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FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2013 BRECKON FARMS & ALL STARS RACING STABLES EASTER CUP

Terror To Love was back at Addington last Saturday night to make a statement and it was a big statement. So much so that he 'sent the willies up' Cran Dalgety, who is now having second thoughts about taking on Terror To Love with Christen Me in the Miracle Mile.
Terror To Love only had six rivals and three genuine open class pacers to contend with in the $100,000 Breckon Farms and All Stars Racing Stables Easter Cup, a race in which he was beaten by Hands Christian last year.

Having disappointed in the Inter-Dominion and been unlucky in the Auckland Cup, Terror To Love - or more to the point Rick May - was in no mood to show much mercy. After Fly Like An Eagle had taken up the early running from Jivin Cullen, May made his move with 2100m to go and Terror To Love was cruising from the 1800m with the speed for the first mile just comfortable. But when May fired the retro rockets in the run home, Terror To Love burst away to leave his rivals floundering with the back end of a 4:02.2 3200m in a sparkling 26.4.

Highview Tommy and Fly Like An Eagle were genuine disappointments, and it was left to Fronco Ledger to outfinish Ellmer Hanover in the race for second money in a gap of six lengths. The latter, a maiden at the start of the season and still just a six-win horse, did well after costing himself 10m with a gallop at the start.

This was Terror To Love's 21st win from 47 races and took his stakes tally for Terry McDonald to $1.33m, with some big plums still to pick this season.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 4Apr13

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2013 PGG WRIGHTSON NZ YEARLING SALES SERIES 2YO TROTTERS CHAMPIOSHIP

A habit of 'going back to the well' doesn't usually get the desired result, but it has paid quick dividends for the connections od Dieu De l'Amour, last week's winner of the $85,000 NZYSS 2yo Trotters Championship.

The Love You-Sun Goddess gelding was bought at last year's Premier Sale for $30,000 by stable clients of Victorian trainer Authony Crossland. They had earlier raced the first foal from Sun Goddess in Bohemian, buying him after he'd finished third in the 2yo Sales race behind Paramount Geegee and at the Cambridge Jewels to Kylie Ree. Bohemian, by Continentalman, would go on tho be Australian 3yo Trotter of the Year, winning the NSW Trotters Derby, Holmfield and Victoria Trotters Derby in 2011.

Off the back of that, it wasn't hard to make a bid for his half-brother a year ago, entrusting Dieu De l'Amour to Mark Purdon for an event like the Sales race. In between Bohemian and Dieu De l'Amour, Sun Goddess has also produced DiMaggio, a 4yo which has gone through to open class with seven wins for Stephen Doody.

With Not About The Money out for th season with a quarter crack and Daenerys Targaryen and One Over Da Moon both homebreds, this season's 2yo Sales Trot had shaped as being an open and easier affair and Dieu De l'Amour had been building nicely for it. "The way things panned out, I couldn't have scripted a better run," said Blair Orange. "I wouldn't say this fellow has been a natural 2yo, but he is going to make a very nice 3yo," he added.

The fillies Schleck and Hot Pants had vied for favouritism and after they'd had a tussle for the front in the second quarter, and Schleck had run wide on the showgrounds bend in getting there, she soon had the attentions of Rocky Mountain Son down the back. This early exertion had softened both fillies up. Meanwhile Dieu De l'Amour, had been eased away from a wide draw but was steadily making progress during the run before landing the one-one over the last lap.

Just when Mark Purdon and Hot Pants looked like claiming the Barry Purdon trained Schleck up the passing lane, Orange arrived on the scene to win easily and going away by a length. Hot Pants (Majestic Son-Dutch Annie) was also bought for $30,000 from the Sales and is raced by Trevor Casey and Natalie Rasmussen, while Schleck was also bought at Karaka for $28,000 by a syndicate which includes Casey as well. K D Muscles, like Schleck a filly by Muscle Mass, trotted home nicely from three fence for a sound fourth.

Dieu De l'Amour, the second Sales race winner by Love You following on from You Rock at Addington last year will now head for the Sires Stakes series and then the Jewels.


