This is the thirteenth 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).
1975 AUCKLAND – CASTLETONS PRIDE
The 1975 Interdominions were notable for two things, the first being the same stable training both Interdominions champions – Young Quinn (Pacers) and Castletons Pride (Trotters) for Charlie Hunte and Hunter’s offsider John Langdon driving both Grand Final winners to success, an unprecedented feat. Langdon had taken over from Cambridge trainer/driver Charlie Hunter as a result of his being injured (both arms were in plaster) on the second night of heats in the C7 and faster class Civic Tavern Hcp Pace driving Happy Fella. Pacing champion Young Quinn was undefeated throughout the championships.
Saturday 1 February, 2200m : first round of heats
Heat One – DARKY FORBES, tr Colin Berkett, dr Jack Carmichael, T2:55.2/T2:08.1, Lt; Carmen Suva (dr Jack Smolenski) 2nd; Castletons Pride (dr Charlie Hunter) 3rd
Dannevirke owned (JH Grimblett) Darky Forbes got home with a head to spare from Carmen Suva, a further head back to the pace making Castletons Pride and 2½l to Australian Derby Royale in the opening trotters heat of the championships.
Heat Two – CEE AR, tr Rod De Filippi, dr Colin De Filippi, T2:58.3/T2:10.4, Lt; Donna Juanita (dr Merv Neil) 2nd; Edis Nova (dr Ross Wheeler) 3rd
The 1974 Rowe Cup winner Cee Ar (named after his lessor Colin [CR] Berkett) won the opening nights second heat by a long neck from Donna Juanita with a neck to Edis Nova and 1½l to Slane in a much slower time. Bay Johnny finished in eighth place.
Note – Robyn Evander finished second but was ultimately disqualified following a positive swab and withdrawn from the carnival after the second night’s heats with trainer Jim Smith fined $1,250 for a breach of the seven day medication rule.
Wednesday 5 February, 3200m : second round of heats
Heat Three – MISS DEBRA, tr Jack Longville, dr Paddy Timmins, T4:20.3/T2:10.8, Lt; Do Enquire (dr Peter Wolfenden) 2nd; Robyn Evander (dr Jim Smith) 3rd
Rowe Cup winner of two seasons earlier (1973) and now eleven year old grandmother Miss Debra (foaled Miss Jurist in 1967 as a four year old; didn’t commence racing until six) won at odds of 30/1 by a nose from Do Enquire with a length to Robyn Evander (dam of 1994 ID Trotters Grand Final winner Diamond Field) and a neck to pacemaker Castletons Pride. Bay Johnny finished last in this heat. The three place getters were all sired by Don Hayes homebred stallion Great Evander, he together with winning mare Miss Debra were based at Kumeu.
Heat Four – DUPREEZ, tr/dr Derek Jones, T4:19.1/T2:10.2, Lt; Derby Royale (dr Kevin Murray) 2nd; Cee Ar (dr Colin Fe Filippi) 3rd
A half-brother to 1971 ID Trotters Grand Final winner Geffin, Dupreez won the second heat in a slightly quicker time for Templeton breeder Norah Jones and husband trainer/driver Derek Jones after trailing Derby Royale. Australian Derby Royale’s performance in finishing second after getting his tongue over the bit shortly after the start and leading until run down by the trailing Dupreez was noteworthy although 2¼l in arrears. Cee Ar was a further 2¼l back with Slane again fourth just a nose away.
Saturday 8 February, 1975 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2700m, $19,800
CASTLETONS PRIDE (1968 Tuft/Castletons Queen gelding, family of Jane Hunt U10), owner Roy McKenzie [Sir], trainer Charlie Hunter, driver John Langdon, Lt, T3:42.6/T2:12.6, 1¾l, ½l, 4l, 7/6 favourite [T2:07.3, $31,935]
Derby Royale, tr Jim Perkins, dr Kevin Murray, Lt, 2nd
Darky Forbes, tr Colin Berkett, dr Jack Carmichael, Lt, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Slane, Edis Nova, Do Enquire, Cee Ar, Donna Juanita, Miss Debra, Carmen Suva, Dupreez
Consolation : 2700m, $3,850
BAY JOHNNY, tr Snowy (WH) Finn, dr Perc Hall, T3:35.4/T2:08.4, Lt; Screws Loose (dr Ian (Stewie) Sutherland) 2nd; Waipounamu (dr Jack Carmichael) 3rd
After his pace making third and fourth in the heats for Charlie Hunter, Castletons Pride was not greatly favoured to win the Grand Final as reflected in his being 7/6 in the betting. Hardy Victorian Derby Royale (favourite) broke early before sitting parked outside Castletons Pride enabling the race to pan out perfectly for the John Langdon driven Castletons Pride. Again sent to a lengthy lead by Langdon, good beginner Castletons Pride was able to dictate affairs as no other driver was prepared to come round and take on Derby Royale.
