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ROBIN DUNDEE

'Stopwatch' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 4Feb70.

NZ's greatest race mare Robin Dundee, winner of $250,000 in stakes, has been retired from racing. Word has been received that she has returned a positive test to former champion Adios Butler (1:54 3/5). Now a twelve-year-old, Robin Dundee has been in America for the last two years, being sold by her owner, Mr J W Hewitt for $100,000. Mr Hewitt, however, retained a breeding interest in the Hal Tryax mare. Robin Dundee is at American trainer E Cobb's Fair Chance stud where Adios Butler stands.

Robin Dundee travelled a long way since she won at her first start - the Southern Stakes for 3-year-olds at Invercargill on October 29,1961. She outdistanced her 14 rivals on that occasion winning pulling up by 16 lengths, and at her next start went on to win the NZ Oaks.

Robin Dundee was a pacing midget if ever there was one. She was little more than a pony pacer, 14.2½ hands, but developed into a dour stayer and determined sprinter. She travelled far and wide; had several trips to Australia where she raced against the strongest opposition in both countries. She won the Miracle Mile at Harold Park (Sydney) in 1:59, the fastest mile ever recorded by a mare in either Australia of NZ under race conditions.

She contested four Inter-Dominion championship series. At he first attempt at Melbourne in 1965, she broke a pedal bone which put her out of action for several months. The next year she dead-heated for first in the $20,800 grand final when the championships were held at Forbury Park; a year later she finished second to Chamfer's Star in the $30,000 grand final in Sydney and fourth in the 1967 grand final at Perth. She went to America shortly after.

In NZ Robin Dundee took a mile record of 1:59 2/5 and on three occasions finished second in the NZ Cup - to Cardigan Bay, Garry Dillon and Lordship. She won 25 races and was 50 times placed for $80,540 in stakes in NZ and in Australia won 10 races and was 10 times placed for almost $30,000 in stakes, giving her a NZ and Australian total of $110,540. Among her NZ successes was the 1965 Auckland Cup.

Robin Dundee did not regain her top form in America and was sidelined for some months because of unsoundness. The extensive travelling she did and increasing years were no doubt against her. But as an 11-year-old she won five races and $58,275 in the States, bringing her lifetime score to just on the $250,000 mark.

By Hal Tryax, she was out of the Dillon Hall mare Cherry Blossom, dam also of Dundee and Donald Dundee, both of whom also went to America. Robin Dundee, who had two mile figures of 4:12 2/5 to her credit was also a great public idol - her duminutive stature, sheer courage and consistent record all going to make her a raceday favourite.

She was trained throughout her NZ career by Gore trainer J Walsh, who also campaigned her in Australia and in America for a short time.

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Twenty-six years ago when he was given the opportunity of breeding a foal from a Dillon Hall mare in return for providing her with a good home, little did then Mataura Island farmer Mr Jack Hewitt think a notable chapter was unfolding in the story which later produced one of NZ's greatest racemares who was also to become the dam of the world's fastest aged pacer.

Now semi-retired with his wife Joan on a 14 acre Myross Bush farmlet on the outskirts of Invercargill, Jack Hewitt last week recalled the chain of events leading up to the arrival in the world of Robin Dundee and the breeding in America of her son Genghis Khan (1:52.8).

In the spring of 1956, Mrs Hewitt's uncle, the late Bob Ritchie, a brother to the late Hugh Ritchie, a well known Invercargill identity, sold his farm at Willowbank in Northern Southland, an area steeped in light harness history, to his son Keith. Not particularly interested in horses, Keith got his father to try and find a good home for Cherry Blossom, a daughter of Dillon Hall, who was owned by his parents and was nine at the time. Jack Hewitt was approached by Bob Ritchie, then the Gore-based manager of Southland Farmers Co-op, who was particularly fond of the mare and was anxious to see her well cared for.

Jack was given the chance to breed a foal from her after he agreed to look after her on his Mataura Island farm. Taking the advice of Mr Ritchie, he mated her with Hal Tryax, the first 2:00 3-year-old pacer imported to NZ and standing at the late Hugh Gamble's Edendale property at the time. Cherry Blossom was technically owned by Mr Ritchie's wife Myra, now living in Gore. The Ritchies decided to dispose of their other horses, but Cherry Blossom was one that they treasured and did not want to fully part with.

