Melbourne’s second Interdominion Pacing Championships took place in 1959 at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, where the first had been run in 1950. The championships featured prepost favourite boom NZ pacer Caduceus was making his fifth attempt at Interdominion success. Prior to this Caduceus had won a NZ Derby, Auckland Cup, NZFFA (twice), three ID heats and several Australian feature races at Harold Park, Melbourne Showgrounds, Wayville Showgrounds and Gloucester Park, his eventual deserved ID success was to come the following year at the 1960 Sydney ID’s.
The championships were determined over three rounds of heats at 11 furlongs, 12½ furlongs and 15½ furlongs with the Grand Final over 14 furlongs for a prize of £10,000, a £300 Gold Cup, inscribed sash and gold mounted whip for the winning driver. The ID heats were run on Saturday 21, Wednesday 25 and Saturday 28 February with the Grand Final on Saturday 7 March 1959.
Saturday 21 February 11 fursSS : first round of heats
Heat One – DIABOLO DON, tr/dr Len Treasure, 3:00.6/2:10.8, 12 yds; Kodak (dr Max Johnson) 2nd; Gold Indian (dr Peter Wells) 3rd
Heat Two – FIERY LAND, tr Bob Cunninghame/dr Norman Gath, 3:00.0/2:11.0, Lt; First Kiss (dr Joe Turnbull) 2nd; Mineral Spring (Merv Adams) 3rd
Heat Three – GAMBLING RAID, tr/dr, Bob Parker, 2:58.4/2:09.8, Lt; Heroic Action (dr George Gath) 2nd; Illawarra Ayr (dr Bobby Elliott) 3rd
Heat Four – DUSTY MILLER, tr/dr, Dave Wilson, 2:59.6/2:10.6, Lt; Interpretation (dr Wally Bowyer) 2nd; Renoral (dr Jack Johnston) 3rd
Heat Five – CADUCEUS, tr/dr, Frank Kersley, 2:58.0/2:07.6, 36 yds; Chief Spring (dr Dick Webster) 2nd; Beloro (dr Kevin Brook) 3rd
Before a crowd of 22,418, the first night heats were dominated by Caduceus’s near record win in the final heat off 36 yds. Winning by four yards after coming from last, his 2:07 3/5 MR was just a fifth of a second outside Dainty Rose’s record set in 1954. This win took his stake earnings to an Australasian record for a standardbred or thoroughbred of £45,399. Fire Bar’s (by NZ Cup/FFA winner Gold Bar) son Diabolo Don took out the opening heat; South Australian four year old Fiery Land (a Globe Derby line horse by Radiant Robert) the second; Victorian Gambling Raid (by Gamble) led all the way accounting for favourite Heroic Action in the third while the fourth heat winner was another four year old in Victorian Dusty Miller (by Floridoro imported from Italy by Noel Simpson).
Wednesday 25 February 12½ fursSS : second round of heats
Heat Six – DUSTY MILLER, tr/dr, Dave Wilson, 3:26.8/2:12.4, Lt; Mineral Spring (dr Merv Adams) 2nd; Worthy Chief (dr Frank Kersley) 3rd
Heat Seven – KODAK, tr Bill Johnson, dr Max Johnson, 3:24.6/2:11.0, Lt; Beloro (dr Kevin Brook) 2nd; Suzendy (Frank Kersley) 3rd
Heat Eight – YOUNG PEDRO, tr/dr Leo Hunt, 3:28.0/2:13.2, Lt; First Division (dr Dave Wilson) 2nd; Interpretation (dr Wally Bowyer) 3rd
Heat Nine – CADUCEUS, tr/dr Frank Kersley, 3:20.8/2:06.8 (track record), 36 yds; Fiery Land (dr Norm Gath) 2nd; Sultana (Maurie Johnson) 3rd
Heat Ten – BILLABONG SCOTT, tr/dr Merv Adams, 3:24.6/2:11.0, Lt; Chief Spring (dr Joe Webster) 2nd; Heroic Action (dr George Gath) 3rd
Another effortless win on the second night of heats by Caduceus where he smashed the track record with a 2:06.8MR for 12½ furlongs, winning by five yards after he had five horses in front of him with a furlong and a half to run. Dusty Miller completed his second win of the carnival in the night’s opening heat, ultimately the winner of 43 races over seven seasons including five ID heats with two second placings in Grand Finals (1959 to Young Pedro and 1963 to Cardigan Bay). Another Globe Derby line horse in West Australian Kodak scored in the second heat with Kiwi mare Suzendy finishing third following an opening night fourth.
