This is the twelfth in a series of articles covering the Interdominion (ID) Trotters Championships conducted over the period 1948 – 2012. These articles will be presented on a track by track basis as opposed to a chronological order with the exception of the first (background and first championship) and last two articles (final championship and statistical analysis).
The first Trotters ID was held at Auckland’s Alexandra Park in 1948 – this carnival was covered in the first of this series of articles covering the Interdominion (ID) Trotters Championships published on 27 March 2018, the inaugural winner being Aerial Scott.
1955 AUCKLAND – BATTLE CRY
The third Interdominion Trotters championship formed part of the second ever Interdominion carnival hosted by the Auckland Trotting Club at its Alexandra Park headquarters. This was the second and final Interdominion held on Alexandra Park’s six furlong grass track. Only a single trotter’s heat was held on each of the first two days followed by the Grand Final on the third and final day. The weather was fine and the track fast for all three days.
Saturday 12 February, 1¼m : first round of heats
Heat One – BATTLE CRY, tr/dr Colin Berkett, T2:43 3/5/T2:10 4/5, 6yds; Vodka (dr John Shaw) 2nd; Indomitable (dr Derek Jones) 3rd
Australian representative Para Rip from New South Wales was back early and faded after a fast move around the field being withdrawn from the carnival after breaking down following this race. Conquer made the pace but Battle Cry won in the fastest time from Anxious Moments and Indian Parrish. While Battle Cry had added to his 6yd handicap by breaking early and losing forty yards, he recovered well winning by a length covering the last half in 63 2/5 having circled the field at the three furlongs and in front on the home turn he won convincingly.
Saturday 19 February 1m 5 furlongs : second round of heats
Heat Two – BATTLE CRY, tr/dr Colin Berkett, T3:34.0/T2:11 3/5, 6yds; Indomitable (dr Derek Jones) 2nd; Anxious Moments (dr Allan Martin) 3rd
Again, Battle Cry won in the fastest time on the second day of carnival, making him leading point’s scorer with fourteen points. Making no race of this heat by outclassing all others winning by seven lengths with Fair Isle best of the others followed by Indomitable and Anxious Moments while Vodka finished fifth after twice breaking badly. Mountain Range led early before Anxious Moments took over. Going down the back straight the last time, Battle Cry was up to third before taking charge turning for home and winning effortlessly.
Saturday 26 February, 1955 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2 miles, £3,000 plus Gold Cup £50
BATTLE CRY (1937 Light Brigade/Amore gelding, family of Nellie Moore N35), owner Mr & Mrs ES (Ernie) Baxter, trainer/driver Colin Berkett, Lt, time T4:25.0/T2:12.5, 2L, 1L, favourite [T2:07.4, £16,882]
Vodka, tr Nat McKenzie, dr Jack Shaw, 36 yds, 2nd
Precaution, tr/dr Allan Holmes, 6 yds, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Ecosse, Indomitable, Tapuwae, Fair Isle, Glen Star, Indian Parish – remaining order uncertain as no records available : Anxious Moments, Captain Cuddles, Conquer, Mountain Range, Old Scotch
Five year old hot favourite Battle Cry completed a clean sweep of the heats and final (favourite each day) with a decisive victory in the Trotters Grand Final, leading early from the front mark, he retained this position for the remainder of the journey with Vodka two lengths back, a length ahead of Precaution with half-length to Ecosse in fourth (winner earlier in day whose driver Gavin Hampton died in May 2017 aged 95). The first four past the post represented Canterbury stables. Battle Cry trotted to the mile in 2:16, 1½m in 3:22 before completing the two miles in 4:25, never being in danger of defeat proving without doubt the best trotter at the carnival.
The gelded son of Volomite stallion Light Brigade (leading sire/broodmare sire for many seasons especially of trotters) from Amore (dam of another good trotter in Front Line, won eleven from 63 starts, £7,260, twice second in Dominion Hcp), an unraced daughter of dual NZ Cup winner Lucky Jack, was bred by KM Baxter of Ashburton and raced by his parents first time owners Mr and Mrs Ernie Baxter, farmers of Mayfield, inland from Ashburton.
