| FEATURE RACE COMMENT |
YEAR: 1927
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| Lady Rhodes presents the Cup to Kohara's owner J L Webb |
James Bryce was back again with another Cathedral Chimes stallion in Kohara to win for the fourth time in five years.
Ahuriri had to be withdrawn with an injury, but with McKenzie adding Acron and Great Bingen to Bryce's bracket of Kohara and Great Hope, the stable practically had it won before the start. Bryce opted to handle Great Hope and gifted the plum drive of Kohara, from 24 yards, to his son Andy to emulate the feat of his brother James junior with Great Hope.
Rain had made track conditions difficult that year, but with a lap to go most in the 17-horse field still had a chance with Kohara leading. Kohara stayed on too well however for the fast finishing Cardinal Logan, noted 13-year-old mudlark Man O'War and Great Bingen, who from 84 yards was making a great run at the three furlongs only to be yanked to the outside fence to avoid the breaking Imprint.
Kohara had also been bred and raced by R M Morten until a year prior to his Cup win, when he was bought by Auckland's J L Webb and thus became the first North Island owned winner.
-o0o-
The Toff writing in NZ Truth 10 Nov 1927
J L Webb's black horse Kohara won the NZ Trotting Cup in an airey manner from Cardinal Logan which suffered two inconveniences on the trip.
Kohara began fast and was early in a handy position. With a round to go he was head and head with the leader, Logan Chief, the pair going to the ten-furlong disc in 3.4 2/5. Going out of ther straight, Kohara had Logan Chief doing his best. As they flew past the twelve-furlong peg in 3.39 4/5, Kohara drew out from Logan Chief, Peter Bingen, Man o' War, Prince Pointer, Cardinal Logan, Black Admiral, Loganwood, Great Hope, Audacious, Talaro and Great Bingen.
As they negotiated the mile and three-quaters, the watch read 4.14 3/5. Kohara was just at the head of Peter Bingen, Man o' War, Prince Pointer, Logan Chief, Cardinal Logan, Loganwood and Great Bingen. In the race to the judge, Kohara held his advantage to win by two lengths from Cardinal Logan, which finished in great style. Man o' War was a similar distance away third and Great Bingen fourth.
Acron, Sea Pearl and Queen's Own failed to move off properly. With five and a half furlongs to go, Cardinal Logan suffered interference, which he unintentionaly passed on to Sea Pearl, causing Imprint and Great Bingen to go very wide to avoid a smash. The incident cost Great Bingen fully six lengths.
The winner was driven by A Bryce, son of J Bryce, and is by Cathedral Times from Bright Alice.
Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly
YEAR: 1950
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| R Bryce &R W Morten after Ahuriri won the 1925 NZ Cup |
Mr Richard May Morten, who died suddenly in Christchurch on Sunday morning in his seventy-fourth year had a long association with farming, local bodies, and business organisations in Canterbury.
Mr Morten was born in Christchurch, the son of Mr R M Morten, the owner of a property in Christchurch and the Ahuriri station in Tai Tapu. After being educated at Christchurch Boys High School, he gained pastoral experience with his father on the Ahuriri Station and in 1905 he took over the property, where he specialised in English Leicester sheep, crossed for fattening purposes, and Hereford cattle.
On Ahuriri he had trotters and pacers that were famous throughout NZ. Among these outstanding horses were Ahuriri, who won the NZ Cup in 1925 and 1926, and Kohara, who won the same race in 1928. Mr Morten established what is probably a NZ record by winning the NZ Sapling Stakes three years in succession - in 1922 with Ahuriri, in 1923 with Taurekareka, and in 1924 with Kohara.
Mr Morten was re-elected president of the Banks Peninsula Racing Club on Saturday evening.
Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 28Jun50