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2010 PGG WRIGHTSON NZ BREEDERS STAKES

Trevor Proctor and his partner Diane Dynes enjoyed their greatest moment in harness racing when Tact Lizzie romped away with the $80,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Breeders Stakes at Addington last Friday night.

Tact Lizzie didn't just get a suck along behind the pace, sneak up the passing lane and fall in to win by a nose - which you would almost expect when such a time-honoured Group 1 event was won by a $64 outsider. No. She started from the outside of the second row, looped the field with 1000 metres to go, and literally ran her opposition into the ground!

And the icing on the cake? Her winning time of 3 09.4, which represented a stunning mile rate of 1 57.2 for the 2600m mobile and even wiped a name like Mainland Banner from the record books in the process. Moments don't get much better than that. "This is our biggest thrill by a long shot," Proctor said afterwards, "I'm still shaking."

Friday's field probably wasn't the greatest Breeders Stakes line-up possible, with top mares like Kiwi Ingenuity, Lauraella and Special Ops all absent for one reason or another, but any thoughts of the event being 'easier' to win this year soon went out the window when Tact Lizzie drew saddlecloth 14. Even Proctor was almost conceding defeat as he found a spot in the stand. "Pretty much," he said. "From there (14) we'd have been pleased if she finished in the top half of the field, and thought that if she even ran a place it would have been more than what we could ask for."

Tact Lizzie had other ideas, and forever etched her name onto one of Addington's most sought-after trophies for the mares. Proctor admits that it took him a long time to work out a training regime that suits the now 10-win mare, and it is one that goes against the grain. "Hard work," he says. "You hate doing it, but it's just how she is - she loves it. And you can't give her much time off either, because she tends to tie up real bad."

Tact Lizzie is a 5-year-old daughter of Christian Cullen and the New York Motoring mare Tact Hayley. She was bred by Diane's father the late Derek Dynes, and belongs to his tough old Southland breed that has sent forth numerous good horses over the decades. After Derek's passing a couple of years ago, Tact Lizzie is now raced by Diane's mother Bessie.

Proctor has been involved in the sport ever since he moved from Invercargill to Winton in the early 1990's, and worked for Derek initially. "I'm a painter and decoratorby trade - training's just a part-time thing for me," he said. "We've only got the two racehorses; her and Tact Aunty, plus a couple of 3-year-old fillies who qualified recently."

Tact Aunty is the same age as Tact Lizzie, is also by Christian Cullen, and being out of Flash Tactics she belongs to the same family; he and Tact Lizzie have the same fifth dam, Tactics. Flash Tactics was more than capable on the track herself, winning eight times from Derek's stable and finishing in the money behind Flight South (third, NZ Premier Mares' Championship) and Kym's Girl (second, NZ Standardbred Breeders' Stakes) this time nine years ago.

The Premier Mares' Championship tomorrow (Thursday)at Addington is where Tact Lizzie could head next, although Proctor is going to leave making the decision about starting until after he gave her a jog on Sunday. "The 1950 metres probably won't suit her, she's more of a distance horse," he said. "She doesn't give you a great turn of foot, but she does cover the groud deceptively well. And she could be in foal, too. We got her served by McArdle before she came up to stay here at Laurence Hanrahan's, and the vet says she feels like it but he couldn't find the embryo on her scan."

Friday's stunning victory was also the pinnacle to date in the career of driver Stephen McNally.

Tact Lizzie's regular pilot Jonny Cox couldn't get a flight to Christchurch later than 2.00pm that afternoon, and was already committed to six drives at Winton where he thought he had one or two good chances, so Hanrahan went looking for a replacement.

"Laurence rung me last night, and I jumped at the chance," McNally said, adding that the only other time he had sat behind the mare was in last year's Hororata Cup when she missed away. "Driving in races like this is always more of a thrill than normally, because they're Group 1s and go down in the history books - and you're up against nice horses. I knew we were going fast out there, but it didn't quite feel like 3.09. It was a nice wedding present," he said.

McNally will marry his fiancée Rebecca Odering at a chapel in Prebbleton this Saturday, in front of some 200 guests. He and Rebecca have just built a house on the Motukarara property of his parents, opposite the racecourse, and with 10 in work he has got a nice number of horses around him plus he has kept busy doing farrier work as well. "Dad's working for me now."


Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 17Feb10

2001 CADUCEUS CLUB OF CANTY NZ STANDARDBRED BREEDERS STAKES

Colin De Filippi had been thinking about it all week. Thinking about how he was going to turn the tables on Flight South. After all, he and his wife Julie had lined Kym's Girl up in the NZ Premier Mares Championship knowing she was at the top of her game; they didn't expect to win, but they did not expect her to get beaten the way she did either. Fully respecting that Kym's Girl only deserved second prize that night, De Filippi wanted a different result in the Caduceus Club of Canterbury NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes.

The first part of the plan fell into place when Kym's Girl drew two and Flight South five, but he kept quiet about how he was going to play it on the night and even those closest to him did not know. In the end, history will show it to be just another classic 'CJ' drive. Flash Tactics and Ricky May speared away from their 'ace' draw so quickly that it gave De Filippi and Kym's Girl all three options...Take a trail, sit parked and wait for cover, or push forward. When nothing came around De Filippi opted for the latter, probably smiling that he had not needed to use too much petrol getting there. From in front the race was theirs for the controlling, and when De Filippi took a sneaky peek around with 800 metres to run he could see he had Flight South right where he wanted her - last. A furlong later Flight South was inching forward ominously with cover like she had done the previous week, but De Filippi still had a handful of his own mare and wasn't going to be outsprinted this time. He asked Kym's Girl to go rounding the home bend and they stole the show; last half in 56.6, quarter in 27.4, I'll take this one thanks. "The race was always going to come down to a battle of tactics, especially when it dropped down to a nine horse field," De Filippi said afterwards.

It was Bill Denton, the stable's most respected employee, that planted the seed in his son-in-law's mind about taking Kym's Girl to the front, because he had driven the mare that way in lead-up work and said she had felt good being there. "She had been tried that way in races before without much success, but she is stronger this season and we have been trying to teach her to find the line," De Filippi said.

Apart from co-training the fourth mare in history to win back-to-back Breeders Stakes, joining Lento (1995,1996), Blossom Lady (1991,1992,1993)and Bonnie's Chance (1982,1983,1984), De Filippi also had the satisfaction of proving a point about his mare's ability after finishing second the previous week. "I heard someone say this year's Breeders Stakes field was weaker than past years, but when you have got an Auckland Cup winner, a Hannon Memorial winner and a previous winner of the event it can't be all that weak. Kym's Girl would definitely rate up with the best mares I have driven; horses like Idolmite, Quiet Touch and Adio Routine," he said.

Kym's Girl was entrusted to the De Filippi stable by her owners David Miller, Bill Marra and Graeme Trist. She developed unsoundness in a hoof following her game run for third in last years' NZ Cup, and it was thought that having access to a pool would help her training and she has responded well to it. Kym's Girl will start once more before the Easter Cup, after which she will have a spell and be aimed again at the NZ Cup.

Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 21Mar01

ANNE WILSON

Anne Wilson, who bred and raced some of NZ's greatest horses, died last Friday. She was 91. Mrs Wilson was the wife of the late Andy Wilson, a former secretary of the Wyndham Harness Racing Club.

Freeman Holmes, now retired from a notable career as a leading Canterbury studmaster and trainer, recalls Mrs Wilson as "a highly respected person, whom I had a lovely association with." Holmes found her modesty while racing the great pacer Noodlum together as one of her personality strengths.

Many years earlier her husband had been given the fine pacer Nell Grattan, who had been trained by Stan Edwards to win nine races. From Nell Grattan, they bred Tactics, a top racemare who won the New Brighton Cup and 10 other races from the stable of Maurice Holmes and after being sold left to Hal Tryax the outstanding young pacer, Tactile. Tactics also left Deft, a daughter of Captain Adios who produced Noodlum to Bachelor Hanover.

After an illustrious career on the track, in which he won 28 races, Noodlum was twice leading sire in New Zealand and for the past two seasons has been leading broodmare sire.

A keen and very capable golfer, Mrs Wilson bred Adroit, winner of the Golden Slipper Stakes, and won the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes with Petite.

She is survived by a son, Brian.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 23Aug95

DEREK DYNES

It was a lucky day for Derek Dynes that time back in 1958 when he ran across Southland owner and breeder Andy Wilson in the street in Wyndham. "You know, I wouldn't mind selling that mare of mine," Wilson happened to mention. He'd had some success with the mare's earlier foals and he had sold them previously. She had a filly foal at the time and was in foal to Hal Tryax.