John Langdon led out with Castletons Pride, slowed the field, rated him well before sprinting home to defeat a gallant Derby Royale (winner of 1978 Melbourne ID Trotters Grand Final) by 1¾l with a further half-length back to Darky Forbes who was bottled up on the rails before making ground late for third. Slane showed his preference for fourth placings, recording his third such placing in the championships (twice in heats and Grand Final).
Castletons Pride was Sir Roy McKenzie’s second ID Trotters Grand Final winner, he also owned another injury prone/soundness troubled gelding in 1971 Addington Grand Final winner Geffin (see 1971 Addington article 29 May 2018).
Consolation winner was New South Wales trotter Bay Johnny (1976 Globe Derby Grand Final winner), leader for the final 2000m of the 2700m journey when setting an ID record of T3:35.4, last 800m in 1:01.0. The final two races of the ID carnival’s fourth night featured two Trotting FFA’s over 2700mM which were won by Darky Forbes, T3:33.4/T2:07.1 (Derby Royale fifth, Castletons Pride ninth, Bay Johnny tenth and last) and Edis Nova T3:32.4/T2:06.5.
Castletons Pride was bred by Winslow, Mid Canterbury farmer Mawson McPherson (Sir Castleton fame) although his wife Margaret was shown as breeder and owner. By Stars Pride stallion Tuft from Casteltons Queen, this was a very productive source of successful trotting bloodstock. Bred at Roydon Lodge, Casteltons Pride’s grand dam Highland Gift (Highland Kilt/Espirit, imported by Sir John McKenzie) was a 32½ guinea purchase at August 1957 Grand National Standardbreds sale at Christchurch. Her first foal was Castletons Gift from an unraced son of U Scott’s in Widower Scott (sire of Dominion Hcp winner Spinster Scott) who raced in the interests of Mawson’s mother Stella. Castletons Gift raced through to open class trotting ranks winning a Canterbury Park Summer FFA (seven races, £4,885) before his sale to Canada (T2:06.1US, $56,400). Her only other foal before her death in 1966 was Casteltons Queen (third NZ Trotting Stakes – 3T), a non-winning dam of two ID Trotters Grand Final winners in Casteltons Pride (first foal) and half-brother Sir Castleton (see 1984 Globe Derby article 24 April 2018), her seventh live foal.
Casteltons Queen’s significant offspring (ten live foals) apart from Casteltons Pride and Sir Castleton included Lady Castelton (grand dam of Dua Don T1:57.0US, $200,458 and George Castleton T1:55.4US, $119,459, Greenlane Cup); Margaret Castelton (dam of Boy Castelton T2:00.0US, $93,775 and Casteltons Dream [dam of Castletons Mission T1:59.5, $237,242, NZ Sires Stakes – 2T, ID Trotters heat and second Grand Final; Castletons King, T2:03.3, $115,395, Yearling Sales – 2T/3T, Rosso Antico Stakes; Castletons Best, dam of Westwood Castleton T1:58.2US]); Miss Castleton (third dam of Castletonian NZSS – 2T; Mister Castleton VICSS 3T; Gap Year T1:59.0).
This is the family of Jane Hunt (U10) whose significant NZ trotting descendants aside from those already mentioned include Johnny Gee, Arnees Folic, Game Folly, Worthy Boy, Atone.
Castletons Pride had won five races (three at Addington, Timaru, Oamaru), placed on fourteen occasions from forty five starts ($7,555) for McPherson and Timaru trainer Jack Brosnan (three wins) and his son trainer/driver Richard Brosnan (two wins) before his sale to Sir Roy McKenzie with Charlie Hunter as trainer prior to NZ Cup carnival of November 1974. Canadian Clure Archdeacon had shown interest in Castletons Pride (had previously purchased Casteltons Gift) but McKenzie’s offer topped that of the Canadian’s. Castletons Pride won the Certissimus Hcp off 10m during the NZ Cup meeting for McKenzie prior to the 1975 Auckland ID’s.
