likely to stand for some time as the New Zealand and Austalian record), Local Gold, Worthy Gold, Daisy Gold, Congo Song, Bronze Gold, Daisy Bar, Petty Officer, Gold Change, Flagship, Midday, Merry Gold, Regal Gold and Bartender.

-o0o-

'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 12June46

Gold Bar is the most sensational racehorse-sire of modern times, if not of all time in the Dominion.

In the same season that he won the NZ Cup and £5922 in stakes, his son Worthy Gold, has earned £2680, and his daughter, Local Gold, champion 3-year-old filly of the season has won £2585. If any reader knows of a parallel case to this, of a sire and two of his progeny getting into the four-figure class in the same season, the Caledar would be pleased to hear about it.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 14 Nov 56

QUEEN AYESHA

Wearing her 21 years well the famous broodmare Queen Ayesha poses with her latest foal, a colt by U Scott. This long legged fellow is a full brother to that great pair Highland Fling and Highland Kilt.

Whether he will emulate their deeds on the racetrack remains to be seen but suffice it is to say that his initial appearance, probably in more than two years time, will create much interest.

Queen Ayesha, bred in the purple, is by the imported Frank Worthy from a great-grand-daughter of the staying sire Wildwood junior, a double NZ Cup winner. This Wildwood stallion was a full brother to the unbeaten Willowwood, being from the great foundation mare Thelma.

Highland Fling was undoubtedly the best horse to come from the Thelma family which boasts a host of classic winners including Author Dillon, Onyx, Nelson Eddy, Pacing Power and Centennial Hall.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats V10 No5

Ribands and P J Hall

RIBANDS

Ribands, in becoming the world's champion pacer over one mile and five furlongs with his record of 3.21 3/5 in winning by a wide margin the NZ Pacing Championship ar Addington on Saturday, paralysed his opposition and left struggling in his wake two other world's record holders in Rupee and Johnny Globe.

No excuses could be made for Rupee, who was skilfully driven by D Townley and went a brilliant and gallant race, and although Johnny Globe had obviously lost some of his fire and was checked in the early stages, he, too, might have met the same fate as Rupee if all things could have been equal. After all, it is no disparagement of any horse to give Ribands full credit for a performance that brought considerable weight to claims of Australian - and a sprinkling of NZ - admirers of Ribands that he is as fast as any pacer in the world today. And nothing but a world beater could reduce a field like Saturday's to minus quantities as Ribands did.

Ribands was allowed to stand at least a length back from the barrier at the start, which must have given him an advantage, because in his earlier races at the meeting he did not go away when required to line up on terms with other horses on his marks. Laureldale, from No 12 position at the barrier, raced across to take charge before a furlong had been covered, and at this stage he was closely attended by Zulu, Our Roger and Rupee, and Johnny Globe and Ribands were not far away.
Zulu broke with about two and a half furlongs covered, and Johnny Globe was among those checked. Ribands had to be swung out to escape serious trouble, and with a mile to go Laureldale was about three-quarters of a length clear of Rupee, with Our Roger and Petite Yvonne next, and Ribands moving up.

It was with half a mile to go that Ribands was sent around the outer with a burst of speed that had everything in difficulties within a furlong. It was not a case of catching anything unawares, either, because D Townley on Rupee obviously anticipated the onslaught of Ribands and was busy on his charge before Ribands actually passed him; but Rupee met more than his match on this occasion, and Ribands streaked clean away from him. Nothing ever looked like gaining on Ribands in the race home: Rupee could get no closer than four lengths to him, and Johnny Globe was three lengths behind Rupee, with Tactician a fair fourth. No more devastating run has ever been seen at Addington, and no victory could be more complete than Ribands's rout of some of the greatest pacers NZ has been able to breed.

There is no doubt that the presence of Ribands at the NZ Cup carnival made a big contribution to a very successful meeting - both sporting and financial - for the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. It was one of the Club's best meetings for some years, and it was a fitting climax that Mr and Mrs F P Kelloway should see their grand pacer's reputation so thoroughly vindicated, and their own confidence in their champion's ability to win in any company so roundly justified.