Derek Dynes had just bought his first farm in the area so naturally there wasn't all that much spare money around. Especially for another horse. But he didn't hesitate on hearing Wilson's plans. "I'll have her," he said. A few days later the price was agreed and Derek Dynes had paid over his cheque for £800. With that, he owned the mare, and Andy and Mrs Wilson kept the filly. It was a move which did all parties a lot of good.

The mare was Tactics. The filly was Deft. The foal she dropped in the spring was Tactile. By Light Brigade from Nell Grattan from that breeding gem First Water, by Harold Rothschild, Tactics had left Adroit, who had won the Golden Slipper Stakes by that time, Guile, who also went on to be another good winner in Australia, and a filly, Astute.

Derek then sold a half share in the mare to his cousin Jim. The two raced a number of horses in partnership after Derek got a licence to train about 1956. Among them, Derek recalled last week, were such horses as Forest Hill and Glenoware, both by Bill B, and both winners of three races, and Agean who won "five or six". There were many others eventually, but none were as important as that 12-year-old mare Dynes bought off Andy Wilson. She and her daughters have left a string of winners as long as your arm and, assuredly, there will be many more from the line. The latest to bring the name into the winner's circle has been the fine 3-year-old filly Tact Boyden, Derek's representative in the DB Flying Fillies' final at Addington in a few days time after winning two of the four South Island heats.

Derek, farming then at Wyndham, but now just out of Ashburton, trained Deft for the Wilsons. She didn't show too much early, winning only a maiden race at Invercargill as a 3-year-old. "She was spelled when she didn't kick up, but she won three or four the following year," Dynes recalled. She raced eventually against the best in the country, finishing second in Jacobite's Easter Cup at her second to last start. Then, in her last race, she beat Jay Ar and the brilliant mare Robin Dundee at Wellington. "She led all the way. The other two were off marks though."

Deft then went on to make her mark as a broodmare. She left Fool Proof, Eligo and Canny, all winners, before dropping Noodlum. There is no need to dwell on his exploits. Sufficient to say he was a champion racehorse in his own right (and if he had stayed sound he could have been even greater) and the list of winners he has sired since grows longer every day. Deft left two other winners, the speedy Olga Korbut and the Lordship horse Understudy, before her death several years ago.

But back to Tactics. Her next foal was Tactile, a colt who looked good right from the start. Derek trained him for himself and his cousin. "He was a great-mannered colt. He didn't have the speed of this filly (Tact Boyden). He had a paddly way of going but, goodness, he was a tough horse. He could do a quarter in 30...but not just one. He could run them one after another." According to Dynes, Tactile didn't 'kick' before the end of October. But when he lined up for his first race he was ready.

Driven by Kenny Balloch, he won the Golden Slipper in December by two and a half lengths, the Rangiora Raceway Stakes, when driven by Doody Townley, by four, the Geraldine Invitation, the Nursery Stakes, the Kindergarten Stakes and the Welcome Stakes all in a row. He finished second then in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes before being just beaten by outsider First Battle in the Sapling after almost falling. He started the 3-year-old season with a second and a third before winning the NZ Derby, the Champion Stakes and, by seven and a half lengths, the Great Northern Derby. "He won the Derby in a bit over 3:10. The fillies beat that now," Dynes observed. "But he just plugged away in the trail behind Vanderford and, when the others were stopping, he just kept going."

That was the last NZ fans saw of him that season. Soon after Auckland he was shipped out of Bluff to take on the best of his age in Australia. Jim Bond was looking after him on that trip. He won the South Australian Derby - "Minuteman had it won until he broke at the top of the straight" - the New South Wales Derby after Doody Townley managed to get him around a skirmish, and then the Victorian Derby.

As a 4-year-old he ran second to the mighty Cardigan Bay in the Auckland Cup before heading across the Tasman once more for the Inter-Dominion series in Melbourne. Driven by Robert Cameron himself a near neighbour now of Dynes on the Ashburton-Methven road, Tactile won a heat and then finished third behind Minuteman, who led all the way, and the fine mare Angelique. "He was a top horse that Minuteman. He went all the way at a great rate." Derek was not in Melbourne at the time, Cousin Jim was. A friend, Bob Norman, with whom he had stayed in Adelaide, persuaded him to take Tactile back to South Australia for a couple of races. They went, but the horse broke a pedal bone and was out for the rest of the season.

The following year he won a heat of the Inter-Dominion at the Forbury Park Inter-Dominions and again, at six, a heat in the Sydney series. Tactile went to America soon after and took his lifetime earnings close to the $200,000 mark. He won a lot of races and ran second to Bret Hanover the time that champion took his world mark. The Dynes sold Tactile to the States on condition that he would return to NZ at the end of his racing career. But, before coming home, he stood at Martin Tananbaum's White Devon stables for several seasons. "He left a swag of winners in America, but many of them were minor winners who couldn't get a race here."

Back home, he left some good horses - he has six 2:00 performers, among them good juveniles Ryal Pont and Wickliffe - but, in Derek's own words, some were not much good. An old horse now, Tactile is still alive and spending his days at Jim Dynes' son Ross' place at Ryal Bush. "He was a very fertile horse but he went off overnight. We don't know why. Perhaps it was hereditary. His old sire did the same."

The Dynes put Tactics first to Garrison Hanover and then again to Hal Tryax. Tactus was the Garrison Hanover colt. He won five races and has since made a successful sire in New South Wales. Tacwyn was the sister to Tactile. But did she turn out to be a champion? Far from it. "She was a dirty thing. She would kick the shafts to pieces. We found out later she had a cystic ovary, so I suppose she had an excuse," Derek said last week. She was put to stud as a young horse and produced Exmoot to Hi Lo's Forbes. That first foal has left several winners, Elderberry being the most recent. Put then to Hundred Proof, she left US winner Tactual and then Tacten, the dam of the current stable star.

Tacten, too, gave Derek Dynes more than his share of troubles. "She was a headstrong thing. She was absolutely hopeless from a stand. But she did win one race as a 3-year-old...by twenty lengths or so at Winton." She never did more on the track. But she's continued the family tradition at stud. Back to that soon.

Tactics meanwhile, went back to Garrison Hanover to produce Tactena, Greek March to Caduceus, Tactess to Flying Song, Five Score and Master Proof to Hundred Proof and then Tacmae by Yankee Express. Tactena, Greek March, Master Proof and Tacmae were winners themselves, Tactena, Tactess and Five Score producing their share of winners. Tactena, who won three races, left Tactless, Tact Lady (dam of a 1:58.2 winner in Tact Henery), Tact Command (1:59.6US) and another American winner in Scottish Tact. Tactess left Tactful, a winner now being bred from, Ryal Ann and Ryal Tar, both winners.

It was when the Dynes' partnership dissolved 'about ten or twelve' years ago that the cousins split the mares between them. One of the ones Jim got was Tactwyn and she produced two more winners for him, Ryal Mood and Ryal Lady. Derek got Tacten and Five Score. They have produced winner after winner. To Tacten first. Tact Del was her 1973 foal. She ran second to Ruling Lobell in the Leonard Memorial and is now at stud herself. Tact Knight, her next filly, won two races here and then went to West Australia where she won seven or eight. Tact Hanover was sold as a youngster and later died. At that stage, Derek, by now established at Ashburton, decided to send the mare to Australia to be mated with Overtrick. Very smart filly Tact Over was the result. Back home in NZ, she won a couple of races before she, too, went to stud last season. "She had plenty of ability, but she used to be a hard drive. She pulled like anything," Dynes said. "Robert used to think she was extra good, but I think he thinks Tact Boyden's better now. But then, she's always been a nice horse." Tact Over has a foal by Valerian and is in foal to Lordship. Tact Boyden is Tacten's first foal since coming back from Australia.

And if Derek is delighted with the way things have worked out with that mare, and there's no doubt that he is, then the exploits of Five Score have given equal satisfaction. Fourth herself in Rossini's Golden Slipper, her first foal was Yankee Score who won the Leonard Memorial in 1973 for Dynes. Later she left the winner One Score, herself now at stud. Then came Bachelor Score who, while she didn't race, is already proving a useful broodmare. Her first foal was Ryal Scott, bred by Ross Dynes, and he won in America.Then came Nibble Score, also a winner before going amiss. Bachelor Score's current 2-year-old is Patron Score, a promising young horse who damaged a tendon. "He looks extremely smart but once he was injured we decided to put him out for at least six months. It wasn't that bad, but that time off will be an 'insurance'.

