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RACING HISTORY

HORSES

Krug’s superstar qualities turned pre-race concern into post-race jubilation as he left his rivals in his wake in a brilliant New Zealand Derby win at Addington on Friday night.



Driver Blair Orange seized the opportunity to control the Group One feature in front and in the process delivered the quickest of answers following a week of pontificating by fans and pundits over how the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained colt would handle his wide front row.

The result afterwards was both predictable and a delight to the three-year-old’s army of fans as Krug and Orange never gave their rivals even a slight look-in in the home straight.

In winning, the star colt joined a select group of winners of both the New Zealand and Northern derbies.
After taking his camp on a wild ride during his incredible Northern Derby win, Cran Dalgety admitted this time relief was one of his overriding emotions.
“It is actually a thrill just to win one, let alone two.”

“Coming into tonight expectations were high that he would perform – that he would win and do this and that.”
“But as a trainer you just can’t take that on board until the job is actually done.”
“It is a big thrill and a big relief as much as it is a big thrill.”

Krug came to be a dual derby winner during a hectic three-year-old season, packed with two-year-old features rescheduled because of COVID19.

The Dalgety stable have expertly guided their star colt through a busy schedule and under their management Krug just keeps getting better.

Cran was modest when he and his wife were credited for an outstanding training performance.
“We planned to do this, we planned to get him fit and planned to get him healthy.”

“But the last percentage is in the lap of the gods and we were lucky in that respect.”
“Blair was able to drive him hard and he was still good enough to fight the others off.”

The Harness Jewels are the next target for New Zealand’s star three-year-old.

Beyond that the Dalgety camp are spoilt for choice with plenty of age-group features to target across the Tasman.

Though nothing has been confirmed, the Dalgety stable is leaning towards venturing to Australia rather than aiming their derby winning star at the New Zealand Cup.
“What to do next is a very good question and a very hard one to answer," Cran said.

“To answer it half-pie, sure we would love to be in the New Zealand Cup.”

“But I don’t want to miss the age-group racing on the way through because we can’t back-pedal on that.”
“The New Zealand Cup will always be there every 365 days.”

“You are only three once and to tentatively put it forward, I would love to have a crack at another derby or two in Australia.”

The Dalgety camp have the Rising Sun (July 10), the Queensland Derby (July 24), Victoria Derby (October 9) and the Australasian Breeders Crown (November 21) as possible targets.

B D Joe chased hard from the trail to run second behind Krug, his second Group One second placing following his runner-up effort behind It’s All About Faith in the Sires Stakes Final.

The Falcon followed the quinella makers through from three-deep on the markers to run third.


Credit: Jonny Turner

HORSES

After his third in the IRT New Zealand Cup South Coast Arden has won this afternoon's Spring Back With Mediaworks Free For All at Addington in a new New Zealand record.

Driver Natalie Rasmussen hunted South Coast Arden out of the gate to go straight to the lead.



Laver, as he does, came up looking to add some mid-race pressure, before Self Assured made his move after being in the one-one.

Self Assured (Mark Purdon) actually led South Coast Arden a hundred metres from home but Rasmussen got him going again to win the Group One feature, cutting out the 1980m in 2:17.

That beat the old record of 2:18.5 set by Cruz Bromac in 2018.

It's South Coast Arden's 11th win in 26 starts. It continued an amazing run that both Rasmussen and Purdon have had during Cup week.


Credit: HRNZ News

HORSES

Covid stopped him being there but it couldn’t stop Ray Green from delivering the training performance of a lifetime as Copy That staved off his rivals to win the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday.
Green watched on from his living room as the horse he selected to buy before he was even a year old powered to a front-running victory in New Zealand’s greatest race four years on.

With Green stuck in Auckland and owners, Meg and Merv Butterworth forced to watch on from Australia all New Zealand Cup responsibility was left to driver Blair Orange.

When Orange took Copy That to the lead his 76-year-old trainer knew from his lifelong involvement in harness racing that his horse was nearly unbeatable from that point.

But it didn’t mean he wasn’t in for one of the most stressful four minute periods of his life.
“He was never going to get beat once he strolled two easy halves (800m), I thought they were never going to beat him.”

“Self Assured is a very good horse but we have beaten him in the past in the same scenario and I think our horse is a lot stronger this year.”

“So, you see him in front and you think they can’t beat him, but then you think maybe they can.”
“It was stressful, you don’t realise how stressed out you were until it's over.”

“It was very emotional once he crossed the line.”



Orange delivered a front-running performance fitting of his status as New Zealand’s premier reinsman by expertly controlling the New Zealand Cup tempo.

After his brilliant effort to guide Copy That to his commanding win, the reinsman was typically humble, suggesting he was lucky to land the drive on such a brilliant horse.

“It is a very special moment, it is the pinnacle of our racing year and it is hard enough to get a drive in it let alone a leading chance,” Orange said.

