| HORSES |
YEAR: 1985
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Mighty Chief, one of the best trotters to race in the 1960s, died recently at the ripe old age of 24.
A gelded son of My Chief and the grand producing mare Gala Girl, Mighty Chief was bred by Oamaru's Frank Oliver and was purcashed by Lester Clark of Greenpark for 190 guineas at the 1962 National Yearling Sales. Mr Clark never regretted the purchase. In his first season on the racetracks, Mighty Chief more than recouped his purchase price. The gelding made a sensational debut by winning at Timaru in February of 1964 at odds of £147/10/-. His first season of racing saw him race just seven times for five wins - two at Timaru and one each at Cheviot, Methven and Ashburton.
At four, Mighty Chief won two of his ten starts, both wins coming at Addington. It was his next season, as a five-year-old, that Mighty Chief made his presence felt in open trotting ranks. After being beaten a head by When in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup, Mighty Chief turned the tables on that mare and several other rivals by winning the 1965 Dominion Handicap in the hands of Doody Townley. Worth in total £2500 that year, the winner's share of the Dominion Handicap stake was £1625, a far cry from the $60,000 total stake of last year's contest.
Mighty Chief won a further two races at five, both also at Addington. He won a heat of the NZ Trotters Championship then added the final to his list of wins when beating Poupette and When. That season he was the leading stake-winning trotter in the country with £4025 in earnings.
Thirteen starts at six brought wins in the Ordeal Handicap at Addington, by nine lengths, and a heat of the NZ Trotters Championship (he was fourth in the final), while he also notched a brace of wins at Forbury Park. Victory in the grass track Banks Peninsula Cup again eluded him, this time being beaten by Tronso, the winning margin again being a head.
Addington was a happy hunting ground for the gelding by the time his seven-year-old season came round. He had won seven races on the track before the commencement of that season and added three further wins by the time the season finished. His successes came in the NZ Trotting Free-For-All, Canterbury Park Trotter's Cup and the Ordeal Handicap. His fourth win that season was recorded at Forbury Park. In all, 18 starts at seven brought in $10,295 in stakes from four wins and six placings.
Mighty Chief then experienced a lean trot as an eight and nine-year-old. Her raced only nine times those two seasons for no reward. While returning from a workout as a ten-year-old, Mighty Chief's racing career received a serious setback. He was frightened by a bird when returning to his stables and fell heavily on the asphalt road surface. The injuries he received were bad enough to make Lester Clark retire the gelding. However, Mighty Chief soon recovered and belied his age as he galloped around his paddock.
It was decided to return the gelding to work and a lease was signed by Springston dairy farmer Trevour Mounce, who took the veteran over. In his first start in over 20 months, Mighty Chief lined up against some of the best trotters the South Island could offer in the Winter Handicap at the National Meeting in 1971. Lacking form of any nature, Mighty Chief was neglected in the betting, being twelfth favourite in a field of as many runners. Home Mighty Chief rolled at odds of 83 to one in the hands of Bobby Nyhan to score his eleventh win at Addington. Mighty Chief struck again that season, winning the Victoria Park Free-For-All at Greymouth and he also ran second in the Ordeal Cup.
Two more seasons of racing, at 12 and 13 years, followed. In a total of 18 starts, the closest Mighty Chief came to winning was a nose defeat by Bambi at Greymouth as a 12-year-old after giving his younger rival a 12 yard start.
In all, Mighty Chief raced 105 times for 20 wins and 25 placings for stakes of over $36,000. He took a lifetime record of 2:02.4.
Credit: Brian Carson writing in NZ Trot Caledar 8Jan85
YEAR: 1965
1965 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP
Mighty Chief led for the greater part of the journey and then ran out a decisive winner of the Dominion Handicap. He was well rated by driver D J Townley and his success was all the more meritorious as Mighty Chief was having only his second start for the season. At his first appearance Mighty Chief was narrowly beaten by When at the Banks Peninsula meeting.
Mighty Chief took time to develop, but once he really got the hang of things he made a quick rise to the best classes. He won at his first race appearance as a three-year-old at Washdyke at long odds. When first tried, Mighty Chief "could neither pace or trot" and L R Clark must be given full marks for a grand job in developing Mighty Chief into the fine trotter he is today.
Mighty Chief was bred by F Oliver, Oamaru who sold him at a low figure at the yearling sales, and Mighty Chief was subsequently leased to Clark who, after trying him first as a pacer switched him to trotting. About 12 months ago Clark exercised a right of purchase clause in the lease.
By My Chief, Mighty Chief is a five-year-old bay gelding out of Gala Girl, winner of the first contest for the New Zealand Golden Slipper Stakes. Other good winners belonging to this family include Pala Royal, Pohutukawa and Grande Garrison. Alice Grey, the foundation mare of this family was got by the thoroughbred stallion, Balboa, and she was a noted show jumper.
D J Townley admitted he got a great thrill out of driving the winner, his first in the Dominion Handicap.
Acquit must be given full credit for an excellent effort for second. Early in the run home he looked as though he would be a danger to Mighty Chief but less than half a furlong out Acquit had come to the end of his run. Flying Maiden raced right up to her first day form - when she won the Worthy Queen Handicap - when she finished third in the Dominion. She received a good run all the way and stuck to her task in solid fashion in the run home. Flying Maiden is a much improved trotter who should experience little difficulty in continuing to pay her way.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar
YEAR: 1967
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| French Pass Wins from Scotleigh(rails) and Mountain Pride |
French Pass gave North Island stables another major success when he won the Dominion Handicap in clear cut style. French Pass was always well placed in the race, which was run on a slushy track. Conditions were so bad that many of the reinsmen were driving "blind" for a good part of the race. French Pass was making his first appearance in a race since he took part in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup several weeks ago.
French Pass took over the running after two furlongs but later gave way to Mighty Chief. French Pass raced past Mighty Chief at the straight entrance and was not seriously tested in the run home. The outsider of the field, Scotleigh trotted a grand race for second from 42 yards. He was still at the rear of the field nearing the half mile. Mountain Pride did well to finish third. He had a buckled sulky wheel for the last two furlongs. Mountain Pride finished just ahead of Stylish Major, who was followed by bracketed mate, Le Chant, who met trouble near the three furlongs. She finished fast for fifth. Mighty Chief, who had every chance, was next, followed by Russell, Logan Count and Highland Flight. Break Through, Tronso and Russell broke at the start and Scotleigh drifted.
French Pass gave C S Hunter his second driving success in the race, he having driven Min Scott to win in 1963. Min Scott was trained by C S Hunter's father, J S Hunter, but C S Hunter trains French Pass. A six-year-old bay gelding by Stormyway, French Pass is out of the Gallant Knight mare, Officious, who also produced Highland Host, Captain Bob and Officious Piper. French Pass was bred by the well known stud-master and breeder, Mr J M Connolly, Geraldine.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar