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RACING HISTORY

HORSES

Our Roger & Doug Watts parade after the 1955 NZ Cup win

OUR ROGER

Our Roger, who was recently retired by his owner, Mr W A Newton, of Akaroa, had a meteoric rise to the best classes. Although he was not surrounded with the glamour of Johnny Globe, Highland Fling and Harold Logan, Our Roger was an honest and game pacer who gained his place amongst the best in the Dominion through sheer grit and determination.

Our Roger showed ability right from the start, but was considered a 'write-off' when he developed a wind affliction. He recovered quickly following an operation and soon showed his true calibre by going right through the classes to cap a fine career in November 1955 by giving a grand display to win the NZ Cup.

When the pedigree of Our Roger is studied it is not surprising that he reached dress-circle company, as he is directly descended from that grand producer, Berthabell(imp) who was imported to NZ by Mr Etienne Le Lievre in 1914. In the 1930's Mr Le Lievre gave Bertha Parrish, one of Berthabell's last foals to his son-in-law, Mr W A Newton. Mr Newton mated Bertha Parrish with Lusty Volo to produce Sea Gypsy. As a 6-year-old the unraced Sea Gypsy produced her first foal, Our Roger, to Dillon Hall.

J D Litten was entrusted with the developing and training of Our Roger and at his first start as a 3-year-old, he finished third in the Waiutu Handicap at the winter meeting of the Reefton Jockey Club in June 1951. He followed up this forward showing by winning the Lewis Pass Handicap on the second day by three lengths. That was his sole success as a 3-year-old.

As a 4-year-old in the 1951-52 season Our Roger won two races and was then put aside pending an operation for his wind. Following his operation he was spelled on his owner's property at Akaroa and on his return to racing the next season he quickly demonstrated that he had made a complete recovery by winning the Wainoni Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's summer meeting in December, 1953, pacing the mile and a half journey in the smart time of 3.13 3/5. Four more successes came his way that season, including the Ritchie Handicap at Forbury Park.

Our Roger opened his winning account for the 1954-55 season when he won the President's Handicap at Forbury Park in October and he completed a nice double for the day when he was successful later in the Farewell Handicap. It was now apparent that Our Roger was headed for the best classes. He next won a qualifying heat of the Inter-Dominion Championships at Auckland in February, 1955, this being his final success for the season.

At the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club's National meeting in 1955 Our Roger won the Louisson Handicap and immediately entered calculations for the next NZ Cup. His next four starts resulted in two minor placings but his fifth appearance proved him too good from the limit, for Caduceus, Johnny Globe and Rupee in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, when he beat his stablemate Caduceus, and Johnny Globe, by a length, these two dead-heating for second place.

His next and greatest triumph was in the NZ Cup of 1955 when he outstayed such horses as Rupee, Excelsa, Thelma Globe, Caduceus, Our Kentucky and Tactician over the final half mile of a truly-run race, registering 4.12 1/5 for the two-mile journey. His Cup success was his fifteenth of Our Roger's career and his last. He retires the winner of £15,224 10s in stakes.

Our Roger was trained throughout his career by the West Melton trainer, J D Litten, but was driven to win the Cup by D C Watts. On receiving the Cup Mr Newton said: "The credit must go to Mr Litten and his stable boys and to 'Roger's' driver, Mr Watts." Mr Newton later said that he had been trying since 1924 to breed a winner of the NZ Cup and Our Roger was only the second horse he had raced.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 9Jan57

HORSES

Sandydale with Johnny Johnson in the early 1950s

SANDYDALE

The imported stallion Sandydale, who recently met with an accident and had to be destroyed was imported to the Dominion by Mr H A Jarden in 1937 and was almost immediately passed on to Mr G Youngson.

Bred at Village Farm, Langhorne, in the United States, Sandydale was a black horse by Abbedale from Ioleen McKinney and before coming to NZ he won a number of races including the Champion Stallion Stakes and he took a record of 2.01 3/4 free-legged.

