The Auckland Trotting Club held its second Interdominion Pacing (fourteenth overall) and Trotting (third overall) Championships at Alexandra Park in February 1955 racing on its six furlong grass track.
The Trotters Championships are fully covered in the harnessbred article of 24 June 2018.
The Pacers championships were determined over two heats of ten (1¼m) and thirteen (1m five) furlongs, with the Grand Final over two miles for a prize of £10,500 and a £100 trophy. A consolation was run over one mile and five furlongs for the same stake as the heats, £1,500. The ID heats were run in February 1955 on Saturday 12 and 19 with the Grand Final on Saturday 26. A total of £39,000 in stakes were distributed with £17,500 plus £100 Gold Cup allocated to the Pacing series (Trotters received £6,000 plus £50 Gold Cup).
Dr GM (George) Pezaro was still President as in 1948, his “associate presidents” being Allan Matson and James Stratton while Alf Forrest remained Secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club. All three days racing was conducted in fine conditions on a fast track. Australian representatives were former past Grand Champions in Tennessee Sky (1954), Captain Sandy (1950, 1953) and 1953 Perth runner up Ribands.
Saturday 12 February, 10 furlongsSS, £1,500 ($3,000) : first round of heats
The opening day’s heats featured the unique double of trainer/driver Jack Litten producing both winners, Our Roger and future ID Grand Champion Caduceus (Sydney, 1960).
Heat One – OUR ROGER, tr/dr Jack Litten, 2:40.8/2:08.6, Lt; Thelma Globe (dr Jack Pringle) 2nd; Dancing Years (dr Maurice Holmes) 3rd
The first of two Litten trained winners of Pacing heats on opening day was Dillon Hall gelding Our Roger who nine months later won the 1955 NZ Cup. Our Roger led from when the tapes were released defeating Thelma Globe by a length with Dancing Globe a further half-length away ahead of Johnny Globe (30 yds) who earned points for fastest time (2:07.4). Tennessee Sky broke after becoming unbalanced, checking Bartender who lost his driver and together with Captain Sandy was unplaced.
Heat Two – CADUCEUS, tr/dr Jack Litten, 2:37.2/2:05.8, 6 yds; Recent Choice (dr Derek Jones) 2nd; Laureldale (Fred Smith jnr) 3rd
Like his West Melton stable mate Our Roger, four year old U Scott entire Caduceus completed the perfect day for Jack Litten by winning the second heat easily (fastest time). Recovering quickly after skipping briefly at the start and being badly placed a half mile from home he held a two length advantage at the finish over Recent Choice with a length back to Laureldale followed by Petite Yvonne, covering the last mile in 2:04.0 and half mile in 60.4. Ribands broke hopelessly at the start and was never a factor in the race. Single Direct off 30 yards recorded the fastest time of 2:37.0 but in finishing fifth outside the top four, received no championship points.
Trotting heat winner was Battle Cry.
Saturday 19 February, 12 furlongsSS, £1,500 ($3,000) : second round of heats
Heat Three – TACTICIAN, tr/dr Maurice McTigue, 3:26.8/2:07.0, 12 yds; Laureldale (dr Fred Smith jnr) 2nd; Caduceus (dr Jack Litten) 3rd
Caduceus led most of the way before being challenged by Tactician who had been sixth in the running turning for home. Laureldale who trailed Caduceus entered the fray which ended with Tactician (fastest time, last half 62.4, paid £12 for win) a half-length to the good of Laureldale with Caduceus a length and a half in arrears third ahead of Dancing Years. Captain Sandy was unplaced.
Heat Four – PETITE YVONNE, tr Carl Paul, dr Peter Wolfenden, 3:29.8/2:09.2, 6 yds; Prince Polka (dr John Butcher) 2nd; Ribands (dr Jack Watts) 3rd
A youthful Peter Wolfenden (later trainer/driver of champion and world’s first millionaire pacer Cardigan Bay) piloted U Scott mare Petite Yvonne (£9 for win) home to victory in the fourth and final pacing heat. Handily placed in fourth until the home turn, Petite Yvonne led in Prince Polka by a half-length with two lengths further back to Ribands (fastest time, 3:29.2) with a half head to Margaret Own. Single Direct again recorded fastest time (3:28.6), slower than three place getters in heat three, again finishing fifth and securing no points. Tennessee Sky broke early finishing in last placing. The Tactician/Petite Yvonne double paid £121.
Trotting heat winner was Battle Cry.
The final points table after the conclusion of two rounds of heats showed : Caduceus (8), Tactician (7), Our Roger, Petite Yvonne, Ribands (4), Laureldale, Johnny Globe (3), Thelma Globe, Recent Choice, Prince Polka (2), Dancing Years (1).
Saturday 26 February – PACERS GRAND FINAL, 2 milesSS £10,000 ($20,000) plus £100 Gold Cup
The favourite for the Grand Final was Johnny Globe even though he had been withdrawn from his second round heat suffering from neuritis in his hindquarters (inflammation of nerves).
