Gloucester Park (GP) entertained its sixth Interdominion carnival in 1962, five years after the previous one in 1957. At this stage, Perth had hosted six of the twenty one Interdomnions held since 1936.
These championships were determined over three heats of 12 furlongs, 13 furlongs and 2 miles with the Grand Final over 13 furlongs for a prize of £12,500 and gold cup valued at £300 with total prize money of £23,800. The Interdominion heats were run on Wednesday 21, Saturday 24 and Wednesday 28 February with the Grand Final on Saturday 3 March 1962.
The championship was just the second NSW owned victory after Springfield Globe’s 1939 Launceston win in Tasmania. Eight year old James Scott completed a clean sweep of his three heats and Grand Final as 6/4 favourite. Clean sweeps of heats and Grand Final had previously been achieved by Logan Derby at the inaugural Perth ID’s in 1936 but Evicus had been crowned Grand Champion. Parisienne won three heats, was second in the Grand Final but still crowned Grand Champion at the 1938 Addington ID’s. Avian Derby won two heats and the Grand Final in Sydney in 1952 but didn’t start in the third round of heats. Those to have won three heats were Stormy Weather (1947 Perth), Ribands (1953 Perth), Dusty Miller and Caduceus (Melbourne 1959). James Scott became the first to win all three heats, the Grand Final and be crowned Grand Champion.
The championship was sensational if for no other reason than the dramatic accident that left NZ champion Cardigan Bay (pre post 3/1 favourite) injured and out of the championship, following two impressive heat victories; more of which later.
Prior to the Perth ID’s a number of the leading lights for the championships had performed exceptionally well. Cardigan Bay, the NZ champion and the world’s first millionaire pacer, with three wins late in his four year old career (1960/1) and seven consecutive race wins early in the 1961/2 season, equalled War Buoy’s (NZ Derby) NZ record winning sequence of ten, his wins included the NZFFA and Auckland Cup. When regular driver and trainer Peter Wolfenden did not accompany Cardigan Bay to Perth, owner Audrey Dean and husband Merv engaged Sydney trainer Bill Wilkins to handle his 1962 ID campaign. This opened with a surprising loss, albeit off 84 yards behind, over 1½m at Granville in NSW.
James Scott had been in fine form in Sydney, having won a record eleven races during the previous Harold Park season (1960/61) and just prior to the Perth ID’s had won the Summer Cup (24 yards) from compatriot and Perth ID contender Lews Hope in a 2:06.2MR, who earlier in January finished second to Sheffield Globe in Melbourne’s Hunter Cup.
Opening night included an Interdominion record for a 12 furlong standing start by James Scott in the first heat – 2:04¾. He won easily lowering the State record previously held by Mineral Spring. In his heat Cardigan Bay was in front after 1½ furlongs from 12 yards, running his last half in under a minute (59¾ sec) and was being eased down at the finish. The remaining heat was won by local Kolworth, last with two laps to run, he breezed around the field to lead over the last five furlongs winning by three yards from a courageous Lews Hope who raced with a bruised foot (hoof cut on an oyster shell).
Second night victories over 13 furlongs before a crowd of 28,000 saw an impressive James Scott continue on his way, taking the lead a mile from home scoring by twelve yards in a time of 2:05¾, just ¼ second outside Apmat’s track record set in the Anniversary Cup in November 1961. Another NSW horse Redwin won the second heat following a heat win and fifth placing in the 1961 Addington Grand Final, the Perth ID’s being his first races since the previous year’s carnival. Cardigan Bay again won effortlessly , sitting parked outside Lews Hope until surging to the lead down the back straight the final time and again being eased up towards the line, Lews Hope’s bruised foot had been poulticed and a special bar shoe fitted but to no avail having drawn Cardy’s heat. After an early mistake, he led after 2½ furlongs but had no answer to Cardigan Bay. James Scott and Cardigan Bay were now down to meet in a third round heat over two miles.
The sensation of the 1962 Championships occurred following the running of the second round of heats. The day before the third round (Tuesday 27 February), Bill Wilkins stable hand Tom White gave Cardigan Bay a session of light jogging at Bernie Cushings Cannington training establishment. White was tipped from Cardigan Bay’s jog cart when it hit a bump on the track. Cardigan Bay took fright dashing off the track and into the stabling area where he came crashing down on the concrete verge badly gouging his lower hind legs, he chipped and displaced his near hind hip.