After his first season in Southland, Sandydale stood for about seven weeks in Canterbury in 1938 where he was mated with almost 30 mares. Included amongst his consorts were Slapfast, Tondeleyo, Arethusa, Tairene, Fantine and Midshipmaid. After several seasons in Southland in the ownership of Mr Youngson, Sandydale was transferred to Mr John Johnston at Oamaru in 1946 where he has done continuous service since.

Sire of almost 150 individual winners, Sandydale's greatest claims to fame as a sire are through the deeds of Captain Sandy as a racehorse and Sandfast as the dam of champion Johnny Globe. Captain Sandy was a brilliant racehorse and when considered a back number in NZ he was sold to Australia where he carried on to further successes, including the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championships at Perth for the second time. Prior to that he had won two Auckland Cups and the Grand Final of the Championship series at Melbourne when still owned and trained by J Bain at Oamaru. Captain Sandy was an 'iron' horse and altogether he won 15 races and £43,712 in stakes which is the greatest total credited to a standardbred in Australia and NZ.

Apart from Captain Sandy, Navigate, Good Review (winner of the Dunedin Cup), Te Maru and General Sandy (winner of the NZ Pacing Championship at Addington last November), also graduated to Cup class. Other good winners sired by Sandydale include Heliopolis, Black Douglas, Victory Dale, Dillondale, Mistydale, Gay Dene, Rola Veyor and Invicta.

As well as siring the dam of Johnny Globe, Sandydale also sired the dams of Surfman, Lady Cook, Sandyshore and Highland Glen.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 19Jun57

HORSES

LOGAN DERBY

The death has been reported of Logan Derby, a champion racehorse and a highly successful sire. Logan Derby was for the last year or two located at Mr J M Connolly's Orari stud. Logan Derby was 26 years old.

He was one of the most widely travelled pacers raced in NZ and Australia. He raced in every state in Australia where there was trotting, and also in Tasmania and NZ. he made several trips to Perth at a time when the means of transport were much slower than they are today.

Logan Derby, sire of the two-mile world's champion pacer, Johnny Globe 4.07 3/5 and champion trotter Vodka (3.26, 13f), combined the prepotent strains of Globe Derby and Logan Pointer, both never waning influences for speed and stamina. Logan Derby was by Globe Derby from Bell Logan, by Logan Pointer(imp) from Curfew Bell, by Wildwood(imp) from Bonnie Bell, by Lincoln Yet from an Arab mare.

Logan Derby won more than 60 races and more than £10,000 is stakes prior to 1943 when prizemoney was less than half what it is today. Logan Derby proved both a brilliant sprinter and pronounced stayer and the smoothness of his gait made him at home on both big and small tracks. His consistency and eagerness for the fray earned for him the greatest popularity in all parts of Australia and NZ. He had a mile record of 2.04 against time, averaged under 2.08 in a race of 10 furlongs, 2.09 for 12 furlongs, 2.07 1/2 for two miles, and he was a foolproof racehorse.

In NZ Logan Derby started seven times for three wins and four places. He finished third in the NZ Cup in 4.19 2/5 and in a later event was second in a tick under 4.15 after giving the winner a start of 36 yards. In the November Free-For-All, from a barrier start, he bettered a 2.08 rate for 10 furlongs in beating a field of high-class performers, including Pot Luck, Parisienne, Supertax, Harold Logan, Grand Mogul, Lucky Jack, King's Warrior and Plutus. Following this fine performance, Logan Derby won twice over two miles in 4.22 1/5 and 4.18 1/5.

At the 1936 Championships at Perth Logan Derby went right through without a single defeat, and in another visit to Perth earned Championship honours with his aggregate of points. In a mile race he did 2.05 1/2 from a barrier start, and his 2.09 rate for one mile and a half broke the previous Western Australian race record.

In 'Globe Derby's Greatness,' a book dealing with the career of Australia's phenomenal producer - Logan Derby is referred to as possessing the endurance of a camel and the heart of a lion. He was a model of docility as was his world-famous son, Johnny Globe.