The resulting foal from the mating to Hal Tryax was born at Derek Dynes' Wyndham property, not far from the Wyndham Showgrounds, where she was visiting the court of the Light Brigade horse Fallacy. A small chestnut who grew to only 14.2 hands at maturity, she was named Robin Dundee and was to carry on to woo light harness fans the world over. Mr Hewitt was breeding foal about from Cherry Blossom with Mrs Ritchie. To Fallacy she produced Adamae (dam of Ian). She then missed to Hal Tryax in 1959, but produced a filly, Blossom Song, by Flying Song, for Mrs Ritchie. To the same sire she produced the good winner Donald Dundee a year later. Cherry Blossom then developed shy breeding tendencies, missing to Hal O'Matic and Van Hanover among others. She ended her days with Mr C J Coll of Cave, Canterbury, producing Lord Dundee after running with First Lord in 1968.

Under the late Jack Walsh's guidance at Gore, Robin Dundee developed into NZ's champion racemare of her time for Mr Hewitt who, at the end of her NZ racing career, declined tempting American overtures and offers from the late Martin Tananbaum and decided to lease her for racing purposes to noted New York trainer-driver Eddie Cobb, William Schlesinger and Leon Machiz. For the partners, Robin Dundee won $62,000 on American racetracks before a breeding arrangement was entered into whereby Mr Hewitt was to get three foals and his partners one each. That contract has now expired and Messrs Hewitt and Machiz breed foal about from Robin Dundee, now hale and hearty at the grand old age of 24.

Robin Dundee's chapter of setbacks as a matron has been something of a heartbreak. In fact, until Genghis Khan arrived she appeared doomed to leave horses later solely destined to become injured, break-down or die. Her first foal, Dundee Adios, an Adios Butler colt, broke a bone in his leg which was later pinned in an involved operation at Pennsylvania University. Mr Hewitt bred Dundee Adios and brought him back to NZ to stand at Des Baynes' newly-established Highway Farm, Edendale. Dundee Adios, like his dam a small horse, now stands at Mr Roddy McFarlane's Winton Stud and has compiled a respectable record as a sire. Mr Hewitt suffered more bad luck with Robin Dundee's third foal, Dundee Butler (by Adios Butler) who was badly injured and now stands at stud in Victoria.

Before producing Dundee Butler, Robin Dundee foaled Miss Robin Dundee for Mr Schlesinger. A daughter of Tar Heel, she produced two fillies and a colt by Most Happy Fella at stud. She was found dead in her paddock with a ruptured stomach at Hanover Shoe Farms in September, 1979, when in foal to Albatross. Miss Robin Dundee was not insured and her owner had declined a $100,000 offer for her. Earlier in her career, Miss Robin Dundee took a mile record of 2:00.4 in a light racing career.

Robin Dundee's fourth foal, a 1975 Meadow Skipper colt, had a malformed foot and had to be destroyed as a yearling. Ghenghis Khan, her fifth foal, was not over precocious at two and three, but has emerged as one of North America's stars this season, taking a 1:52.8 mile record to make him the fastest aged pacer in the world with earnings of $750,000 for Eddie Cobb, the Nevacal Stable, New Jersey and the Jet Star Farms, Clarksbury, New Jersey. Robin Dundee's sixth foal, a filly by the Tar Heel horse Nansemond, who downed Albatross in the Little Brown Jug, was brought home to NZ by Mr Hewitt and is a member of his prized broodmare band at Myross Bush. Mr Hewitt maintains she was spoilt during her six month trip home and showed little interest in training after being broken in by his son Robert. Rather, she preferred to take more interest in human company. Standing only 14 hands, she has produced a Pass With Care filly, now a weanling, and is in foal again to the same sire, a son of Meadow Skipper, the sire of Ghenghis Khan.

Robin Dundee's seventh foal, Oily Bird, an Oil Burner colt, was sold by Mr Hewitt to Mr Machiz, but was injured and has developed slight arthritis in a leg. In 1980, Robin Dundee foaled a filly to Mr Machiz's crack racehorse Say Hello, a Bye Bye Byrd horse who clocked 1:55.4 as a 2-year-old.