The Addington crowd gave Ribands a splendid reception. Cheering broke out long before Ribands reached the winning post, it increased in volume as the horse returned to the birdcage, and was renewed when the world's record was announced. It was obvious that losers and winners alike joined in the clapping and cheering, and Mr and Mrs Kelloway said they were very thrilled by the way the win had been received by the public, the officials of the club, and other trainers and drivers, in the race and out of it.

Occupying a pedestal in public acclaim in Australia to the same degree as Johnny Globe does in the Dominion, Ribands came to NZ Cup discussions when he paced the last half-mile of an exhibition run at Hutt Park a few days after his arrival from Sydney in 58 3/5sec. A very successful ex-trainer who saw that run declared without any reservations that Ribands was the fastest horse he had ever seen. Unfortunately Ribands broke badly at the start of the Cup, but he revealed a champion's calibre when he finished second in the NZ Free-For-All.

In the Cup and the second day Free-For-All Ribands was driven by J D Watts, who flew from Sydney to drive him. Watts had to return to Sydney before the third day, and M Holmes was Riband's driver in his next two races. Holmes needs no testimonials as a horseman: could there be a better one in any part of the world? Holmes certainly worked a revolutionary change in Ribands's starting manners in a couple of short weeks - there must have been some heavy homework between the pair of them between the pair of them between race days!

Mr and Mrs Kelloway and the horse's trainer, C J Muddle, all paid glowing tributes to Holmes's driving of Ribands. Mr Kelloway declared that Ribands made a better beginning on Saturday than ever before in his life, and Muddle acknowledged Holmes "is in world class as a driver." Muddle said Ribands was "really fit" on Saturday. in his previous races at Addington he had not been just right, and he had told Holmes before Saturday's race "not to be frightened to use him if he jumps away with the others - he is the equal of any of them." After the race Muddle, who took Ribands's success with remarkable nonchalance, struck a kindred spirit in Maurice Holmes. Muddle remarked to Holmes when the horse returned to the birdcage: "A pretty fair sort?" Holmes, who is renowned for a combination of wit and understatement, no matter how important the occasion, replied: "Might be alright!"

It is to be hoped that Ribands will be given the opportunity of attacking Highland Fling's mile record of 1.57 4/5 before his return to Australia. He should succeed, because he registered 1.58 7/10 on the half-mile Harold Park track at Sydney, and his connections are certain he has improved since then; and he is nearly a year older now - he is six, and may be just reaching his prime.

Present intentions are that Ribands will be eased in his training and perhaps race at Auckland at Christmas time - there may be some keen competition between the north and the south over this, because it would be a great attraction if the Canterbury Park Club could persuade Mr and Mrs Kelloway to send Ribands against the mile record at it's New Year Meeting. Ribands is no stranger to grass tracks. Mr Kelloway stated on Saturday that Ribands had raced only twice on grass tracks in Australia: his winning margin the first time was 12 lengths and the second time 15 lengths. So Ribands will be in his element at Epsom, whether he races there in December, whether he does not go there until the Championships come round in February, or undertakes both.

Mr and Mrs Kelloway bought Ribands as a young, unraced colt for £1000, and he has won more than £26,000 in stakes. He will win much more if he continues to begin as well as he did on Saturday. Muddle says that apart from his uncertainty at the barrier, due to nervousness, Ribands is "the perfect horse to train." Muddle took over the training of Ribands about a month before he came to NZ.