High Score, a colt by Tarport Coulter, was Five Score's third foal. "Hell, I put the time into him, the useless brute. He took ages to catch on. By the time he was five he had been everywhere, to a lot of trainers in Australia. And the next thing, here he is running 1:57 and a bit at the Meadowlands." Timely Score was Five Score's next racehorse. He won three here as a 2-year-old, including the NZ Sires' Produce Stakes final by four and a half lengths from Hanover Don, Beaufort, Lord Module, Montini Bromac, Roydon Scott and company. "Soon after that, he popped a tendon so we gave him 12 months off," Dynes recalled. The horse then went, like many of the breed, across to Roy Annear in West Australia who swam him and got him going again to be one of the best horses in the state. He's won dozens of races and his earnings are getting up towards the $100,000 mark.

Scottish Score, by Scottish Command, didn't race but was put to HT Luca, a stallion Dynes himself imported to NZ, two seasons in a row. Her second foal was Two Score who ran second to brilliant filly Time's Up at Addington in his first start. He is now in America. Sent to Australia several seasons ago, Scottish Score has an Overtrick filly at foot and is in foal to Adios Vic. Meanwhile, the last of Five Score's progeny to get to the races, Nevele Score, by another Dynes import Nevele Bigshot, is also racing in Australia where, as well as a number of wins, she ran third in last year's West Australian Oaks. This year, Nevele Score is proving a sensation on the track. Just recently she broke Paleface Adios' Australian record for a mobile 2500 metres, rating 2:01.8, in her seventh or eighth win in row. Right now, Five Score has a rising 2-year-old by Nat Lobell and a colt by Boyden Hanover. Whichever way you look at it, those two mares and their progeny have given Derek Dynes a huge amount of success.

Now 51, he farms his border-dyked 200 acres at Ashburton and, assisted by his daughter Elaine, works his horses as well. He moved to Ashburton because "it's handier to the races - and the stallions." He has got a fine half-mile track which can be used winter and summer, is in the process of increasing his boxes to twenty and is just finishing a new wash and gear complex. His racehorses, and those mares and weanlings, which aren't either in Southland or Australia have all the green grass they want in his irrigated paddocks.

Derek Dynes enjoys both aspects of his life, the farming and the horses. "It's good when one can give the other a boost," he said last week. These past few weeks, there has been a lot of effort going into getting Tact Boyden right for Friday night's assignment. It is her toughest yet. After that, Dynes has nothing mapped out. "I might even send her across to Australia to be mated with Adios Vic," he said. "He was a top racehorse and he's left a lot of winners." It's a pattern Dynes has followed with some success before. He won't be keen to change a winning formula.



Credit: Graham Ingram writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 4May82

A A (ANDY) WILSON

Mr Andy Wilson, a well known figure to most NZ trotting followers, first as secretary of the Wyndham Trotting Club for many years, and then through his association with such outstanding racehorses as Tactics, Cannelle, Adroit, Noodlum and Olga Korbut, died in Christchurch, last week at the age of 75.

As secretary of the Wyndham Trotting Club from 1934 to 1965, Mr Wilson was responsible for several major innovations in trotting. Most noteworthy perhaps was the withdrawal system, used to this day, which Mr Wilson's Club sponsored at the 1938 Annual Conference in Hamilton. Mr Wilson served as the Wyndham TC's delegate to Conference on several occasions, and another notable remit he passed for his club was one calling for more extensive control by Stipeniary Stewards. This was passed at the 1946 Conference in Wellington.

Another remit initiated by his club was to introduce qualifying trials, but in spite of support from the Southland Trotting Owners, Trainers and Breeders Association, this remit failed at the time. When sponsored by th NZ Trotting Conference, a couple of years later, this remit was passed.

During his years as secretary of the Wyndham TC, Mr Wilson and the club gave considerable thought to using the mobile starting barrier, and he corresponded with the Smith-Stanley Gate Syndicate in America as far back as 1943. The Wyndham TC was to be the first to use the mobile barrier in Southland, on February 30, 1968. The Wyndham Club was also the first outside Canterbury to stage a regular 2-year-old event, the NZ Kindergarten Stakes. That race is still one of the major juvenile events on the trotting calendar.

Mr Wilson's interest in breeding began in 1945 when he bought the 14-year-old Grattan Loyal mare, Nell Grattan. Her second foal for Mr Wilson was Tactics, a highly performed Light Brigade mare. From her, he bred Adroit, Guile, Astute and Deft, who was to later leave one of NZ's all time great pacers in Noodlum, and the outstanding filly Olga Korbut. Mr Wilson, who bred standardbreds in partnership with his wife, Ann, was one of the most respected men in trotting, and his efforts on behalf of the sport were many.

He was also the secretary of the Wyndham Racing Club, and in his capacity as a company secretary and accountant, served in many other fields. He served a period as town clerk in Wyndham, where he was born, was secretary of four rabbit boards and four dairy factories and was deputy chairman of the Wyndham Town Council. Mr Wilson saw home service with the Air Force during the Second World War and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

An active sportsman, he played rugby, bowls, cricket and golf and was president of the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch in 1969. He was a foundation member of the Southland Owners, Trainers and Breeders' Association and served as president on that body. He also served on the Executive of the Canterbury OTB Association following his move to Christchurch in 1965 following his retirement.

Credit: NZ Totting Calendar 19Sep78

NOODLUM

The photo shows Noodlum and Freeman Holmes on Show Day 1974...the day they came off 30m to win the Riccarton Stakes over a top field of 3-year-olds by 14 lengths in 3:21, a national record by almost three seconds.

-o0o-

The brilliant Noodlum, undoubtedly one of the greatest pacers ever produced in NZ and the wonder colt of his era, has been retired to the stud and will this Spring stand his first season alongside the already successful Adios import Jersey Hanover at part-owner Freeman Holmes' Ellesmere nursery, The Manor.

The decision to terminate the dashing chestnut's racing career was made a fortnight ago by Freeman and champ's other part-owner Mrs Ann Wilson of Christchurch. "There was a risk of him breaking a sesamoid bone in his off hind leg as the ligament running along the cannon bone had moved off the bone," said Freeman who trained the horse and drove him in all bar seven of his races.

The trouble actually stemmed from the eve of the NZ Derby of November 1974 when the precocious colt sprung a curb. A look at his record sheet since then would give the impression that he made a complete recovery but as Freeman takes up the story again, "the peculiar thing is that in his endeavour to save the strained ligaments he placed great pressure elsewhere and that is the reason for his recent injury." All Noodlum's troubles originate from the fact that the great drive possessed in his beautiful pacing action caused strain on his stifles and when soreness occurred in these ligaments it placed greater pressure on the lower areas of his hind legs eventually resulting in injuries.

Noodlum's 2-year-old campaign was nothing short of sensational. He was constantly in the headlines from his first public appearance, when he scurried over 1200 metres in 1:36.4 (last 800 in 1:04.4) on a 'cutting out' grass track to down a field of his age group by more than 150 metres at a Waimate trial meeting late in August 1973 until he was eased up for his first Winter spell, with the greatest juvenile pacing campaign ever witnessed in this part of the world, behind him.

He won his debut, taking the Morrinsville Juvenile Stakes at Cambridge, was unbeaten at his next three attempts, the Ellerslie League Pace at Alexandra Park, NZ Springtime Stakes at Addington and NZ Golden Slipper Stakes at Waimate (deadheating with Astro Blue) before tasting his first defeat, running second to Don Lopez in the New Year Stakes at Addington. At his next appearance he bounced back with a brilliant finishing burst to down Commissioner in the Town Hall Stakes at Addington's Commonwealth Games Meeting but then at his following attempt disaster struck.

Coasting home well clear of the field in the Forbury Juvenile Stakes at Dunedin late in January 1974 Noodlum fell victim to the even human tendency of 'star gazing' and 'having a wee dream' when things are going to easily. He suddenly spotted a head number lying on the track about thirty metres from the line, woke up in a panic (as one does whe rudely disturbed during a pleasant day dream) and tried to jump the obstacle. In an instant Noodlum, driver Holmes and a tangled mass of sulky and gear were on the deck - Noodlum receiving abrasions losing two teeth and requiring a fortnight off work to recover from the nasty incident.

Reappearing in the Second Graduation Stakes at Addington in April, Noodlum, from a ten metre backmark, received a shocking run before finishing fourth to Sly Kiwi, Esteban and Golden Nurse - but that was the last time he would taste defeat for fifteen starts, a NZ record winning sequence not approached before or since. He took the NZ Welcome Stakes by five lengths, the Allanton Stakes at Forbury Park by six lengths, the Gladville Stakes at Addington (from a 20 metre backmark) by ¾ of a length, the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes by four lengths, the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes (again from 20 metres) by one and a half lengths, the NZ Sapling Stakes at Ashburton by four and a half lengths and the NZ Juvenile Championship at Auckland by eight lengths.