Jack Hewitt has not seen Robin Dundee since she went to America 16 years ago and he has ruled out much possiblity of ever doing so again. The memories he cherishes of her, however, have been rekindled by the sensational deeds of her son Genghis Khan, and he derives great pleasure from successes by the progeny of her other son, Dundee Adios, in Southland.


Credit: Don Wright writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 20Jul82

JACK HEWITT

John William (Jack) Hewitt, who died in Invercargill on Monday, aged 76, became a household name in harness racing as the owner of champion racemare Robin Dundee in the 1960s.

Robin Dundee, who was trained by the late Jack Walsh of Gore, was actually bred by owner Hewitt's late Gore relations by marriage, Myra and Bob Ritchie, who virtually gifted the Hal Tryax-Cherry Blossom filly to him. The favour was extended to Mr Hewitt in return for his generosity in grazing Cherry Blossom free of charge for the Ritchie's on his Mataura Island farm.

Robin Dundee (1:59) won $229,272 in NZ, Australia and USA. She was the first pacer to better 2:00 in a race in Australia when she won the 1967 Craven Filter Miracle Mile at Harold Park, Sydney. Bob Cameron reined her in that feature win. Maurice Holmes drove the mare in many of her earlier NZ races.

Having her first race start, Robin Dundee served notice of her exceptional ability when she won the Southland Stakes by 16 lengths at Invercargill on October 29, 1960. She was reined by Charlie Franks, then attached to trainer Walsh's operation. They again triumphed in their next outing, the 1961 NZ Oaks at Addington. Robin Dundee won 33 other races outright and shared the major honours with Jay Ar in the 1965 Inter-Dominion Pacing Grand Final at Forbury Park with 'Doody' Townley at the reins. The NZ Free-For-All and Auckland Cup were feature wins for her that year.

Robin Dundee was three times runner-up in the NZ Cup - to Cardigan Bay (1963), Garry Dillon (1965) and Lordship (1966). Blossom Lady, her close relation from the Fashion Queen (by Bellfashion) taproot, won last year's NZ Cup. After her demanding career and when her powers may have been waning, Robin Dundee still won further races in North America for the late Eddie Cob, of Adios Butler fame, who part-owned her there. Easily Robin Dundee's best son was Genghis Khan (1:51.8), a world champion son of Meadow Skipper, subsequently a fine sire who has also stood in Australia.

Born in Palmerston North in 1917 and the second of six children, Mr Hewitt shifted to Winton with his family as a child, being educated there before spending two and a half years at Southland Technical College. Mr Hewitt later settled on and developed a 550-acre farm at Mataura Island and on September 5, 1946, married Joan Ritchie, who died six years ago. In 1975, Mr Hewitt sold his farm and shifted to a 14-acre section on the corner of Mill and Findlay Roads on the outskirts of Invercargill.

Credit: Don Wright writing in HRWeekly 13Oct93

DUNEDIN - ROBIN DUNDEE/JAY AR
"It is a dead heat between Jay Ar and Robin Dundee" came the shock announcement over the public address system - to the accompaniment of a roar from the crowd of 15,760. For Jay Ar had already been decorated as the winner and was parading alone on the track wearing the victory sash. Disband and Derek Jones were third.

1965 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Robin Dundee gained a runaway win in the NZ Free-For-All on Friday and her success was well received by the crowd. Robin Dundee enjoyed a grand run in behind the two leaders, Anarca Direct and Gay Robin. Peerswick sprinted up passing the two furlongs but once M Holmes pulled Robin Dundee out she soon had full control of the situation.

Her success was her 17th and she has also been placed 40 times for £24,355 in stakes in New Zealand and more than £5000 in Australia. Robin Dundee paced her last half mile in 59.8 sec, the full journey taking 2:37.