Logan Derby, as the sire of Johnny Globe, Vodka, Rellek and numerous other winners in the Dominion, made his fame as a sire fairly late in life. He was only a moderate stud success in Australia, and was 16 years old when the late F J Smith, of Village Farm, Auckland, bought him fron Mr J P Stratton, Perth, in 1946. Johnny Globe, Vodka and Rellek all came fron Logan Derby's first NZ crop. Logan Derby sired 44 individual winners during his stud career.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 10Jul57

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1957 NZ TROTTING FREE-FOR-ALL

In the NZ Trotting Free-For-All Recruit more tha atoned for his lapse in the Dominion Handicap by leading throughout to give trainer M Holmes an armchair drive and an easy victory. A hotly supported favourite, he downed Lenvin(D Jones) and Barravey(J Litten) with the greatest of ease. Six lengths back the remainder of the field was headed in by Battle Cry. Recruit ran the mile and five in 3.30 4/5.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Vol 7 No.11

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1957 NZ WELCOME STAKES

With one win to his credit at his only start the boom two-year-old Tobacco Road did not remain in the north for the smaller races but went south to annex the New Zealand Welcome Stakes.

Transferred from A Bryce's stable to the care of M Holmes, he gave a sound pacing performance, and after being back in the early running finished boldly from the turn to score by two lengths. Guiseppe's younger brother, Diamond Hanover(D J Townley) rails, was a good second ahead of Gay Baron(W Tatterson) and outsider Whippy Dillon.

Tobacco Road has now established himself as a top class juvenile and confirmed the early impressions gained of his ability in pre-race trials. He could quite well remain unbeaten this season but it is expected that the handsome black Diamond Hanover could provide him with strong opposition.

Credit: NZ HoofBeats Apr 1957

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1957 RATTRAY STAKES

A New Zealand record was created in the Rattray Stakes when Tactician prevailed in a tight finish. His time for the flying mile was 1:59 4/5.

Driven by M C McTigue, Tactician was always well placed and he finished strongly on the outer to take the decision from False Step(J D Litten)2, whose time was 2:00. Local Light (T Webster) was almost in line in third place.

The Rattray Stakes, with its flying start and free-for-all conditions was a popular event with punters and owners alike and Tactician was given a fine reception when his time was announced.



Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Apr 1957

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1957 EASTER CUP

Amid pouring rain and on a track which was literally a sea of mud the third day of Addington's Easter fixture provided no pleasure for racegoers or drivers.

It took Danniel's Pride, a proven mudlark, 3 minutes 49 seconds to run the mile and five furlong Easter Cup after leading all the way.

With drivers' colours completely obscured the horses could only be identified by their numbers and here Danniel's Pride and driver D C Watts are seen on the inner taking a head victory over Light Nurse(C Berkett) outer. Super Royal(M Holmes) outer, is taking third place from Stadium Chief(rails) and Don Hall.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Apr 1957

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Tobacco Road

1957 NZ DERBY STAKES

Although his winning margin in the NZ Derby Stakes was only half a length, Tobacco Road's success was too clear cut to offer any excuses for the beaten division.

The pace was leisurely in the early part and Tobacco Road soon became buried down on the fence and his driver, M Holmes, had to pull him back to get a clear run with five furlongs to go. Tobacco Road ranged up wide out at the home turn, but once straightened up he soon gathered in the leaders. He ran in under pressure but his driver kept him off Gay Baron nearing the post and he won convincingly. Tobacco Road's success stamps him as a high class three-year-old and his win brought M Holmes's tally of winning drives in this event to 10.