Noodlum's complete juvenile record sheet reads 15 starts, 12 wins, one second and one fourth and $23,162.50. He set a stakes winning record for one of his age, bettering the previous best (credited to Young Quinn) by $9,947.50, equalled the record performance of Robalan by winning 12 races in a single season (the previous best was 11 credited to Nyallo Scott back in the mid-forties) and set race record mile rates in seven classics or semi-classics - the NZ Juvenile Championship, the NZ Welcome Stakes, NZ Golden Slipper Stakes, NZ Springtime Stakes, Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes, Morrinsville Juvenile Stakes and Oamaru Juvenile Stakes. He still holds three National 2-year-old marks, 2000 metres standing starts at 2:35.4 (set in the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes), 2200 metres standing start at 2:54.4 (Allanton Stakes, Forbury Park) and 2200 metres mobile at 2:49.8 (NZ Juvenile Championship, Alexandra Park). In his final seven victorious juvenile appearances Noodlum was handled by the great Maurice Holmes (uncle of Freeman) then in his last season of race driving. Horse and driver certainly formed a champion team.

Noodlum commenced his 3-year-old campaign with a devasting patch of form which saw him unbeaten over an eight race, four month period, thus extending his winning sequence to the record 15. He opened by taking the Waitaki Hanover Stakes at Kurow (from a 20 metre backmark) by three and a half lengths then preceding to blast similar Semi-Classic fields in the Second Canterbury Stakes at Addington (again of 20 metres) by four lengths, the Fourth Canterbury Stakes (20 metres again) by three lengths, the New Brighton Stakes (this time from 30 metres) by two and a half lengths, the Concord Handicap at Forbury (off 20 metres) by six lengths, the Warrington Handicap at Forbury (again 20 metres) by five and a half lengths and the Second Riccarton Stakes at Addington on Show Day. In the latter event Noodlum came from a 30 metre handicap in the 2600 metre contest, reached the lead 1000 metre out then said goodbye to his field with a 58.6 last half to score by 14 lengths, still a National 3YO mark and then an all-age record. In his earlier New Brighton Stakes victory Noodlum has similarly assaulted the record book, cutting the 2000 metre standing start contest out in 2:32.4, a National mark for a 3-year-old and jointly shared with Hi Foyle as an all-aged record.

Although not at his best, being troubled by his earlier mentioned curb, Noodlum had little trouble in downing a vintage field in the 1974 NZ Derby at his next appearance, being hard held all the way in front but still covering his last 800 metres in 57.8 to make it 15 on end.

After a short let-up Noodlum resumed in the North Canterbury Stakes at Rangiora and it was to become the first occasion the champion colt was to cross the line unplaced (his only other failure to earn a stake at that stage being when he fell at Forbury). Badly checked early from his 20 metre backmark Noodlum found himself some 250 metres from the early leader, yet still managed to finish fifth behind the flying Commissioner. Seconds to Commissioner in the NZ Champion Stakes at Ashburton and Parlez Vous in the E F Mercer Mile at Addington (being parked out in the suicide seat throughout both times) followed then, still suffering from the effects of his affected hock, Noodlum was taken out of fast work and put onto a programme of long, slow jogging for a period.

Four months later he was back again and after a seven length victoty in the Russley Stakes ay Addington and a grand second (from 30 behind) to Ganya in the Queen's Birthday Stakes at Ashburton Noodlum ventured across the Tasman for the first and only time, two out of two at Albion Park, Brisbane. He romped away by 35 metres in his qualifying heat of the 1975 Queensland Derby then a week later displayed to the Australians just what a champion he was by overcoming an early lapse from the mobile which cost him a good 50 metres and saw him settle last in the field of budding top-liners including Wilbur Post, Little William, Chief Eagle and the ill-fated Francis Joseph. From there he was forced to race "round the world" on the tight Albion Park curcuit to reach the lead early in the run home and score by a long neck, the 2510 metre journey being snapped out in 3:15.8.

Noodlum returned home to The Manor for a short winter break, his sophomore season record standing at 15 starts for eleven wins, three seconds and a fifth worth $32,100. He had equalled the National all-age 2000 metre standing start mark of 2:32.4 and created a 2600 metre 3-year-old record of 3:21 - both these marks still standing at the time of writing. But just as startling performances were to come the following season as a 4-year-old.

Noodlum commenced his third season on the track with two successive seconds to Lunar Chance at the 1975 National Meeting, going down by a head in the Louisson Handicap and a neck in the National Handicap. A fortnight later he was back in the birdcage first as a result of one of the most brilliant finishing bursts seen in many a long day. From 10 metres behind in New Brighton's A E Laing Handicap Noodlum found himself back near the tail of the field for most of the journey and with just 400 metres to go was still last equal. Asked the question by driver Holmes the gifted sidewheeler swept up eight wide round the home turn and flew down the outside of the track, grabbing a neck victory over Kawarau Gold just short of the line, in a time of 3:23.1. His last quarter was covered in an electrified 27 seconds.

At his next attempt he failed to run in the money after being left in the suicide seat for most of the contest, and this became only the third time of his career Noodlum had failed to earn a cheque. Noodlum's next appearance, from a 15 metre handicap in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, provided a near carbon copy of his magnificent Laing Handicap victory of two starts previous. Buried back near the rear on the inner of the high-class fourteen horse field Noodlum's chances seemed completely extinguished when the leaders dawdled over the majority of the 2400 metre contest, effectively converting it into an 800 metre dash. Still not sighted and far from the lead at the straight most of the champion's admirers had given up hope for their idol when closer to the outside fence than the running rail, the brilliant chestnut appeared, literally swallowing up his rivals to catch Kawarau Gold right on the line and win by a head, with Why Bill and Speedy Guest right up next. His time for the full journey was 3:17.3 but his last half on the grass surface, far from conducive to fast times, was an amazing 57 seconds. Other stars to finish behind him were Lunar Chance and Vanadium.

A sixth after being all but brought down in a scrimmage on the home turn in the Hannon Memorial (won by Kawarau Gold) at Oamaru and a dashing 2:00.9 victory after a wide early run in the Canterbury Park 4-year-old Mile followed. Then just prior to the 1975 NZ Cup Noodlum became troubled by stifle soreness and was forced to miss the Carnival.

An internal blister was successfully applied to the stifle and Noodlum flew north for the Auckland Cup Meeting where he scored a magificent last-to-first victory over Ripper's Delight, Forto Prontezza, Captain Harcourt, Lunar Chance and company in the National Flying Pace (clocking 2:03.8), ran a sound fifth in the Pezaro Memorial then chased Captain Harcourt and Speedy Guest home in the 1975 Auckland Cup after being parked out for a good bit of the journey.

Next it was down to Wellington's Hutt Park, and the Pacific Handicap was to be the last event to fall to the brilliant chestnut, his winning margin (from a ten metre handicap) over Palestine being a long neck. Noodlum contested his last race in the 1976 Wellington Cup, finishing a good third behind Palestine and Speedy Guest, clocking 3:05 for the 2400 metres.

Although due to his injuries it became increasingly difficult for Noodlum to be produced at his best as a 4-year-old, the magnificent entire still managed five wins, two seconds, two thirds and $21,150 from his twelve appearances. His full career record stands at 42 starts, 28 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds and one fourth for $76,412.50 in stakes. He was only unplaced on five occasions, and of those five fell once, was all but brought down on the home turn once and was checked loosing 250 metres at the start once. An incredible record by any standards.

Bred by part-owner Mrs Ann Wilson, Noodlum standing 15.2 hands and boasting a heartscore of 140, is by Jim Dalgety's great, late import and once NZ premier sire Bachelor Hanover, sire of other standouts in Arapaho (p5, 1:58.2), Dwayne (p9, 1:59.8), Jondor Hanover (p6, 2:00), Bachelor Star, Bachelor Tom, Boy Friend, Double Cash, Violetta, Walk Alone, First Batch, Royal Nibble and a host of other good winners. Although his first NZ crop are currently only 10-year-olds Bachelor Hanover is already a two-minute broodmare-sire through the deeds of last year's top 3-year-old pacer Bolton Byrd (p3, 1:59.9) while another of his daughters produced Harvey Wilson, undisputed leader of last years sophomore trotters brigade.

Dam of Noodlum is the former high-class racemare Deft who left earlier winners in Eligo and Canny while her foal immediately following Noodlum was champion filly and leading 2-year-old of her last season Olga Korbut. $15,020 being her first season earnings. The only mare to be acclaimed NZ broodmare of the year more than once (she was so honoured in 1974 and 1975) Deft won ten races including two invitations (the Pope and McDonald Handicaps, both at Hutt Park) for Mrs Wilson from the Wyndham stables of Derek Dynes. Like her brilliant son Deft was also a chestnut, being by the dual two-minute siring Roydon Lodge-import Captain Adios from a real broodmare gem and also high-class racemare Tactics who scored eleven wins including the 1953 New Brighton Cup for Mrs Wilson's husband Andy.