Ribands's breeding suggests that "you can't get too much of a good thing." He is by Lawn Derby (grandson of Globe Derby), from Marie Walla, by Walla Walla (by Globe Derby, and Marie Walla's dam was an unnamed Globe Derby mare. The Globe Derby tribe may yet be destined to dazzle other race crowds in the home of its ancestors - the United States, where Owyhee, grandsire of Globe Derby, was bred by John F Boyd, of Danville, California, in 1894, and imported to Werribee, Victoria, by D Taylor. Owyhee sired Mambrino Derby, the sire of Globe Derby, among whose innumerable distinctions are that his son, Robert Derby, sired Lawn Derby, 1.59 2/5, the first two-minute horse outside America; that Lawn Derby sired Avian Derby, 2.00, the first two-minute horse in Australia, and also Avian Derby's successor as the Australian mile record holder, Ribands, 1.58 7/10; that Lawn Derby is the only sire in NZ and Australia with more than one horse on the two-minute list; that four of the only seven horses in the two-minute list in the Antipodes are of the Globe Derby male line (the other not already mentioned is Johnny Globe, 1.59 4/5); and that two outright world's pacing records belong to the breed - Johnny Globe's 4.07 3/5 for two miles and Ribands's 3.21 3/5 for a mile and five furlongs, besides Johnny Globe's mile in 2.01 1/5, a world's record from a standing start, and the same horse's 2.33 3/5 for a mile and a quarter, also a world's record from a standing start.

And interest in America in the 'Globe' family - mares as well as sires - is already keen, and the prediction can safely be made that selected representatives of the breed will be going to the United States before very long. The Globe Derby saga of greatness began with himself. He was an out-and-out champion pacer on Australian tracks, and in training he could reel off half-miles in sensational time for his day. His grandson, Lawn Derby, made history in Australia and New Zealand; Globe Derby's son, Walla Walla, was an iron horse who came here late in life and paced an historic mile when he defeated the best horses NZ could muster in 1934 (Harold Logan, Red Shadow and Roi l'Or among them) in the first of an Invitation Match series at Addington, his time, 2.04 1/5, surviving as the world's record from a standing start for 19 years.

The rest of the serial is well known - we say serial advisedly, because there is no apparent end yet to the deeds of this line of succession of champions, of whom Ribands and Johnny Globe are the present incomparable banner-bearers.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 1Dec54

GREAT RACES: JOHNNY GLOBE

In 1954, Johnny Globe was a 7-year-old and making his fourth attempt at the New Zealand Cup. He had been a good and close second to Van Dieman as a 4-year-old; sensationally collapsed the following year when a hot favourite, and second from 60 yards to Adorian the year before.

He was off 48 yards this time, but such was the quality of the field before him, Johnny Globe was only given a sentimental chance of winning, particularly as Rupee was among those off the front. The record of first starters during the first half century of the Cup was overwhelming and Rupee was among those along with the tough and in-form Denbry and the Australian champion Ribands, who would be handled by Sydney's Jack Watts from 18 yards for trainer Charlie Muddle.

The stellar field also included previous winners Adorian and Mobile Globe and subsequent winner Our Roger along with Soangetaha, Tactician, Vedette and an evergreen and notoriously unsound 8-year-old Young Charles. But Rupee dominated the discussions and 'Ribbonwood' summed it up in the NZ Trotting Calendar a week earlier..."With the possible exception of Indianapolis and Highland Fling, no pacer has arrived in Cup class with more convincing credentials than those held by Rupee." A 5-year-old horse by the NZ Derby winner Gold Chief and bred from a line of unnamed mares by Ashburton's Jack Grice, Rupee had won 10 of 12 starts going into the Cup and been most unlucky to have been beaten in the other two.

His unbeaten run had been ended the previous Easter at Addington, going down by half a head to Excelsa after being three-wide without cover for the last mile and pushed four and five-wide on the home turn. At the traditional Cup lead-up meeting in August, Rupee had made his Cup class rivals "look like hacks" in the Louisson, although Johnny Globe gave him a 60-yard start and was third, beaten less than three lengths. In the National Handicap however, Ruree and Doody Townley ran into a "copper-fastened pocket" and didn't get clear until the race was over, finishing third to Denbry and Our Roger with Young Charles fourth from 24 yards. The New Zealand Cup would be his next race.

Wrote Ribbonwood..."Rupee is a perfect beginner, as smooth a mover in the thick of a race or anywhere else for that matter as we have seen, nothing upsets him, and with any sort of run his dazzling brilliance should carry him through."

