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Author Dillon & Ben Jarden in the winner's circle

1918 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Author Dillon had only just escaped the fire at trainer Ben Jarden's stables a year before with a singed tail, but on this occasion was far too quick for 10 rivals on Cup day.

A son of leading imported sire Harold Dillon and Authoress, a sister of Wildwood Junior, Author Dillon was the champion of the time and was so superior on this day, despite giving away starts of up to seven seconds, that he had the race in safe keeping half a mile from home.

Handicapped on the benchmark of nine seconds and out of the next two Cups, Author Dillon won three consequtive NZ FFA's, comfortably having the better of Cathedral Chimes off level marks, and went on to a successful stud career despite limited opportunities.

His credits in that respect included the dam of 1940 Cup winner Marlene.

**NZ HRWeekly 1Oct 2003**

The 1918 New Zealand Cup was billed as a match race between the two outstanding horses, Author Dillon and Cathedral Chimes, the former handicapped at 4:27 and Cathedral Chimes at 4:24 in the 11 horse field. Cathedral Chimes, bracketed with Matchlight and Sherwood, Author Dillon, bracketed with John Dillon, and Randle McDonnell's Emilius carried three-quarters of the £11,158 10s invested on the race. Agathos and Admiral Wood, both of whom had lost all form, had little support. From the front, Sungod had a 10-second start from Cathedral Chimes and seven seconds from Author Dillon. But that huge advantage was not enough.

Sungod, driven by 19-year-old F G Holmes - having his first drive in the race - and Moneymaker (Andy Pringle) made the early pace, but failed to stay the distance, finishing third and fourth. Second favourite Author Dillon paced a splendid race, being patiently handled an well driven by Ben Jarden. Itwas obvious four furlongs from the winning post the Author Dillon had the race in safe keeping and he won by four lengths from Matchlight (Albert Hendricksen), who finished a game second and rescued the James Bryce trio.

Emilius broke at the start and lost a lot of ground. He made several attempts during the race to get closer by following Author Dillon, but faded and finished fifth. Adelaide Direct failed to show any dash, while Agathos, Admiral Wood, John Dillon and Sherwood were never prominent. The biggest disappointment, however, was Cathedral Chimes, who began slowly and toiled in th rear, finishing a long last.

Author Dillon's time of 4:26.4 was a national race-winning record and, when retuned to the birdcage, he and Jarden received a great reception. Cheering broke out again when the club president, Charles Louisson, presented the silver cup to Jarden. Author Dillon was hailed a champion and his subsequent form confirmed his standing as th country's best-performed pacer to that time. Two days later he won the first of his three consecutive New Zealand Free-For-Alls, beating Adelaide Direct by two lengths, with six lengths to Cathedral Chimes, and the only other starter, Admiral Wood, beaten off. Author Dillon's New Zealand Cup - Free-For-All double at the same meeting has been repeated 25 times.

Willie Lincoln, by Lord Elmo, who was second behind Matchlight in the Courtenay Handicap, won the third-day Christchurch Handicap. However, Author Dillon provided th sensation. He started 12 seconds behind the winner and was beaten by only a half-length. He paced a world-record 4:24.6. The £2000 won by Author Dillon was the largest sum won at a harness racing meeting in New Zealand. Ben Jarden raced three horses at this meeting, John Dillon and Huon Patch being the other two. All were in the money, netting Jarden £2405. Author Dillon was the season's top earner with £2350.

Cup Day racing was marred by a fall in the fourth race, the Riccarton Handicap, in which James Bryce broke his leg. No other driver was hurtand no horses suffered injuries. While the fall sidelined Bryce for a considerable time, the family name was not absent from the tracks, because James Bryce junior made his appearance at the age of 16 and won the third-day Australasian Handicap with Joan of Arc.

Author Dillon started in two further New Zeand Cups, pacing a world race record of 4:21.6 in 1920 when finishing third. Over seven seasons he was the top earner only once, though in 1920-21 he was runner-up to Willie Lincoln. He eventually went into retirement aged nine, having raced 58 times, for 18 wins and 14 minor placings. His lifetime earnings reached £7760, won during a period when stakes were very low by today's standards. He paid for his brilliant performances with increasing handicaps and from early on was starting from near-impossible marks. At the time of his retirement, Author Dillon had lowered his mile time to 2:06.4. In addition, he held the two-mile(4:21.6) and one-mile-and-a-quarter(2:41.4)records, sharing the latter with Our Thorpe who, just before the 1918 Cup, set a mile record of 2:06.2 against time at Addington. Sungod, third in the 1918 Cup, eventually went to stud in Southland, where he was the leading sire for many years.