Fairly well back early, Orbiter put in some telling work over the concluding stages for third. A win for this capable pacer shortly would be popular. Lordship backed out as the barrier was released and was a clear last soon after the start. His fourth placing was not devoid of merit. Garry Dillon made one of his rare lapses at the start and was never really dangerous afterwards.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1960 NZ OAKS

The Southland filly, Robin Dundee, returned an outstanding performance to win the NZ Oaks at New Brighton on Saturday from Gold Globe, Lyrical and Morsel. Robin Dundee started from the outside barrier draw (19) and overcame a slow beginning and a check at the six furlongs for her success. She still races very greenly and attempted to run in the birdcage gate nearing the winning post.

She is a fine type of filly who completed a notable siring double for the season for her sire, Hal Tryax, who also sired the NZ Derby Stakes winner, Student Prince. Gold Globe made most of the pace and her closest attendant at the straight entrance was Adios Heather who tired shortly afterwards. Terrace Dale, Morsel, Lyrical, Vitane and Anterior were also handy at this stage with Robin Dundee improving rapidly. Robin Dundee sustained her run down the outside, and despite her greenness won very easily by a length and a half without even being really knocked about.

Gold Globe, a bay filly by Johnny Globe from Gold Reign, a daughter of a NZ Derby Stakes winner in Gold Chief and Rainstorm (dam also of Horatio Nelson, Gay Note, Wairau Princess and Marcina), was responsible for a most promising effort and looks certain to develop fine winning form. Lyrical, by Brahman from a fast pacer in Petro Star, was in the picture all the way and finished in resolute style. Morsel finished a useful fourth, then came Terrace Dale, Moose, Golden Rule, Vitane, Adios Duenna and Anterior. Adios Heather gave ground at the start and tangled later. She was handy enough approaching the straight for the run home, but did not finish on.

Robin Dundee is owned by Mr J W Hewitt, for whom she is trained at Gore by J Walsh. She was driven on Saturday by F A Franks, who had the misfortune recently to lose the services of his promising pacer, Congruent. Cherry Blossom, dam of Robin Dundee, left a good winner in Dundee, who was a top three-year-old in Southland in his year. Cherry Blossom was got by Dillon Hall from Cutty Sark, dam also of a Cup class pacer in Dundee Sandy.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

JACK WALSH

The death in Gore last week of Jack Walsh, aged 77, had me digging into the archives for a few words I penned on this gentleman in 1967. I hope you enjoy the reminiscience.

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Walsh, who trained the champion mare, Robin Dundee, in the twilight of his career, was the leading Southland driver and trainer on numerous occasions. He rode or drove close on 400 winners and as a trainer, won more than 300 races.

Walsh was born in Nightcaps and his first job was in a grocer's shop there. He was quite content with the job, but, he recalled, "the owner asked me to manage the place, so I left." It was also at Nightcaps in 1917 that Walsh had his first introduction to trotting. A Nightcaps butcher, Mr J H Reed, asked Walsh to ride a pacer called Gladiola, whom he owned and trained. Although he had ridden in gentlemen riders' at galloping meetings, Walsh told him that he had no idea how to sit on a pacing horse in harness and he thought he would be certain to come down.

Mr Reed had greater faith in Walsh, and asked him to ride Gladiola in saddle events at the 1917 Forbury Park winter meeting. Walsh applied to Christchurch for his horseman's licence, but this had not arrived on the morning of the meeting. A hurried phone call to Christchurch confirmed that the licence had been granted and Walsh took the mount on Gladiola. Gladiola was beaten a head by Nihilist, but came out to on the second day to win the two-mile Dunedin Handicap. A 3-year-old filly, she gave away starts of 60 yards and won by two lengths.

From then on Walsh never looked back. He returned to Gore in 1926 and worked with trotting trainer J R McMurray for 12 months. Then as private trainer to Mr F Wallis, he prepared such good winners as Sea Hawk, Ding Dong Bell, Nelson Elwyn and Red Anthony. Later as a public trainer Walsh trained such winners as Kissing Cup, Heather Dillon, Pacemaker, Gildirect, Meg Mundy, Aspasia, Lauder Lady, Dame Sybil, Mooloo, Navigate, Cabra who won the Dominion Handicap, and Ley's Pride.