Copy That’s victory offered redemption for his camp after the pacer was a victim of a controversial start to last year’s event which severely affected his winning chances.
The pacer’s win also completed an epic journey which started when Green and wife Debbie bought the horse home from a weanling sale for $7500, which has looked like a bargain price for some time.

Green admitted he and his wife have had their ups and downs with the pacer since, but it was all made worthwhile when Copy That wrote himself into the greatest chapter of New Zealand harness racing’s history.

“It wasn’t all beer and skittles, it took a while for him to materialise.”

“But I always knew he had a bit of speed, so you persevere and this is the end result.”

“I have had a lot of the drivers be very good with him in his progress, they’ve looked after him when he was doing things wrong and I appreciate all of them.”

The Greens sold Copy That to the Butterworths as a three-year-old, which allowed the Australian owners to live a second New Zealand Cup dream following their victory with Arden Rooney in 2015.

“Debbie never wanted to sell him, but you have got to be realistic, we are not rich people and when you are offered a lot of money you have to sell,” Green said.
“We have still got him to train, so it has been a win-win, the owners that bought him have been great.”
“They are very loyal owners.”

“I am just extremely grateful for this horse, there are a lot of people involved.”

“From the vets to the staff, to (Lincoln Farms owner) John street, there are so many people.”

Though robbed of the chance to see his career and life defining win in the flesh, there was one advantage from Green being able to watch the New Zealand Cup from home alongside his wife and his staff.

Celebrations started before Orange and his team on the ground got the hopples off Copy That.

“There is a party going on here, there is champagne sprayed everywhere,

“It is almost like one of those formula one podium jobs.”
Copy That scored in a 3.58.8 winning time by a two and a half lengths over defending champion Self Assured, with South Coast Arden third.


Credit: Johnny Turner

HORSES

A stunning display of speed and stamina from Franco Indie delivered the perfect result for Spreydon Lodge in the Group 1 Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day.

The Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen trained pacer shrugged off sitting parked throughout the first age-restricted Group One of the harness racing season as he and his stablemate Franco Mac left their rivals chasing their dust.

The victory not only continued an incredible day out for the Purdon-Cullen stable, it produced a perfect result for breeders Spreydon Lodge and its own stablemate, Nevele R Stud.



Franco Indie and Franco Mac have never been far from each other throughout their lives having been bred and raised at Spreydon Lodge, before both being sold as yearlings and going to at the All Stars stable.
Their journey to a one-two finish in a Group One feature on New Zealand Cup Day was something Spreydon Lodge and Nevele R Stud general manager Ged Moar almost couldn’t believe.

“It is a huge thrill, I can’t believe it, it doesn’t happen very often that they were both in the same yearling sale, we bred them and the mares and it is just a great thrill to get a Group One quinella on a very special day.”

Franco Indie’s journey towards Group One glory under the incredible guidance of the All Stars stable started with Mooar asking Mark Purdon to find him some stock of Nevele
Stud’s exciting stallion Always B Miki to race, with a view to giving the sire’s career a kickalong.
The result could not have been better for Nevele R Stud and Alabar, who stand Always B Miki and race Franco Indie together.

Franco Indie is the stallion’s first Group One winner in New Zealand and third in Australasia.

“We asked Mark and Natalie to go to the sales and buy a couple of colts by Always B Miki.”

“This fellow just happened to be in Spreydon Lodge’s draft.”

“That was great, so Nevele R retained a share in him, Alabar took a share in him and the rest is shared among a lot of people, including a lot of people from the Chase Auckland syndicate.”

“It is great to share this victory with a lot of people.”
Purdon carried the same Alabar silks to victory in his win in the Sires Stakes Final with Chase Auckland in 2017.

Franco’s Indie’s win continued an incredible domination of the Group One feature by Mark Purdon.

Purdon has trained the last eight winners of the race in Have Faith In Me, Lazarus, Ultimate Machete, Chase Auckland, Ultimate Sniper, One Change, It’s All About Faith and now Franco Indie.

This year’s win came in partnership with Hayden Cullen with the prior seven in partnership with Natalie Rasmussen.

Spreydon Lodge has a proud history of its own in the Sires Stakes Final.

Franco Indie joins fellow Francos, Franco Enforce (1996), Franco Heir (2000) and Franco Nelson as winners of the feature.


Credit: Johnny Turner

HORSES



Mark Purdon had a New Zealand Cup day to remember at Addington Raceway on Tuesday with six wins, but the one that stood out above the rest was Oscar Bonavena’s victory in the Group 1 Livamol NZ Trotting Free-For-All (1980m).

The Canterbury horseman, who trains the entire in partnership with Hayden Cullen, reined home the five-year-old to win his maiden Group One victory for Purdon’s father, legendary trainer Roy Purdon, and American-based expat Kiwi trainer Chris Ryder.

“It will be very special for him (Roy),” Mark Purdon said. “He is 94 now, but he still looks forward to the races and it will give him a great thrill to watch it.”
Drawn the outside of the front row, Purdon eased his charge to sit off a hot pace set by Majestic Man, who burnt early for the lead.