Credit: HRWeekly 1May13

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2013 AVON CITY FORD (NEW BRIGHTON) CUP

The new kid on the block, Christen Me, tonight confirmed himself a spot in the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup by downing Terror To Love in the $25,000 Avon City Ford Cup (Gr3) at Addington. After making a flier in what was his first ever standing start, the wonder pacer and driver Dexter Dunn dictated terms in front before kicking too strongly in the straight for Terror To Love, who was also brilliant after racing parked for the majority of the trip.
Franco Ledger enjoyed the gun run in the trail, but was unable to match motors with the two speedsters in the home stretch finishing five lenghts away in third.

The last 800 metres was run in a staggering 54.0 seconds which is the quickest ever official last half recorded at Addington, while the overall time for the 2600m stand start journey was a respectable 3-14.1.

“He felt sensational the whole way and he won with the earplugs still in,” said a beaming Dunn. Meanwhile, Ricky May was also very happy with Terror To Love.
“He has gone absolutely super and I’m sure he will benefit greatly off the run.”

Addington CEO Dean McKenzie summed it up best by saying “They’ve both gone as good as each other. They were clearly better than the rest of the field,” he added. I just hope Themightyquinn comes over now because if he does it is going to be the Cup of the decade.”


Credit: Mitchell Robertson writing in harnesslink.com

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2013 CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Terror To Love turned the threat of a shock defeat into a magnificent and heroic victory at Addington on Tuesday. And Ricky May, small though he is, can take his place above the giants who have held the Cup before him.

They overcame an almost perilous handicap to win the 110th Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup by a neck from Fly Like An Eagle. They did it under circumstances that would have beaten great horses and lesser lights would have been seen later.

But this is an exceptional horse, and May can be magic when the big races are up and the chips are down. This was his predicament in the Cup. For some peculiar reasons, Terror To Love decides to miss away. And he makes a meal of it. "I couldn't believe it," he says. "He walked up perfectly. He had plenty of room. Everything was right for him. When he's done it before, it hasn't been for long - a few strides and then he's away. But this time he just wouldn't settle."

It's 30 metres, maybe more, and the Cup field was dust in front, and arch rival Christen Me is happily placed in the trail. May lets him catch up, but knows he has to get going when things get busy on the last lap. He joins the line - Sleepy Tripp, Terror To Love, Pembrook Benny and Jason Rulz. "I took my time getting there, and he was cruising when I went past Mark (Purdon). I still thought I was in with a show."

It was an easy choice for Purdon to let him go, though he was unaware Terror To Love had come from so far behind. "My horse was getting keener and keener," said Purdon. "I was looking to put him on a back." There was none better than Terror To Love. Tough for Christen Me, as Dexter Dunn has to accept the awful situation of suddenly going from two deep a lap out to three-deep at the 800m. On the corner, Terror To Love was in full cry. Fly Like An Eagle would come through and Pembrook Benny should drop off, and let's see how Christen Me would finish it off.

Terror To Love did not drop the guard. May knew his 7th Cup win was in sight half-way up the straight, Fly Like An Eagle battled bravely up the lane for second and Christen Me was a gallant third, pulling the ground back but never enough of it, and Pembrook Benny was brave holding fourth after a hard trip from the half. Caribbean Blaster finished on without ever raising a hope, and ditto for Franco Ledger.

As expected, Terror To Love again exposed the gap between the good and the great. Because it was a tough run, Terror To Love will not be out on Show Day; instead his focus will be on the Miracle Mile and the InterDominions.

May's previous Cup winners have been Inky Lord, Christian Cullen, Iraklis, Monkey King twice, and Terror To Love, after Jimmy Curtin won with him two years ago. Pressed for some sort of comparison in their efforts, he said the one on Tuesday had to be the finest. "When Inky Lord won, he had to pick himself up after being checked at the 500m, but it was not what this horse had to do."