Ben Jarden raced a big team. He later moved from Islington to Yaldhurst, where he set up his Irvington Stud and in 1940 he moved to Lower Hutt and trained a small team at Hutt Park. The Jarden name was kept to the forefront in the 1950's through the deeds of Ben Jarden's son, Ron, who became one of New Zealand's greatest rugby stars. For a time Ben Jarden stood Author Dillon at his Irvington Stud, and later Sir John McKenzie stood him at Roydon Lodge. Author Dillon proved a successful sire. He produced two Cup-class offspring (Author Jinks and Lindbergh) and a Dominion Handicap winner in Writer. His daughters produced several good winners, among them Marlene(1940 New Zealand Cup winner), Knave Of Diamonds(placed in the 1947 Cup) and Indian Clipper.

Author Dillon's sire, Harold Dillon, was an outstanding producer who took over from Rothschild as the leading sire in New Zealand. He was at the head of the list for six seasons, from 1916-17 until 1921-22. He was foaled in California in 1903 and imported to New Zealand bt Etienne Le Lievre as a yearling. The American horseman Robert McMillan stood Harold Dillon at his Santa Rosa Stud, at Halswell, with outstanding success. Author Dillon was certainly his best offspring, but others who made Cup class were Paul Default, Dolly Dillon, Oinako, Lord Dillon, Sungod, Waitaki Girl and Adonis. Harold Dillon mares also produced nemerous winners, the best being the great race and broodmare Parisienne, dam of La Mignon and Mary Wootton, La Mignon ran third in the 1957 New Zealand Cup and later produced the brilliant Garcon Roux. Mary Wootton, to U Scott, produced Scottish Command, who also recorded a third in the New Zealand Cup, in 1961. Scottish Command left his mark at stud, producing Sole Command, who won the NZ Cup in 1977, and the Auckland Cup in February 1978, and Trusty Scot, winner of the 1978 NZ Cup. Scottish Command became the third New Zealand-bred sire, after Johnny Globe and Young Charles, to break the stranglehold that the imported sires held on the New Zealand breeding scene. He finished top sire in the 1977-78 season.

**Bernie Wood writing in The Cup**

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 1Oct03

Peter Bingen won the 1929 Cup in World Record Time

1929 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

HEATS

The two divisions of the New Zealand Trotting Cup were decided on a good track, but a stiff easterly wind affected times, which under the circumstances, were particularly good. Kingcraft won the first division like a champion, but the clever tactics adopted by Tomkinson behind Logan Park contributed considerably to that gelding's hollow win in the second division.

Though Kingcraft won the first division by two lengths, he would have had to go faster had Peter Bingen not suffered interference through Gold Jacket breaking. This cost Peter Bingen fully six lengths. When the barriers were let go the limit horses were slow to move, resulting in Terence Dillon from the 12 yards mark hitting the front and setting out to make the pace to Cardinal Logan, Kingcraft and Dundas Boy. Passing the stand Terence Dillon was still in charge, with Kingcraft, Cardinal Logan, Dundas Boy, Roi LOr, Prince Pointer, Jack Potts and Peter Bingen racing in that order.

The first four furlongs were run in 1.7 4-5. At the end of seven furlongs Prince Pointer was boxed in on the rails, There was no change till the mile peg was reached, where Terence Dillon was still making a good breakwind for Kingcraft, Cardinal Logan, Dundas Boy and the others. Terence Dillon got down to ten furlongs station in 2.46, where Kingcraft moved up to him. Prince Pointer dashed up on the outside to take third place with Dundas 3oy, Roi Lor, Peter Bingen and Jack Potts improving their positions.

Immediately the mile and a half was reached (in 3.17 2-5), Kingcraft flew to the front and Prince Pointer set after him going to the far turn. Kingcraft was four lengths clear of Prince Pointer with Terence Dillon beginning to drop back. When the top of the straight was reached only Kingcraft, Prince Pointer, Dundas Boy and Peter Bingen had any chance. A furlong from home, Kingcraft had the race in his keeping, but the phenomenal run that Peter Bingen made nearly paralysed the spectators. He collared Prince Pointer and no sooner had Prince Pointer accepted the knock for second money, than along came Dundas Boy to beat him by a head for third position.