Foaled in 1949 Battle Cry was a seriously good trotter succeeding at the very top level. Racing over ten seasons he recorded twenty three wins and twenty two placings from seventy three starts for stake earnings of £16,882 with a best mile rating of T2:07.4. Commencing as a three year old trained by Colin Berkett, his nine starts yielded six victories (£1,792) at Greymouth, Nelson (two), Timaru and Addington (two) which included 3yo NZ Trotting Stakes won by seven lengths when hot favourite. Just one win at four at New Brighton together with several placings and a sixth in Rewa Scott’s Rowe Cup.
Battle Cry’s five year old season (1954/5) was his most productive with another six wins recorded at Addington (two, Winter Hcp and Greyhound Hcp at NZ Cup meeting), an end to end victory in final running of Ashburton Trotters Cup, together with two ID heat wins and Trotters Grand Final at Alexandra Park. Placed third behind Gold Horizon and Dictation in NZ Trotting FFA, all of which led to him being leading trotting stake earner (fourth overall) of 1954/5 season (£6,860). At six Battle Cry recorded no placings and moved from Berkett’s stable to that of Maurice Holmes for whom he had a solitary start.
Bob Young took over Battle Cry’s training as a seven year old and manged four wins with him over the next three seasons, two at Addington at seven in Stewards Hcp and NZ Hambletonian Trot (off 60 yds on heavy track). At eight his five starts included a NZ Cup Day victory in the Worthy Queen Hcp. With three trainers at nine each produced him to win a race – Bob Young at Alexandra Park before failing at NZ Cup carnival; Peter Stewart of Papatoetoe (Auckland) secured his Rowe Cup victory at long odds off 72yds driven by Wes Butt defeating Annual Report on New Year’s Eve 1958 while in January 1959 for Cambridge trainer Peter Skousgaard he beat the pacers in Auckland’s Rangitoto Hcp driven by Bob Young.
Battle Cry in his final full season at ten won four races for Peter Skousgaard with two of these against the pacers, winning twice on the same day at Alexandra Park, first against the pacers in Franklin Hcp off 36 yds and three races later Royal Oak Hcp Trot off 54 yds. Next up it was the Mountain Hcp Trot in October 1959, a fourth in Franklin Cup against the pacers followed by a win in the CF Mark Memorial against the pacers in the hands of Darkie Broughton. Again leading trotting stake earner in 1959/60 as a ten year old (£3,145). His final race at Alexandra Park in September 1960 as an eleven year old he was handled by Paddy Timmins; remarkably his final seven races had all been against the pacers. Battle Cry has been inducted into the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame.
1968 AUCKLAND – STYLISH MAJOR
Auckland’s third Trotters Championships and sixth ID in 1968 was part of the first Auckland Interdominions held under lights on Alexandra Park’s revamped five furlong all-weather track. The two previous Trotters Championships had been held on the six furlong grass track during daylight hours.
The first of eight NZ tracks to switch on the lights on New Year’s Eve (Wednesday 31 December 1958 meeting) was Alexandra Park. The night’s feature event the ‘Rowe Cup’ was won by 1955 ID Trotters Grand Final winner Battle Cry (72 yds) driven by Wes Butt. On the same date, a move away from the larger grass track to the inside track (all weather shell track) occurred, this preceded the new 5 furlong limestone track used for meetings from the beginning of 1961/62 season (16 September 1961).
Australia was represented by four Victorian trotters at Alexandra Park – Corop McElwyn, Tony Bear, Delvin Dancer, and My Lesson. However, the Australian presence and the overall 1968 Interdominions will be remembered more for the dominance in the first three nights pacing heats and shock withdrawal of pre post Pacing Grand Final favourite Halwes shortly before the running of the final.
Saturday 10 February, 1m 3 furlongs : first round of heats
Heat One – RANNACH LAD, tr Neil White, dr Kevin Holmes, T2:59.8/T2:10.7, Lt; Highland Flight (dr Barrie Lockyer) 2nd; Scotleigh (dr Doody Townley) 3rd
Rannach Lad (bred by Bert Stafford) trained at Morrinsville by part owner Neil White and driven by his cousin future World Driving Champion (1978), Kevin Holmes went to the lead with a round to go winning by 1½l from Highland Flight with Scotleigh off 18yds recording fastest time next and Apollo fourth. Future Kiwi based trotter Tony Bear broke repeatedly throughout the contest (1968 – 1972, 88 NZ starts for nine open class trot victories all at Addington, $38,225, T2:07.2, Wes Butt trained stablemate of Johnny Gee).