Purdon navigated his charge into the one-one behind Midnight Dash before driver Jim Curtin extricated Bolt For Brilliance off the fence to sit parked outside Majestic Man.

Turning for home Purdon guided Oscar Bonavena four-wide where he was able to show a blistering turn of foot to run down the leaders to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Bolt For Brilliance, with a further three-quarters of a length back to Majestic Man in third.

A talented youngster, Oscar Bonavena was purchased out of Phil Williamson’s barn after his runner-up effort in the Group 2 Sires’ Stakes 2YO Trot (1950m) but has faced a number of setbacks, which made Tuesday’s win even sweeter for Purdon.

“He has had a lot of issues along the way and it is hard to get them back to this level too,” Purdon said.
“I am very proud of him today. They went hard early which helped and he finished over the top of them.”
Co-trainer Hayden Cullen was also jubilant after the win given Oscar Bonavena’s past issues.

“He really deserved it, he has had a few niggles along the way,” Cullen said.

“He had a bone chip taken out and he had a cyst in a knee, just a few niggles there that held up his career a wee bit. He seems good at the moment so hopefully he will carry on.”

It was Oscar Bonavena’s third run this preparation and Cullen said he needed those first two hit-outs to have him hard-fit for Tuesday’s assignment.

“He has had a couple of runs under his belt this time in and he showed his true form today,” Cullen said.
“Mark and I have been very pleased with him. At that grade you need a few runs under your belt to be hardened to those better horses. He was third-up today and he went very well.”

Tuesday will be Cullen’s last Cup Day as official training partner with Purdon before he reverts back to his former stable foreman role, and he said it was great to notch his first Group One victory on Cup Day.
“It is a great thrill,” he said. “It is the day you want to win races on.”


Credit: Joshua Smith

HORSES

Just like harness racing fans across Australasia, the team behind Sundees Son were left utterly speechless when the star trotter produced one of the greatest trotting performances in New Zealand’s history to win the Group One Dominion at Addington on Show Day.

The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained six-year-old didn’t just break his own national and race record set in his brilliant win in the 3200m feature last year, he absolutely smashed it, setting a new mark few thought was possible.

Perfectly handled by driver John Dunn, Sundees Son crossed the line in the jaw-dropping time of 3.56.6 – a massive 4.9sec faster than his 4.00.5 win in the race last year.

And even more incredibly, his time was 2.2sec faster than what Copy That’s clocked when winning the New Zealand Cup over the same trip on Tuesday.



Emotions flowed from owner-breeders Colin and Nancy Hair, as well as from the training team behind the star squaregaiter including Robert and Jenna Dunn and her father Craig Edmonds.

Understandably, it was a combination of jubilation from witnessing a stunning victory and a sense of disbelief after their trotting star had produced one of the most remarkable performances in 110 editions of the Dominion.
“It was unbelievable,” Jenna Dunn said.

“Sunny is a special horse and with him anything is possible, but it is still unbelievable that he won like that.”

As unique as his stunning victory was, so is the way the team behind Sundees Son come together to make him a success.

The Hairs have pulled off a breeding miracle with their Sundon mare Stardon, while Jenna and her father Craig Edmonds and John Dunn and his father Robert all contribute to the fine-tuning of a superstar trotter and his career.

“I am just so lucky to be a part of it, Dad does a lot of work with the horse and Johnny does too, it is a real team effort.”

Colin and Nancy Hair were understandably speechless after watching their trotting star rewrite history.
It could take several days for the gravity of what they witnessed on Friday to sink in.
“I still don’t believe what just happened,” Colin Hair said.

“It is just incredible, I think it will take some time to sink in.”

Sundees Son’s performance and winning time surely rates him in the top tier of trotters around the world.
With little to prove in New Zealand, taking on those global superstars seems an inevitable option.

“With Covid we have never really considered going anywhere, the Interdominions were never an option,” Hair said.

“I have always said that unless Craig can go with him and John can drive him and he can race in Robert’s colours he won’t be going anywhere.”

“But now he has won a lot of the big races here twice, we will have to consider going somewhere.”

The Dunn team produced another brilliant training performance in the Dominion with Mataderos just a length behind his stablemate in second.

The trotter also smashed the 3200m national record as he continued his rise from battling Aussie bush trotter to Group One star in just his 13th start in New Zealand.
The Dunn stable also produced Chief Of Staff for the race of his lifetime, finishing fourth behind third placegetter, Bolt For Brilliance.


Credit: Johnny Turner

RACING PUBLICATIONS

This year’s NZ Trotting FFA to be run at Addington Raceway on New Zealand Cup Day (9 November 2021) will be the 75th occasion that the now Group One NZ Trotting FFA has been run at the New Zealand Metropolitan’s TC’s headquarters.

The NZ Trotting FFA is the first of three Group One open class (OC) trotters events raced at Addington annually, others being the Dominion Hcp on Show Day (currently second day of NZ Cup carnival) and NZ Trotting Championship run as part of Easter meetings. The FFA is one of six Group One’s nationally for OC trotters – the others raced at Alexandra Park are the Rowe and Anzac Cups and National Trot.

