The New South Wales Trotting Club (NSWTC) held their most successful championship to date under lights at Harold Park in February 1960 (first night 30 January) racing on its then 810 yard all-weather surface. The nineteenth edition (Sydney’s third) of the Pacers Championships was Sydney’s third within eight years/nine seasons (1952, 1956 and 1960). 1966 was the first time that an ID trotter’s series was held in conjunction with the pacers fourth championships in Sydney.
A total of 126,570 patrons were in attendance over the four nights of racing, this averaging 31,600 per night, however the Grand Final night set a world record showing 50,346 passing through the turnstiles. The gates were closed by police after race one for safety reasons but many patrons pushed down fences and entered the ground so the absolute final crowd numbers remain unknown. This series was hugely profitable and good for NSWTC/Harold Park, hosted by a very popular President in Alton Cusick, who passed away just a few months after the championships concluded.
The Pacers Championships were determined over three heats of eleven and three quarter furlongs, fifteen furlongs 92yds and thirteen furlongs 98yds, with the Grand Final being over 13 furlongs 98yds for a prize of £15,000 and a gold cup valued at £600. Two consolations were run over thirteen furlongs for the stake of £1,250 (heats of £1,000). The ID heats were run on Saturday 30th January, on Wednesday 3rd and Saturday 6th with the Grand Final on Saturday 13 February 1960. A total of £40,500 in stakes being distributed during the carnival, £26,500 for championship events plus gold cup. Qualifying points were awarded on a four, two, one basis for first, second and third with three points for the fastest time of the first five finishers. The winner of the Grand Final automatically became the Grand Champion. New Zealand representatives were Caduceus, Thunder, False Step, Scottish Command, Macklin, Bobby Brigade, Takitimu, Kiwi Grattan and Lady Belmer.
Final acceptances numbered seventy with handicapper Jack Marx eliminating twenty nine with the remaining forty one making the championship fields. Among those left out somewhat controversially were 1956 champion Gentleman John and 1958/9 NZ and NSW Derby winner Blue. Based on their latest form they were not considered good enough to qualify while good NSW mare Sibelia (runner up to Free Hall in 1958 Adelaide Grand Final) was scratched from the series after pulling up lame in her final workout prior to the opening nights heats.
Yonkers Raceway’s forty four year old CEO Martin (Marty) Tananabaum and veteran racing secretary Ted Gibbons were in Sydney promoting the very first ever series of International racing to be staged anywhere worldwide. The series was to consist of three races over 1½m, 1¼m and 1 mile at Yonkers. In the end they encouraged two horses : Caduceus and Fettle to travel to North America after the ID’s to take part.
Saturday 30 January, 11¾ furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : first round of heats (419th night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
Heat One – APMAT, tr/dr Bert Alley, 3:03.0/2:04.6, 12yds; Guiseppe (dr Max Allen) 2nd; Caduceus (dr Jack Litten) 3rd
Opening heat winner Apmat (5/1) dragged a punctured tyre for most of the journey and yet was still only 0.2 seconds outside Uncle Joe’s Harold Park winning mile rate record of 2:04.4. The pace had been set by Guiseppe who went down by a long neck to Apmat who came from well back after starting off 12 yds. In finishing third quarters of a length in arrears of Guiseppe and just ahead of Brilliant Moon and Dusty Miller, third placed Caduceus off 36 yds established a new mile rate record for Harold Park of 2:03.4. Apmat’s victory was one of sixteen he obtained at Harold Park.
Heat Two – FIRST KISS, tr/dr Joe Turnbull, 3:03.8/2:05.2, Lt; Kiwi Dillion (dr Max Johnson) 2nd; Bannalagh (Colin Watts) 3rd
From Bathurst, First Kiss trained and driven by Joe Turnbull (Turnbull Racing still train from “The Lagoon” area) led from the start holding out West Australian Kiwi Dillon by a length to also record fastest time. Bannalagh (NSW) was a half head back in third ahead of kiwi Macklin (100/1) in fourth place. As with Apmat, second heat winner First Kiss was to record sixteen victories at Harold Park.