Rupee was selected to beat Ribands, who came to New Zealand with a record of 1:58.7 at Harold Park, which was only a fraction outside the world record of 1:58 3/5 for a half-mile track set by Hi Lo's Forbes in America the previous year, and proven two-miler Denbry, a son of 1941 Cup winner Josedale Grattan and a close relation maternally to the 1953 winner, Adorian.

The pre-race hype was about the height of Rupee's career however. He was unsound and raced just once more that season, beating Tactician in the Electric Stakes at Addington over Easter, and while he won fresh-up in the next two seasons, that was about all.

Rupee had been the hottest favourite on record in the Cup, carrying £4719 to win on-course compared to £1783 for the public's second elect, but sentimental favourite Johnny Globe. But when the dust had settled, Johnny Globe's win had been the most popular ever witnessed at Addington, surpassing the scenes when the grand old trotter Monte Carlo won the first Cup in 1904. Roll upon roll of cheering broke out some time before he reached the winning post and continued as he returned to the birdcage. Hundreds of people swarmed over the rails from the inside of the track and massed along the bircage fence to pay homage to the most idolised horse in light-harness history.

Wrote Ribbonwood..."World's record pacing figures of 4:07 3/5 were returned by the indomitable dynamo of character and courage, Johnny Globe, in wrestling New Zealand Cup honours from Young Charles and Rupee after the most scorching and thrilling stayers' epic in harness racing the world over. And his trainer/driver, D G Nyhan, richly deserved all the compliments and congratulations showered upon him. Nyhan had come in for some trenchant criticism of his driving of Johnny Globe in some of his past races. Whether it was all merited is of no moment now. On Tuesday, Don's handling of 'Johnny' was in every sense a masterpiece: the perfect understanding and harmony between horse and driver was an inspiration."

To put Johnny Globe's performance in perspective, the world record had belonged to Highland Fling at 4:10 3/5, an adjusted time from 60 yards, meaning the pace off the front in 1948 had been around 4:16. That time bettered Haughty's race and world record of 4:13 2/5, achieved in 1943 from 36 yards. The gross time in 1954 was 4:11 3/5, from which four seconds was deducted for Johnny Globe's 48-yard handicap.

Johnny Globe actually took six seconds to make up his handicap and was timed post-to-post in the "incredible" time of 4:05 3/5 - the fastest two miles ever recorded at that time was Greyhound's time-trial of 4:06 at the Indianapolis 'speedway' in 1939, when two-mile races for pacers and trotters were not actually uncommon in North America. Johnny Globe's time of 4:07 3/5 would remain the New Zealand Cup record for 26 years, until Hands Down recorded 4:07.2 in 1980, and the national two-mile record until metrics were introduced and then Young Quinn paced 4:06.7 for 3200m during the 1975 Inter-Dominions in Auckland.

Denbry and Ribands broke badly at the start and were soon out of it, while Rupee also tangled away, but soon recovered and took up the running from Star Rosa after half a mile, followed by Tactician, Young Charles, Our Roger, Laureldale, Petite Yvonne, Soangetaha, Thelma Globe, Adorian, Au Revoir and Johnny Globe. Tactician then took over down the back to maintain the pace and positions remained the same until Johnny Globe commenced a three-wide run with a lap to go.

He was sixth and wide at the half and fourth into line as Tactician swung for home from Young Charles and Rupee on the fence. Tactician soon caved in and Young Charles took over and momentarily looked like winning, as Rupee was denied a gap and had to swing to the outside of Johnny Globe. It made no difference though - Johnny Globe would not be denied and won by half a length over the brave Young Charles, with Rupee finishing on for third a half a length away, perhaps a little unlucky but having had his chance all the same, with a space back to Our Roger and the rest filing in with some difficulty. All the honours were however with Johnny Globe, who was decorated with a garland of flowers and paraded down the straight before "hundreds of his enthusiastic admirers who flocked round him, clapping and cheering him on his way."

"Not even in the United States, the acknowledged home and stronghold of the harness racehorse, has there ever been a distance race to compare with the sizzling marathon so bravely sealed by the dapper little personality horse from Templeton," wrote Ribbonwood.