TACTICIAN (1945 Springfield Globe/Berengaria gelding, family of Dolly by Young Irvington (N19), owner/trainer/driver Maurice McTigue, 18 yds, 4:19.6/2:09.8, Hd, 2l, 5/6 in betting [1:59.8, $53,050]
Johnny Globe, tr/dr Don Nyhan, 48 yds, 2nd
Petite Yvonne, tr Carl Paul, dr Peter Wolfenden, 18 yds, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Laureldale, Caduceus, Thelma Globe, Prince Polka, Ribands, Dancing Years, Recent Choice, Our Roger.
In a thrilling final, Caduceus off six yards sped to the lead with Tactician and Johnny Globe well back. Ribands lost 50 yds at the start after tangling away. Caduceus went his opening half mile in 1:06.0, mile in 2:11.0, one and half miles in 3:20.6. From well back with Johnny Globe behind him, Tactician ran up to Caduceus and Laureldale approaching the home turn. A battle royal ensued until Caduceus broke for no reason with a half furlong to run. Whilst this left Tactician clear he had to survive Johnny Globe’s storming finish with him coming his last half mile in 57.6 and failing to defeat Tactician by a head. Handy throughout Petite Yvonne finished two lengths in arrears of Johnny Globe and a neck in advance of Laureldale. Johnny Globe recorded fastest time (4:12.6) while Tactician’s overall winning time was a moderate 4:19.6 in his fifteenth career victory.
Globe Derby blood was again to the fore with grandsons Tactician by Springfield Globe (1939 Tasmanian Grand Champion) and runner-up Johnny Globe by Logan Derby (1936 Perth, first ever Grand Champion) prominent. Ribands (Lawn Derby) and Thelma Globe (Springfield Globe) were other Globe Derby line finalists in the field of eleven.
Consolation : 1m 5 fursSS, £1,500 ($3,000)
AU REVOIR, tr Charlie Muddle, dr Jack Watts, 3:32.0/2:10.4, Lt; Single Direct (dr Raymond Kennerley) 2nd; Bartender (dr Owen Nicholas)/Scottish Star (Jack Hughes) 3rd equal
Springfield Globe gelding Au Revoir, owned by successful Christchurch businessman, owner and breeder Clarrie (CL) Rhodes, was prepared for the ID series by Ribands trainer Charlie (CJ) Muddle. He was driven to Pacers consolation success by top Sydney driver Jack (JD) Watts.
Au Revoir won by one and half lengths from twelve year old Single Direct (1949 Pacers Champion, won a FFA at Alexandra Park as a thirteen year old) who had recorded fastest times in both his heats but as he was not placed in the first four they did not count towards points. Single Direct was a neck to the good of third place dead heaters Bartender and Scottish Star.
Trotters Grand Final was won by Battle Cry who completed a clean sweep of both heats and the final.
Tactician, a first foal born in 1945, was by a son of the mighty Globe Derby in 1939 ID Pacing Grand Champion Springfield Globe, out of Berengaria, his breeder/owner/trainer being Methven, Mid-Canterbury’s Maurice McTigue. Apart from the horses that are mentioned below as descending from Berengaria, McTigue tasted success with Morello (1938 NZ Cup), drove Loyal Rey into second place for Methven owner Percy Watson in Haughty’s 1942 NZ Cup, Fine Art and Dark Hazard.
Springfield Globe (1934, 2:06.8, $6,116 NZ earnings only) was bred by Tasmanian Edgar Tatlow, mating Globe Derby with his NZ purchase Ayr who he obtained from Harry Nicholl (NZ Trotting Conference President for a quarter of a century, 1922 – 1947) through Christchurch bloodstock agent and trotting administrator Allan Matson for the princely sum of 37½ guineas. Among numerous other foals left by Ayr were Cloudy Range and Commotion in NZ, Ayress, Our Globe, Pauline, Raidare and Van Ayr in Australia. Springfield Globe was a good Sydney and Melbourne performer winning the 1939 Pacing Grand Final at Launceston (Grand Champion on points) before moving to NZ winning a NZFFA as well as Rattray/Mason/Empire Hcps and August FFA at Addington.
Springfield Globe sired 299 winners throughout Australasia (291 pacers, 8 trotters; 226 AUS, 73 NZ) including Tactician, Auckland Cup winners (Thelma Globe, Victory Globe), NZ Cup (Adorian, Mobile Globe), Hunter Cup (Mineral Spring, Sheffield Globe twice), WA Cup (Defiance), SA Cup (Aachen) and other fine pacers like Au Revoir, Gay Knight, Globe Direct. Leading sire on a winner’s basis (Australia 1956) and four times leading seasons sire at Harold Park.
Springfield Globe’s broodmare credits (125 NZ, 259 AUS) included Auckland Cup winner Scottish Command, NZ Cup (Invicta, Cairnbrae) and a number of Derby/Oaks winners (Dignus, Explicit, Shean Truis).
Springfield Globe was inducted into the Tasmanian Hall of Fame in 2014.