The injuries appeared to be career ending and certainly ensured his immediate withdrawal from the Perth ID series plus any chance of his participation in Marty Tananbaun’s Yorkers international series were over for the present at least. The story of Cardy’s withdrawal was such big news at the time that the front page of the evening Daily News was held pending reporter Arthur Thornton’s getting back to the office with the story, it featured in newspapers throughout Australia and New Zealand the next day. Cardigan Bay’s troubles were overcome and despite never again having the perfect action due to these injuries, he became Interdominion Champion in 1963 (Wayville), won NZ Cup (54 yards) and Auckland Cup (78 yards) in the same calendar year before Stanley Dancer acquired him for America going on to become the world’s first ever million dollar pacer at Freehold Raceway, New Jersey in September 1968.
Third night heats over two miles saw Lews Hope equal Beau Don’s track record of 2:08.0 which he didn’t hold for long, His recovery from his hoof injury made this win all the more meritorious. James Scott then set a new track record (2:07½) for two miles to further tighten his grip on the Grand Final betting which he now dominated. The final heat was won by local veteran Fred Kersley who piloted King Capri to victory and into the Grand Final.
Heat winners (night 1, 12 furlongs) : James Scott (NSW, 2:04¾), Cardigan Bay (NZ, 2:06.0), Kolworth (WA, 2:06.4)
Heat winners (night 2, 13 furlongs) : James Scott (NSW, 2:05¾), Redwin (NSW, 2:08 3/8), Cardigan Bay (NZ, 2:07 5/8)
Heat winners (night 3, 2 miles) : Lews Hope (NSW, 2:08.0), James Scott (NSW, 2:07½), King Capri (WA, 2:08½)
The Grand Final on Saturday 3 March 1957 was run before a crowd of 35,000. James Scott as expected had no difficulty in completing his clean sweep of the three heats and Grand Final. Third last early, he joined the leaders at the commencement of the bell lap before striding to the lead in the back straight and going onto win by six yards from Lews Hope who completed a NSW quinella. Locals Super Paddy, a further twelve yards in arrears, 100/1 shot Paddy Boy and Collaborate were next home. James Scott stopped the clock in 3:24½, a race record mile rate of 2:04 5/8.
Due to illness, James Scott’s owner Ray Fitzpatrick (NSW Trotting Club committeeman) was not in attendance, so his brother William (Bill) accepted the Grand Final trophy.
Final (13 furlongs) :
1st : 8h JAMES SCOTT (NSW), Noble Scott/Vain Peak, by Peak Hill, family of Vanity by Vancleve (A6); 24 yds, Perc Hall (trainer/driver), Ray Fitzpatrick (owner), C Hando (breeder, NSW). Won by 6yds x 12 yds, 3:24½/2:04 5/8MR
2nd : Lews Hope (NSW), 12 yds, Merv Adams (tr/dr)
3rd : Super Paddy (WA), Fr, Les Marriott (dr), Harry Cheshire (tr)
Other starters in finishing order : Paddy Boy (WA), Collaborate (WA), Billabong Scott (SA), Sea Gram (SA), Kolworth (WA) King Capri (WA), Kiwi Dillon (WA), Wickawack (NSW), Redwin (NSW), Moonspeed (WA)
Consolations :
1st heat : Bin Oro (WA), 2:10½), Alan Woodworth (dr)
2nd heat : Interview (WA), 2:10.0, Bob Johnson (dr)
Notable points from the championship;
- a) winning driver Perc Hall was from a family that mixed trotting with a butchery business. He was the first to drive five hundred winners under lights in Sydney and four winners on the one Harold Park evening programme. Apart from James Scott, he was also associated with Ribands and Van Hall
- b) Redwins regular driver Leo Keys was serving a six month suspension which ended on the night of the second round of heats. Redwin was handled by Bill Read in his first two heats with Keys back to drive him in the final where hampered by a buckled wheel, he finished second last
- c) West Australian trainer Fred Kersley Snr qualified two local horses for the Grand Final, Collaborate (driven by Phil Coulson, trainer/driver of disqualified winner of 1971 Addington ID‘s, Juniors Image) and King Capri which he drove; Collaborate finished fifth