Johnny Globe was by little Logan Derby, a champion son of Globe Derby, and he was his third consecutive grandson to score, following Springfield Globe's sons Mobile Globe and Adorian. He was from Sandfast, by Sandydale from the American pacing mare Slapfast, a yearling record-holder imported by Sir John McKenzie. Slapfast had been sent up for auction at Tattersalls in 1935 and brought only 12gns. She was eventually passed on to F E Ward of Pahiatua, who bred Sandfast and Johnny Globe.

Nyhan bought Johnny Globe as a 10-month-old colt for £50, and the Cup was his 26th win and took his earnings to £32,395 and close to Highland Fling's record of £32,920. Johnny Globe was far from finished though of course. Three-days later he toyed with the same field in the NZ Free-For-All, racing clear of Ribands, Laureldale, Petite Yvonne and Au Revoir, who finished almost in line but some distance from Johnny Globe. His 2:33 3/5 for the mile and a half from a stand broke his own national record of 2:34 and was one of just six such records he held at that point in time.

Later that season, Johnny Globe was a desperately unlucky second in the Inter-Dominion in Auckland, beaten a head by Tactician from the back mark of 48 yards. A star 4-year-old in Caduceus and Doug Watts had taken the field through the first mile and a half in a pedestrian 3:20 3/5, and Tactician's time of 4:19 3/5 from 18 yards reflected what had merely been a sprint for home. Johnny Globe, back on the fence at the half and checked by the galloping Our Roger soon after, went very wide for a run on the home turn and almost overcame the herculean task before him.

Johnny Globe would retire as a 9-year-old as the winner of 34 races (including a record 15 Free-For-Alls) from 99 starts and £42,887, a record for a standardbred of thoroughbred raced solely in New Zealand and only exceeded marginally by Captain Sandy. And he would sire from his first crop for the Nyhans the two-time New Zealand Cup winner and champion, Lordship, who would be the horse to rewrite most of his achievements and records.


Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 8Jun06

PARAWA DERBY

Parawa Derby, one of the best pacers raced in the Dominion in recent years - his Australasian mile and a half record of 3.07 2/5 has now stood for two years - was recently retired from racing. In a career extending over six seasons, he started 75 times for 15 wins, 10 seconds, 9 thirds and 5 fourths. Raced by his breeder, Mr L T Padget, of Invercargill, he won £16,313 in stakes, of which he won £10,120 in the 1950-1 season, when he was second on the leading stakes winners' list to Vedette.

Consistency was for a long time a feature of his racing. In one period of his career he contested 35 races for 12 wins and 19 placings - a wonderful record considering he was racing against one of the best collections of light-harness horses raced in the Dominion at one time.

At the beginning of his career a bad habit of boring threatened to prejudice his career, but he overcame this fault with racing. Parawa Derby began racing as a 4-year-old in the 1947-48 season, and in five starts from J T Looney's Winton stable he recorded two wins and one second placing. He failed to show the same form the next season and recorded only three minor placings in 14 starts.

Parawa Derby was transferred to J B Pringle's Hornby stable at the beginning of the 1949-50 season. Under Pringle's guidance he fashioned an outstanding record, gaining 6 wins and nine placings in 21 starts. He was only once further back than fourth in his last 14 starts for the season. His best efforts were in the Eclipse Handicap (1 1/2m) at New Brighton, when he gave Vedette 24 yards and a beating, running the distance in 3.13 4/5 and in the Winter Handicap (1m 5f) at Addington in May, which he won by five lengths in the fast time of 3.26 4/5.

Parawa Derby again raced with great consistency in the strongest classes the next season and gained six wins and nine placings in 17 starts only twice out of the money. It was at the NZ Cup meeting that he revealed his true greatness. After winning comfortably the Empire Handicap on the opening day of the meeting, he took on the best pacers in the Dominion in the NZ Free-For-All on the second day and put up an outstanding performance to beat Congo Song and Gay Knight in a thrilling finish.