Heat Three – FETTLE, tr/dr Ron Hayes, 3:01.6/2:03.6, 12yds; False Step (dr Ces Devine) 2nd; Scottish Command (dr Ian Hunter) 3rd
The third local (NSW) horse to win a heat on opening night was Fettle who established a new ID and track record winning rate of 2:03.6 (last half 1:01.4). Fettle moved from sixth at the bell to lead with two furlongs to run, winning by three quarters of a length from New Zealanders False Step and Scottish Command a similar distance away with Kevejay running fourth.
False Step took fastest time honours from 36 yds in a rate of 2:02.6. He was to become the second ever three time NZ Cup winner in consecutive years (1958, 1959 and later in 1960),winner of NZ Derby and NZFFA, won a Wayville ID heat (1958) and placed second off 48 yds in Massacre’s 1961 ID Grand Final success at Addington. He contested the 1961 Yonkers International series winning the USA National Championship.
Scottish Command lost 18 yds at the start when he swung sideways and locked wheels with Rosslawn so his effort to run third was meritorious. Winner of 1959 Auckland Cup prior to Sydney ID’s and later a Consolation at the 1961 Addington ID’s.
Fettle was the winner of seventeen races at Harold Park, ten consecutively, a record held until Rip Van Winkle passed this with eleven straight victories in 1977. After finishing fourth in the Grand Final, Fettle went to North America to contest the 1960 International Series but suffered a leg injury resulting in him returning to Australia unraced in USA.
Wednesday 3 February, 15 furlongs 92ydsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : second round of heats (420th night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
Heat Four – CADUCEUS, tr/dr Jack Litten, 4:02.8/2:06.0, 36yds; Meadowlands (dr Perc Hall) 2nd; Lady Belmer (dr Jack Watts) 3rd
Caduceus received a great reception after winning his heat and forty fifth race on the second night in 2:06.0 rate, an ID and track standing start record for the distance which earned him outright favouritism for the final. Kiwi Grattan broke at the start interfering with Scottish Command’s chances while Caduceus got away well landing up in sixth position early. Caduceus went onto win by ½l from Meadowlands, ¾l to Lady Belmer followed in by Brilliant Moon in fourth place. Lady Belmer’s dam Ingle Belmer was third dam of author’s good mare Scottish Hostess.
Heat Five – APMAT, tr/dr Bert Alley, 4:05.2/2:07.2, 12yds; Maestros Melody (dr Frank Shinn) 2nd; Guiseppe (dr Max Allen) 3rd
Apmat, a great grandson of Walla Walla, was an impressive winner of the night’s second heat after making the lead shortly after the bell. Apmat was not extended in improving to fifth with two laps to run, moving three wide to take the lead at the three furlong post and winning with plenty in reserve. He defeated Maestros Melody by 1¼l with a half-length to Guiseppe with Southern Van fourth.
Apmat was to make the trip to Yonkers Raceway for the 1961 International series winning both the International and Good Time Paces (False Step won National Championship Pace to complete a Trans-Tasman clean sweep of the 1961 series).
Heat Six – KIWI DILLON, tr Bill Johnson/dr Max Johnson, 4:05.8/2:07.6, Lt; Fettle (dr Ron Hayes) 2nd; Yonkers (dr Jim Caffyn) 3rd
Kiwi Dillon completed a trifecta of ID wins in consecutive years taking out the final heat of the second night. The Dillon Hall gelding had won a heat at Wayville (1958), a consolation at Melbourne Showgrounds (1959) and now another heat at Sydney. Unable to maintain the sequence when competing in the 1961 ID’s at Addington. He was raced on lease by Max Johnson from John (JP) Stratton.
Well placed throughout, Kiwi Dillon held off Fettle’s late challenge by a length with local NSW longshot Yonkers third ahead of False Step who had swung around at the start more than doubling his 36 yds handicap. False Step posted fastest time with a rating of 2:06.4.