In the sum-up, where was May's masterstroke? Two theories to this - was it the time he took to run from the 1000m to the 800m and lead? Or was it on the turn, when he bought just enough time to outstay Fly Like An Eagle. Either way, it was ingenious.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 14Nov13

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2013 ANTHONY SHEARER LTD - PINK BATTS ORDEAL TROTTING CUP

Cyclone U Bolt drew first blood in the first feature trot of the season with another tradesmanlike performance in the time honoured Ordeal Trotting Cup at Addington last Friday night. Furthering a splendid record since Melbourne's Merv Butterworth purchased him on the eve of last year's Jewels, Cyclone U Bolt and Blair Orange once again sped away from a handy draw before trailing The Fiery Ginga and slipped up the passing lane to hold off a late charge from Dr Hook.

The Dream Vacation gelding has won nine races and over $200,000 and has hardly been out of the money since the genial Butterworth bought him for a fair price last year. In that time he has of course won two Rubys, downing Escapee and Stent, in very similar fashion to his latest seccess. "He has the tactical speed to put himself in a race and the ability to take advantage of it," said co-trainer Mark Purdon. "For a trotter, he's pretty much the perfect racecourse," he added.

Purdon was himself down the track with the favourite Escapee, who was probably always going to be suspect first up in a solidly run 2600m. She made a dab four wide down the back to get round a distressed Sovereignty, but was struggling soon after. "She didn't trot the last quarter at all well and she can do that when she's not quite ready," said Purdon. Expect a different Escapee over a mile at Ashburton later next month however.

The Fiery Ginga crossed them easily from post seven and Alan Clark ran them along at a solid 2:00 clip before getting swamped inside and out over the final stages. As a result Cyclone U Bolt posted 3:14, a searching time in the cool conditions at this time of year. In fact Cyclone U Bolt was less than a second outside the national record.

Dr Hook would have almost certainly picked him up had he not been held up by Escapee on the home turn. "I've only had him since I got back from Australia last month but the owners had done a great job putting the foundation into him," said trainer Paul Nairn. "I was getting him ready for the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup, but when he worked so well on Tuesday and the noms were still open, I chucked him in," he added.

Nairn was again puzzled by the performance of veteran warhorse Stig, who only beat Sovereignty home, but again he had no favours. David Butt was trapped three wide at the rear early from barrier nine and Stig had to work around them to sit parked from the 1900m. Stig doesn't seem the same horse that closed out last season so strongly, which included monstering them in the Rowe Cup, but Nairn is not writing him off yet and few would be doubting his ability to get the 11-year-old on track in time for the Dominion. "He seems well and perfectly sound so we'll just have to play things by ear," said Nairn. Nairn is however thrilled to bits with the progress of Lotalov, who is only weeks away from the trials after almost dying and being off the scene for over a year.

Burano, buried back on the pylons and still last before coming wide from the 500m, showed his preference for a sit-sprint type of trip with a strong finish to pick up third. That 9-year-old is far from finished yet, despite his previously "dodgy" knees. Vulcan was also good with a late fast finish out wide for fifth from well back, while Uncas tracked Cyclone U Bolt through and was going to finish at least third before galloping just 50m off the post.

Sovereignty was disappointing on the face of it, but he dropped out after striking himself in behind down the back. "He was three wide during a 59 middle half ans entitled to battle, but I was very happy with him going into the race," said Greg Hope. "He sort of has three trainers (Hope, Sean McCaffrey and Charlie Hunter) and between us we managed to sort of stuff things up last week. I put pads on him and he trotted rough early because he was floating around in them, but he trotted great and made up a heap of ground once he got going," he added.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 18Sep13

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2013 CANTERBURY BREEDERS NZ OAKS

Some things stay the same. Adore Me, for one. Another win, one classic after another. Some things don't change. Mark Purdon again.

Reaching for plaudits - "she's phenomenal, so relaxed, great rate of recovery." And more ..."she's gone 3.11. In those conditions, it's another three seconds."

Adore Me had just won the Canterbury Breeders New Zealand Oaks on a wet track from Safedra and Splendour. The win had been comfortable, by more the two lengths, after a midfield run before Purdon took off at the 2000m and had her in front before the mile.