Then came the Inter-Dominion Championships. On the opening day Parawa Derby put up a brilliant performance to run second to Blue Mist (to whom he conceded 12 yards) in his mile and a half heat, running the distance in 3.07 2/5, which smashed Globe Direct's NZ record by two seconds. He scored an easy win over Captain Sandy and Young Charles in his two-mile heat. Parawa Derby was widely considered the unlucky runner in the Grand Final, in which he finished third to Vedette and Soangetaha after receiving a poor run in the straight. His time for the mile and five furlongs was 3.23. This was his last race for the season, during which he won £10,120.

Parawa Derby again showed high-class form at the start of the last season, and after being placed at his first two starts he scored a good win over the dead-heaters, Chamfer and Soangetaha, in the Metropolitan Free-for-all at Hutt Park. On this form he looked as though he would take a power of beating in the NZ Cup, but suffered from an attack of influenza and could not start. That set-back must have affected him permanently, because he showed only one flash of form afterwards, and in 13 subsequent starts he gained only one fourth.

A brown gelding, he is one of the best winners sired by Dillon Hall. His dam, War Betty, a useful mare when raced in Southland was by Man o' War from Betty Martin, by Prince Imperial from Peri, by Imperious from Fairy, a mare who was sired by a thoroughbred. War Betty is the dam also of another winner in Lahore (by Indianapolis).

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 4Mar53

FANTOM

The death is reported of Fantom, a champion trotter a few years ago. Fantom, on his retirement, was given by Sir John McKenzie to Mr T Goodyer, of Otago, where the old horse had a good home.

Fantom, who was bred by the late S W Kelly, was bought at auction by Sir John for 750gns and he won £12,645 in stakes. Among his 13 wins were the NZ Trotting Stakes, for 3-years-olds, Dominion Handicap, Avon Free-For-All, Rowe Memorial Cup (twice), Ashburton Cup, a Qualifying Heat of the Inter-Dominion Championships, Metropolitan High-Class Trotting Stakes (free-for-all), and the Steward's Trotting Stakes (free-for-all). Fantom also won over two miles against good class pacers at Auckland.

For his early races Fantom was trained by the late R B Berry and he later developed champion form under G B Noble. Fantom held the two mile trotting record at 4:16 for some years. He was by U Scott (imp) from Fantine (imp), both his sire and dam coming from America.

G B Noble, private trainer to Sir John McKenzie, in a note to the Calendar on Fantom states: "The old fellow had wintered well but took ill last week, and though a vet and medical aid were sought, he went the way of all horses, good and bad. Apart from being a great trotter, I shall always remember him for his remarkable courage."

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 26Aug53

BURNS NIGHT

In winning the Easter Handicap, Burns Night covered the mile and five furlongs in 3.22, a world race record. He won going away from Lady Rowan and Soangetaha.

After he won that race there was one of the worst demonstrations yet seen at Addington. Failing dismally on the first day, Burns Night started ninth favourite in a field of twelve. But when he created his second record of the day in the Au Revoir Handicap the cheers were deafening.

Burns Night covered the 'flying mile' in the world record time of 2.02 3/5 from a standing start. Vedette was second ahead of Petite Yvonne.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Vol 3 No.8

BRAHMAN

World class for a Dominion 2-year-old was entered when Brahman paced a mile against time at Addington on Saturday 13 June in 2.02 1/5. Incredulity was plainly written on the faces of seasoned racegoers all over the course when they stopped their watches at this sensational figure. Before the trial Brahman's connections were quietly confident the colt would go between 2.04 and 2.05 and even the owner, Mr B Grice, and the driver, F G Holmes, must have been astonished and elated at the big slice Brahman carved off Convivial's previous Australasian record of 2.08 4/5, put up at Harold Park, Sydney, in 1951.

Brahman's performance was epoch-making not only because he completely annihilated all previous NZ and Australian 2-year-old records, but also because his figures compare favourably with anything done in the acknowledged leading light-harness country in the world, the United States.