An unsound horse at best, Castletons Pride was troubled by a stone bruise throughout the carnival but his inflamed leg responded favourably to ice pack treatment on race nights. Castletons Pride won five races in total at six with two at Addington including Addington Hcp for Richard Brosnan and Certissimus Hcp for Charlie Hunter; two at Alexandra Park, ID Trotters Grand Final and Gilbeys Gin FFA and Waikato Invitation Hcp at Claudelands for Hunter before going amiss with ankle joint trouble affecting his performances.
As a seven year old, he won two of his ten starts, Kilowatt Hcp at Alexandra Park and his final career win in the Worthy Queen Hcp at Addington during NZ Cup carnival as well as placing fourth to Hal Good in the Dominion Hcp. Not seen for nine months after Auckland Cup Christmas carnival, his best finish in six starts as an eight year old was eighth. With eleven wins, five seconds and ten thirds worth $31,385, best mile rate of T2:07.1, Castletons Pride retired to Whakatane, becoming involved with the Bay of Plenty Driving for the Disabled, a subcommittee of NZ Riding for Disabled Association and leading street parades.
1983 AUCKLAND – SCOTCH NOTCH
The Trotters section of Auckland’s fifth Interdominion Championship consisted of two rounds of heats and a Grand Final plus consolation run from standing starts. An exceptional Australian trotter was about to show New Zealand patrons that she was one of the best standardbreds produced in Australia. In addition, two significantly serious Australian pacers were to quinella the Pacers Grand Final – Gammalite beating Poplar Alm ahead of Kiwi mares Delightful Lady and Armalight.
Saturday 12 March, 2200m : first round of heats
Heat One – MCSHANE, tr/dr Ray Norton, T2:53.2/T2:06.8, equalled NZ record, Lt; Scotch Notch (dr Graeme Lang) 2nd; Sure Court (dr Ian Craw) 3rd
Richmond (Nelson) owned winner McShane raced handy throughout to finish strongly for Whenuapai horseman Ray Norton equalling Via Volare’s NZ record for 2200m stand of T2:53.2/T2:06.8. He had a margin of one and a quarter lengths to spare from Scotch Notch who unusually skipped at the start from her ten metre handicap settling a long way from the pacemakers. She chased and caught the field quickly improving wide down the back straight the final time before issuing her challenge on the home turn. Coming to the end of her massive performance, she just managed to hold out Canterbury trotting mare Sure Court who was third a nose back with About Now off 10m fourth.
Heat Two – THRILLER DEE, tr Leonard Robinson, dr Peter Wolfenden, T2:54.5/T2:07.6, 10m; War Talent (dr Thomas Short) 2nd; Kenwood Song (dr Charlie Hunter) 3rd
Thriller Dee backing up just a fortnight after her NZ record T1:57.8TT (all comers and mares record set at Alexandra Park on 25 February 1983), only just prevailed in a nose and nose finish over War Talent and Kenwood Song after being tardy in the early stages of her fifth successive victory. Downsouth Clare lost close on 100m after breaking badly early in the race to finish tenth while Sir Castleton did little better ending up eighth after breaking in the home straight.
Wednesday 16 March, 3200m : second round of heats
Act One of what was to be a three year battle for supremacy between grand NZ Trotter Sir Castleton and champion Australian trotter Scotch Notch took on new meaning on the second night when both prevailed in their respective 3200m staying journeys.
Heat Three – SIR CASTLETON, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Richard Brosnan, T4:24.0/T2:12.7, 10m; About Now (dr Colin De Filippi) 2nd; McShane (dr Ray Norton) 3rd
First blood went to six year old Game Pride gelding Sir Castleton who scored comfortably by 1¼l following his opening night home straight gallop. About Now finished ¾l to the good of McShane with a head to Kenwood Song fourth. Downsouth Clare again failed to flatter finishing seventh and missing the Grand Final field.
Heat Four – SCOTCH NOTCH, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T4:23.4/T2:12.4, 0m; Jenner (dr Charlie Hunter) 2nd; Basil Dean (dr Kerry O’Reilly) 3rd
Likewise Scotch Notch had little difficulty in winning by 1¼l in the slightly quicker time of T4:23.4 from Jenner with a nose to Basil Dean and four and a half lengths away to the other first night winner Thriller Dee. Scotch Notch’s twentieth winning performance from thirty three starts justified her warm favouritism for the Grand Final.