At the stud Tactics produced nine winners, Tactile (p7, 1:59.6 - $189,415 - a champion classic colt, the only horse ever to win five derbies, a highly-successful sire in a short stay in North America and now based at Derek Dynes' Wyndham property where he receives heavy patronage), Adroit (a classic victor and now successful Australian-based sire), Tactus (also a successful sire across the Tasman), Master Proof, Tactena, Tacmae, Greek March and Deft herself while she now ranks as either the grandam or ancestress of such good performers as (besides Deft's brood) Ryal Anne, Tactful, Astute Hanover, Tactless, Yankee Score, Young Charlene and Tact Del.

By another of Roydon Lodge's great imports Light Brigade, Tactics is from yet another class racemare in the nine times successful Nell Grattan, dam also of Mighty Song (eight wins) and grandam of yet another star performer in Coral Donna (p6, 2:00). A daughter of Grattan Loyal, Nell Grattan boasted as her dam the prolific producer First Water whose brood included twelve winners, amongst their numbers being such standouts as Rocks Ahead (16 wins), First Lord (ten wins - now a 2:00 sire) and 1940 Auckland Cup victor Ned Worthy. By Harold Rothschild, First Water was from the Prince Imperial mare Red Diamond, foaled in 1907 and founder of this now nearly two hundred individual winner producing family.

No story on Noodlum would be complete without a tribute to Freeman Holmes who always paraded the horse in the magnificent order, truly befitting a champion. Well worthy of mention too is a big thank you on behalf of the NZ standardbred breeding industry, present and future, to Freeman and Mrs Wilson for resisting many overseas offers, some of the magnitude of $¼ million for their champion and standing by their word in making him available to the nation's broodmare owners now his racing days are over. The high regard Noodlum was held in by the breeding industry can be gauged by the fact that within 48 hours of his retirement being announced he was fully booked for the current season, while there are now only a few vacancies left for his 1977-78 season.

But perhaps the greatest tribute paid to Noodlum came from NZ's maestro of the reins Maurice Holmes who in his half century career drove more classic victors than some harness followers have picked winners. Said Maurice "He's the greatest juvenile pacer I've ever sat behind." Perhaps with that quotation we can remember Noodlum, the crowd drawing, newsmaking racehorse and look forward to Noodlum, the horse with all the credentials to be a supersire of the future.


-o0o-

Extract from HRWeekly 15 Nov 89

Noodlum, champion New Zealand sire in 1985-86 and 1986-87, collapsed and died after serving a mare on Sunday.
Aged 18, Noodlum was in good health, and had served 20 mares this season.

Noodlum was a son of Bachelor Hanover and the Captain Adios mare, Deft. A chestnut foal of 1971, Noodlum was a grand racehorse, winning 15 consecutive races, 12 of them as a 2-year-old. His most notable wins were the Ashburton Flying Stakes, NZ and Queensland Derbys, NZ Sapling Stakes, NZ Welcome Stakes and the Benson and Hedges Flying Mile.

On retiring, Noodlum stood at The Manor, the Springston stud of his trainer, Freeman Holmes. He sired a marvellous racehorse in Master Mood, who won the 1986 NZ Cup, the Auckland Cup and the Miracle Mile in the same season, and Race Ruler, who was exceptional at three and won both the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbys.

Another gem sired by Noodlum is Tyron Scottie, who is a superb trotter with good prospects of winning the TV3 Dominion Handicap at Addington on Saturday night.

The early Noodlum mares are now producing, and among their progeny are Mark Hanover, Auckland winner Predator, Zippy Jiffy, Lord Stiven, Shuttle Prime Rate and Fraggle Rock.

Credit: Peter Larkin writing in NZ Trotguide 2Sep76

Tactile at stud

TACTILE

The brilliant NZ pacer who won an unprecedented five derbies in NZ and Australia, then raced with distinction in America, where he pushed his earnings to $189,415 before launching a successful stud career there, has arrived back to his Ryal Bush (near Invercargill) owner Jim Dynes.

Dynes, who is already standing the Nandina stallion Scrappy Wave at his stud, has had so much enquiry for Tactile that he may have to place him the coming season on the property of his cousin and former partner in the horse, Derek Dynes who has a larger property. This keen enquiry is not surprising for from his first two crops in America of 32 foals Tactile is already represented there by 14 individual winners. These are headed by a smart youngster Jinks Minbar, who after starring in his 2-year-old campaign last year when he took a mark of 2:03.2 has continued as a good three-year-old winner this term, his victories including several at Yonkers Raceway, the track on which his sire flew the NZ flag high several years back. The Dynes cousins bought Tactile in a private deal with Tactic's breeder Andy Wilson, as a Hal Tryax foal in embryo and they raced him in partnership with outstanding success before Jim bought Derek's share when Tactile was ending his racing career in America.

His dam Tactics was a Cup class pacer herself (11 wins, including a New Brighton Cup), Tactics was of course the dam also of Deft (10 wins and 29 placings for Mr Wilson's wife Ann), in turn the dam of Mrs Wilson's champion 2-year-old of the current season Noodlum. Tactile's sire Hal Tryax also sired the mighty Cardigan Bay and grand mare Robin Dundee not to mention numerous other winners that saw him top the leading sires list in 1965-6 and 1966-7, and Tactile capped his NZ and Great Northern Derby wins with victories the same season (1962-3) in the South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales Derbies. Winning his way to the best class here, he ran Cardigan Bay to half-a-length in the 1963 Auckland Cup in which epic encounter the mighty Cardy, after giving away starts of up to 78 yards, prevailed but had to pull out all the stops to survive Tactile's late bid.

Like most of our top horses, Tactile eventually found his way to America, and so impressed was Yonkers Raceway chief Martin Tananbaum with the form he showed in around New York, where he took a mark of 1:59.6, then he persuaded Jim Dynes to let the stallion stand at his White Devon Stud in upstate New York. Tananbaum died in 1970, but Tactile carried on in service at White Devon under the farm's manager Harry Moss. With such fierce competition in breeding in the States, it was a struggle to get Tactile mares of any reasonable quality or quantity. So it is a credit to him that from his first two crops of 32 foals he already has 14 individual winners.

With the decision to disperse the White Devon stallion string, Tactile was earlier this season shipped to England on the first leg of his return home to Southland. After his compulsory six-month quarantine there, he was flown to NZ and recently completed the mandatory fortnight's quarantine here. He travelled by float and boat from the quarantine base at Alton Lodge, near Te Kauwhata, to Ryal Bush to meet up again with Jim Dynes. Says Alton Lodge proprietor Eric Haydon "he arrived in fron England in great nick and will reach Southland in wonderful order."

Now rising 15, Tatile appears assured of a fine future at stud in NZ.

Credit: Ron Bisman writing in NZ Trotguide 18Jul74

E 'DOODY' TODD

One of NZ's most successful trainers, Mr E 'Doody' Todd died at Invercargill last week at the age of 75. One of the 'old school' of traiers, Mr Todd enjoyed a long association with trotting.

Mr Todd turned his attention to training horses after World War I, during which he worked in the Wyndham coal pits. He based his training operations at Wyndham, and later acquired land at Menzies Ferry, maintaining that a private property was vital in training.

Mr Todd was associated with many outstanding horses, the more notable ones including Blue Mist, Barrier Reef, Rocks Ahead, Nell Grattan, Tactics, Mandrake and Will Cary. Other winners to pass through Mr Todd's hands included Sungauge, Blue Mountain, Journey's End, Sure Harvest, Blue Blood, Lynwood, Carver Doone, Willowbank, All Sunshine, Scarlett O'Hara, Dan McGrew, Elation, Happy Night, Quick Trick, Morning Sun, Dame Rumour, Volo Bond and Icilma.

Blue Mist, a former world champion pacer over a mile and a half with her 3:03 1/4 against time on the Banbury track in Western Australia, set in April 1953, reached her greatest heights under the care of Addington trainer, C H Fairman, but much of the credit for developing her rested with Mr Todd. Barrier Reef(2:07 3/5) was one of the outstanding trotters of his time, and Nell Grattan and Tactics were both well performed members of the noted First Water family to which Rocks Ahead, who won 16 races and established one of it's best branches, belonged.

Mr Todd achieved the unique distinction of winning successive races at the Wyndham Totting Club's autumn meeting in April 1949, with Blue Mist. The races were the Edendale and the Final Handicaps. Mr Todd drove her in both wins. The Invercargill Trotting Club's meeting in 1935 was one which Mr Todd had good reason to look back on with fond memories. He achieved a feat probably unequalled in Southland trotting when he produced five successive winners. The winners were All Sunshine (Invercargill Trotting Club Handicap), Royal Drive(Crescent Handicap), Journey's End(Travis Memorial), Lynwood(Members' Handicap) and Rocks Ahead(Takitimu Handicap). Mr Todd drove four of those winners.

