Following the successful running of the inaugural Interdominions (ID’s) at Gloucester Park (GP) in 1936, Perth won the right to be the first city to hold a second Interdominion (ID) in 1940.
In the intervening years, the Interdominions had been held at Wayville, Adelaide (February 1937 – Grand Final/Grand Champion : Dans Son); Addington, Christchurch (April 1938 – Grand Final : Pot Luck, Grand Champion : Parisienne) and Elphin, Launceston (January 1939 : Grand Final/Grand Champion : Springfield Globe). Adelaide (SA’s centenary year) attracted the biggest crowd ever seen at Wayville; Addington hosted horses representing each Australian state, with huge crowds despite bad weather which postponed one of the meetings and Elphin attracted the largest attendance ever seen on a trotting track in Tasmania.
The same points system used at all Interdominions to date was retained i.e. the championship would be awarded to the most consistent horse based on points allocated for both heats and final for first three placings (3 -2 – 1) and three fastest times (3 – 2 – 1). The championships would be determined over three heats of 1 mile, 1½ miles and 2 miles with the Grand Final over 13 furlongs for a prize of £3,000, plus gold cup valued at 100 guineas – £105). The Interdominion heats were run on Wednesday 7 February, Saturday 10 February and Wednesday 14 February with the Grand Final on Saturday 17 February 1940.
The advertisement for the 1940 carnival appears below (as included in the official WATA Interdominion Trotting Championship 1940 brochure) followed by the full conditions for the Championship – note a clause in the conditions of racing stated that in the event of the Grand Champion being other than the winner of the Grand Final, the first prize money of £2,000 would be split 50/50 between the two horses.
Prize money for the ID Grand Final had risen over the five years they had been conducted starting with £1,605 (£1,500 plus Gold Cup valued at 100 guineas – £105) in 1936 at GP; Wayville increased this to £1,675 in 1937; Addington not surprisingly bumped this up to £2,250 in 1938 while Elphin’s £1,000 reflected Tasmania’s lack of finances compared to other states, they established record figures for attendances and wagering..
The Gloucester Park track was built on the banks of the Swan River, in 1940, it stood on what was once the flood bed of the river and rested on more than 30,000 cubic yards of oyster shell that had been dredged up. The GP track was 88 yards short of half a mile and 65 feet wide, having two flat straights and two slightly banked bends, the whole track being well graded.
The 1940 Interdominion fields consisted of 18 visiting horses plus 12 locals competing for a total purse of £8,675, the final being worth £3,105. The spectacle of the Grand Final winner not being crowned the 1940 ID champion occurred for the last time here in Perth. Whilst Grand Mogul representing New Zealand led the Grand Final field home, it was Logan Derby, 1936 Grand Final winner (undefeated in heats and Grand Final but second on points) who finished fifth in the Grand Final but top of the points table who became Grand Champion. Rather ironical in the circumstances as he only won one heat and finished unplaced in the final. Grand Mogul’s WA trainer/driver Keith Anderson became the first West Australian to win an ID final.
Opening night included an ID record for a mile from a stand by Main Derby who started off 12 yds with Logan Derby third off 36 yds. 1936 Grand Champion Evicus managed a third in Globe Dorrell’s heat win. Future Auckland Cup winner Uenuku won the remaining mile heat and was subsequently stood down from the final due to a shoulder injury. Second night winners Logan Derby (36yds) and Icevus who defeated Grand Mogul, both recorded 3:13¼, mile rate of 2:09.0 in their 1½m victories.. Local Moreica easily won the other heat.
Third night winner Grand Mogul reduced the state two mile record previously held by Evicus by ½ second to 4:23.0 (Evicus third). Other heats were won by Our Globe and Main Derby, with Logan Derby’s third thus emerging leading points scorer.. Points leading into the Grand Final were : Logan Derby (15); Main Derby (12); Our Globe (11½); Grand Mogul (10); Master Dixie (8); Evicus (7); Icevus (6½); Uenuku (5); Radiant Walla (4½); Lachlan Machine (4); Globe Dorrell (3½); Supertax (3).