Heat Two – STYLISH MAJOR, tr Clem Scott, dr Doody Townley, T2:56.0/T2:08.0, Lt; My Lesson (dr Alf Simons) 2nd; Mountain Pride 3rd
Stylish Major set a world record time for 11 furlongs of T2:56.0 from a standing start when capturing the second trotters heat on opening night of the 1968 championships (mobile WR was held by Rannach Lad, T2:54 1/5, Morrinsville meeting at Cambridge September 1967). My Lesson attempted to lead all the way and was only beaten a neck after he skipped for a couple of strides with six furlongs to run and again when challenging in the home straight. Mountain Pride’s placed time for third equalled that of Stylish Major. Delvin Dancer broke badly early prior to finishing ninth.
Wednesday 14 February, 1m 5 furlongs : second round of heats
Heat Three – SINGLE CASH, tr/dr Peter Wolfenden, T3:33.2/T2:11.2, Lt; Johnny Gee (dr Wes Butt) 2nd; Glen Dee (dr Terry May) 3rd
Local idol Single Cash was a popular winner for master reinsman Peter Wolfenden managing to hold off Johnny Gee by a neck after a stirring tussle.
Heat Four – HIGHLAND FLIGHT, tr Edward (Bill) Lockyer, dr Barrie Lockyer, T3:30.6/T2:09.6, 12yds; Towser (dr Doug Mangos) 2nd; French Pass (dr Charlie Hunter) 3rd
Highland Kilt gelding Highland Flight took out the later heat with My Lesson best of the Australians in fourth place. Winner Highland Flight was driven by junior driver Barrie Lockyer whose father Bill trained at Raetihi (Lockyer’s were the local butchers).
On a personal note, I played cricket as a secondary schoolboy during the 1971/2 season with Barrie for the Raetihi Men’s team and Ruapehu sub union of the King Country Cricket Association, part of the Northern Districts province in NZ.
Saturday 17 February, 1m 5 furlongs : third round of heats
Heat Five – JOHNNY GEE, tr/dr Wes Butt, T3:29.0/T2:08.6, 18 yds; Stylish Major (dr Doody Townley) 2nd; Scotleigh (dr Cecil Griffin) 3rd
Johnny Gee wore down Stylish Major in the final 50 yards to win heat five by a nose after Stylish Major sat in the death over the final six furlongs. My Lesson who had led before being run down by two lengths was disqualified from third after an inquiry into Single Cash breaking near the finish. Scotleigh was promoted to third and Highland Flight moved up to fourth position with My Lesson’s driver Alf Simons suspended until after Grand Final night (Perc Hall was his replacement for the final). My Lesson still managed to make the Grand Final being the only Australian trotter to do so.
Heat Six – DISPENSE, tr Jack Grant & Derek Jones, dr Derek Jones, T3:30.4/T2:10.7, Lt; Towser (dr Doug Mangos) 2nd; Mighty Hanover (dr Ray Norton) 3rd
Dispense who had broken at the start in each of her earlier heats was successful at long odds (8/9, $22.55). Moving to the lead with a mile to run, Dispense, a full sister to 1965 Forbury ID Pacing Grand Final third place getter Disband, won easily by three lengths to complete a Templeton trained double with Johnny Gee in the third night’s Trotters heats. Aside from the minor place getters, Apollo finished fourth while Tony Bear and Delvin Dancer both failed to trot again.
Point scorers leading into the Grand Final were as follows : Johnny Gee 12; Stylish Major 7½; Dispense 7; Highland Flight 6; Scotleigh 5; Single Cash, French Pass, Rannach Lad, Towser 4; Mountain Pride 2½; My Lesson 2; Glen Dee, Mighty Hanover 1.