Tactician’s dam was non-winning pacing mare Berengaria (Jack Potts/Waress). McTigue bred a line of this family commencing with Berengeria’s grand dam Ivy Mac, a daughter of General Mac/Manuka that he borrowed when a twenty year old electrician in Ashburton. Manuka, a straight out trotter, bred by GH McHaffie, New Brighton was a full sister to champion Australasian pacer/sire Ribbonwood (both by Wildwood/Dolly), the first to better 2.10 in the Southern Hemisphere (2:09.0TT, 18 February 1903, Addington). She was purchased by Frank Bebbington, Lauriston, mid-Canterbury from Arthur Dillon.
Ivy Mac was bred by Bebbington from Manuka who also left another foundation mare in Koromiko, family of classy trotters Le Chant, dam of double millionaire Grades Singing, 1968 ID Trotting Grand Final winner Stylish Major) Leighton Hest; The Fiery Ginga. Ivy Mac was purchased by Frank McKendry of Methven who went alternate foals with Maurice McTigue. Ivy Mac attended the court of 1920 and 1921 Auckland Cup winner Australian bred Man O’War producing Waress, one of four foals of Ivy Mac’s that survived.
Waress won five races at three and a further four at four including the RA Armstrong Memorial at Hutt Park for McTigue. Bred to champion sire Jack Potts, Waress in turn produced Berengaria (first foal) and full brothers or sisters in good winners Vimy Ridge (five wins, $4,756), Plunder Bar (twelve wins, $33,108, Addington wins in National Cup Hcp, Smithson/Australasian/Victoria/Mason Hcps; seconds to Highland Fling and Chamfer in NZ Cups), Indigo (eight wins, $12,869, Canterbury Hcp) and West Point, all in consecutive years (1938 – 1942). This branch of the family bred on predominately through Estaminet, Roman Gladiator especially notable (NZSS – 3, NSW Derby, open class performer).
Tactician began his racing career as a four year old (10 : 3 – 1 – 1) from Maurice McTigue’s Ashburton stable, the start of a ten season career, notable both for its longevity and successes. Unplaced at his first start at the South Canterbury Jockey Club meeting on 18 March 1950, he soon made amends by winning his next two starts at Hawera’s Easter meeting. His third win in his first season came at Oamaru. As a five year old (10 : 2 – 2 – 0) he won twice at Forbury Park and finished second in Oamaru’s Presidents Hcp.
Tactician’s six year season was his best with five wins (15 : 5 – 1 – 2) starting with a first up win in New Brighton’s Johns Hcp. At the NZ Cup carnival he finished third in the Canterbury Hcp and recorded a win in the Hornby Hcp. Further wins came in early January 1951 in Auckland TC Presidents Hcp, next start at Easter in the Au Revoir Hcp at Addington and Canterbury Park TC Final Hcp at their winter meeting. He finished the season off with a good third in the Ashburton All Aged Stakes behind Johnny Globe and Fallacy.
At seven (10 : 1 – 2 – 1), his best effort was in running second to Mobile Globe in 1952 NZ Cup. Earlier at the August NZMTC National meeting he had finished second in the Louisson Hcp and third in the National Hcp. A solitary win in 1953 in the Rattray Hcp over two miles. A slightly busier eight year old campaign (13: 2 – 2 – 2) yielded victories at Easter in the 1954 Electric Stakes and Au Revoir Hcp. Third placings resulted in the NZ Pacing Championship (Van Dieman, Vandette) and Rattray Hcp.
At nine, Tactician’s ID heat/final victories were his only wins (11: 2 – 3 – 1),with major placings including seconds in All Aged Stakes to Caduceus, Ollivier FFA and Electric Stakes plus a third in Wellington FFA to Petite Yvonne immediately following ID’s. Tactician was second leading stake earner to Johnny Globe (£10,015) with earnings of £8,655 in 1954/55 season.
As a ten year old (8: 1 – 1- 1) Tactician’s single win was an important one in the NZFFA defeating Caduceus together with major placings in Electric Stakes (second) and NZ Pacing Championship (third) behind Johnny Globe with a fourth in Ollivier Hcp. Fewer starts were the order of the day at eleven (9: 2 – 1 – 1), victories coming in the Hannon Memorial and Rattray Stakes (move up start as opposed to mobile start) notable for his recording the first sub two minute race mile outside North America (1:59.8, 6 April 1957, Addington) together with a second to False Step in the Electric Stakes a week later.
Tactician’s twelve year old season (8 : 2 – 1 – 1) consisted of victories in Forbury Stakes and Electric Stakes at Addington plus a second to Lookaway in NZFFA and third in NZ Pacing Championship behind Caduceus and False Step. His final season at thirteen consisted of four starts with a third placing in the NZFFA (Caduceus) in his final career start his only return. Tactician started in six NZ Cups, with a best placing of second.
Tactician was a very speedy pacer setting NZ records over 1¼m (2:34.2), equalled NZ record for 1m 3 furlongs (2:52.2) when second to Caduceus in All Aged Stakes and as an eleven year old 1:59.8 for mile at Addington. His best times over longer distances were : 1½m, 3:06.0; 1m 5f, 3.23 2/5; 2m 4.14 3/5. Tactician faced the starter on ninety eight occasions recording twenty wins and twenty five placings for stake earnings of $53,050.
Peter Craig
3 December 2019
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