Heat winners (night 1, 1 mile) : Main Derby (VIC, 2:06¾)**, Globe Dorrell (TAS, 2:11..0), Uenuku (NZ, 2:08.0)
Heat winners (night 2, 1½ miles) : Logan Derby (TAS, 2:09.0), Morecia (WA, 2:10.6), Icevus (NZ, 2:09.0)
Heat winners (night 3, 2 miles) : Grand Mogul (NZ, 2:11.0), Our Globe (TAS, 2:11.5), Main Derby (VIC, 2:12¾)
** Interdominion record for mile from standing start
The Grand Final on 19 February 1940 was run in front of a crowd of 16,000 with Grand Mogul being among the leaders at the bell lap. Driven by tr/dr Keith Anderson, he went on to win by a head from Master Dixie with Moreica a further ½ head back followed in by Our Globe. Under the Championship rules, Logan Derby with 18 points was proclaimed champion from Master Dixie (13½) and Grand Mogul (13 1/3). Grand Mogul received £1,000 for his Grand Final victory, the same as Logan Derby who received a gold cup (Master Dixie £600, Moreica £100).
Final (13 furlongs) :
1st : GRAND MOGUL (NZ), 9g Adioo Guy/Logans Mission (NZ) by Logan Pointer, family of Regina; Front, Keith Anderson (tr/dr), George Barton (owner NZ), J Duffy (breeder, NZ). Won by 1ydx0.5yds, 2:11.3MR
2nd : Master Dixie (NSW), Front, Herb Chant (tr/dr)
3rd : Moreica (WA), Front, Jim Morgan (tr/dr)
Other starters in finishing order : Our Globe (TAS), Logan Derby (TAS), Main Derby (VIC), Evicus (TAS), Icevus (NZ), Radiant Walla (NSW)
Consolations :
1st heat : Binnia (WA), 2:14¼, Fred Kersley snr (dr)
2nd heat : Flying Globe (NSW), 2:13¼, Jack Watts (dr)
Logan Derby
Grand Champion (on points) : 9h LOGAN DERBY (TAS), Globe Derby/Belle Logan, by Logan Pointer, family of Bonnie Belle; 36 yds, Jack Stamford (tr/dr), Mrs A Barnes (owner), Edgar Tatlow (breeder, TAS)
Two days after the Grand Final, Logan Derby defeated Icevus in a one mile match race in 2:04.0.
Notable points from the championship; a) Logan Pointer was broodmare sire of both Grand Final winner Grand Mogul and Grand Champion Logan Derby; b) Globe Derby’s influence continued with four finalists sired by him; grandfather of another finalist; his progeny won six of nine heats (four sons, one grandson won two heats); c) Jack Watts, legendary NSW (Sydney) horseman, father of Colin who drove 1966 ID Trotting GF winner Yamamoto to victory, was the first visiting driver to drive a treble at GP when successful with Huon’s Rock, Gay Polly and Flying Globe.
Grand Mogul –
Grand Mogul had been sold by his leviathan Dunedin owner George Barton prior to the Interdominions, however the transfer was not complete, so Grand Mogul still raced in Barton‘s name and for New Zealand. The winner’s cheque however went to West Australian WJ Sykes with the transfer only verified by WATA after the series had been completed. This meant Sykes wasn’t recognised as the owner of an ID champion by the public.
George Barton
Grand Mogul – 1930g (Adioo Guy/Logans Mission), NZ 60 :16-4-3, £3,938 NZ earnings only (15 for GJ Barton, 1 for AJ McLeod); AUS for GJ Barton 5 :3-1-0; WJ Sykes 9 wins; total NZ/Aus wins – 28 (18 for GJ Barton, 9 for WJ Sykes, 1 for AJ McLeod); 2:06.5, N10 Regina
Prior to his ID campaign, in New Zealand Grand Mogul was leading stake earner in the 1936/7 season (£2,610) although he did not win any major race on the NZ trotting calendar. His sire Adioo Guy’s (Guy Dillon) main claim to fame was siring the dam of Adios in Adioo Volo (Adioo Guy/Sigrid Volo) prior to being imported from the USA by George Youngson. Grand Mogul was a member of the famed Regina family, his branch emanating through third dam Regina Belle, grand dam Wild Queen and dam Logans Mission, by Logan Pointer. His younger half sister Smile Again set a world record to saddle of 2:04.0 when placed third at Addington in 1941. Regina family stars include NZ Cup winners Garry Dillon, Trusty Scot and Il Vicolo; Comedy Lad, Honkin Vision, Black Watch, Lauraella, Stunin Cullen and Gotta Go Cullen.