Back home, in Auckland where he had enough on his plate the next day selling weanlings at the mixed sale, breeder and part-owner Charlie Roberts would have been overjoyed. Simply because of one short word - Oaks. For breeders, the Oaks is the high bar, the level of achievement that all aim for but few reach. Roberts has won countless races, and many big, but never the New Zealand Oaks - until now.

His part-owner and son-in-law Paul Kenny knew what it meant to Charlie. "It's the pinnacle of breeding achievement, something he has always wanted. It has been a lifetime goal, winning the Oaks here, and now he has it." Mary Kenny, Charlie's daughter and part-owner of Adore Me, said if it hadn't been for the sale, her 89-year-old father would have been on track. "He seldom misses a meeting at Alexandra Park and he's booked to be down for the Jewels," she said.

Not only did Roberts breed Adore Me, but also the third horse Splendour, which he part-owns. The pair were separated by Safedra, whose previous win was at Ascot Park before running out of space in the Nevele R Stud Fillies Final. While the winner was superior, Safedra came out and punched above her weight. She drew the outside of the gate, was four wide briefly when improving at the 1800m, and from the 1600m was posted outside the leader. There was no sign of weakening resolve as she gallantly held her ground to the finish.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRNZ 22May2013

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

RICKY MAY - TERROR TO LOVE 2013

This is just one of many outstanding May up drives but the third Cup of Terror To Love was a typical blend of his patience and aggression.

After the early break he caught the back of the field and they lobbed along before launching on the familiar three wide train from the bell. Then two things happened which won the race. Her pressed on for the lead at the 800m rather than take available cover. The odds of Mark Purdon conceding at that stage of a major race would normally be 100/1.

Others trying had found it a learning experience. But Mark knew and Ricky must have realised that Fly Like An Eagle was starting to pull too hard and a trail was his only hope. Besides, it would put arch rival Christen Me three back. Ricky landed the front without a fight. Then he pinched a breather around the top turn so vital so often in a fast run Addington race.

The section to there took over 29 seconds. Mark later said that was what beat him. It was also the difference between going into the history books and possibly not. Fly Like An Eagle not a true stayer, surged late and was given the same time as the winner. It was that close.

TRIVIA FACT: Ricky 'inherited' Terror To Love. Jim Curtin, who had won the first Cup, had to 'resign' when his own horse Franco Emirate got to open class. Anthony Butt was next, winning a Jewels but then Mah Sish came along. Ricky's first drive behind the Terror was winning the New Brighton Cup of 2012 with Mah Sish second and Franco Emirate unplaced. Nobody else drove him in NZ ever again.



Credit: David Mcarthy writing in Harnessed Ot 2016

PEOPLE

FRED FLETCHER INTERVIEW

Q. You seemed to come into race training and driving a bit later than some. Where did it all start?

In racing not until I was 28 when I got a job at the old Roydon Lodge in Yaldhurst. We came over from the Coast when I was 12 and I was brought up with horses. Later on, I worked a team in the bush for a while. I played league right through the grades and was still playing when I went to Roydon Lodge after I answered an ad in the paper. I broke my jaw playing football soon after and that was the end of the sport. Captain Adios had just passed on when I started and Thurber Frost was the star stallion then. I worked under Ralph Bonnington who was the stallion manager.

Q. You didn't train there though? How did you find it later on taking on training a good team without the background some have had?

The granddam, Aspiring Lass, was a good mare in America and Charlie Hunter trained her down here. She had a twisted bowel at one stage. I got her back for a last season and she won the Canterbury Park Cup for us. The dam (Aspiring Gal) broke a pelvis. But she had showed plenty as a two year old. I was going to try her again but it didn't come to anything. But it was no surprise she would leave fast horses.


I spent a lot of time watching George Noble. There weren't many people who were better to learn from. A lot of it was just what you know and common sense.I started training after we set up the new Roydon Lodge at Templeton. That was a big job and it took time to get it organised. Scottish Hanover was our anchor stallion then and he did a great job. When that was up and running I was breaking horses in and thought I might as well be training them.