Saturday 6 February, 13 furlongs 98ydsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : third round of heats (421st night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
Heat Seven – BRILLIANT MOON, tr Theo Croft/dr Tom Hill, 3:35.0/2:08.0, Lt; Kiwi Dillon (dr Max Johnson) 2nd; First Kiss (dr Joe Turnbull) 3rd
Ten year old NSW representative Brilliant Moon belied his moderate form pre series with a half-length victory over Kiwi Dillon after leading over the final two laps with First Kiss a fair third, ¾l back. False Step’s performance to run fourth in the fastest mile rate of the evening (2:06.6) came after he had pig rooted and leapt high in the air on four occasions after the barriers were released.
Heat Eight – MAESTROS MELODY, tr Sid McLean/dr Frank Shinn, 3:37.2/2:09.2, Lt; Rosslawn (dr Alf Phillis) 2nd; Fettle (dr Ron Hayes) 3rd
Victorian Maestros Melody was positioned third on the rails over the opening two laps before moving up to sit outside the second horse Bobby Brigade when Fettle commenced a move from the back on the third lap. Fettle dropped in behind Maestros Melody with Caduceus tucked in behind him. During the final circuit, Frank Shinn driving aggressively caught leader Rosslawn with 50 yds to run beating him by a long neck. Fettle fought on for third a half head back with Bobby Brigade fourth and Caduceus fifth in the fastest rate of 2:07.6.
Heat Nine – GUISEPPE, tr/dr Max Allen, 3:40.6/2:11.2, Lt; Apmat (dr Bert Alley) 2nd; Kevejay (dr Ron Arthur) 3rd
Guiseppe, a NSW rep for the carnival although bred in NZ and owned by Aucklander Les Barrett in partnership with Mrs FJ Allen, won the final heat of the championships, leading all the way recording his tenth victory with seven minor placings from only twenty two starts. Tackled by both Apmat and Kevejay over the final lap, Guiseppe fought back to win by three quarters of a length from Apmat (fastest time) with a head to Kevejay and Macklin in fourth position.
Bert Alley was lucky to escape with only a fine when he broke the rules by dropping a leg from the stirrup. If Apmat had been disqualified and Kevejay promoted to second the South Australian would have earned sufficient points to have made the grand final field.
Points score at conclusion of heats : Apmat** NSW (16), Caduceus**/False Step, both NZ (11), First Kiss** NSW/Kiwi Dillon** WA (8), Fettle** NSW/Guiseppe** NZ (scratched in grand final due to an abscessed shoulder) (7), Maestros Melody** VIC (6), Brilliant Moon** NSW (4), Meadowlands/Rosslawn both NSW (2). Apmat off 12 yds and Caduceus off 36 yds were favourites for the Grand Final.
** heat winners; other finalists all placed in heats
Caduceus was fitted out in special bar shoes with leather packing between the shoe and hoofs which he wore until plated just before the final.
Saturday 13 February – PACERS GRAND FINAL, 13 furlongs 98 ydsSS £15,000 ($30,000) plus £600 ($1,200) gold cup (422nd night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
CADUCEUS (1950 U Scott/Little Ada entire, family of Royal Empress (N11), owners Dudley and Dennis Moore, trainer/driver Jack Litten, 36 yds, 3:30.3/2:05.2, ½l, long neck, 3/1 in betting [1:57.4US, $330,018]
Apmat, tr/dr Bert Alley, 12yds, 2nd (5/1)
Maestros Melody, tr Sid Mclean/dr Frank Shinn, Lt, 3rd (10/1)
(also in finishing order) : Fettle (5/1), Rosslawn (33/1), Kiwi Dillon (8/1), False Step (7/1), Meadowlands (40/1), First Kiss (7/1), Brilliant Moon (15/1)
Dividends : for five shillings : 19s 6d, 8s 3d; 17s 9d; 16s. Quinella for ten shillings : £6 19s 6d.
The start was not the cleanest with front markers First Kiss, Kiwi Dillon and Meadowlands all breaking while False Step again pig rooted adding 30yds to his 36 yd handicap. Meanwhile Rosslawn had set off at breakneck speed for Alf Phillis clocking the fastest ever one furlong and 98 yds in 24 seconds at Harold Park.