Grand Mogul had his initial win for owner/trainer AJ McLeod at Ashburton as a 4yo. Purchased by Barton, he went onto win fifteen races in New Zealand with the most significant being Louisson Hcp, Oamaru/NZMTC Presidents Hcps, NZMTC King George Hcp, Easter Hcp (now Gp1 Easter Cup). Placed second in a Dunedin Cup and in his three NZ seasons leading up to the 1940 ID’s (1937/8, 1938/9, 1939/40), Grand Mogul did not record a win or a placing for Barton in twelve starts, this included four unplaced runs at the 1938 Christchurch ID’s,
Grand Mogul had five starts in Perth for George Barton due to the ownership transfer delay which included the 1940 Interdominions as a NZ entrant. A few days prior to the Perth ID’s commencing, Grand Mogul won the Wyndham Hcp at Gloucester Park (20 January) at good odds from Storm Cloud (2nd), Radiant Walla (3rd) and other visiting pacers Main Derby, Lachlan Machine and Logan Derby. Then followed the three heats (two mile victory, second over 1½m) and Grand Final where he was victorious.
After the transfer to Sykes was completed, Grand Mogul performed with distinction in WA recording his major win in the 1942 Stratton Cup having placed second to Huon’s Rock the previous year. Career stats included being among the first 100 2:10 performers in both NZ (2:09.9, 10 furs 1937) and Australia (2:06.5, 1941).
Logan Derby –
The 1940 Interdominions were effectively Logan Derby’s swansong after which he retired to stud duties. Making his mark throughout Australasia winning 57½ races including show success for stakes of £10,060 (£1,795 in NZ, 3rd in NZ Cup at his first NZ start in 1938). Major successes included : Launceston Show Cup (twice), Tasmania Pacing Championship, VIC Richmond Flying (two), TAS Easter Cup, TAS Meander Cup (twice), NZFFA, NZ Forbury/Presidents Hcps, four ID heats/Grand Final/Grand Champion (points) all at Perth, among first 100 Australian 2:05/2:10 performers, Tasmanian Hall of Famer.
As for previous Interdominions, Logan Derby had been through the 1936 ID heats (3) and Grand Final undefeated finishing second behind Evicus (Grand Champion) on points. Finishing eighth in Grand Final at Adelaide (1937) before making his final appearance at the 1940 Perth Interdominions.
Standing initially in Tasmania, Logan Derby was purchased by John Stratton to stand at his Jane Brook Stud, Bunjil, WA (1942-1943) prior to his export to New Zealand in 1944.. Stratton gave him to Aucklander Fred (FJ “Wizard“) Smith; after his death he was purchased by Edgar Kennerley who sold him at auction to Tamahere owner RC Mason where he stood for several years. Later he was sold to Gore breeder George Youngson.
His 98 winners (36 Australia – 33 pacers, 62 NZ) were made up of 83 pacers/1 in 2:00 and 15 trotters including his champion pacer and siring son Johnny Globe (1:59.8TT, 34 wins, GN/NZ Derbies, NZ Cup, NZFFA twice; sire of top trotter Johnny Gee/pacer Lordship who left Lord Module) and trotting pioneer to North America in Vodka (Dominion HCP/NZ Trotting FFA). Other progeny of Logan Derby included Fabius (GN Derby), Jewel Derby/Tapuwae (Rowe Cup). He was broodmare sire of Gay Vivienne (NSW Trotters Derby), Logan Count (Dominion Hcp), Master Dean (NZFFA). Logan Derby died in 1957.
Following the 1940 Perth Interdominions, the Second World War intervened meaning that after a consecutive run of five years, the ID’s would go into a six year recess before reappearing again in Perth in 1947.
Peter Craig
28 November 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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