- d) another local WA trainer Dan Egan also qualified two horses for the final – Billabong Scott (by Noble Scott) and Sea Gram
- e) Globe Derby influence continued with three finalists, winner James Scott, Sea Gram and Redwin having Globe Derby blood on their sire or dam line. Raider, another Tatlow sire also had three finalists in Super Paddy, Paddy Boy, and Wickawack having his blood in their pedigrees
James Scott – Grand Final winner –
JAMES SCOTT (1953h Noble Scott/Vain Peak), 1:59.2TT (Harold Park, 14 April 1962), $79,416, three ID heats and Grand Final, numerous NSW features including Summer Cup, Harold Park FFA’s
James Scott was by Noble Scott, bred by leading NZ owner, breeder Sir John McKenzie who imported both the sire U Scott (Scotland/Lillan Hita) and dam Widow Volo, a Peter Volo mare from North America. A moderate performer racing in Australia, Noble Scott was leading sire of winners in Australia for six consecutive seasons (1957 – 1962), in total siring 301 winners. Apart from James Scott, Noble Scott left trotting Derby winners in Benelong (VIC/NSW/SA), Edith Maria (NSW), Our Noble (VIC), Uncanny (VIC/NSW); Billabong Scott (SA Cup). Stormy Meadow (Dullard Cup) and Kelly Kid (VIC Derby) were among his dam sire credits. Younger full brother Clan MacTavish (2:11.4) sired 99 winners including Deep Tan (NSW Derby).
James Scott’s dam was unraced Vain Peak, by Peak Hill, by Lawn Derby, by Robert Derby, by Globe Derby, continuing Globe Derby and Edgar Tatlow’s influence on Interdominion winners. She left another winner in James Knight, dam sire of Neuts Pride (Townsville Cup) and her filly foal Vainhains was third dam of Spurbuck (Bathurst Christmas Cup).
James Scott belongs to well performed Australian family Verity by Vancleve (A6) which includes major winners Baileys Dream (millionaire, NZ Easter Cup), Pride (WA Pacing Cup), NSW Trotters Derby winners Barney Alto/Real Vain/Peaks Promise, Deep Tan (NSW Derby), Kingstar (1:50.4US, QLD/TAS Derbies, NSWSS – 3), Ted Barry (Fremantle Cup), Chariot King (Bathurst Gold Crown, NSW Breeders Challenge – 3c), Shes An Image (VICSS – 2T, VIC/NSW Trotters Oaks), Avonnova (1:51.3, QLD Sunshine Sprint, Gold Coast Cup).
James Scott received his early education and raced from the stables of Eric Harpley for whom he won 21 races (only one at Harold Park), the first of these at Leeton on 19 January 1957. James Scott was purchased from Harpley by Ray Fitzpatrick twenty months prior to the Perth ID’s for £6,000 and in that time won a further seventeen of twenty five races for him. The first six of these races resulted in wins at Harold Park where he was to later record victories in the Spring Hcp, Lord Mayors and Summer Cups. His career record prior to Perth stood at thirty eight wins in Australia. Following the ID’s he ran third beaten a head and half head in Lews Hope’s Lord Mayors Cup at Harold Park where on 14 April 1962 he time trialled in 1:59.2, just the third sub two minute time ever in Australia (Avian Derby 1952, Ribands 1954). In total, James Scott won 42 races in Australia before being taken to North America, for the Yorkers International Series. He raced unsuccessfully due to a virus infection, being returned to Australia to stand at stud for Clem Smith, Young, NSW.
As a successful percentage sire, James Scott left 248 winners, the best being James Darren (won 22 in Australia, Australian two year old record of 2:02.6, NSW Sapling, NSW Derby before export to USA, CAN Provincial Cup), Peter Profit (43 wins all at Albion Park including numerous FFA‘s), Tidy James (smart NSW juvenile, NSW Breeders Plate), Scotts Way (sire of Dainty’s Daughter (WA/Fremantle Cups). James Scott was dam sire of Local Honoured (NSW Derby), Satin Shoes (NSW Oaks), Sunshine Band (TAS Pacing Championship, Treuer Memorial, QLD Pacing Championship, WA Pacing Cup, two ID heats).
Peter Craig
5 December 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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