Walsh's best training tally was 18 wins in the 1956-7 season when he also drove 16 winners. Walsh's services as a horseman, were in keen demand and between 1930 and 1940 he rode or drove 121 winners. Walsh maintained the best horse he rode in saddle was Rocks Ahead, who holds the track record of 2:09 2-5 set at Forbury Park in 1936. Walsh developed Robin Dundee into the best pacing mare in Australia and NZ in the 1960s when she took a record of 1:59 at Harold Park and won more than $100,000.

Credit: Taylor Strong writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 4Aug71

SYDNEY - CHAMFER'S STAR
Tasmanian pacer Chamfer's Star (a son of the good Maurice Holmes trained 1950 NZ Cup winner Chamfer) driven by former NZ 25 year old Brian (Mouse) Forrester, completed a clean sweep of the heats and final when after leading all the way from the front mark, to hold out Robin Dundee driven by Maurice Holmes by a long head.

Great Adios & R P Norton

1967 NZ TROTTING CUP

The north's pacing champion Great Adios humbled is 15 opponents in Tuesday's NZ Trotting Cup. The best of the steeds from the south, Happy Ending among them, can at least be grateful that the three minor prizes will remain in the South Island. Great Adios indeed made them all look ordinary on Tuesday.

And this is no sudden turn of events, or swing of the pendulum, because Great Adios is the third North Island horse in the last five years to win the Dominion's premier light-harness event. In 1963 Cardigan Bay beat Robin Dundee, Master Alan and Oreti (all minor place-fillers were from South Island stables), and in 1965 Garry Dillon led home the three southerners Robin Dundee, Jacobite and Gay Robin. Before Cardigan Bay's turn, there had not been a North Island-trained winner for 21 years - that was Josedale Grattan in 1941.

So the inference to be drawn is that the balance of pacing power has shifted north with a vengeance. How else can we explain away the picking of our rich Canterbury plum by a ratio of three to two in the past five years? And the office boy has just put his head in the door to remind me that the North Island made a clean sweep at Riccarton last Saturday - all eight events on NZ Cup day were won by North Island stables.

Great Adios sailed serenely into the lead with a little more than three furlongs to go and thereafter nothing could offer him any sort of competition. He continued to draw away, and although he must have given his supporters a heart attack when he veered away from the rails on turning for home and made his run over the final furlong close to the outside fence, a measure of the decisiveness of his victory was that he still had five lengths to spare at the winning post.

Looking lighter in condition than possibly anything else in the field, Great Adios must still have been superbly fit; a light fleshed type with a ton of guts - he must be, to tramp the two miles in 4:10.4, his last mile in 2:03.4 and his last half mile in 60.4. It was the third fastest NZ Cup in history. Johnny Globe's world record of 4:07.6 in 1954, and False Step's 4:09 in 1960, are the only faster performances. The first half-mile on Tuesday took 64.2, six furlongs 1:36.8, mile 2:07, mile and a half 3:10 and mile and three quarters 3:40.2. So there was no dawdling; it was a terrific battle from flag-fall, and Lordship was asked to go 4:05.2 to win, which would have been 2.4 secs. inside the world record of his sire Johnny Globe. Little wonder Lordship was never a threat.

Great Adios is a light chestnut stallion by Captain Adios (imp), a top-class juvenile pacer in the United States, winner of the Fox Stake for two-year-olds, and who was imported to the Dominion by the late Sir John McKenzie for his Roydon Lodge at great expense. Captain Adios's stud career, unfortunately, was all too brief - he died as a result of an accident in March, 1960, after less than four years (only three years at stud) in the Dominion. His percentage of winners to foals dropped is exceptionally high. Great Adios is out of Gail Bingen, by Gaillard, a son of Rey de Oro (imp) and Bonny Logan, by Logan Pointer (imp) from Bonilene (imp), and Bonilene is ancestress of two previous NZ Cup winners, Adorian and Lookaway, on the distaff side. Gail Bingen's dam, Agnes Bingen was by Nelson Bingen (imp) sire of the dual NZ Cup winner Peter Bingen, among numerous other great horses of both gaits. Agnes Bingen's dam, Agnes Bell, was by a top-class pacer in Gold Bell, sire of the dual Auckland Cup winner Gold Jacket. Great Adios's half-brother, Great Reveller, was a good winner in New Zealand and later did well in America. Other winners from the latest Cup winner's dam include Village Lord, Milldoria and Chief Reveller.