Brahman made his record on a six-furlong track - certainly one of the fastest and best conditioned in the world - but cognisance must be taken of the fact that the American authorities compute that the mile track is the perfect sized track and by far the fastest for record-breaking purposes. They say emphatically - and their overwhelming number of world's records fully substantiates their conclusions - that their leading mile tracks are between four and five seconds to the mile faster than their best half-mile tracks. For example: Greyhound trotted his world's record mile of 1.55¼ on a mile track and the best he could do on a half-mile track was 1.59¾; Billy Direct's 1.55 was done on a mile track, and the best pacing performance on a half-mile track is Sampson Hanover's 1.59 3/5.

It does not strictly follow that the difference in speed between a six-furlong track like Addington and a mile track of similar composition would be, say, two seconds by the American way of reckoning, but it would not be far off the mark, and that brings Brahman's potential speed on a mile track - with its wider and more gradual bends - down to the two-minute mark. It may sound fantastic, it may be dismissed by many people as a rather dubiuos method of working things out; but that is the extent the Americans have found, by long years of experience, speed is reduced or increased according to the sizes of tracks, and they ought to know.

Brahman is also entitled to this: although the track was in perfect order and only a slight breeze was blowing, the atmosphere was a bit damp and certainly cold when he made his attempt, and winter can scarcely be the most favourable time of year for record-making. On the contra account, of course, Brahman had gained valuable months in age and seasoned condition by delaying his trial until June instead of taking it on in the height of summer - or the autumn.

Notwithstanding all this supposition, it was a world run by any standards and puts Brahman in the same champion mould as Titan Hanover, 2.00, a trotter, and Knight Dream, 2.00 2/5, a pacer. Titan Hanover is the only harness horse, trotter or pacer, to enter the 2.00 list at two years, and Knight Dream, a pacer, is the fastest 2-year-old of that gait.

Brahman, driven by F G Holmes in the familar colours - cardinal, cream sash, cardinal cap - of his breeder-owner-trainer, Mr B Grice, and with Morano, driven by A Holmes in his well known jacket - purple, red band and cap - as galloping companion (pacemaker has become a misnomer because the rules long since required the accompanying horse never to head the one making the attempt at any part of the trial), Brahman was not long about warming up and at the first time of asking he hit the mile starting peg at top speed. Pacing like a machine - he is smooth and effortless in style - he reached the quarter in a tick better than 31secs and the half-mile in 60 2/5secs.

Experienced trotting trainers and others in the stands this looked at each other in consternation. "He can't keep this up," said one. "He'll stop to a walk in the straight," declared another. A third registered blank astonishment by shaking his watch in his ear to make sure it hadn't seized up! And Brahman sizzled on towards the three-quarter mark. There was still no sign of a slackening of speed - six furlongs in 1.31 1/5! "He must feel the strain soon," muttered a bewildered newspaper reporter, who was still dazed by the performance a couple of hours after Brahman had felt no such thing. At the furlong Brahman certainly had nothing in reserve, but when F G shook the whip at him he showed he had grit as well as all this phenomenal speed by finishing without a flicker and tramping the final quarter in 31secs flat, only a fifth slower than his opening quarter and making his full time 2.02 1/5.

"It should stand for some time." This was the triumph of understatment drawn out of Ben Grice when this notoriously 'mike-shy' sportsman was coaxed to say something about his champion during one of those extremely friendly gatherings in the birdcage which have become a pleasant aftermath of special events at Metropolitan meetings. The president, Mr C E Hoy, drew applause when he disclosed that Mr Grice had needed no inducement to send Brahman against the record. He assured the crowd, however, that the club would present Mr Grice with a momento to commemorate the occasion. Brahman had brought lustre to Dominion trotting by his superb performance. It was hard to credit what he had done, and he was confident it was only the forerunner of many more records on the part of Brahman. In his reply Mr Grice said he thought before the attempt that Brahman would go 2.04 or 2.05. He was naturally thrilled with the outcome. "He had a good driver and a good track," he said.