Zany, Montague, Matairiki, and Vanover lost ground at the start and Seafield Lad led out from Whippy Dillon and Rosalinda with Tobacco Road on the outside of Diamond Hanover, Gay Baron and Sebabu. Seafield Lad paced the first quarter in 34secs and reached the half mile in 69secs. It was at this stage that Tobacco Road became buried down on the inside. With six furlongs to go, Montague raced round the field to be on terms with Seafield Lad at the half mile followed by Whippy Dillon, Rosalinda, Diamond Hanover (on the inside), Gay Baron, Sebabu and Tobacco Road. Gay Baron improved his position racing to the straight where he was handy to Seafield Lad. Whippy Dillon, Montague, Sebabu, Rosalinda, Tobacco Road and Diamond Hanover were next.

Gay Baron worked clear early in the run home, but Tobacco Road soon challenged and took the measure of Gay Baron to win by a half length, with Diamond Hanover in third place. Seafield Lad hung on for fourth place, then came Whippy Dillon and Sebabu. Montegue was eight lengths back next, followed by Rosalinda, with Zany and Matairiki beaten off, clear of Vanover.

It was a fine performance on the part of the winner as he had little in his favour in the early running. Gay Baron confirmed his winning run in the Riccarton Stakes and he finished on gamely under a hard drive. He is a reliable colt who possesses his share of ability but he struck one just too good on the day. He looks certain to develop into a more than useful winner for Mr A E Ison, and W K Tatterson produced him in good order for his most serious test to date this season. Diamond Hanover paced a gallant race into third place and was far from disgraced. He received a bad run approaching the straight for the run home and had to change his course from wide out to the rails to get a run. Seafield Lad did not finish on as expected and Rosalinda received a grand run throughout. Whippy Dillon and Sebabu had every chance and the rest were beaten off.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calandar 20Nov57

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1957 DOMINION HANDICAP

Only a five-year-old, Durban Chief returned a fine effort to win the Dominion Handicap, the premier event for trotters in New Zealand. His performance was marred to some extent however by two breaks during the running, but when balanced he showed his usual brilliance.

Bred at Westport by Mr W A Craddock, he is raced in partnership by Mrs M F Collins, Mr E Walsh and J R Woodcock, who trains him at Westport. Durban Chief was driven by W P Walsh, who has been associated with him in all his races.

One of the most brilliant displays of trotting seen at Addington for some time was returned by Recruit in the Dominion Handicap, and it was nothing short of a tragedy that he broke just short of the post when he had the race won. From 84yards Recruit began safely but soon became badly placed. He received a shocking run to the half mile and then had to race wide to make his run. His exhibition deserved a much better fate as he did not put a foot wrong until his lapse at the end.

PHOTO - There was an exciting finish to the Dominion Trotting Handicap when the brilliant Recruit(M Holmes) outer, came home in sensational style to cross the line narrowly ahead of Durban Chief(W Walsh) and Barravey(J Litten). Unfortunately for his supporters Recruit broke just short of the post and was relegated to third place for galloping across the line. This was one of the finest performances ever put up by Recruit and it was unfortunate that he lost the decision through breaking

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 20Nov57

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1957 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Lookaway added further to his already grand record when he beat a field of high class sprinters pointlessly in the NZ Free-For-All. He was slow in the early rush for positions and was eighth, a good way from the leader, Suzendy, at the end of a furlong. Racing to the five furlongs he was given his head and had little difficulty in reaching the lead. From that stage the result was never in doubt and he coasted home an easy winner by four lengths.

Lookaway has now won 15 races for £13,491 5s in stakes.

The surprise of the race was the fine showing made by Suzendy. She has always been regarded as a sprinter of more than average worth, and she raced right up to the opinion held of her in this department by her connections. She should not be difficult to place to further advantage in sprint and middle distances in the immediate future.

PHOTO - Lookaway followed up his brilliant NZ Trotting Cup victory with a fine win in the NZ Free-Fir-All over a mile and a quarter. Driven by trainer M Holmes Lookaway was slow away but quickly settled into his stride to draw out and win by four lengths from Tactician(M McTigue), Suzendy and the favourite Caduceus(middle of the track). Don Hall(inner) was fifth followed by Trueco and Adorian(outer). Caduceus broke at the start but made a good recovery.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 20Nov57