Saturday 19 March, 1983 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2700m, $60,200
SCOTCH NOTCH (1977 Scottish Bret/Ada Glenfern mare, family of Narelle N238), owner Jim Wong, trainer/dr Graeme Lang, 10m, T3:28.7/T2:04.3, NZ record, 6l, long neck, nose, 1/2 favourite [T1:55.6TT, $670,755]
Jenner, tr/dr Charlie Hunter, 10m, 2nd
Sir Castleton, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Paddy Timmins, 10m, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : About Now, Sure Court, Thriller Dee, Basil Dean, McShane, Minis Pride, War Talent, Kenwood Song, Skipper Don, Poly Lobell
Consolation : 2700m, $9,000
DOWNSOUTH CLARE, tr/de Dick Lee, T3:33.3/T2:07.1, Lt; Cal Brydon (dr John Newberry) 2nd; Mighty Miller (dr Neil Evans) 3rd
Scotch Notch was installed a hot favourite for the Grand Final based on her performances in the two heats. Her only compatriot to make the Grand Final field was fellow Victorian Skipper Don who was to finish twelfth in the field of thirteen. He and Polly Lobell who had tied on twelve points were both granted entry into the final field when the Interdominion Harness Racing Council approved an increase in the field size from twelve to thirteen starters. Ironically they were the last two to finish in the final.
Scotch Notch became the first and only Australian trotter to win an ID Trotters Grand Final in New Zealand when she obliterated a high class field by six lengths. On her own at the finish, Scotch Notch positioned mid field on the outer improvIng three wide with cover from 1100m until the 600m when Graeme Lang released the brakes. Quickly rounding upon leader Basil Dean (led from 2200m, breaking in home straight when likely to run second) who set a hot pace on the home turn, she raced away to win with ease. Her overall time was close to five seconds inside Thriller Dee’s former NZ 2700m standing start record of T3:33.3 (equalled by Downsouth Clare in Consolation), last 800m in 59.3 and final quarter in 29.3. Jenner who attempted to track Scotch Notch into the race from 1200m finally succumbed at the 200m but was still best of the others with Sir Castleton a long neck back third after losing a good position a lap out and closing fast at the end. About Now was a further nose back finishing on solidly from mid field. Clearly outclassing all the best Kiwi trotters in commission, it was Scotch notch’s twenty first win in thirty four starts with eight placings, $107,952.
The Trotters Consolation was won by Victorian mare Downsouth Clare who had ruined her chances in the heats when trotting roughly. Again trotting away slowly for trainer/driver Dick Lee before sprinting to sit parked outside leader Worthy Sox with a lap to run. Downsouth Clare won by 1½l from Cal Brydon with six lengths back to fellow Australian Mighty Miller. The five year old daughter of Caliburn from Raiders Design mare Lucy Clare, prior to Auckland ID’s had won the Australasian Trotters Championship.
In the $9,000 Pukekohe Trotting Club Trotters FFA over 2700mM on Pacers Grand Final night (26 March), Scotch Notch easily accounted for her opponents by 3½l from Victorian Mighty Miller and About Now in a time of T3:33.8/T2:07.4.
Jim Wong, a Mercedes truck salesman and Past President of Shepparton TC owned Scotch Notch. Purchasing her from trainer Eric Dove for $20,000 after she had run second in the SA Trotters Derby and just hours before she ran third in the VIC Trotters Derby at her first start for him. Wong owned a worthwhile trotter or two before Scotch Notch such as 1971 Addington ID Trotters heat winner Reteps Pride (odds of $28.65 for win) and her filly Wongala Supreme (Bendigo Trotters Cup).
Scotch Notch was bred by Victorian LJK McClure in 1977 according to official HRA website. Max Agnew in “Harnessing A Dream – The GA Lang Story” suggests that this may not be the full story as to who bred Scotch Notch (refer to book for further information). She was by dual gaited Bret Hanover stallion Scottish Bret (2:00.3US), a Grand Circuit performer at two/three/four who was imported by Noel Simpson. He sired 143 winners in Australia (157 worldwide) including several trotters such as Jodie Armagh (Dullard Cup) in addition to Scotch Notch. Unraced dam Ada Glenfern had four foals, only one other than Scotch Notch raced. Ada Glenfern’s sire Tarport Kid produced few trotters (Jimmy Glenfern, Australasian Trotters Championship; Prince Kid ID Trotter’s heat) and pacers Park Royale ID Pacing Consolation; Glenfern Observe, dam of Royal Gaze (Hunter Cup). Tarport Kid’s half-brother was Tarport Coulter, the sire of Scotch Tar.