The NZ Trotting FFA was first accorded Group One status in 2000, 1979 having been raced at Group Two level from 1979 and originally raced as the New Zealand Champion Trotting FFA from 1946 to 1950.

Inaugural NZ Trotting FFA

NZ CHAMPION TROTTING FFA, OC trotters, £2,000 (£1,300, £400, £200, £100); 1½m standing start, 16 November 1946.

Winner : 4/4 STEEL KING (1935), 11yo grey gelding Wrack by Peter The Great – Oriental, owner WL Parkinson, tr Ces Donald (Belfast), dr Ron Donald

Second : 1/1 Sea Max, dr Bill Doyle

Third : 9/8 Mae Wynne, dr Wes Butt

Fourth : 2/2 Forewarned, dr Freeman Holmes

Balance of field consisted of (not in finishing order) : Casabianca, Fantom, Hidden Note, Medical Student, Range Finder (bracketed with Steel King), Royal Worthy, Will Cary)

T3:18 2/5; 3½l, ½l, ½ neck; £7/16/6, £1/19/0; £1/6/0; £4/11/6. Total betting of £19,155½ (win £8,284½; place £10,871)

The old grey 11yo Steel King was in the form of his life during the 1946 NZ Cup carnival winning both the NZ Champion Trotting FFA and Sockburn Hcp. Racing rivals Sea Max, Mae Wynne and Forewarned to a standstill under the FFA conditions, he took his stake earnings to £5,460 (his final tally). Steel King was owned from June 1944 by Mr WL Parkinson and trained by Ces Donald.

Steel King was by Wrack from Oriental, by Logan Pointer-Eastern Lady by Prince imperial from a thoroughbred mare by Benzoin. Oriental produced Cheetah, the dam of 1946 NZ Cup winner Integrity (also NZ Pacing Championship FFA) making for superb performances during the 1946 NZ Cup carnival from two members of the one family at differing gaits.

Apart from not being run in 1952, the NZ Trotting FFA has been a feature of Addington’s NZ Cup carnival. The race has had a number of distance changes being run at 1½m standing start in 1946, 1 mile and five furlongs standing start from 1947 – 1972 (exception 1962 – 12½ furlongs mobile), changing to 2600m standing start with the introduction of metric distances in the 1973/4 season. Converted to a mobile start from the 1974 edition remaining at a distance of 2600m until 2012 when the distance was reduced to 2000m (2012, 2013) changing to 1950m (2014 – 2017) before changing to its current distance of 1980m in 2018.

The running of the NZ Trotting FFA at the NZ Cup carnival has taken place across all days the carnival has been held over the past seventy five years. Whilst currently raced on NZ Cup Day (Tuesday since 2009), in the past the race has been on Show Day (Friday, 1980 - 2008; Day three (week two when four meetings held as opposed to current two) Tuesday evening 1966 – 1973 or Wednesday evening 1963 – 1965 and Saturday day in 1950; Day four (week two) final day/night Saturday 1946 – 1949, 1951, 1953 – 1962 and 1974 – 1979.

Sponsorship of the race commenced in 1986 with Hurricane Wire Products sponsoring the Trotting FFA. Air New Zealand commenced a lengthy sponsorship in 1987 until 2001. A number of sponsors supported the event for many years – First Sovereign Trust (2005 – 2008), Seelite Windows and Doors (2009 – 2013), Granite Benchtop Company (2014 – 2018) while one year sponsorships have been provided by Bone Marrow Transplant Trust (2002), Nuggets Bar and Casino (2003), Porter Group Hyundai Construction Equipment (2004), Commodore Airport Hotel (2019) and Livamol (2020). The sponsor for the 2021 running of the NZ Trotting FFA will be the Gramite Benchtop Company.

The stake for the NZ Trotting FFA has increased from an initial £2,000 ($4,000) to today’s $100,000 with several ups and downs over the years. Prizemoney remained at £2,000 until reducing to £1,200 in 1953 and went as low as £900 in 1958. Growing slowly reaching £1,500 in 1964 and increased after the introduction of decimal currency in 1967 to $3,500 in 1969. Inflation in the 1970’s with the stake reaching $7,500 in 1980, $20,000 by 1985, $40,000 in 1989, decreasing to $35,000 (1990 – 1995) before again making the $40,000 mark for years 1996 – 1999. The turn of the century and stakes were at $50,000 until 2006 – 2007 to $75,000 while $100,000 was attained in 2008 and 2009. A reduction to $80,000 occurred 2010 – 2016 before the stake was reinstated in 2017 at its current $100,000 level.

Mares have a respectable record in the NZ Trotting FFA having led the field home on sixteen occasions of seventy four to date and a two time winner Queens Cord among several other leading female trotting winners.