One of his sons, Ray, a former Southland Rugby representative, is farming at Wyndham. He has inherited his fathers' love of horses and has been a trainer for some years. Ray Todd was responsible for the education and early training of Le Chant and Stylish Major, both champion trotters.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 19Nov69

Adorian

1953 NZ TROTTING CUP

Bridging a gap of 32 years since he drove Sherwood first past the post in the New Zealand Trotting Cup of 1921, F G Holmes won this year's race with Adorian after being no further back than third at any part of the running. Sherwood, on a protest for crossing Reta Peter, was placed second in the 1921 race, so it was F G Holmes's first Cup success.

Once again it was a newcomer's year. Adorian, who qualified for the race by winning the two principal events at the last Metropolitan August Meeting, followed in the footsteps of last year's Cup winner, Mobile Globe, who won the same August double three months before his victory in the premier event. Adorian proved himself every inch a stayer on Tuesday. His 4:13 4-5, while wide of the race record - and world's record - of 4:10 2-5 established by Highland Fling in 1948, was real stamina by any standards, particularly when it is known that he ran the last mile in 2:04 2-5 and the last half mile in better than a minute.

This brilliant climax to a spectacular race on a perfect track and in ideal weather proved to great an ordeal for the gallant favourite, Johnny Globe, who probably lost the race when he cannoned into the breaking Tactics soon after the start, thereby losing his balance and all of 60 yards before he got down to work again. This unfortunate incident drew audible sympathy from the public, who left no doubts by their investments that they had extreme confidence in the glamour horse of today.

Billy Boy, the leader out from the start, was closely attended by Adorian and Pleasant Smile. Meanwhile Tactics, drawn number 1 at the barrier (a position from which, it is claimed, she has never begun correctly yet), broke badly. Lady Rowan also broke, and Tactician set off on a bobble and went scratchily throughout. With just over three furlongs covered, Pleasant Smile ran into a clear lead from Billy Boy and Adorian (on the outer), and then came Thelma Globe, Soangetaha, Burns Night, Tactician, Vedette, Maori Home and Van Dieman, with Johnny Globe making up ground rapidly. There were few changes of any importance in the next six furlongs, but the race brightened up when Johnny Globe moved round the field with three and a half furlongs to go.

Adorian strode confidently to the lead with three furlongs to go and he was clear of Johnny Globe at the home turn. Soangetaha momentarily looked dangerous when he issued a challenge on the inside at the distance, but actually it was a two-horse race over the final furlong and Adorian always held the upper hand. The fourth horse, Burns Night, had every chance. He was two lengths behind Soangetaha. Vedette, who never looked like the champion of old at any stage, was a fair fifth, and then arrived Billy Boy, Maori Home, Van Dieman, Lady Rowan, Pleasant Smile, Tactician and Thelma Globe, with Tactics last. It was stated before the race that Tactics was suffering from seasonal trouble.

For the second year in succession the Australian-bred Springfield Globe sired the winner. It is interesting to speculate on what heights the Globe Derby sallion might have attained as a sire if he had remained in the Dominion instead of returning to Australia some six years ago.

Coquette, the dam of Adorian, who reached Cup class herself, has a 100% record as a producer of winners - her only four foals before her premature death (in 1949) were Vigilant, winner of £2327 in stakes in the Dominion (he has also won races in Australia); Morano, £9025; Forward, £4560; and Adorian, winner of twelve races and £17,217 10s in stakes and trophy - the New Zealand Gold Cup is valued at £250. Coquette's four offspring, therefore have won the grand total of £33,129 10s. Adorian and all the rest of Coquette's progeny were bred by Miss P Norton and F G Holmes, and Coquette was bred by F Holmes (venerable father of F G), and Miss Norton. Coquette was by Grattan Loyal from Bonny Logan, by Logan Pointer from Bonilene, and Grattan Loyal, Logan Pointer and Bonilene were all imported to this country by F Holmes. Springfield Globe, sire of Adorian, was out of a Logan Pointer mare, so Adorian has two close-up strains of this famous blood.

Although this was F G Holmes's first outright win in the New Zealand Cup - he owns and trains Adorian as well - he has been one of the Dominion's most capable trainers and horsemen for close on 40 years, he began driving at a very early age. "It was unjust," he declared when referring during the Cup presentation to the fate of Sherwood in 1921. He also made passing reference to some bad luck he had in one or two previous Cups, and said one of his ambitions, now that he was "not getting any younger," was to make a trip to America. He paid tribute to D McKendry, who looks after Adorian and who played a big part in turning the horse out so fit.

Mr C E Hoy, who congratulated Holmes on his skilful driving and the excellent performance and condition of Adorian, then called for cheers all round and Mrs Hoy decorated the winner with a garland of flowers. The Holmes family have a good record in the New Zealand Cup. Free Holmes, father of F G, Maurice and Allan, trained and drove Trix Pointer in 1919, Maurice drove Wrackler in 1930 and trained and drove Chamfer in 1950, and Allan Holmes drove Harold Logan in 1932 and owned and trained and drove the flying 1945 winner, Gold Bar.

Not at any stage of his career has Adorian been responsible for anything of a dazzling nature. He has been a 'late ripener' with a vengeance, coming to his full powers in easy stages until he has reached his zenith as a six-year-old; a powerful, quality horse of fine balance, a rich bay with little white about him, and no vices. He is a treat to train and drive and have around the place, according to the people who look after him, and he is as reliable and genuine as they come. Quite a reputation for a mere horse, but well earned by Adorian, a 'gentleman' in or out of harness.

Probably due to the fact that, for the first time since double betting was resumed, the first leg was run on the New Zealand Cup, there was a decided fall off in win-and-place betting on the big race. This year's on-course total was £28,331, compared with £38,336 last year; the off-course figures were £29,815 10s, against £33,943 10s last year. The record total on a New Zealand Cup is the £40,907 10s (on-course only) invested in 1951. This year's on-course total was £179,170 15s, compared with £190,930 15s last year, when the off-course figures were £86,475 15s; this year the off-course total soared to £139,707, including £49,031 on the double. The on-course double figures this year were £14,592 5s. The crowd was not as large as in some previous years.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 11Nov53

NZ CUP MARES AND PROGENY

Do you know the name of the only mare to win a NZ Cup and produce a winner of the NZ Cup??

Hint : amazing as it may seem and almost certainly never likely to happen again, her foal also won the Dominion Trotting Handicap. Look it up and if still unsure, see the answer and story in next week’s article.

Sixteen mares (Reta Peter, Haughty both twice) have won the NZ Cup on eighteen occasions (up to 2016) with ten mares that started in the NZ Cup having left NZ Cup runners. They are :



Free Advice (1924 Blue Mountain King/Intaglio), 2:09.6, £5,903½; family of Pride Of Lincoln (N1).

NZ Cup progeny : Horsepower (1940, 1944); Pacing Power (1943, 1944)

Free Advice was the winner of a NZ Cup (qualifying division) before running third for Bill Tomkinson to Harold Logan in the 1931 NZ Cup, also finishing third to Harold Logan in the NZFFA run later the same week. Earlier the same year she had won the Easter Hcp (now Easter Cup) at Addington and held the NZ mares record for 1¼ miles at 2:41 1/5. Unplaced in the Cups of 1932 and 1933 and later becoming an outstanding broodmare, one of only two to have more than one of their progeny start in NZ Cup (other being Tactics). The dam of Horsepower, a GN Derby winner, unplaced in the Cups of 1940 and 1944 before moving to Western Australia where he won the 1945 Stratton Cup and full brother Pacing Power, winner of NZ Derby and NZFFA at Addington as well as placing third in both the 1943 and 1944 NZ Cups.

Free Advice is the grand dam of Auckland Cup winner Thelma Globe (fourth 1955 NZ Cup); third dam of the equal third oldest NZ Cup winner Invicta, eleven years old when winning in 1961; fourth dam of Australian speedster Rip Van Winkle (QLD/NSW Derbies, Aust Pacing Championship); fifth dam of Interdominion Pacing champion Welcome Advice (VIC Derby), GN Derby winners Bolton Byrd (Auckland Cup) and Melton Monarch (Messenger), and foundation matron to many other fine horses.

Rocks Ahead (1929 Happy Voyage/First Water), 2:08.4, £3,311; family of Red Diamond (N3).