Caduceus began well settling fifth or sixth one off the fence behind Apmat who trailed leaders Rosslawn, Maestros Melody, Brilliant Moon and Fettle. Apmat and Caduceus fought a private battle with Caduceus being three wide with a lap to run. Rosslawn led at the bell hotly pursued by Fettle, Maestros Melody, Apmat and Caduceus. With three and a half furlongs to run, Brilliant Moon fell causing interference to several runners including False Step (Meadowlands, Kiwi Dillon, First Kiss all impacted).
Pacemaker Rosslawn shortened stride with two furlongs to run, where Fettle took over at the Leger post. Caduceus was sitting just behind Fettle until the home turn before mastering him early in the home straight. Maintaining an advantage of half a length over fast finishers wide on the track in Apmat and Maestros Melody (long neck in arears) with Fettle fourth close up. Caduceus’s time was close to his track record of 3:30.0/2:05.0 (36yds) set on 23 January 1959 in the Summer Cup, just four days after his arrival by boat from NZ bettered by Halwes 2:04.2 set in 1968). He had first raced in Australia as a five year old winning the first of two Lord Mayors Cups at Harold Park.
Bert Alley on Apmat was forced to check behind Maestros Melody when Litten moved Caduceus forward before coming wide with Apmat. This “movement” was the cause for a protest by Bert Alley (Apmat) against Jack Litten (Caduceus), which was dismissed by stewards in six minutes after much public outcry (cat calls and booing) and ill feeling between Alley and Litten.
The Interdominion trophies were presented by Deputy Premier and Treasurer for NSW, Mr JB Renshaw. Nine year old Caduceus’s share of the stake was £11,550 plus gold cup (win number forty six plus forty two placings), his stake earnings of £68,204½ (including £36,685AUS) were greater than Tulloch’s (£66,756) of horses currently racing and second only to then retired NZ bred galloper Redcraze’s £71,481.
Popularly known as the “mighty atom”, Caduceus’s stable name was “Charlie” due to his front feet turning outwards like famous comedian Charlie Chaplain. The 1960 ID’s were Caduceus’s sixth attempt to win the championship. Among those that had tried and failed in getting him home as an ID champion were top horsemen Fred Kersley and Jack Watts. His Grand Final record showed : 1955 Auckland (fifth/heat winner); 1956 Sydney (third); 1957 Perth (fourth/two heat wins); 1958 Adelaide (fifth in first heat only; soreness led to his return to NZ); 1959 Melbourne (fifth/three heat wins); 1960 Sydney ID Champion and winner of heat.
Owners Dudley and Denis Moore had guarded Caduceus in his stall on the Friday night before the Grand Final. About eleven years after the 1960 ID Final trainer/driver Jack Litten revealed he had been approached the night before the grand final with a proposition to “pull” Caduceus in the final, told it was worth the stake (winners or total stake unclear) to lose the final with Caduceus. Under no circumstances would Litten have entertained such an idea and business was not transacted while keeping this approach from the owners in case the horse did get beaten.
Consolations : 13fursSS, £1,250 ($2,500)
THUNDER, tr/dr Cecil (Ces) Devine, 3:34.4/2:07.6, 12yds; Southern Van (dr Merv Adams) 2nd; Yonkers (dr Jim Caffyn) 3rd
The NZ Cup winner from 1956 and a dual Easter Cup winner (1956, 1959) was at odds of 40/1, taking his stake earnings to £19k. Trained and driven by Ces Devine, Thunder’s owners were Erik Rutherford (breeder) and Estate of GL Rutherford. Plagued with soreness during the earlier stages of the carnival, Thunder came from well back in the field to defeat the unlucky Southern Van (NSW) by a nose.
HEROIC ACTION, tr/dr George Gath, 3:33.4/2:07.0, Lt; Bobby Brigade (dr Edgar Kennerley) 2nd; Correlate (dr Jim Caffyn) 3rd
Victorian Heroic Action in the hands of George Gath led all the way when winning the second consolation from Bobby Brigade.