Q. Talking of Scottish Hanover, Roydon Scott was your first star?

He was a brilliant horse, a great horse really. I don't think people realised how good he was. I firmly believed he would be the first to run two miles in four minutes here and I think he would have done it. He had a big long stride and everything seemed effortless to him. He battled navicular disease for a long time and when Dr Irvine changed the medication rules on what we were treating him with it finished his career really.

Q. He still ran as favourite in the New Zealand Cup?

It was the owner's decision to run and you can understand wanting to win a Cup. I have to say I would probably not run had it been up to me.

Q. He was a different sort from Roydon Glen who ended up with the better record?

Roydon Glen had a lot of ability but he was always "seeing things" which made him a hard horse to drive. Peter Wolfenden drove him up north for us and didn't actually seem to think a lot of him and I had to take over when he won the Derby by lengths up there. But I could understand why Peter thought like he did. You had to be careful what you did with him in the race and where you put him. Sometimes driving him what punters might think was the right way was the wrong way.

Q. His third in the Cup must have been your biggest disappointment?

There wern't any other races to match it. He drew in, actually began too well, got into the trail and when they eased in front we were four and five back on the fence. Then when I was going to work off the fence I got held in. He flew home of course and should have won it but there wasn't a lot else I could have done.

Q. He didn't really succeed as a sire apart from the trotter Lyell Creek, and Roydon Albatross was a bit disappointing too?

Yes, you wouldn't believe Roydon Glen wouldn't have been a great success with his pedigree. Roydon Albatross was by Albatross but his maternal line was not as strong. He had the bad luck to be foaled down here late in one season instead of early in the next. That meant when he won the Nelson Cup in record time he was really a three year old and it showed what a good stayer he was.

Q. Phillipa Frost was a mighty wee mare too?

A super little mare, tough as they come. Bluey Steel, who worked at Roydon Lodge then had bred her. There was nothing of her but she wore a long hopple for the size she was (59 inch). I liked horses in long hopples. Roydon Scott wore a 64 inch hopple and Roydon Glen a 61 inch. Philippa Frost's length was really massive for her size. She had to battle Delightful Lady in the mare's races and she ran third to Hands Down and Lord Module in the NZ Free-For-All. We got a bit mixed up at the start. Slim Dykman was next to us and told me he was going to do one thing but he did it differently when the gate went. When you look back at her record and what she raced against she was a terrific mare.

Q. We always have to talk about Sundon at Roydon Lodge but Game Pride smoothed the path for him.

He was really the first of the modern trotting sires here, the ones who could leave horses with speed. He did a terrific job year after year once he got established. One thing which surprised me about him is the ability he had. His race record didn't show it but he was a dumpy little guy and we used to have to work him in the cart a bit to get the condition off him. The speed he showed when you chirped him up amazed me. There was a stallion close up in his pegigree called Bill Gallon which the Americans rated highly even though he was not as fashionable as some. He turned up in Sundon's pedigree as well so there was something in it.

Q. Sundons had a mixed reception with many trainers and probably still do. What do you put that down to?

Basically I think they have so much speed that if you let then show too much of it you can have problems. I had Jo Anne early on and she just had phenomenal speed. But Sundon was a lovely relaxed horse. He would spend a lot of time sleeping. One odd thing about him was that he would pee just before the start of every race he had. His sire Arndon was a bit different. I saw him run his world record at the Red Mile. He was sore then and drifted out into the middle of the track but still ran the fastest mile ever. Phenomenal speed. But he wasn't the relaxed horse Sundon was.

Q. There was a bit of a tizz over a positive swab with Sundon at an Inter-Dominions?

A veterinary error. I think vets should be made more responsible for their actions in these sort of cases like they are in some other countries. The owner and trainer have to carry the can.

Q. And you didn't get to drive him when he won the Dominion?

That is a bad memory. I was given three months for not giving him every chance in the Trotting Free-For-All on Cup Day. You wouldn't not try in a $35,000 race then especially a free-for-all. We were the victim of circumstances but the stewards didn't want to know. Peter Jones took the Dominion drive. He had been driving some of my team in the spring and we had talked about Sundon earlier. Then after the Dominion the siren went and they inquired into whether Sundon had checked something early in the race! My charge was quashed on appeal. It left a sour taste.