Leading winning drivers : with six winning drives Bob Young (Aerial Scott twice, Single Task, Supervise, Mighty Hanover, Queens Cord) and Anthony Butt (Take A Moment twice, Lyell Creek, Vulcan, Peak, Tough Monarch) share the lead. Ricky May with five, Maurice Holmes with four together with a number of drivers having three wins – Bill Doyle, John Langdon, David Butt and Tony Herlihy MNZM.

Trainers : Tim Butt with five successes with Lyell Creek, Take A Moment twice, Vulcan, Peak heads the trainers list at present followed by two trainers with three successes – Jim Young and Bill Doyle while a number have had two successes – John Doherty, Bruce Running (one co trainer with father Eric), Slim Dykman, Mawson MacPherson, Patrick O’Reilly Jnr, Barry Purdon (one with co trainer father Roy), Paul Nairn, Mark Purdon, Phil Williamson, Greg and Nina Hope.

Owners: there have been two three time winning owners, Bill Doyle with Gold Horizon twice, When and John Dickie with Thriller Dee, Last Sunset, Romper Stomper. A number of dual winning owners, being John Spiers, Joe Rooney, Heber Hewson, Eric and Thelma Running, Slim Dykman, Mawson MacPherson, Paul and Graeme Nairn/Helen Pope/Gwynn Thomson, Long Drive Syndicate, Greg and Nina Hope/Morrie Molloy.

Winning owner/trainer/drivers : several feature in the seventy five year history of the NZ Trotting FFA, being three time owner/trainer/driver Bill Doyle, Gold Horizon 1953, 1954 – part owner with Gordon Gillard, When 1962 and single winners in Slim Dykman, Scotch Tar 1979; Leicester Clark, Mighty Hanover 1967; Jack Shaw, Vodka 1955; James Wilson, Dictation 1951 and part owner/trainer/driver Justin Smith, Speculate 2009.

Times run in the NZ Trotting FFA can be spilt into imperial and metric distances. Imperial 1946 – 1972 : 1½ milesSS : only run in 1946 when Steel King won in T3:18.2; 12½ furlongs mobile, T3:18.4 When 1962 only time run at this unique distance; one mile five furlongsSS T3:27.4 Le Chant 1966 when NZR was Moon Boy’s world record T3:23 4/5 set on 27 August 1960. The slowest time recorded over 1m5furs was Aerial Scott’s second victory in 1948 of T3:44.0. Metric since 1973 : the only running over 2600mSS resulted in Easton Light’s T3:25.0 being the race and NZ record for distance (he recorded T3:22.0 from the mobile when winning again in 1974). The fastest 2600mM was Romper Stomper’s T3:14.2/2:00.1 in 2007 while Best Bet’s T3:26.1 was the slowest mobile (1977). When reduced to 2000mM, I Can Doosit’s T2:25.0 in 2012 was the quickest; 1950mM record shared by Monbet (2016) and Great Things Happen (2017) at T2:21.7 while Heavyweight Hero’s T2:23.9 last year (2020) is the quickest recorded over the current 1980mM distance.

A number of NZ record times have been recorded since the move to metric distances in 1973 (none when FFA run over imperial distances). Over 2600mM, Petite Evander established a mare’s record of T3:22.5 in 1976; Stormy Morn set an all comer’s record of T3:21.3 in 1981. At 2000mM in 2012 I Can Doosit recorded a NZR of T2:25.0; as outlined above the 1950mM record is shared by Monbet in 2016 and Great Things Happen in 2017 at T2:21.7 while Heavyweight Hero’s T2:23.9 in 2020 is the record over the 1980mM distance.

Winning margins : the maximum winning margins include Take A Moment’s 2003, second consecutive win record five length victory; Ima Gold Digger by 4½l in 2010; Recruit by four lengths in 1956; Scotch Tar in 1979 and I Can Doosit in 2012 victories by 3½l while three length winners have been Steel King, 1946; Durban Chief, 1958 and Great Things Happen, 2017. The narrowest margin of a nose has two record holders, Inferno in 1970 and Best Bet in 1977.

Youngest winner : four year old – Monbet’s first of two wins in 2015 was the first and only time a four year old has won the Trotting FFA. A number of five year olds have recorded wins in the FFA – Scotch Tar, 1978; Idle Scott, 1988; Ima Gold Digger, (2010; Vulcan, 2011; Stent, 2014 and Monbet in his second consecutive win in 2016. Oldest winner is Gold Horizon’s second victory in 1954, aged twelve. Eleven year olds to win the FFA are Steel King, 1946; Gold Horizon, first win in 1953; Jimmy Dillon, 1949; Inferno, 1970 and Lyell Creek, 2004. A number of ten year olds are the next most successful old timers to win the NZ Trotting FFA – Tony Bear, 1971; Precocious, 1972; Easton Light’s second win in 1974 and Sure Mart, 1980.