In the second, division, Waitaki Girl and Author Jinks broke at the start. Imprint began fast and was followed closely by Logan Park, Daphne De Oro and Linkman. There was no change at the end of two furlongs. Passing the stand, Logan Park dashed to the front and slowed up the field, the watch reading 1.11 at that stage

The field was bunched, the order being Logan Park, Imprint, Daphne De Oro, Linkman, Kohara, Padlock, Quality and Ahuriri. As they whipped past the twelve furlongs station, Logan Park cleared out from the field, of which Imprint, Kohara, Ahuriri, Linkman and Padlock were going best. Logan Park came into the straight with a lead of eight lengths which he maintained to the winning past. He compassed his last two furlongs in 34 sees. Imprint beat Kohara by two lengths. At the distance Padlock had to be checked. He got clear, however, and got up in time to beat Linkman for fourth position, thus qualifying for the final.
Imprint's good effort was a surprise packet. He beat the others, as easily as Logan Park beat him. Ahuriri was done with a furlong from home.

The horses now eligible to start in the final are Kingcraft, Peter Bingen, Logan Park, Imprint, Kohara and Padlock. Peter Bingen's effort will bring him into favor for the final and along with Kingcraft they should carry more money than Tompkinson's representatives.

FINAL

Run under perfect conditions the final of the New Zealand Trotting Cup will go down as one of the most sensational contests recorded at Addington, for not only was the race full of thrills, but it produced a new world's race record for two miles. The big disappointment, of course, was Kingcraft's failure to leave the mark. In all probability his next mission will be the Auckland Trotting Cup.

About Peter Bingen's victory in the Trotting Cup all one can state is that he got away, had a beautiful passage, and had all his reserve canned for a final and mighty run down the straight. He travelled too fast for Dundas' Boy, Imprint and Padlock and after a short fight he beat Logan Park, which did not race so well as when he annexed the second division on the first day.

Had Logan Park's leg not troubled him in the final he would have beaten Peter Bingen. Kohara's racing gave one the impression that his effort on Tuesday had knocked him, and Prince Pointer will be all the better. for more work.

Peter Bingen won the Cup in 1928, so now has two trophies to his credit.



Credit: 'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 14 & 21 Nov 1929

1930 NEW ZEALAND CUP

HEATS

The form shown in the heats of the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday has not made the solution of the final one whit easier, in fact, it rather serves to confuse matters.

FIRSTLY, Kohara, from the same mark as Wrackler, went almost 3 1/2 secs faster than Wrackler, which also had to be punched out at the finish. In addition to this we have to consider that almost every horse to compete in the final will be improved by the race in the heat. Perhaps the greatest improvement can be expected of Logan Park, as he looked great when he was stepped out on Tuesday. He was saved for a late run, but just when he started to put in his run he was forced wide out on the long bend and had to be checked, yet at the finish he was coming with great dash. Wrackler also will be improved by the race, and will lose none of his friends in spite of all the excuses that can be made for the rest.

Kohara won his heat by sheer staying power, only heading Terence Dillon in the last few yards. Terence Dillon had pulled hard in the early part of the race which compelled his driver to take him over some extra ground. Jewel Pointer always improves with racing, and King Pointer lost a good deal of ground at the start, yet finished on well.

The best performance of the day was registered by Author Jinks, for he lost at least 60yds at the start and finished quite a good fourth in his heat. Logan Chief reached the final only by reason of the fact that he hugged the fence all the way, and he does not appeal as the winner of the final, the first four horses of which may be Logan Park, Wrackler, Kohara and Author Jinks.

When the field went away in the First Division of the Cup, Author Jinks and Padlock refused to strike a gait, while King Pointer was slow to move. Jean McElwyn, Linkman and Harold Thorpe raced in line for three furlongs. Half a mile covered saw Kohara in front, followed by Terence Dillon, King Pointer and Jean McElwyn. Before the mile post was reached Terence Dillon was in front and continued to bowl along followed by Kohara, King Pointer, Harold Thorpe, Imprint and Author Jinks. The order was still the same when the straight was entered for the last time. Once straightened up, Kohara ranged up alongside Terence Dillon with King Pointer and Author Jinks putting m their claims. Terence Dillon appeared to be going easily at this point, but in the run to the post Kohara beat him by half a length, with King Pointer two lengths away third. Author Jinks was close up fourth, followed by Harold Thorpe and Imprint. Linkman, Talaro and Jean McElwyn were well back, while Padlock was pulled up before going half-a-mile.