Q. Morgan James was another good horse I remember?

Just one of those great everyday horses. My friend from Perth, Mick Lombardo, talked me into selling him in a weak moment. He ended up winning $600,000 over there. Just went on and on year after year until he was about 13.

Q. First Jinja Girl and now Royal Aspirations both give you and (grandson) Sam Smolenski Harness Jewels triumphs. How confident were you this year?

Very confident. I told Sam it was his race to lose and drive accordingly and he did. Sam has a great temperament for driving. He does his homework, listens to instructions and is patient. He doesn't worry about things and thatis an asset in big races - to stay cool.

Q. On paper the immediate breed looked sort of just okay. Did you come from another angle?

The granddam, Aspiring Lass, was a good mare in America and Charlie Hunter trained her down here. She had a twisted bowel at one stage. I got her back for a last season and she won the Canterbury Park Cup for us. The dam (Aspiring Lass) broke a pelvis. But she had shown plenty as a two-year-old. I was going to try her again but it didn't come to anything. But it was no surprise she would leave fast horses.

Q. Royal Aspirations is a horse which can go on?

He's smart as well as fast. He got mixed up at the start of a race at Addington but he still tried to head for the birdcage. He knew where the winners went and wanted to be there. He has a good spell now but he can get better yet.

Q. You are a man of many talents, especially with the manipulation of horses. How did that start?

I suppose it went back to my sporting days in a way, getting over injuries and that. I started to read up on acupuncture and similar treatments and taught myself how to do them watching others and practicing. I started doing it with the race horses to stretch them before a race like an athlete does with hamstrings and other muscles and then started post race treatments. The horses are running around in circles after all and they can develop specialised ailments. A lot of problems happen in the paddock because the circles they are running in are that much smaller. So I don't like to see them turned out after a treatment as some recommend.

Q. You are also a "heartbeat" man with yearlings?

I probably did 100 horses this year at the sales. No special science, I just listen to the heartbeat. You can tell quite a lot from it. Some of them sound like a Mack truck. I think it is a fairly credible thing and more people seem to be asking me to do it. Anything you can find out about a horse someone else might not know is an advantage.

Credit: HRWeekly 25July2012

PEOPLE

VICKI BURNETT

The death occurred suddenly last month of Leeston trainer Vicki Burnett. She was 40. Burnett took out a licence after the death of her former husband Peter Cowan. In five seasons, she trained seven winners and drove five.

Burnett grew up in Auckland, and despite no family involvement developed a passion and infinity for horses at a young age, competing in pony club, eventing and show jumping. She qualified as a veterinary nurse and attended courses in equine massage. She gained a reputation for her work and Mark Purdon used her services when he was in Clevedon and when he moved south.

She met Cowan when he campaigned his top mare Flying Sands in the north, and eventually they married. Among there good horses were Trotupastorm, Cullens Pride, Uroc Amy and Joy Boy, although her pride and joy was Niburu, the winner of one race, which she brought south.

In April, 2008, when Peter passed away suddenly, Vicki was left in control of a 30ha property, responsible for training, preparing sales yearlings and doing an AI course to ensure all mares could be bred on the property, all while being mother to Thomas (7) and Ellie (3). Ten mares are to foal this spring, with both Flying Sands and Flyin Score in foal to Rockin Roll Hanover.

Horses she bred included Supreme Gem and Sunday's impressive debut winner, Machs A Flyin. Torias Secret was sent to Luke McCarthy and has won over $100,000 this season and Vicki was at Menangle last month to see her run second in a Group race. On Target, racing as Im On Target, is also with McCarthy and is unbeaten in two starts. Vicki's last drive was on Dutchess at Rangiora on July 15.

Although she had battled ill-health in the past 18 months, she appeared stable and her death was unexpected. "She had an amazing attitude to her illness, never complaining and working incredibly hard," said family friend, John McDermott.

Vicki married Rick Burnett, NZ champion amateur driver in 2010/11, in September last year and they formed a training partnership last season.



