 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1928
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Joan Williams presents the Cup to Etienne Le Lievre |
The 1928 Cup was remembered as not only the finest race seen at Addington up to that time, but also the most controversial.
Peter Bingen along the fence and Great Bingen and Ahuriri in the middle of the track hit the line together, and without the aid of a photo finish the result was in doubt until the numbers went up. The judge was not in line with the post however and those that were, remained adamant to their last breath that Great Bingen had got up, and Peter Bingen was actually third. Officially, the 8-year-old Peter Bingen is recorded as a half-length winner however, in a two mile record of 4:22 1/5.
With the qualifying time being further tightened to 4:26, Great Bingen moved up to a backmark of 48 yards and for all intents and purposes was 'gifted' the Cup in his fourth attempt. He remains one of the greatest horses not to win the Cup.
Peter Bingen, a year younger brother to Great Bingen and the second foal of the imported Berthabell, had been bred by Akaroa's Etienne Le Lievre after he also imported his sire Nelson Bingen. He began life as a trotter for trainer/driver Jack Kennerley, who raced him on lease, and his form in the spring had been the subject of a judicial enquiry.
There was no questioning his repeat win the next year when Peter Bingen won easily from 36 yards in another record of 4:18 4/5, although just eight starters and five ahead of him at the start no doubt helped. The reduced field was due to the introduction of a qualifying heats and final format, which only lasted a few years.
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'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 8 Nov 1928
Peter Bingen's dash in the back stretch the last time round won him the New Zealand Cup, though he was all through a hundred yards from the judge. JJ. Kennerley sat as still as a lamb over the last bit until he reached the post half a length in front of his famous brother, Great Bingen.
When Starter Hastings gave them the word, Black Admiral hopped into his work quick and busy and carried the would-be stake-earners to the quarter pole in 36 4/5 sec. Peter Bingen trailed Edwards' black, with Padlock, Talaro, Dalnahine, Kohara, Queen's Own, Imprint, Prince Pointer and Ahuriri racing in that order. They flashed past the mile peg in two-twelve and a fraction, young Edwards still piloting the bunch. There were no material changes as they swept into the straight with a round to go.
The field pounded past the crowded stands all in order, but the strain was beginning to tell. As they turned the corner from the outside stand, Padlock compounded and Imprint cried enough. The great little trotter Peterwah made a break going into the back circuit, and Black Admiral commenced to drift back on the field. It was at this crucial point that Jack Kennerley realized it was a case of home for the doctor or no feed for a while. He gave Peter a tap and the brown, still with something in reserve, responded to the urge. Five lengths he opened out on the rest of the field, and Jack knew, that the big rake-off of the purse was his could Peter but stay in front.
He drove the speedy pacer skilfully past the mile and a half peg in 3.18 4/5. Then they came at him. All down the back stretch, Queen's Own, Prince Pointer, Great Bingen, Ahuriri and Jack Potts tore into it like express trains. But Kennerley had done the trick. The gap was too much to bridge. But was it all over?! No. As they wheeled for home the public idol, Great Bingen, came at Peter Bingen, followed by Ahuriri, Prince Pointer and Jack Potts. Roar upon roar came from the stands as they approached the winning-post, Peter Bingen yard by yard losing his leading margin. Peter Bingen was dying in Jack Kennerley's hands and the driver did the only thing under the circumstances he sat tight and never moved.
Peter flashed past the post half a length in front of his famous rival, while Great Bingen in turn was only a neck in front of Ahuriri. Prince Pointer and Jack Potts were close up behind the placed horses. Peter Bingen did his last half-mile in 1.3 2/5 sec. and the total distance in 4.22 1/5 sec.
Great Bingen's wonderful effort in 4.19 and a fraction points to success in the Free-for-All. Both he and the winner were bred by E. E. Lelievre, of Akaroa.
Waitaki Girl was the only candidate which failed to leave the mark. And, so another New Zealand Cup is finished.
Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03
YEAR: 1928
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
JACK KENNERLEY - PETER BINGEN 1928/29
Peter Bingen has to be the first and only New Zealand Cup winner who placed in the Trotting Stakes as a three-year-old. His first Cup was notable for Kennerley's front running skills under extraordinary pressure and the second for extreme patience from the back.
Peter Bingen had raced like a goose at Greymouth in October and was a 25/1 but Kennerley was foxing. His Cup tactic was to suddenly dash clear 1000m out and catch everyone napping. Chasing hardest was public idol (and Peter's full brother) Great Bingen and Ahuriri who had already won two Cups. Both of them were lengths better than Peter Bingen. But not this day.
Kennerley had given his front runner short breathers in the last round and sat quiet as a mouse while whips were cracking all around him. Even then the finish was too close to call for the public who were willing Great Bingen on. Kennerley's coolness won the day and in world record time. It was one of the finest Cup races.
In 1929 Kennerley headed straight to the rail at the back of the field, edged up, moved off at the 600m and won going away, breaking the 1928 record by seconds.
Two entirely different drives , the same result. Colourful Jack Kennerley was one of the best and on successive New Zealand Cup days when it counted, he showed why.
TRIVIA FACT: Even the best have bad days. Acron was the first four-year-old to run in the Cup(1923) and should have been the first to win. Kennerley buried him on the rail but was blockedand flashed home for second. With a clear run he must have won. Sadly, it was also the beginning of over 70 years of some cruel luck for Acron's owner Sir John McKenzie and later his son, Sir Roy in the Cup.
Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed 2016