NZ Cup progeny : Navigate (1947, 1948, 1950)

Rocks Ahead was bred by Derek Jones from the Southland foundation mare First Water. Unplaced in both the 1938 and 1939 NZ Cups while holding the Southland mile record of 2:06 1/5 set at Winton. Rocks Ahead left Barrier Reef, winner of the 1951 Dominion Hcp and an ID Trotters heat in 1951 at Addington; Navigate her NZ Cup progeny was unplaced in the Cups of 1947, 1948 and 1950 (Hannon Memorial, Ollivier FFA) and Rendezvous, grand dam of the 1971 gelding Rondel who won the 1979 Pacing Grand Final at Addington. Rondel’s other major successes included the 1977 Franklin/Thames Cups and a 1979 ID Pacing heat. Rendezvous’ filly Dismiss (grand dam Rocks Ahead) was the foundation mare for Chin Bing Foon (Luk and Onn Chin’s father) from whom a considerable number of successful horses have been bred and raced by the Chin family over the past 60 years. Dismiss left Dispense (ID Trotters heat) and Disband (ID Pacers heat and third to dead heaters Jay Ar/Robin Dundee in 1965 Grand Final).



Parisienne (1933 Rey De Oro/Yenot), 2:07.8, £6.766; family of Bessie B (N2).

NZ Cup progeny : La Mignon (1957, 1958)

Parisienne was bred by George McMillan, Remuera being the winner of sixteen races, 2:07.8; $13,532; including NZ/GN Derbies, 1938 Interdominion Pacing Champion (on points and winner of three heats). Competing in three Cups with fifth in Lucky Jack’s second Cup in 1939 her best return, eighth in 1938 and not in the first ten home in 1940.

Parisienne the dam of ten foals for six winners, one of her foals was a NZ Cup runner, La Mignon, third in 1957 to Lookaway for Doug Mangos and sixth in 1958. As a broodmare La Mignon left brilliant pacer Garcon Roux (GN/NSW Derbies, Auckland Cup), being the second three-year-old to qualify for NZ Cup after Tactile. The grandson of Parisienne’s first Cup run in 1969 resulted in his being part of an incident in which he fell. One horse was pulled up and two others lost their drivers (first past post Stella Frost being disqualified as a result of this incident). Garcon Roux finished eighth in both 1970 and 1971.

Another of Parisienne’s foals was the unraced Mary Wootton, dam of Scottish Command (third in 1961 NZ Cup, winner of Auckland Cup; sire of NZ Cup winners Sole Command 1977 and Trusty Scot 1978; Scottish Charm second 1972 to Globe Bay and eighth 1973, Trevira third 1979 to Lord Module and eighth 1980, Bellas Command and Hundred Pipers both unplaced in 1972). Mary Wootton was the third dam of Roydon Glen (GN Derby, Messenger, Auckland Cup, Pan Am Mile, Harness Horse of Year, sire of champion trotter Lyell Creek) who finished third to outsider Borana in 1985 NZ Cup and Roydon Scott (Wellington Cup) unplaced in 1980.

Molly Direct (1933 Jack Potts/Real Girl), 2:09.9, £2,585; family of Jessie B (N9). NZ Cup progeny : Globe Direct (1949, 1950) Molly Direct had the one start in the 1941 NZ Cup won by Josedale Grattan finishing eighth, having won ten races for Bill Lowe. Globe Direct was her best performed foal, winning a heat of Interdominions at Melbourne in 1950 and finishing a head behind Captain Sandy in the Grand Final. His two NZ Cup starts were in 1949 finishing fourth to Loyal Nurse and pulled up in the 1950 edition while he held the NZ record for 1½ miles of 3:09 2/5.

Molly Direct was grand dam of Ted Lowe’s first NZ Cup winner Cairnbrae in 1964 (second was Humphrey in 1968) among a considerable number of worthwhile family members descending from her – Sir Alba, Cosmic Under Fire, Cosmic Ice, West Street, Wing Commander, Firm Offer and Dundas were among them.



Haughty (1935 Nelson Derby/Regal Voyage), 1:59.6TT, £13,105½; family of Miss Kate (N12).

NZ Cup progeny : Brahman (1957)



Haughty’s 1942 NZ Cup

Haughty shares the mares record for the number of NZ Cup starts with Blossom Lady – six in total for a record two victories (record shared with Reta Peter), a third and unplaced on three occasions. Haughty’s two wins came at her first two Cup starts in 1942 (front, defeating Loyal Rey) in a world record 4:13.8 and 1943 (36yds, defeating Countless in another record time of 4:13.6) when 4/3 in betting both years. She ran fifth in 1944, pulled up in 1945 after suffering interference on the home turn, third to Integrity in 1946 and last in Highland Fling’s first Cup victory in 1947, all off long marks (36 – 60 yards behind).



Haughty’s 1943 NZ Cup

Haughty became the first mare in Australasia to pace a mile in under two minutes, achieved during the Cup meeting of 1944 recording a time of 1:59 3/5, just the third time the two minute barrier had been beaten in the Southern Hemisphere – Lawn Derby 1938 (1:59 2/5), Gold Bar 1942 (1:59 3/5), all of them being time trials.



Haughty’s TT

Haughty finished with eighteen victories and twenty four placings from 74 starts, £13,105½. In addition to her two NZ Cup victories, she won major races in NZFFA, dead heating with Turco (also second to Gold Bar) and Easter Hcp. Haughty and Gold Bar staged a match race at the Patriotic meeting at Addington in March 1943 with the mare winning in a then NZ record mares time of 2:00 2/5 for the mile. These two great adversaries produced the first mating between two minute performers in the Southern Hemisphere when Gold Bar sired and Haughty was the dam of Brahman (sire of 110 winners) and fifth dam of two million dollar winner Shakamaker (ten Group Ones including Interdominion Pacing Final). Brahman was Haughty’s NZ Cup runner but he finished last in Lookaway’s 1957 NZ Cup victory.

Shadow Maid (1937 Red Shadow/Homelass), 2:07.4, £7,156; family of Homelass (N208).

NZ Cup progeny : Gay Robin (1965)

Shadow Maid started on three occasions in the NZ Cups of 1943, 1944 and 1945. She finished last in 1943 and sixth in Bronze Eagle’s 1944 Cup victory. As an eight year old, she was prepared for her 1945 Cup run by Ces Devine and went into the race having been unplaced in her previous 27 starts (20 for Devine) since finishing second in 1943/44 season. Shadow Maid ran third in Gold Bar’s 1945 NZ Cup admittedly thirteen lengths behind the winner but ten lengths ahead of fourth placed Countless. She was the rank outsider of the field (12/12).

Shadow Maid has earlier won the 1943 Auckland Cup (tr : Scotty Bryce, dr : Jimmy Bryce) which assisted her in being second behind Haughty in the stakes won list for 1942/3 season (£2,410).



Shadow Maid AK Cup

Her best foal Gay Robin (ID heat, Ashburton Flying Stakes) finished fourth to Garry Dillon in the 1964 NZ Cup. Shadow Maid was also grand dam of good trotter Hal Good (Dominion Hcp) and Gay Rose (Rangiora Cup).



Tactics

Tactics (1946 Light Brigade/Nell Grattan), 2:07.6, £6,427½; family of Red Diamond (N3).

NZ Cup progeny : Deft (1964), Tactile (1965)

Tactics ran in Adorian’s 1953 NZ Cup finishing last after starting third favourite for Maurice Holmes. Bracketed with Vedette (Stan Edwards) who finished fifth, Tactics broke at the start and collided with Johnny Globe costing him 60 yards (started off 24 yds) and Johnny Globe was only beaten a length by Adorian. Tactics was the winner of 11 races including a New Brighton Cup.



Tactile, Robert Cameron, Melbourne ID’s 1964, third night

Tactics is one of only two mares to have had two different progeny run in NZ Cups – Free Advice being the other mare (other mares had same progeny run in two or three Cups e.g. Rocks Ahead with Navigate). First, Deft finished eighth in Cairnbrae’s 1964 NZ Cup win. Secondly, Derby king Tactile (GN/NZ/NSW/VIC/SA) ran tenth to Gary Dillon in 1965 NZ Cup, before being a winner in North America and later sire in NZ of top class performers in Norton, Ryal Pont and WA Derby winner Tac Warrior.



Jim Dynes, Tactile, Robert Cameron

Tactics was a very productive broodmare and other family members descending from her include Blacks A Fake (6th dam), Burrell, Fancy Wishes, Just Ella, Its Ella, Tact Boyden to name just a few,



Queen Ngaio

Queen Ngaio (1954 Light Brigade/Heather Globe), 2:06.0, £7,980; family of Moonbeam (N36).

NZ Cup progeny : Trio (1980, 1981)

Queen Ngaio competed in 1961 NZ Cup won by Invicta, finishing in sixth position. She won races at open class pacing level prior to her breeding exploits where Trio was her star performer. Trio finished second last to Hands Down in 1980 and sixth in Armalight’s 1981 NZ Cup success. Trio won the NZ Two Year Old Championship, paced 1:55.2US and earned stakes of $265,707. Queen Ngaio also left Waratah, sire of ID third place getter Miss Pert and Reassurance third dam of All Hart (1:52.0US, $435,328, NZ Two Year Old Championship, GN Derby).