Caduceus was sired by North American bred Scotland horse U Scott (1932 Scotland/Little Ada. 2:08.5, T2:11½US, $4,110) who became the NZ’s greatest sire (since only surpassed by Vance Hanover’s ten titles; Bettors Delight who has eight sires titles (stakes; nine winners) to date may in time exceed this) and broodmare sire on record. He was nine times leading NZ sire (equal with Jack Potts) and ten times leading NZ broodmare sire – these are commendable records to attain. He sired 420 winners (seventy seven trotters in NZ) of over $2.3m with his daughters leaving over 900 winners in NZ (181 trotters). The dual gaited U Scott won a heat of the 1938 ID’s at Addington (unplaced final), one of seven victories from thirty starts in NZ. U Scott stood at Roydon Lodge throughout his stud career.
Caduceus was bred by brothers Denis and Dudley Moore. He was an effective “midget” standing only 14.3 hands tall but this proved no barrier to his racetrack deeds. NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee Caduceus died aged 14 in October 1964. Injuring his chest and having an allergic reaction to an injection, he died of a haemorrhage in his paddock at Wyndham, Southland.
Caduceus’s dam was unraced Frank Worthy mare Little Ada from Logan Pointer mare Royal Empress. Little Ada, a full sister to unraced Queen Ayesha, dam of champion pacer Highland Fling (NZ Cup twice, NZFFA) and more than useful trotter Highland Kilt, both ID heat winners. Little Ada was purchased at the 1949 NZ Yearling Sales in Christchurch, part of a two pronged approach by the Moore brothers. First they purchased a Josedale Grattan/Chieftianess colt yearling named Bellamy for 210 guineas who later won them three races. Sufficient funds remained for the purchase of Little Ada for 260 guineas although they were disappointed she did not prove to be in foal.
Little Ada was one of several foals from the unraced Royal Empress – among them being extremely productive families tracing to Kitty Parish, ancestress of Sammy Do Good, Lenin, Laser Lad, Game Lad; Princess Medoro, ancestress of David Hercules; Queen Ayesha, ancestress of Highland Fling, Highland Kilt, Facta Non Verba, Captain Joy.
Little Ada, bred to U Scott with the resultant foal being Caduceus, he debuted as a two year old in the Timaru Nursery Stakes unplaced in his only start. He began his three year old career with a win at Nelson in October 1953. Prior to his 1960 ID’s Grand Final success, Caduceus’s major successes included NZ Derby, Auckland Cup, three NZFFA’s, six ID heats, two Ashburton Flying Stakes, Matson Memorial, Hannon Memorial. He equalled Highland Fling’s NZ and Australasian mile record with his 1:57.6TT at Addington on 28 November 1959, eleven years after his family relation set his record, also at Addington.
Caduceus was the first NZ horse to receive an invitation to race in the inaugural International Pace series at Yonkers where he dead heated with Canadian horse Champ Volo in the third leg of the $150,000 International Pace series only to be relegated to fourth for interference (placed in opening two legs). Having left NZ in April 1960 the winner of twenty eight races and a further eighteen in Australia. NZ and world records he established over 10 furlongsSS (2:31.8/2:01.4MR, Au Revoir Hcp) and 3:04.4 (1½m, Ollivier FFA, 2:02.8MR) were still current when race distances changed to metrics from August 1973. Holding track records at Harold Park, Melbourne Showgrounds, Wayville, Gloucester Park and Addington.
Racing mostly on lease in North America for Wilskers Restaurant of Yonkers and being trained by Bill Haughton, winning nine races in America (USA and Canada) including open events – Santa Monica Pace at Hollywood Park and Californian Pace at Santa Anita – for earnings of $159,147 setting his fastest mile time of 1:57.2US at Santa Anita as a twelve year old. Retiring the winner of fifty five races overall and undertaking a brief stud career in America before returning to NZ.
Caduceus’s stud career whilst successful was singularly unspectacular due to his early death (twelve winners), but numbering feature race winners Born to Trot, Charlie Chan, Double Cross, Royal Society and as a broodmare sire (thirty winners), Rosso Antico Stakes (now GN Trotters Derby), then at Group Two level Viva Romero, listed race winner Thorcad and feature race winner Royal York.
Peter Craig
8 December 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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