F G Holmes, who has always been on the top deck among NZ reinsmen, had Brahman under perfect control throughout the trial. He had worked him many times and got to know Brahman right down to the nails in his shoes! A few days before the official trial he had driven the colt a "pretty stiff mile." In a telephone conversation with the editor of the Calendar, A Holmes, who was naturally a keenly interested party in the trial, said: "He went the last half in a tick better than a minute. We think he'll go at least 2.06 on Saturday."

F G Holmes gave Mr Grice and A Holmes all the help and encouragement he possibly could. He made Morano available as galloping aid to Brahman and told his brother to "make his own arrangements" about the details of the attack on the record. These side issues may seem of small moment to some of our readers, but they are mentioned to stress the fine sportmanship that inspired the whole show, one of the most exhilarating things that has happened to our sport in all it's existence. In fact, the writer must confess that no previous light-harness performance in the last 30 years has stirred him to the same depths as did Brahman's prodigious run on Saturday morning.

Special significance attaches to Brahman's figures because they are only 1 4/5secs slower than the world's 2-year-old pacing record of Knight Dream, and 2 1/5 behind the world's 2-year-old record of the trotter Titan Hanover (the only 2-year-old of either gait in the two-minute list). Compare this with the difference between the times of our older champions: Highland Fling's 1.57 4/5 is 2 4/5secs slower than Billy Direct's world's pacing record of 1.55 and about 2 3/5secs slower than Greyhound's trotting record of 1.55¼. This is not meant as any disparagement of the peerless 'Fling'; it is mentioned merely to emphasise that Brahman would probably prove at least the equal of the best 2-year-olds in America today.

A Holmes drove the galloping companion, Morano, with discernment - the mission had obviously been thoroughly planned and rehearsed, and Morano was kept a 'daylight' margin behind Brahman (the fact that Brahman could hear his hoof-beats was sufficient) until the final quarter, when Morano was moved up to finish with his head on the record-breakers quarters, as our picture shows.

There was another member of the Holmes family at Addington on Saturday who must hav derived great pleasure and satisfaction from the performances of all the participants. That was 82-year-old Freeman Holmes, father of F (Freeman) G and Allan Holmes. Freeman Holmes, an importer of numerous sires and mares, brought from Canada the pacing stallion Grattan Loyal, a big stud success and sire of Gold Bar, the sire of Brahman. Freeman Holmes also imported, from America, Rey de Oro, sire of Gold Bar's dam, Imperial Gold, and Logan Pointer, sire of Gold Bar's grandam, Imperial Pointer. Rey de Oro and Logan Pointer were both outstanding stud successes, and Logan Pointer also figures as the sire of Logan Princess, the grandam of Haughty, who produced Brahman. It is a chain of breeding events, culminating in a phenomenon like Brahman, any breeder would be mighty proud to own.

Gold Bar was bred by A Holmes and developed into a champion by him. He held a number of records on his retirement in 1946, and one of these, his mile and a quarter in 2.35, still stands. Of interest, too, is that Haughty's 3.35 2/5 for the same distance has also stood as the mare's record for a similar period to Gold Bar's and that both sire and dam of Brahman have identical mile records, 1.59 3/5.

Mr B Grice's son, Mr D P Grice, who owns Wayfarer, a full-brother to Haughty and sire of Buccaneer, told the writer recently that Nelson Derby, sire of Haughty and many other good ones, had never done a big stud season. A dozen mares was about the limit of the patronage he received each season, yet he sired a remarkable percentage of winners and must rank as one of the most successful Colonial-bred sires of all time - he got over 100 individual winners and lived to the ripe old age of 31.

Regal Voyage, dam of Haughty, was bought at auction by Mr B Grice for stud purposes. She was a beautiful looking mare, in contrast to most of her progeny, who were on the plain side - neither Haughty or her son Brahman would get a prize for looks but they were certainly fashioned to go fast. That Prince Imperial strain again: Gold Bar has it through his third dam, Imperial Polly, and Haughty gets it through her third dam, an unnamed Prince Imperial mare, so Brahman has a double dose of this prepotent strain, a strain that courses through the veins of some of the greatest horses of both gaits over nearly half a century.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 17Jun53