The betting was even. The favourite both ways, Happy Ending, carried $6597 for a win and $9706 for a place. Great Adios carried $6200 and $7003, and Lordship $5939 and $8065. Great Adios, who is owned by Mrs P M Norton, an Albany hotel proprietor, and trained and driven by her son, R P Norton, is now eight years old and the winner of $45,820 in stakes and trophies. The Cup was his 18th win, and he has also gained 21 minor placings.

Except that Lordship put in a couple of skips and Chequer Board broke, the start was a good one. Happy Ending was a little slow, but soon recovered his ground. So keen were the drivers that the lead changed constantly - Bobbinette, first out, had not reigned for more than half a mile before Garry Dillon and Cuddle Doon were upon her. With nine furlongs to go these three were followed by Happy Ending, Doctor Barry, Rocky Star, Spry, Tobias, Allakasam, Great Adios, Viking Water, Co Pilot, Waitaki Hanover and Disband, while Lordship had run into a pocket. In full cry racing past the winning post with a round to go, Tobias reached the lead with five furlongs left, and was joined at the half-mile by Great Adios. Tobias soon wilted. In fact, they were all embarrassed for the want of speed once Great Adios's driver put his foot down; he was the only one who could hold top gear for the distance. Five lengths back, Happy Ending shaded Spry by half a neck. A length and a half further back came Allakasam, whose 4:12 is the second-fastest time for a mare the world over - the only better record is Thelma Globe's 4:11. Tobias was six lengths back fifth, followed in by Co Pilot, Cuddle Doon, Lordship, Garry Dillon, Rocky Star, Bobbinette, Waitaki Hanover, Chequer Board and Viking Water, with Doctor Barry last.

The on-course total on the Cup this year, $48,358, was down $4432 on last year's figures; the off-course total $70,292, was $5625 less than last year.

The day was gloriously fine, and the official attendance was approximately 18,500, compared with 18,250 last year. The on-course total for the day, $454,059, compares with $497,864 last year. Off-course betting reached $383,247 for the day, against $477,412 last year. The on-course figures were down $43,805 and the off-course total down $94,165. However, to this year's figures has to be added half of the total of $122,416 invested on the two NZ Cups double. This amount, $61,208 brings the grand total for NZ Cup day to $898,514, which is a decrease of $76,762, quite a good result considering the economic state of the Dominion. The sum harvest of all this is yet another feather in the cap of the Metropolitan's wide-awake president, Mr R W Saunders, who was the prime instigator of the legislation which lead to the "twelfth-hour" passage of doubles betting with the TAB on the two NZ Cups.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

Doris Nyhan receives the Cup from Charles Thomas

1966 NZ TROTTING CUP

Lordship loitered with the NZ Cup field in a convivial sort of way for the best part of the last three furlongs. The manner in which he eventually won merely confirmed that he is a world class champion fit to rank with the Cardigan Bay-Bret Hanover-Adios Butler circle. He actually passed the post in little above second gear, certainly with a lot up his sleeve.

"I had to go to the front sooner than I meant to," said D (for Denis) Nyhan after driving Lordship to his second NZ Cup victory. "Lordship began to pull up of his own accord when well clear," continued Nyhan; and this compensated for a middling run in the early stages for the champion.

My own impression of the Cup race, run on a 'sticky wicket' was that Lordship was in a class of his own. He was not required to get into top gear until Tobias loomed up as a momentary danger at the straight entrance and, finally, Robin Dundee got to within two lengths of him only because he was actually easing down in the last 50 metres or so.