Credit: HRWeekly 1Aug12

PEOPLE

DAVID McCARTHY INTERVIEWS BOBBY NYHAN

Q. How did you get the drive behind Cardy?
A. Actually I really don't know. I knew Wolfie from Wellington a bit but we were not friends or anything. He rang out of the blue and asked if I would take a horse over to Addington to keep Cardy company and then drive him in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton.

Q. And?
A. Merv Deans (husband of owner Audrey) was the only stable rep there. He insisted I go to the front. I was off 36 yards and it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. When I went Jack Litten called out to the others and they all took off. I was annoyed because I looked bad but I had no option.

Q. You kept the drive?
A. At Forbury Park I told them I was going to do it my way. As it happened Robin Dundee who was on the way up then, beat us. Peter came down for the Hannon Memorial. I drove Gildirect who was past his best then but we were fifth and beat Cardy home. Peter said to me either the horse wasn't right or he needed a lot more work and we didn't have much time to find out. His work was stepped up dramatically. He thrived on it. Went through the Cup meeting unbeaten.

Q. You started with your father, Tom?
A. For a while but his team was never big. My first winner (1955) was Bypass at Omoto, trained by Johnny Crofts who lived next door. He predicted he would give me my first winner. It rained all day and the mist was so low you could hardly see where you were going. Dad then loaned me to Jack Litten for a few days to help out and I was there for four years.

Q. What made him special as a trainer?
A. He was just a great horseman, the best I worked with. I can't say enough about the man. They were the happiest days of my life really. When Mum said I looked tired soon after I started I said "When Jack says run, I run" and he rather liked that when he heard it. You didn't just learn about horses. You killed and dressed chickens, raised turkeys and lambs, tended pigs, handled stallions, the whole bit. Jack loved animals of all sorts. He was years ahead of most with young horses and the best of that was he didn't just pressure cook them like some. We each had a group to educate and when I paraded mine one year I pointed to one as clearly ahead of the rest. Jack looked at what seemed a potential 2-year-old star to me and said he thought he would put him aside until later. That was Happy Ending, a cup class stayer. Not many trainers would have done that. He did almost cost me the drive on Lookaway in the Cup though.

Q. How?
A. Leicester Roper was training him for Clarrie Rhodes then. Cliff Irvine had got him right but he was always a bit suspect. I had driven Lookaway in a trial and was to drive him in another one at Ashburton otherwise he would never be ready for the Cup. Jack suddenly told Clarrie I was needed at home. In the end Clarrie agreed to pick me up in his new Super Snipe close to the trial and bring me straight back afterward. I had never been so fast in a car. Even the fellows working on the train tracks dropped their tools to stare. I think there was something between Clarrie and Jack which sparked that. Lookaway had a nice run in the Cup but he just ran out of condition in the last 100m (4th from 24yds). He was the most brilliant horse I have ever driven. With one run at them he was unbeatable. But we didn't have a happy ending.

Q. In that?
A. He won the Allan Matson and Clarrie was desperate to start him in the Free-For-All later in the day when they had two races for the best horses. The horse just wasn't going to be able to cope with that in his condition but Clarrie overruled us. He felt awful in his preliminary and I pulled him out of the race.

Q. When you moved to Belfast with Cecil Donald it was quite different?
A. Cecil wasn't so much into young horses but he had a lot of older ones and sometimes it was a challenge just to get them worked especially in the winter. His track was good in the summer but the ground was heavy in winter and the sand track became a quagmire. Cecil was also very patient setting a horse for a race under the handicapping system then. Sometimes you didn't look too good driving to instructions.

Q. There was a heap of open class horses in the stable then. Did one stand out?
A. Probably Indecision even though he didn't have the best record and people knocked him because he was a dissappointment at stud. But he had enormous heart, a great will to win. He hardly had a sound day in his life - ligament problems mostly - and perhaps because of that he was vicious. I was the only one who could handle him at one stage. When he got to the races though, especially over two miles he tried his heart out and beat some top fields in races like the Ashburton Cup, Rangiora Cup, those sort of events. The open horses would always line up in those races then. He was certainly the most underrated.