Multiple winners : there has never been a three time winner of the NZ Trotting FFA but there are a number of dual winners : Aerial Scott, Call Me Now, Easton Light, Gold Horizon, Monbet, Queens Cord, Recruit, Scotch Tar, Sir Castleton and Take A Moment. Tough Monarch in 2020 is the only Australian trained and owned winner of the NZ Trotting FFA, driven by Kiwi Anthony Butt although he is now based in Australia. Earlier Tony Bear (1971) was Australian owned but trained and driven in NZ by Wes Butt. Several winners come from Australian families – Cee Ar, Mighty Hanover, Heavyweight Hero (A1 Verity), Supervise (A2 Lady Ajax), Romper Stomper (A34 Dolly by Stockwell), Admiral Sonani (A94 Restless) and Tony Bear (A133 De Luxe).

In the breeding barn, leading sire with six NZ Trotting FFA winners is Sundon (Sunny Action, Last Sunset, Allegro Agitato, Jasmyns Gift, Speculate, Ima Gold Digger), with victories covering the decade from 2000 - 2010, three instances of consecutive year winners. Game Pride with five credits follows before four credit sires in Armbro Invasion, Great Evander and Court Martial while those with three credits are Light Brigade, Love You and Quite Sure. These eight stallions alone account for thirty two of the seventy four NZ Trotting FFA winners to date. Leading broodmare sire of NZ Trotting FFA winners with six is Light Brigade, they being Queens Cord twice, Precocious, Easton Light twice, Petite Evander followed by Sundon with five, Chiola Hanover with four, U Scott and Tuft both with three.

On the maternal side Pride Of Lincoln (N1 : Dictation, Take A Moment twice, Stig) and Violet M (N26 : When, Call Me Now twice, Speculate) lead with four winners from Verity (A1), Harolds Rest (N6), Hoods Polly (N8) and Kate by Highland Chief (U301) with three next in line.
Winners of Christchurch premier trotting events in the same calendar year – Easton Light, 1974; I Can Doosit, 2012 and Monbet (2016) won all three Group Ones in the same calendar year - NZ Trotting FFA, Trotting Championship and Dominion Hcp.

Winners of Dominion Hcp and NZ Trotting FFA – Tutira, 1969; Scotch Tar, 1978; Stormy Morn, 1981; Simon Katz. 1987; Tobago, 1989; Call Me Now, 1995; Chiola Cola, 1996; Take A Moment, 2002, 2003; Lyell Creek, 2004; Stig, 2008 and Vulcan, 2011.

Winners of NZ Trotting FFA and Trotting Championship - Sir Castleton, 1983 and Speeding Spur, 2018.

Winners of Dominion Hcp and NZ Trotting Championship - Nigel Craig, 1977; Scotch Tar, 1980; Basil Dean, 1984; Tussle, 1986; David Moss, 1993, 1994; Cedar Fella, 1998; Take A Moment, 2001 and Stylish Monarch, 2010.

Christchurch Interdominion Trotters Grand Final winners who also won Group One trots at Addington in the same calendar year included : No Response, 1979 – NZ Trotting Championship; Call Me Now, 1995 and Take A Moment, 2003 also won Dominion Hcp and NZ Trotting FFA in their ID year. Tussle won the Dominion Hcp and ID Final in the same season, 1986/7 at Addington.

NZ Trotting FFA winners to be named Trotter Of Year in same season commencing 1973/4 season include Easton Light, 1973/4, 1974/5; Stormy Morn, 1981/2; Simon Katz, 1987/8; William Dee, 1991/2; Call Me Now, 1994/5, 1995/6; Take A Moment, 2002/3, 2003/4; Stig, 2008/9; Stent, 2014/5 and Monbet, 2015/6, 2016/7.

Of those just three trotters also collected the Harness Horse of Year Award in the same season –Take A Moment, 2002/3; I Can Doosit, 2011/12 and Monbet, 2015/16.

Points of interest concerning NZ Trotting FFAs :

• Bob Young drove six winners in first two decades of Trotting FFA’s running, 1946 -1965 matched by Anthony Butt’s six spread over years 2002 – 2019