Young Pedro, a grandson of Globe Derby led all the way to beat First Division by a half head with NSW representative Billabong Scott, a grandson of U Scott taking out the nights final heat in which Heroic Action finished well from the back of the field a lap out for third. Billabong Scott’s sire Noble Scott was leading sire of Australian winners from 1957 to 1962, siring 1962 Perth ID winner James Scott while his dam Dixies Surprise was a daughter of Master Dixie, runner up to Grand Mogul in 1940 Perth ID Grand Final.
Saturday 28 February 15½ fursSS : third round of heats
Heat Eleven – DIABOLO DON, tr/dr Les Treasure, 4:15.8/2:11.6, Lt; Billabong Scott (dr Merv Adams) 2nd; First Rank (dr Kevin Brook) 3rd
Heat Twelve – SUPER ROYAL, tr Colin Hadfield, dr Peter Wells, 4:12.0/2:09.8 (track record), 12 yds; Interpretation (dr Wally Bowyer) 2nd; Kiwi Dillon (dr Max Johnson) 3rd
Heat Thirteen – CADUCEUS, tr/dr Frank Kersley, 4:15.0/2:10.4, 36 yds; Crown Law (dr Keith Raw) 2nd; Young Pedro (dr Leo Hunt) 3rd
Heat Fourteen – DUSTY MILLER, tr/dr Dave Wilson, 4:18.0/2:13.2, Lt; First Kiss (dr Joe Turnbull) 2nd; Worthy Chief (dr Frank Kersley) 3rd
Heat Fifteen – BANNALAGH, tr/dr Bill Wilkins, 4:16.8/2:12.6, Lt; Mineral Spring (dr Merv Adams) 2nd; Wondrous (dr Frank Kersley) 3rd
Third night heat winners included both Caduceus and Dusty Miller winning their third consecutive heats of the carnival. Caduceus as expected won while Dusty Miller similarly had no problems after a four horse pile up with a lap and a half to run. Kodak fell after contacting the wheel of Bolero, Derive who was trailing Kodak together with Bolero were both pulled up. Heroic Action finished fourth in this heat failing to make the Grand Final field. Diabolo Don won his second heat of the championships; Dillon Hall mare Super Royal (NZ) in the hands of Peter Wells set a track record 2:09.8MR for the 15½ furlong journey while Bannalagh won the final heat over NSW compatriot Mineral Spring in a close finish although victory did not secure him a start in the Grand Final.
The point’s leader in the eighteenth ID series after three rounds of heats was favourite Caduceus with twenty one.
The Grand Final night crowd was restricted to 30,153 by the inclement weather conditions, although a total of 92,042 attended the four nights of the carnival representing a healthy turnout of patrons for Melbourne’s second Interdominions.
Saturday 7 March– PACERS GRAND FINAL, 14 fursSS £10,000 ($20,000) plus Gold Cup valued at £300, inscribed sash and gold mounted whip for winning driver
YOUNG PEDRO (1954 Van Derby/Pedros Salute entire, family of Royal Salute A222, owner/ trainer/driver Leo Hunt, Lt, 3:50.6/2:11.8, 3 yds x 2 yds, 33/1 [2:09.7]
Dusty Miller, tr/dr Dave Wilson, Lt, 2nd
Billabong Scott, tr Merv Adams, dr Jim Caffyn, Lt, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Gambling Raid, Caduceus, First Kiss, Mineral Spring, Kodak, Fiery Land, Diabolo Don, Super Royal
At four years of age Young Pedro became just the second of his age to win an ID Pacers Grand Final (Springfield Globe 1939 Tasmania) and the third successive South Australian winner in recent years (1957 Radiant Venture, 1958 Free Hall). The decisive win by rank outsider Young Pedro on a track made muddy by frequent rain (although considered in perfect condition for racing on) was watched by a crowd who got drenched in the wet weather.
Kodak was the early leader after Dusty Miller skipped at the start ending up in the death for the balance of the race. Gambling Raid had the trail while Young Pedro enjoyed the one one position. Caduceus the favourite meanwhile was back in running before beginning a forward move with Mineral Spring a little over a lap from home. Unfortunately the rest of the field spread out as they commenced their runs with Caduceus dropping in behind until the final two furlongs. At this stage he attempted to barge his way through the field suffering a severe check at this critical stage. He had to be eased a furlong and a half out before coming into line wide out.