Oakhampton, Cuddle Doon and Doctor Barry broke at the start and Tobias was slow to muster speed. This left Full Sovereign to lead out from Waitaki Hanover, Disband, Lochgair, Master Alan and Robin Dundee. Lordship had made a splendid beginning and was already close up. Lochgair was the leader with half a mile covered and he was still there with a round to go, where Cuddle Doon (the pacemaker in the middle stages) had given way, and Oakhampton was lying third. It was at this stage that there was some jostling for positions, and the worst sufferers in the chain reactions that followed were Robin Dundee and Tobias, who finished up in the rear leaving the front straight for the last time. With half a mile to go Disband was half a length in front of the swift-moving Lordship, who went effortlessly to the front in another half-furlong and stayed there. The only time he looked in any sort of danger for the remainder of the race was when Tobias swept round the outer from the three furlongs and almost got on terms with Lordship at the furlong post. However, Tobias blew out almost as soon as he caught Lordship, who obviously won with plenty in reserve by two lengths from Robin Dundee.

Another valiant defeat was the lot of Robin Dundee. She was standing up Lordship fully half a dozen lengths with half a mile to go and battled on very gamely to beat Waitaki Hanover as decisively as she was beaten. Tobias was a creditable fourth, a bare head away, with three lengths to the fifth horse, Disband. Cuddle Doon was two lengths behind Disband, with a gap of four lengths to Master Alan, six lengths to Oakhampton, and then came Full Sovereign, Lochgair and Doctor Barry - last.

The first quarter was run in 35 secs., half-mile 67.8, six furlongs 1:41.8, mile 2:15.2, mile and a quarter 2:49.2, mile and a half3:20, mile and three quarters 3:52, and the full journey (gross) in 4:22.6. Lordship's net time was 4:19, an excellent return under the conditions. Lordship, whose racing career to date has been confined to New Zealand, has now won £48,170 in stakes and trophies. His first NZ Cup, in 1962, was also run on a wet track. Like many an out-and-out champion before him, he can handle all sorts of tracks, dirt or grass, wet or dry, with equal confidence.

Lordship is by Johnny Globe, the 1954 Cup winner. Lordship's dam, Ladyship, a U Scott mare, traces back to the Australian mare Lightnin' who reached good company on NZ tracks and was also ancestress of Emulous, a champion pacer of the 1940's who won the Inter-Dominion Championship at Auckland in 1948. Lordship was bred by his owner, Mrs D G Nyhan, wife of the trainer, D G (for Don) Nyhan, who has now trained three NZ Cup winners - Johnny Globe and Lordship (twice). D D Nyhan has driven Lordship in both his Cup wins.

The presentation of the Gold Cup on Tuesday was made to Mrs Nyhan by Mr C S Thomas, a past-president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and the NZ Trotting Conference, and at present treasurer of the Metropolitan. In his introduction to the Cup presentation, Mr Saunders paid a tribute to Mr Thomas's outstanding work as one of the principal architects of the Totalisator Agency Board.

Robin Dundee ran her third second in the race: she was runner-up to Cardigan Bay in 1963 and to Garry Dillon last year. Her stake-winnings in New Zealand have reached £37,340 and she has also won £10,000 in Australia. Lack of experience and racing in seasoned company could have told against Tobias, who is obviously a talented young pacer and a potential champion. He should show to advantage on dry tracks later at the carnival.

The on-course betting on the Cup, £26,395, was slightly down on last year's figures of £27,358; but the off-course total of £37,958 10s was commensurately up on last year's turnover of £36,842. After showery weather for some days beforehand, and up till a late hour on Cup day, the attandance of 18,250 was well up on expectations. Last year's attendance was 17,483.

The on-course totalisator receipts, £248,932, were a new record for a trotting meeting, and also a South Island record for trotting and racing. Last year's Cup-day total, £230,015, was the previous record. Tuesday's off-course total was £238,706, also a new record for a trotting meeting. The previous record was last year's total of £211,674 15s.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

Lofty Shaw, Jack Baker, Garry Dillon & Peter Wolfenden

1965 NZ TROTTING CUP

Adroitly shepherded through a traffic hazard just after negotiating the home turn, Garry Dillon decisively outstayed the favourite Robin Dundee in the NZ Cup at Addington Raceway.

Crack northern reinsman Peter Wolfenden had the winner in front from barrier rise, he took the trail behind Danny's Pal with about seven furlongs covered, and thereafter he stayed on the fence in the path of the pilot until he got the green light in the run home - he actually edged his way to the outer and had gathered in Robin Dundee half-way down the running.