• 1948 winner Aerial Scott, also 1947 earlier in 1948 won the inaugural ID Trotters Grand Final at Alexandra Park
• Dictation’s 1951 victory was his only win, nine placings from fifteen starts in the 1951/2 season. Shortly after FFA win, he set a NZ grass track record of T2:07 2/5TT at New Brighton on 1 December 1951
• Gold Horizon’s second consecutive win in 1954 was his final race victory
• Vodka first of numerous winners to make their way and mark in North America – Durban Chief; Le Chant, grand dam of world champion Grades Singing; Petite Evander; Lyell Creek and Speeding Spur
• 1961 Ordeal passed the post first only to be disqualified – ultimate winner was Reprimand
• Mighty Hanover’s win on Wednesday 20 November 1963 came at Addington’s inaugural night trotting meeting. This was the same night Cardigan Bay won Allan Matson Hcp by 3½l in 3:18.2 for mile and five furlongs lowering False Step's world record by nearly 3secs. His net time (4.5secs deducted for his handicap of 54 yards) was a mile rating of 2:01.9 from a standing start. It was the first time in world harness history that two-minute speed has been sustained by any horse beyond a mile and a quarter. Cardigan Bay had run his last mile in 2:00 flat. He is one of only four horses to have won on all four days of a NZ Cup carnival – all four open class pacing events in 1963 - NZ Cup, NZFFA, Matson and Ollivier Hcps
• Colin De Filippi’s first Trotting FFA winner in 1975 was Cee Ar owned with V Ford/trained by his father Rod De Filippi. Four decades later Colin training in partnership with wife Julie drove 2014 winner Stent for owner Trevor Casey
• Stormy Morn’s 1981 winning tr/dr Tony Perucich was a former jockey, eleven wins, apprenticed to Te Awamutu trainer Jack MacDonald
• 1981 Stormy Morn won all five major trotting events in 1981/2 season (Inter-Island Challenge Stakes, Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA, National Trot and Rowe Cup)
• 1982 winner Thriller Dee provided twenty two year old John Dickie with his first success at Addington. Part owned by his mother Gwen, her late husband Ivan (died 1974) had trained/driven Inferno to success in the 1970 Trotting FFA
• Tussle recorded an eight race winning sequence including the Trotting FFA that ran from 1986 Dominion Hcp through to Trotters ID Grand Final at Addington in March 1987
• Simon Katz at 1987 NZ Cup carnival became the first trotter since 1946 introduction of Trotting FFA to win all three open class trots at a NZ Cup carnival – Quinns Fashion, formerly Worthy Queen Hcp; Trotting FFA and Dominion Hcp
• Long shot “iron horse” Idle Scott’s ninth win in 1988 FFA of forty six victories in total (one in Australia) from a total of 219 starts, paid $61.20 to win
• William Dee won all three open class trots at the 1991 NZ Cup carnival, later in the same season winning 1992 ID Trotters Grand Final in Melbourne
• Anthony Butt drove three consecutive winners of the Trotting FFA between 2002 – 2004 : Take A Moment, 002, 2003 and Lyell Creek, 2004
• Lyell Creek in 2004 was having just his second FFA start (third in 2000) when a winner following his return from a successful European and North American campaign
  

NZ MET turns 120

According to the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's certificate of incorporation, Friday 16 October 2020 represents its one hundred and twentieth anniversary.

The original NZMTC was an amalgamation of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club (raced at Frog Park immediately south of Lancaster Park) and the Canterbury Trotting Club (raced at A&P Showgrounds, Addington) with inaugural meetings taking place at Addington Raceway on Monday 6 and Friday 10 November 1899 (five furlongs track upgraded to six furlongs around 1910).

Brief timeline of significant events at Addington:

• 11 April 1903 Easter famous match race between Australian trotter Fritz and NZ pacer Ribbonwood.



• 1912 infield semaphore board (drivers/riders names) installed.



• January 1922 Canterbury Park club purchased lease to Addington Raceway from NZMTC, commenced racing at Addington (1/2 January 1923), NZMTC became tenant of Canterbury Park.



• April/May 1938 first Christchurch Interdominions.



• 11 November 1938 first sub two minute mile outside Northern Hemisphere, Lawn Derby TT1:59.4.



• Cup Day 1946 photo finish first used.



• 6 April 1957 Tactician first Australasian sub two minute race mile (1:59.8).



• 1960 Twiggers Stand opened.



• Show Day 1961 fourth major fire at the Raceway destroyed the public stand during the running of Cardigan Bay’s NZFFA victory (others Cup Day 1916, September 1926, Show Day 1953).



• 1963 Cup carnival night trotting introduced.



• 7 December 1963 New Brighton club moved to Addington Raceway.



• Royalty at Addington : Duke/Duchess of York (future King George VI/Queen Mother), New Brighton Royal meeting, Tuesday 15 March 1927; Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, NZMTC Royal Complimentary meeting, Saturday 19 January 1935; Queen Elizabeth II, NZMTC Royal meeting, Thursday 21 January 1954; Queen Mother, Royal Easter Cup Final day, Saturday, 23 April 1966; Queen Elizabeth II in her Silver Jubilee year, NZMTC royal night meeting, Thursday 3 March 1977.



• 19 February 1977 Nigel Craig first Australasian sub two minute trotter (T1:58.8TT).



• December 1980, three clubs (NZMTC/CPTC/NBHRC) purchased 87 acres at Raceway from North Canterbury Hospital Board (Addington Raceway Limited leased land from Hospital Board since 1942).



• Easter Saturday 1990 Metropolitan Stand opened.



• 1998 three clubs (NZMTC/CPTC/NBHRC) amalgamated forming “new” club NZMTC.



• 10 March 2000 passing lane introduced.



• 15 May 2009 new stables complex opened.



• Public Stand demolished following 2011 earthquakes.



• 1 June 2019 Harness Jewels.

PEOPLE

by David McCarthy

Harness racing lost one of its best reporters and analysts with the passing of long time Press trotting editor Jeff Scott.