To get a better picture of where Scotch Notch’s trotting prowess came from, we need to look further back through Ada Glenfern’s family. Her dam (grand dam of Scotch Notch) Ada Hall was bred by Jack Ferguson, Greenpark and exported to Australia as a youngster. Ada Hall’s dam (third dam of Scotch Notch) was Ada Logan (1935) who Jack Ferguson purchased from Nightcaps trainer Joe Prendeville for 250 guineas in 1947. Ada Logan was by Adioo Guy (sire of dam of Adios in Adioo Volo; Grand Mogul, 1940 Perth ID Pacing Final) out of a Logan Pointer mare tracing back to foundation mare Narelle. Ada Logan was dam of nine foals for Jack Ferguson including Rita Grattan (two wins), Tarzan Grattan (six wins, Franklin Cup) and four Dillon Hall foals (sire of 410 winners, only ten were trotters : Swanee River, two 1951 Addington ID Trotters heats; Cabra, Dominion Hcp) sold to Australia as a package at the time Ada Hall crossed the Tasman – they were colts Kiwi Hall (2:10.0 in WA) and Maori Hall (2:11.6), eleven Melbourne Showgrounds wins trained by Clarrie Allen; fillies Ada Dillon (2:12.5), winner in WA and dam of seven winners from twelve foals and unraced Ada Hall, dam of Glenfern Hall (2:09.4, seven wins at two and three, SA Sapling) full brother to Ada Glenfern.
So where does Scotch Notch’s trotting blood come from?? Victorian breeding expert, the late Ian Daff, a wonderful man I had the pleasure of meeting on two occasions in Melbourne , says it came from Bret Hanover’s dam Scotch Whirl by Scottish Pence (T1:57,4USTT), a son of Scotland T1:59¼USTT. Scotch Whirl’s dam Whirlabout was by Guy Abbey (T2:06¾US) dam of immortal trotter Greyhound (T1:55¼USTT). Little trotting blood close up but it can be found when digging deep enough.
Scotch Notch commenced racing as a three year old (1980/1) with wins at Wangaratta and Moonee Valley in VIC Trotters Oaks. She finished second in both the SA and NSW Trotters Derbies. At four (1981/2) starting on thirteen occasions recording eleven victories and a second. These included Bendigo/Kilmore Trotters Cups as well as four wins at Moonee Valley. In addition, Scotch Notch time trialled at Geelong on 21 February 1982 on time trial day attempting to better T2:08.6 which she did in T2:01.4, one of two trotters to time trial (High Carl T2:00.8).
The following season (1982/3) incorporated five year old Scotch Notch’s first trip across the Tasman to compete in the Auckland Interdominions outlined earlier. Her four race programme included wins in an ID heat (also second) and Grand Final plus Trotters FFA for stakes of $49,365. In Australia, her fourteen starts yielded nine wins and four seconds (including T1:58.3 in a time trial mile race.at Moonee Valley, world record for aged mare on five furlong track) plus time trial at Geelong in T1:58.6 (attempting to better T2:00.8, also world record for an aged mare, this time on half mile track). Victories included EB Cochran Trotters Cup, two Australasian Trotters Championship heats, Bendigo Trotters Cup with seconds in Dullard Cup (Courting Appeal) and Australasian Trotters Championship final (Downsouth Clare). Her career record to the end of her five year old season showed four NZ starts for three wins, one second $49,365, T2:04.3 and in Australia twenty two victories with a best mile rate to date of T1:58.3TT (T2:04.7 race time).
A detailed review of the balance of her career will be included under the Moonee Valley series of articles covering the 1985 Interdominions. Suffice to say that Scotch Notch’s overall career stats read : New Zealand, seven starts, four wins, three seconds, $85,765, T2:04.3; Australia forty three wins, T1:55.6TT (race time T1:59.1, second in T1:57.7); combined Australasian earnings of $334,866; North America, T1:57.1US (8yo on 1 mile track), $557,103 (includes converted Australasian earnings). HRA website shows her overall worldwide record as 133 starts, sixty five wins, thirty seconds, eight thirds, $670,755, T1:55.6TT/T1:57.1US.
Scotch Notch was 1983 NZ Trotter Of Year, 1983 Aged Trotting Mare of Year (also 1984), 1983/1984/1985 Australian Trotter of Year, 1983 and 1985 Australian trotting stake earner of Year, an inductee into Victorian Trotting Hall of Fame and Interdominion Hall of Fame. She was simply an outstanding world class trotter.
Peter Craig
4 July 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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