Q. Rauka Lad was one of the best horses you were associated with?
A. He should have won Globe Bay's Cup (1972). It was the biggest disappointment of my career. I know it is an old story but he was spot on that day (favourite on both totes) and his was the run of the race. There was not much pace on early and he was never at his best when he didn't have room. He got a shove and galloped. Went a huge race afterward.

Q. Where did he come from?
A. We were at Oamaru one day and Cecil (Donald) told me to drive the float to Eddie Forsyth's (Waimate) on the way home because he was going to buy a horse off him. The horse was Dreamy Morn but Eddie wouldn't sell. Finally he pointed to Rauka Lad which had had a few starts and said "Buy him instead. You won races with his half-brother and you will with him." So he came home with us. Jack Hall bought him for £1500. He had won a race but he had fallen twice and was considered a problem. Cecil let his hopples out from 55 inches to 59 and he won nine of his next 11 start. But he was never foolproof and it caught up with him that day.

Q. Chief Command was another?
A. A brother to Indecision but quite different. He had a great nature. He won the NZ Free-For-All in front and they said Holy Hal was unlucky but nothing was going to beat him the way the race went. He was probably Peter Van Der Looy's first good horse and he trained his own later.

Q. Commissioner was a smart one?
A. Commissioner was the most unusual top horse I drove. He had one speed - flat out. I have never known a horse who could pull so hard for so long and still win big staying races like the New Brighton Cup was then. You really wanted to be in front though!

Q. Chaman was another?
A. He was the first horse to pay three figures to win after dollars and cents came in ($112) and I think it might have only been beaten once still. He was by Brahman and hit a knee bad which held him back. The old trainers had their tricks and one used with Chaman saw him just bolt in one day. A tough horse.

Q. Trotter?
A. My favourite was Front Line which the Baxters who had Battle Cry raced and Jack Litten trained. He had a twisted front leg and was often sore. He was very tricky to get going early. I thought he was a wonderful trotter when you considered that. I drove Mighty Chief for Trevor Mounce when he paid $84 at Addington. Never looked like getting beaten. He kept coming back disn't he?

Q. After Cecil's death you seemed to drop out of the limelight. What happened?
A. The estate was complicated. I had a small team at Bill Pearson's Arizona Lodge near the Rangiora track and working on the works. Trio was there for a while and I had Game Way and Joy Boy. Game Way had the smallest testicles you would ever see but he was a really good trotter and he sired good winners. I thought Joy Boy was too good to go to Westport but the owners didn't agree. He won there and I lost him soon afterward. I had an option to buy the property but my wife was not keen. My biggest disappointment was that I was offered a top free-lance driving job in the North Island with a leading stable about that time but for personal reasons I could not take it up. I would have loved to have done that.

Q. You seemed to fade off the scene for a while?
A. I had a few run ins with (stipe) Neil Escott and didn't think I got a good deal (we have settled our differences long since) and I copped a big fine I thought was tough and gave it up. We ran a restaurant in Rangiora for a while and I helped (son) Mark get started with gallopers. David Butt got me back to help him out when he started at Woodend quite a few years later. His mother Jackie (daughter of Jack Litten) and I had been friends for a long time and she playrd a part in getting me back.

Q. Your most rewarding time since?
A. Helping establish the inside track at Rangiora and winning the first totalisator race on it with Hard Cash was a highlight. A team worked at improving the training track and then (stipe) Les Purvis inspected it and said it was good enough for qualifying trials so we started workouts there and it just kept improving. Brian Ritchie played a big role and Russell De Gana was another key player. When we started workouts we would take the noms over the phone, Brian would print them on a Gestetner and I'd go home and we would ring every trainer with a horse in. In some ways that old enthusiasm has gone now.

Q. You drove Cardy but what other horses stick in your mind?
A. The day Johnny Globe won the Cup (1954) will always be with me. I was just a kid but people were jumping over fences trying to get a hair of his tail. I have never seen an outpouring of emotion for a horse in my time like that day. I don't think we will ever see that again. Then there was Lordship - and not just because I am a Nyhan! He was a great horse by any measure especially the injuries he survived and still won with.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in HRWeekly 16May & 2June2012