Young Pedro had moved three wide with a lap to run while Kodak continued to lead from Dusty Miller on his outer and Gambling Raid back on the rails. Young Pedro finally mastered Dusty Miller 25 yds from the post to win by three yards, with a further two yards to Billabong Scott who finished a head to the good of Gambling Raid. Caduceus ended up three quarters of a length in arrears of Gambling Raid in fifth position.
Second place getter Dusty Miller was to occupy the same spot behind Cardigan Bay when the champion and ultimately millionaire gelding won the 1963 Pacers Grand Final at Wayville Showgrounds, Adelaide. Billabong Scott was driven in the Grand Final by Jim Caffyn while his trainer Merv Adams drove stablemate Mineral Spring into seventh position. Due to the weather conditions the presentation was made by His Excellency Sir Dallas Brooks under umbrellas to owner/trainer/driver Leo Hunt.
Consolations : 14 fursSS, £1,000 ($2,000)
KIWI DILLON, tr Bill Johnson, dr Max Johnson, 3:46.6/2:09.0, Lt; Bannalagh (dr Frank Williams) 2nd; Worthy Chief (dr Frank Kersley) 3rd
CHIEF SPRING, tr Bob (CH) Norman, dr Dick Webster, 3:50.8/2:12.0, Lt; Crown Law (dr Keith Raw) 2nd; Imperial Robert (dr Len Orwin) 3rd
INTERPRETATION, tr/dr Wally Bowyer, 3:52.0/2:12.6, Lt; First Rank (dr Kevin Brook) 2nd; Sultana (dr Max Johnson) 3rd
DERIVE, tr Peter Stewart, dr Gordon Rothacker, 3:53.0/2:12.8, Lt; First Division (dr Dave Wilson) 2nd; Wondrous (dr Frank Kersley) 3rd
The consolations were won by West Australian Kiwi Dillon and New Zealander Derive (both by (Dillon Hall); South Australian and Globe Derby sire line horses Chief Spring and Interpretation.
Young Pedro was bred by Mrs H E Ireland, Wokurna, SA and raced on a ten year lease from MR P Ireland that cost Leo Hunt £100. His owner/trainer/driver Leo Hunt was aged 57 at the time of his ID success and weighed in as remarked upon at a “hefty 15 stone”!! Hunt owned a business in Footscray and was involved in trotting in Melbourne for thirty years having had his first winner with Milista at Ascot. In 1937 he moved to Adelaide taking up training standardbreds as a business. Among good winners he trained were Bazil Almont (2:15.2, fourteen wins), Euli Sam (12), Laughlin Gold and Worthy Findon.
Young Pedro was by Globe Derby line sire Van Derby (2:00.4TT, sire of 1947 Perth Grand Final winner Bandbox for SA and ID heat winners Minor Derby, Nevamaid, Para Derby, Taminga; dam sire of ID Pacers Grand Final winner Bold David) who was a three quarter brother to Lawn Derby (first two minute horse in Australasia, 1:59.4TT, Addington 11 November 1938). His dam Pedro Pronto mare Pedros Salute (Royal Salute by Royal Lulu) produced several progeny worthy of mention apart from Young Pedro – Dark Rebel (2:08.4, Bathurst City Cup), Pedro Again (2:12.6, dam of Jane Pedro SA Breeders Plate; grand dam of Janes Boy, Snowtown Guineas, West End Cup), Pedros Machine (grand dam of Pacific Wonder, Southern Cross – 3c; Miss Gypserose Lee, Port Augusta Derby; Dandiloo Julie, Port Pirie Oaks, Derby/Guineas). This is the family of A222 Royal Salute, whose notable descendants are all mentioned above.
Young Pedro made a good fist of the three year old Derby classics, winning heats of the South Australian and Victorian while placing third in a New South Wales heat. Placed in the SA Derby final to Fiery Land, he did not place in the Derby finals in Victoria or NSW. As an early four year old Young Pedro won several races at Wayville before winning the SA Cup on 7 February 1959, shortly before his Interdominion carnival success later in February and early March in Melbourne.
His successes continued at Wayville Showgrounds over the next few seasons, winning another SA Cup in 1961, together with a Christmas Cup, Len Lewis mile, two New Year Gifts and several Wayville FFA’s. At the conclusion of his race career in mid-sixties, as a sire, Young Pedro left eleven winners (from 28 foals) together with fifteen broodmare credits. These included Altesse (2:07.5, $4,220, dam of Cyclone Barunga, 1:59.4, $27,145, Globe Derby FFA) and Young Trixie (dam of Kimbrae, 1:59.8, 10 wins, $40,293, SA Media Gold Cup).
Peter Craig
5 December 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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