Garry Dillon had three lengths to spare as he passed the post, too decisive a result to warrant any reaching for the excuse book. However, there were the usual casualties. Gay Robin looked as unlucky as anything. He showed a torrent of speed to finish fourth after striking trouble and going into a prolonged break with only a furlong and a half covered - this lapse cost him about a dozen lengths and he was less than five lengths from the winner at the finish. Orbiter fared little better in the battle of tactics than he did a year ago (when he was second to Cairnbrae) but on this occasion his chance got completely extinguised when he got squeezed back with less than three furlongs to go. He was running a fairly close eighth at the time. Jacobite also made a remarkable recovery to come third, because he misfired as badly as anything at the start and still had at least a dozen of the field to mow down with half the race to run.

Lochgair, Avante and Gay Reel were others to tangle at the start, and Garry Dillon's early attendants were Idaho, Robin Dundee, Orbiter, Danny's Pal, Pancho Boy and Garcon D'Or. Garry Dillon was a clear leader with a mile and a quarter to go, but then Danny's Pal rushed up to take over, and with six furlongs left he had Garry Dillon, Idaho, Avante, Robin Dundee and Tactile as his nearest pursuers. Cairnbrae made a short-lived spurt wide out going along the back the last time, but the one who really 'got cracking' as the field crossed the top was Robin Dundee - she was in full cry on the home bend and soon had Danny's Pal and Idaho in trouble, but no sooner had she drawn clear than Garry Dillon made his sweep well out on the track and Robin Dundee had no answer to his perfectly timed onslaught.

Robin Dundee was a length and a half in front of Jacobite, who was a head better than Gay Robin, and Idaho was the same distance back fifth. Danny's Pal, Lordship, Van Rebeck, Orbiter, Tactile, Avante, Pancho Boy, Garcon D'Or, Lochgair, Gay Reel and Cairnbrae followed in the order named.

P T Wolfenden, interviewed after the race, said he thought he was the only one with a chance of beating Robin Dundee from the home turn if he could get clear, "and I managed to." D J Townley, driver of Jacobite, thought he was "a certainty beaten." He lost fully 36 yards at the start.

Garry Dillon is raced on lease by Messrs E B S Grey and J H Shaw from his Southland breeder, Mrs E M Kirk. A seven-year-old bay gelding by Garrison Hanover(imp), who is now close to the top of the sires' list for the current season. Garry Dillon is out of Regina Dillon, by Dillon Hall out of Regina Pointer, by Logan Sun out of Regina de Oro, by Copa de Oro from Regina, a famous foundation mare whose descendants include Native Chief, Logan Chief, Grand Mogul and a host of other class performers; but this was the first New Zealand Cup winner from the family.

Garry Dillon has now won 12 races and £11,042 5s, including Tuesday's £100 gold Cup. The cup was presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr D Seath). Robin Dundee's stake-winnings have reached £23,055, plus around £5000 in Australia.

Despite a showery, gloomy morning, the attendance was good, 17,482 compared with 18,000 last year. The weather cleared after the second race. The on-course betting on the Cup was £27,353, an increase of £4850 on last year; the off-course Cup total, £36,842, was £1829 up on last year. The totalisator, on-course, handled £230,015 (including £23,644 10s on the double) compared with £216,064 10s last year. The off-course total was £211,674 15s (including £104,503 5s on the double), compared with £196,592 10s last year.

On a sticky track the time was relatively slow - 4:22.4 for the winner. Sectional times were: Half-mile 64.8; Mile 2:12.8; Mile and a half 3:19.8.

J P Baker, who trains Garry Dillon at Morrinsville, Auckland, told of Garry Dillon's arrival at Addington as late as last Friday following a 600-mile trip by float after a flight from Auckland had to be cancelled. Baker would have driven Garry Dillon himself but for meeting with an accident in recent weeks which injured his ribs and broke his collar-bone. Baker gives unstinted credit to veteran Cambridge trainer C G Lee for his assistance in the training of Garry Dillon in recent weeks, and also his care of the horse on his trying float trip south.

P T Wolfenden was driving his second NZ Cup winner in the last three years - he drove Cardigan Bay in 1963 when, incidentally, Robin Dundee was also second to him.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar