In a return to the traditional Interdominion Championships format, Gloucester Park Harness Racing Club (Perth) recently held the first of its three years as host club (27 November – 13 December 2015). Gloucester Park is steeped in history and tradition being the first to hold an Interdominion Championship in 1936. Since then and counting 2015, they have held 14 such Interdominion (ID) events, more than any other venue.
Originally opened in 1929 as Brennan Park, a 792 yard track, it was renamed Gloucester Park in November 1935. The photo finish was installed in August 1949, mobile barrier was first used in May 1958 and the track was upgraded to its current size of 805m in May 1985.
Racing and Waging WA (RWWA) together with long term sponsor TABtouch provided the necessary financial support this year. It was particularly gratifying to see the return to the traditional ID format of three heats leading into the Grand Final. For us “traditionalists” this couldn’t have happened sooner or at a better venue than Gloucester Park, great from the viewing spectator point of view. Fortunate to have just attended my twenty first ID since 1979 (Addington, Christchurch), this was my fourth ID in Perth (1996, 2004, 2012, 2015). Perhaps I have just “collected my key to the ID door”.
As we have done for the past thirteen ID’s (2004 – 2015 twice), my wife and I attended these latest Perth ID’s with Michael Gallenti’s Melbourne based harness racing travel specialists “Harness Racing Travelworld” (HRT). A number of tour durations, accommodation and optional activities were available. Being long time honorary “Australians” for the duration of such tours, we choose to participate in the full ID’s programme of an 18 day tour. Each tour length was given a topical horse name – ours was Beautide with others being Flaming Flutter and For a Reason; the three place getters in The March 2015 ID held at Menangle. Whilst it was disappointing not to have any NZ owned, trained and driven horses at the carnival, we were well represented with close to two thirds being Kiwi bred ID contenders (in Grand Final 6 of 10 contenders).
This year’s ID format consisted of nine qualifying heats run over three nights (second night at Bunbury) with the Grand Final on Sunday 13 December 2015. Prize money on offer during the ID carnival exceeded A$2.5m, the ID Grand Final representing A$1.3m alone (9 heats and consolation of A$50,000 each). Other major races featured during the carnival were Group 1’s for four year olds in Golden Nugget (A$200,000) and McInerney Ford Classic ($A125,000); Mares Classic (A$125,000); Group 2’s in 4yo Championship (A$50,000), Norms Daughter Classic (A$50,000), San Simeon heats and final (A$15,000/A$50,000), Binshaw heats and final (A$15,000/A$50,000) and a Trotters Cup for A$50,000.
Gloucester Park had undergone extensive renovation and refurbishment in preparation for the latest ID carnival. This included an overhaul of the racing surface and base and evaluating the camber around the turns. Together with upgrades to facilities for patrons, Gloucester Park continues to be an outstanding venue with modern facilities for all.
Being part of a tour group meant that harness racing was not the only activity engaged in to maintain the interest and excitement of participants. Whilst much will have already been written of the ID races themselves, I’ll look to review them in conjunction with a brief outline of our tour journey in the West. Having travelled the furthest of all, we arrived a couple of days ahead of the tour which commenced with the first night of ID heats at Gloucester Park on Friday 27 November. Comfortably situated in our reserved seating in the Radiant Oro Restaurant and outside in front of the restaurant, the opening heats unfolded as part of Italian Fireworks night with dominant heat wins by ID favourite Lennytheshark, Philadelphia Man and James Rattray’s latest find representing NSW in Devendra. Bettor Reward took out the 4yo Championship whist Leda McNally won the Parliamentarians Cup from Berisari. The twenty minute fireworks display took place half an hour after the final race.
Prior to the next round of heats at Bunbury, we spent Saturday morning cruising up the Swan River for wine tasting at Lancaster, Jane Brook (including lunch) and Sandalford Wineries, followed by visits to a chocolate factory and a micro brewery; a leisurely Sunday was spent visiting Fremantle – guided tours of WA Maritime Museum and “Great Escapes” at Fremantle Jail with time to explore the Fremantle Markets. On our way south to Bunbury, a pleasant Monday afternoon’s of country harness racing was enjoyed at Pinjarra.
The second round of ID heats was held Bunbury on Tuesday 1 December. A visit to Dardanup Heritage Park (Ferguson Valley) – agricultural and horse related heritage items (highly recommended) and Gnomesville – an amazing array of over 3,000 gnomes passed away the day before Bunbury trots. Viewed over a gourmet BBQ dinner served outdoors, these one mile heats on the fast 960m Donaldson Park, Bunbury arena (fifth WA track to race under lights 1936) saw Lincoln Beach Girl’s previous track record of 1:54.1 eclipsed by My Hard Copy recording 1:51.6 in the night’s first heat. Lennytheshark also improved on the previous track record with his second heat win in 1:52.8 while Philadelphia Man’s 1:54.2 was just outside Lincoln Beach Girl’s record. The night featured three long shot winners at odds of 19/1, 20/1 and 51/1.
En route from Bunbury to Perth, we took in the former fishing village of Mandurrah, home to the fastest growing regional city in WA. Here we cruised the canals viewing some large mansions before lunch and return to Perth. The third round of heats were a couple of days away, it was time for a little rest and relaxation.
The third round of heats on Friday 4 December again saw the tour group enjoying the facilities of the Radiant Oro restaurant. Tonight’s heats determined the ID Grand Finalists and whilst previous dual heat winners Lennytheshark and Philadelphia Man were defeated, they were far from disgraced. Devendra joined them as a dual heat winner while Lovers Delight and the only mare to make the Grand Final Libertybelle Midfrew completed impressive performances. Classy mare Frith took out the Norms Daughter Classic having started from the outside barrier position while Beaudiene Boaz continued his excellent form with victory in the McInerney Ford 4yo Classic.
Hardly over last evenings excitement and we had to be packed up and ready to go early next morning for our seven day journey east from Perth to Kalgoorlie, south east to Esperance and south to Albany. Having previously travelled on the Indian Pacific, the chance of travelling on the high speed train “The Prospector” from Perth to Kalgoorlie was eagerly awaited. The 600km, six hour journey at speeds of up to 160kmh was all a boy from a Railways family background could ask for proving a trip highlight. Our arrival in Kalgoorlie on Saturday afternoon coincided with the annual St Barbara’s pageant featuring many floats incorporating a mining theme and even Kalgoorlie HRC’s own mobile gate. Unfortunately due to a storm that had passed through Kalgoorlie in the previous 24 hours impacting the Cruikshank Sports Arena course, the clubs meeting especially transferred from a Friday to Saturday night due to the presence of our travelling group had to be abandoned after one race. The club had gone to considerable trouble to accomodate our party of 80+.
Sunday’s activities were due to feature mining activities based around viewing the “Super Pit” (largest gold mine in Australia) from a Mine Spec bus but again the recent storm curtailed this (mine closed to tours). We did however visit the Hannans North Tourist Mine, WA Museum in Kalgoorlie, a “Two Up school“ and dined in Boulder at the Albion Hotel.
Moving onto Esperance, guided tours featured a visit to glass artists studio; Esperance’s Stonehenge (137 stones of pink granite); Cape Le Grand National Park (Lucky Bay/Hellfire Bay) and a fish leather tannery. Next up was Albany where the obligatory guided tours included visits to a Sandalwood and Emu Oil factory; Princess Royal fortress incorporating National ANZAC Centre; Discovery Bay Whaling Station; The Gap. Our return journey to Perth featured a lunch stop at Kajonup Visitor Centre and Museum.
A 24 hour recovery period before the next formal event was well utilised. Recent arrivals for Grand Final day and others who had not been to Perth before undertook a morning sightseeing tour taking in Kings Park, inner city, Northbridge and surf beaches. The evening before the Grand Final allowed for the regular HRT Interdominion Calcutta to be held in the Riverside Ballroom at the Novotel Langley. With regular MC John Dunne, it featured expert panellists in Bill Hutchinson, Gareth Hall and HRT tour guide Mark Lowe. A great evening was had by all.
Sunday 13 December dawned fine and all was in readiness for the 2015 TABtouch Perth Interdominion Grand Final. This afternoon we were situated in the Golden Nugget Restaurant with reserved seating in the Sir Frank Ledger grandstand for the concluding stages of yet another successful ID championship. Much has already been written about Lennytheshark‘s game performance to win the 2015 ID Grand Final. Pole horse Lovers Delight ensured a torrid overall pace which saw Lenny recording a 1:54.8MR, just 0.1 second outside Im TheMightyquinn’s track record over the 2536mM journey. 2015 Menangle ID runner up Flaming Flutter was not disgraced in running third from his inside second line draw.
Other major winners on Grand Final day saw Beaudiene Boaz further enhance his record in winning the 4yo Golden Nugget (won 2 of 3 4yo features during carnival); Grand Final first emergency Major Crocker took out the Pacers Consolation; Nike Franco, second ballot for the previous weeks Norms Daughter Classic struck Group 1 glory in the Mares Classic; Earl gelding Earl of Charity (winner of 8 of last ten starts) decisively took out the Trotters Cup for Norm and Julie Champion while Art Major sired three winners on the day (Cold Major, Major Crocker, Major Catastrophe).
Although well known before arriving in Perth, it was amazing to see just how many ex Kiwi bred horses now call WA home. Not only that but they flew the flag high thus ensuring many more horses from across the Tasman will join them and make the flight across to the West. It would seem logical that a number of NZ trainers will reconsider their options next year in respect of contesting the 2016 Interdominions especially with the lucrative stakes on offer.
Overall, the carnival produced competitive racing with many quick times. The overall quality of Interdominion contenders however was questionable with current stars Beautide/Christen Me missing and none capable of comparison with recent past champions such as Blacks A Fake and Im TheMightyquinn. The powers that be at Harness Racing Australia and Harness Racing New Zealand do have some issues to address in respect of the Interdominions for it to retain its standing as the major race in Australasian harness racing – timing (closeness to NZ Cup and Christmas, middle of breeding season) being just one of them.
For all that, Gloucester Park can be pleased with this the first of their three year agreement to host the Interdominions. No doubt they will learn from and enhance aspects of this year’s carnival for future events. The continuation of Grand Finals being hosted on a Sunday afternoon to achieve free to air coverage is one area that needs reviewing. The vastly superior on course crowd numbers wise on Italian Night ought to lead to robust discussion on what the best option is for the Grand Final. Perhaps incorporating the Grand Final with Italian night/fireworks would be a better option in future Whilst experiencing a few problems on opening night, staffing and service improved greatly over the balance of the carnival. The variety of food provided in the hospitality areas frequented by our tour group was commensurate with expectations and favourably commented upon by many.
As always, yet another exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable couple of weeks of high class harness racing. A great spectacle and carnival presented by the good people at Gloucester Park, Donaldson Park/Bunbury as well as an excellent day out at Pinjarra. It is already countdown time for the 2016 edition, the days can’t pass fast enough to be involved in the next instalment of the Interdominion Championships.
Peter Craig
17 December 2015
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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