Blossom Lady 1992 NZ Cup

Blossom Lady (1984 Farm Timer/Lumber Lady), 1:56.0, $1,334,808; family of Fashion Queen (N69). NZ Cup progeny : Mister DG (2003, 2004) Blossom Lady, bred by Ashburton mates Bob Davison and Bill Cook was raced by the twelve strong Polly Syndicate headed by former HRNZ Chairman Ralph Kermode. Blossom Lady was the fifth NZ millionaire and first mare among the first ten millionaires in Australasia. Her 131 NZ starts NZ produced 36 victories (six for Stephen Doody, 30 for Derek Jones), 29 placings for earnings of $879,605. Her six Australian campaigns produced seven victories and nine placings from 24 starts. Career stats were : 155 : 43 – 20 – 18, $1,334,808, 1:56.0 with Anthony Butt driving her to twenty seven victories in NZ, seven in Australia with others to record wins being Stephen Doody (5), Derek Jones and son Peter two each.



Derek Jones, Bloss, Anthony Butt

She held national records for a mare at 1 mile mobile 1:56.0 (1:56.5 AUS), 2000m stand 2:33.5, 2400m mobile 2:57.0, 2600m stand 3:15.8/3:14.9 (also overall national record), 3200m stand 4:03.3.

Her six NZ Group One’s were all at Addington (NZ Cup/FFA, Easter Cup, 3 NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes) with a further two at Moonee Valley (two Hunter Cups). Eleven of her twenty two Group race wins were at Addington (above plus three Premier Mares Championships, Interdominion heat, Alan Matson (Monsanto) FFA). Her remaining group race wins being Hannon Memorial (twice), Ashburton Flying Stakes, Interdominion Consolation (Alexandra Park), Interdominion heats (two Moonee Valley/Harold Park, Alexandra Park).

Blossom Lady’s signature NZ victory came in the 1992 NZ Cup defeating Giovanetto and Christopher Vance by 1¼l and 1 length in a time of 4:05.0/2:03.1. She also ran in NZ Cups of 1990 (fifth), 1991 (thirteenth), 1993 (fourth), 1994 (fifth) and 1995 (sixth). She recorded seven victories at the extreme distance of 3200m (three at Addington – NZ Cup, Easter Cup, DB Draught Hcp), Ashburton Cup/DB Draught Hcp and two Hunter Cups.

Blossom Lady’s first foal, son Mister DG (Camtastic), won twenty races (14 NZ/6 AUS), $795,749, 1:55.9 (Cambridge Classic, SBS/Heller FFA, Popular Arm FFA, Hunter/Cranbourne Cups, Hannon Memorial, Nobilio, Casey Classic, ID’s [two heats, Consolation], Waikato Flying Mile) and he was Blossom Lady’s lone starter in NZ Cup‘s won by Just An Excuse in 2003 (eleventh) and 2004 (fourth).

An inductee into both NZ Trotting Hall of Fame and Addington Harness Hall of Fame, Blossom Lady died on 18 May 2004.

Other mares that have started in NZ Cups and who influenced future NZ Cups and Cup winners include :

Norice (1898 Charles Derby/Naulahka), 2:20.0, $1,852; family of Dairy Maid (U30). Second to Monte Carlo in the inaugural NZ Cup (1904), dam of Nelson Derby, sire of Haughty (Norice’s granddaughter) who won two NZ Cups (1942, 1943) and was the first mare in Australasia under two minutes (see earlier). Norice’s other direct descendants have included Cup winners in Camelot (1984, fifth dam), Iraklis (1997, eighth dam) and dual winner Monkey King (2009, 2010, eighth dam). In addition, she is third dam of 1929 NZ Cup heat winner Kingcraft (started in NZ Cups of 1929, 1931 second to Harold Logan, 1932, 1933); seventh dam of Starship, second to Neroship in 1990 NZ Cup (1989, eighth; 1991, ninth); Giovanetto, second to Blossom Lady in 1992 NZ Cup and third to Chokin (1993); Holmes DG, second to Homin Hosed 1999 NZ Cup, fourth to Kyms Girl (2001), fourth to Gracious Knight (2002), tenth (2000), thirteenth (2003); eighth dam of Ermis, twelfth in 1995 NZ Cup, Anvils Star, second to Il Vicolo in 1996 NZ Cup (eighth 1996; eleventh 1998), Brabham, fourth to Christian Cullen in 1998 NZ Cup (fourth 1995, fifth 1997).

Imperial Polly (1900 Prince Imperial/Polly (Hood), 2:44.4, $2,093; family of Hoods Polly (N8). She started unsuccessfully on three occasions in NZ Cups of 1909, 1910 and 1911. A couple of NZ Cup winners trace back to Imperial Polly starting with Gold Bar in 1945 (third dam, fourth in 1942 and 1943; unplaced 1941, 1944 [sire of Cup runners Brahman, Congo Song, Bartender] and Lord Module winner in 1979 (fifth dam, fifth in 1978, unplaced in 1980) while 1989 winner Inky Lord (unplaced 1990) is a member of Hoods Polly family.



Lady Clare 1911 NZ Cup winner

Lady Clare (1904 Lady Clare/unknown), 2:19.0, $2,940; family of Lady Clare (N41). Lady Clare was the second female winner of the NZ Cup in 1911 (Marian 1907 first), owned by WE Clinton, trained by James Tasker and driven by Jack Brankin, she had earlier raced in the 1910 edition. The Cup was the last of Lady Clare’s seven victories spread over eight seasons. Her direct descendants both won NZ Cup’s in millionaires Luxury Liner (1988, fifth dam) and Christopher Vance (1991, sixth dam) representing two of the finest pacers seen in NZ, both trained from the Roy and Barry Purdon stables.

Win Soon (1908 King Child/Topsy (thor), 2:15.5, $3,486; family of Topsy (N7). The winner of the 1914 NZ Cup Win Soon was owned by Stevenson and McMath, trained and driven by Andy Pringle. Like the two earlier mares to win the NZ Cup, she led from start to finish. Win Soon was grand dam of Lady Averil, third in 1949 and fourth in 1950 NZ Cups. NZ Cup winners True Averil (1971, grand dam Lady Averil) and Lunar Chance (1975) both boast Win Soon as their fourth dam.

Country Belle (1908 Wildmoor/Bonnie Belle), 2:07.2TT, $7,404; family of Bonnie Belle (N5). The winner of 1915 NZ Cup and second in 1914 to Win Soon, was by Wildmoor (Wildwood) from Bonnie Belle, by Lincoln Yet (half-brother to Thelma) out of an Arab mare. Her breeder/owner was Bill Morland of Rakaia, she was trained and driven by Albert Hendricksen who had won 1912 NZ Cup with Albert H. Country Belle was grand dam of Fallacy, sire of one of three triple NZ Cup winners in False Step (1958, 1958, 1960) and Chamfer, winner of 1950 NZ Cup (unplaced 1951). Country Belle’s three-quarter sister Curfew Belle was dam of Belle Logan, dam of Logan Derby, the sire of Johnny Globe, NZ Cup winner in 1954.

Van Glory (1968 Van Dieman/Malabella); 1:59.6, $37,050; family of Krinas dam (N30). Van Glory ran eighth in Robalan’s 1974 Cup and is the grand dam of glamour mare Under Cover Lover (1:51.4US, $864,923), winner in NZ, Australia and North America. Under Cover Lover ran in two NZ Cups finishing eighth to Homin Hosed in 1999 and fourth to Yulestar in 2000.



Armalight

Armalight (1976 Timely Knight/Ar Miss), 1:55.4, $279,560); family of Lady Antrim (N31). The impressive winner of 1981 NZ Cup and second to Bonnies Chance in 1982, she is the fifth dam of Ohoka Punter who ran seventh to Arden Rooney in 2015 NZ Cup.

Kates First (1993 Holmes Hanover/Pleasant Franco), 1:57.2, $624,023; family of Pride Of Lincoln (N1). An Auckland Cup winner, Kates First ran fifth to her half-brother millionaire Christian Cullen in 1998 Cup and fourth to Homin Hosed in 1999.

Christian Cullen sired 2005 NZ Cup winner Mainland Banner, only four year old mare to have won the Cup, whose half brother Titan Banner finished third to Lazarus in the 2016 NZ Cup.

Have you ascertained who is the only mare to win a NZ Cup and produce a winner of the NZ Cup?? If not and to confirm your answer, see details in next week’s article.

Peter Craig

6 November 2017

Credit: Peter Craig