Saturday 24 February, 1968 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2 miles, $6,000
STYLISH MAJOR (1961 Flying Song/Mocassin gelding, family of Dolly by Young Irvington N19), owner Norman Campbell, trainer Clem Scott, driver Doody Townley, 12 yds, T4:16.2/T2:08.2, 2½l, 1½l, 2/1 favourite [T2:02.4, $162,525]
French Pass, tr/dr Charlie Hunter, 24 yds, 2nd
Highland Flight, tr Bill Lockyer, dr Barrie Lockyer, 12 yds, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Mountain Pride, Dispense, Single Cash, Scotleigh, Mighty Hanover, My Lesson, Glen Dee, Towser, Johnny Gee
Consolation : 1m 5 furlongs, $2,400
LE CHANT, tr Clem Scott, dr Robert Cameron, T3:35.4/T2:12.5, 36 yds; Apollo (dr Fred Smith jnr) 2nd; Silver Smoke (dr Don Hayes) 3rd
Beginning slowly but safely, Stylish Major was ninth after three furlongs and in tenth place with a lap to run. Dispense led over the opening five furlongs before Mountain Pride took over giving way soon after to Single Cash who set a solid pace. Single Cash led into the final round with Doody Townley letting Stylish Major loose at the three furlong marker. Highland Flight headed Single Cash turning for home while Stylish Major positioned third quickly took over powering away to win by 2½l from French Pass with Highland Flight 1½l back third just shading the fast finishing Mountain Pride who covered extra ground rounding out the all Kiwi finish. Win favourite Johnny Gee broke near the finish. The overall time of T4:16 2/5 was set up by Single Cash forcing a strong pace in what was the concluding race (eight) on the fourth night of the 1968 Interdominion carnival.
Stylish Major was a six year old gelding by Volomite stallion Flying Song from Indianapolis mare Moccasin raced by 75yo retired Dunedin government fitter Norman Campbell from Clem Scott’s Makikihi stables. Flying Song leading sire of trotters 1967/8, also sired many pacing winners (son Bob Again won third pacing heat on night one). Moccasin was third in a NZ Trotting Stakes – 3 and apart from Stylish Major left Stylish Moccasins (six wins, £2,745) and Le Chant, Stylish Major’s seven year old full sister who won the Trotters Consolation earlier in the evening. Le Chant won twenty races in New Zealand (NZ Trotting FFA) before going to North America in 1968 where she was a good winner, unplaced in Roosevelt International Trot and later grand dam of world champion trotting double millionaire Grades Singing (three USA mares Breeders Crown’s and numerous European Group One’s).
The Dolly by Young Irvington family (N19) descending from Moccasin contains many notable trotters including The Fiery Ginga (NZ Trotting Stakes – 2, ID Trotters heat), Robbie Hest (NZ Trotting Stakes – 3), Maidstone Miss (Redwood Classic) Dreamit, Countessa Hest, Leighton Hest (Jewels Ruby – 4), Amy Hest (Dunedin Trotting Cup, ID Trotters Consolation), My Valerie (T1:54.8, second fastest female trotter bred in Australia after Maori Time T1:51.5), Class Action, Arnie Hest and Cyber Lane (Swedish Derby/Breeders Crown, Copenhagen Cup), a descendant of Le Chant.
Stylish Major commenced his racing career aged four in Southland with wins at Invercargill (two including Wyndham meeting) and Winton in his first season. A further three wins fell his way at five, Ashburton, Forbury Park and Addington being the venues.
Five wins as a six year old included Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara, Greyhound Hcp during NZ Cup carnival and CPTC Stewards FFA Mile, both at Addington plus ID heat and Grand Final success (eleventh win) at Alexandra Park. A further four victories came his way at seven, CPTC Stewards Mile again this time in his best time of T2:02.4, Manawatu FFA at Palmerston North, Worthy Queen Hcp at Hutt Park and Alamein FFA at Addington on Anzac Day.
A final NZ season at eight was his best with six victories., consisting of Forbury Park Trotters Championship heat, FFA’s on both nights of Manawatu meeting, Hutt Park, FFA at Claudelands (Hamilton) and his final NZ success in the first heat of National Trot at Alexandra Park. Throughout his career Stylish Major recorded a number of placings in major races such as thirds in Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, NZ Trotting Championship (twice), NZ Trotting FFA and Rowe Cup. Overall, Stylish Major had twenty one NZ wins, eleven seconds and fifteen thirds from ninety two starts, $37,790, T2:02.4 (Canterbury Park TC, Addington). Exported to North America aged eight, he trotted his best American time of T2:03.4 as a twelve year old, $162,525.
Peter Craig
25 June 2018
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