Logan Chief was first to show out in the Second Division, followed by Travis Axworthy, Wrackler, Jewel Pointer and Kingcraft. Kingcraft had gone to the front at the end of the first half, followed by Logan Chief, Travis Axworthy, Jewel Pointer and Wrackler. Wrackler ran into second place at the mile post with Logan Chief, Travis Axworthy, Native Prince, Jewel Pointer and Daphne De Oro handy, and Logan Park last. The latter made a move half-a-mile from home, and Kingcraft was first into the straight with Wrackler and Native Prince alongside him. Jewel Pointer and Logan Chief were handy. Wrackler finished on best, and in a hard finish won by two lengths from Logan Park, with Jewel Pointer third and Logan Chief fourth. Then came Native Prince, Daphne De Oro and Kingcraft, with Travis Axworthy a long way back last.

Providing the weather keeps fine the clocks will be running hot when the select eight leave on Thursday afternoon, and the final summing up is for Logan Park, Wrackler, Kohara and Author Jinks.

FINAL

Wrackler Paralysed Opposition With Late Run

Although the qualifying heats in the New Zealand Cup contest promised that the final would be a real thriller, it has to be written of the 1930 event, as it has been written of so many before, that it was a disappointing race.

Wrackler unwound a run as they came into the straight that left the others anchored, and from then on it was not a race, with Wrackler simply jogging in. Disappointments started early in the race when Logan Park was left so badly that he was pulled up. King Pointer galloped off and lost so much ground that when he did strike his gait he was behind Terence Dillon from the twenty-four mark, and that horse had dwelt a little. Author Jinks was favored by a moving-in start, but that was of no use to him, as he broke up after going off, and he lost so much ground that he went to an apparently hopeless position.

Jewel Pointer soon took up the running, followed by Kohara, Logan Chief, Wrackler, Terence Dillon and King Pointer and this was the order practically to the home bend. King Pointer struck more bother early by getting a bump, and he went to a tangle, but he was with them again soon, and down the back he gave his supporters a thrill by coming with a strong run on the outer that looked like taking him to the lead, but another bump broke him up and put him out of court. At this stage, three furlongs from home, Jewel Pointer was still in
the lead and going nicely; Kohara was alongside, apparently full of running; Terence Dillon was working out for a run and was still on the bit; Logan Chief was throwing out signs of distress, and Wrackler was shaping up to put in his claim.

Within a furlong an altogether different complexion had been thrown upon the matter. Before they had completed the home bend Terence Dillon dropped the bit and was beaten. Bryce became busy on Kohara, but that horse, could not raise a kick, and Jewel Pointer was feeling the pinch, so Wrackler's run, started just as they swung into the straight, found not one horse fit to go a yard with him. The race was over with such dramatic suddenness that it left the spectators spellbound, although they revived sufficiently to give Wrackler a rousing reception as he, romped home the easiest of winners. The rest were so thoroughly distressed that Author Jinks, from an apparently hopeless position, came with a wet sail to be just as easily second as Wrackler was a winner, and credit must be given to Author Jinks as a real horse, as well as to English horseman J. Young, as a patient horseman and an excellent judge of pace.

No one to witness Wrackler's paralysing run would wish to deprive him of all the credit due to him as a super horse, and probably one of the greatest stayers to ever grace the track, but still the prevailing note struck was disappointment that Logan Park did not get away and thoroughly test the winner. That he would have done that was demonstrated on the final day of the meeting when he won just as pointlessly as did Wrackler in the Cup, and Logan Park was timed to come his last mile and a-half in 3.10 3/5 as though such an effort was a joke.


Credit: NZ Truth 13 & 20 Nov 1930

Maurice Holmes & Wrackler's owner Harry Nicoll

1930 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

In 1930, 5-year-old gelding Wrackler made his rivals look second rate when he ran away from Author Jinks and Jewel Pointer for Maurice Holmes, who had turned 22 only a week earlier. While the margin was four lengths, it appeared Wrackler could have won by half the length of the straight if asked.

The son of Wrack and Trix Pointer had been top class right from the start, winning the NZ and Great Northern Derbys, and later when the handicaps became too tough, switched to trotting and won the Dominion, a remarkable and unique feat.

Breeder/ owner Harry Nicoll, his private trainer Don Warren and Holmes also won the Derby that day with Wrackler's sister Arethusa, who beat a field of 20. Holmes was suspended for six weeks for causing a melee in the event, but was still the season's leading driver with 35 wins, a feat he would repeat on 17 further occasions.

Another highlight was Ces Donald training the quinella in the Dominion when the Author Dillon gelding Writer beat Kempton. They all had their thunder stolen somewhat on Cup Day though by a new star in Harold Logan, an 8-year-old who recorded his 10th win from his previous 12 starts.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03