Jeff had suffered from the effects of a brain tumour diagnosed after he collapsed on a golf holiday in Queensland in mid-2019. Treatment proved unsuccessful.

He died as he had lived. Brave, stoic, cheerful to the end in the face of great adversity. It was also a reflection of his career in racing journalism where he was a true professional in an era of rapid change.

From farming stock in Southland, Jeff was a harness fan from an early age and while still at school had some work published in what was then the Trotting Calendar. Much of his time was spent developing his love affair with trotting. The premature deaths of both parents were an early battle with adversity handled in his usual quiet competent fashion,

In 1977 he joined the Southland Times as a cadet under Norman Pierce and later Don Wright and was soon being noticed for his work. In 1982 he was hired by The Press as assistant to longtime editor Geoff Yule whom he succeeded with Yule’s firm support in 1987. He was then already editor of the highly popular Trotting Annual which he continued for four years.

Even though the journalism world was changing in the wake of new technology Jeff remained true to the essential harness tradition of his earlier years. His analysis of trials and races; the sectional times and the field quality led him to be an expert selector primarily because he was not easily swept away by fads and fallacies. It was always form where Jeff was concerned and, especially as there were no replays of workouts and trials in those times, he had a large following.

Jeff also had a wide knowledge of harness racing in all its forms and in all countries and continued to be well informed about the local and national scene. He probably had no equal in his time in this respect and it was the source of many news stories

In later years, with the virtual demolition of the racing department of the Press through computerisation and technology and with the demand for more drama and controversy in content he was less at ease believing readers wanted substance rather than style.

A wrist problem associated with RSI was typical of Jeff’s work ethic. While some others took weeks and months off work to recover he carried on without complaint. He finally resigned in 2005 having achieved all those early goals from his cadet days. It would be fair to say some industry trends dismayed him but he never let it affect his basic love of the standardbred sport.

Jeff enjoyed his leisure time especially through golf where he was a leading member of a Press-based group with their own “PGA” series of “majors” and "minors” with whom he made 13 trips to Australia. In all he won 49 tournaments. In marked contrast to his racing activities Jeff could be somewhat inconsistent on the golf course - largely because of the wrist problems- but almost unbeatable on a good day. Fair to say his golf form would not have appealed to him as a harness selector.

Jeff was no extrovert and underrated by some because of it, but his dry sense of humour helped him through times good and bad and was soon appreciated by his associates. He also had a canny ability to quickly sum up character and personality in others

Jeff continued to work in the industry through form comments and selections for Australian publications and latterly web site management for Mark Jones and Cran Dalgety. His enthusiasm never let up and he was watching races on both sides of the Tasman until very recently with the usual solid analysis being offered after each one.

Jeff was and remained devoted to his wife Nicola and sons Chris and Cam, merely an extension of his honourable character in the best of Southland traditions.

Jeffrey John Scott was 59. It is not in this case just a cliche to say he will be sadly missed.

Credit: David McCarthy

PEOPLE

By Dave Di Somma - Harness News Desk

Awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to harness racing in 2012, respected breeder, owner and administrator Jim Wakefield has died in Christchurch, aged 87 .

The NZ Trotting Owners Association representative on the Harness Racing New Zealand executive from 1998 to 2010, he went onto become Chairman from 1999 to 2003.

According to friend and former HRNZ chair Ken Spicer: “He will remembered as one of Harness Racing’s best leaders and administrators.”

A key figure in developing the Racing Act 2003, he was also Harness Racing New Zealand’s first appointment to the New Zealand Racing Board (2003-06), and chaired the organising committee for the World Trotting Conference in Christchurch in 2007.

Former HRNZ chief executive Edward Rennell remembers someone who was “very professional in everything he did .. he treated everyone with respect”.

“My abiding memory is that he was very strong on industry integrity and maintaining high standards.”

As an owner, breeder and prolific yearling sales purchaser he and wife Dr Susan Wakefield have been associated with star horses such as Bettor’s Strike, Sparks a Flyin (21 wins), Texican, Scorching, London Express and London Legend (25 wins).

Bettor’s Strike was second in Monkey King’s 2009 New Zealand Cup with the Wakefields having a long and successful association with both driver and trainer that day, Dexter Dunn and Cran Dalgety.

Outside of harness racing, Jim Wakefield was a fellow (Hon Retired) of the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants having been a member since 1956. He joined the Christchurch office of what became KPMG in 1952. He spent 27 years as a partner in the firm with three of these being Christchurch managing partner.

“He was a very astute business man, hard but very fair,” says Spicer

Highly thought of in the business and harness racing worlds, Wakefield was also a chairman and director of numerous private and public companies, as well as a philanthropist and avid art collector.

Spicer : “A very modest and understated man, as a friend he was a great mentor and was always available to give advice ... he was a wonderful man.”

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at the Westpark Chapel, 467 Wairakei Road, Burnside on Friday, December 4, at 2pm.

Credit: Dave Di Somma