By Tayler Strong
Allan Devery, who died on Thursday, was an outstanding Southland harness racing trainer in the 1980s, achieving success at the highest level.
Devery died in Invercargill at the age of 79. He was based at Ryal Bush and training in partnership with Henry Skinner when they prepared the brilliant pacer Honkin Vision.
Devery and Skinner had group one success with Honkin Vision in New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Finals at two (Auckland) and three (Addington) and a Two-Year-Old Championshp in Auckland.
Honkin Vision won the NZ Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham by 12 and three quarter lengths, the Flying Stakes at Addington at three and the junior free-for-all at the 1991 NZ Cup meeting. The Honkin Andy – Frosty Vision gelding, raced by
Devery’s brother, Vin and wife, Daphne, posted his first win in a race for 2yr-olds at Ascot Park by 35 lengths in January, 1989.
Devery was training in a sole capacity when he won the inaugural $100,000 Sires’ Stakes final for 3yr-olds at Addington with Arveeae in 1984. He raced Arveeae with Vin and another brother, Ray before selling the Lumber Dream – Facetious gelding to Australia.
Facetious, the first winner trained by Devery, won by 15 lengths at Ascot Park in 1973. Devery won the 1993 Oamaru Juvenile Stakes and five other races from nine starts with Be Be Lumber.
“Be Be Lumber was one of his favourites. Unfortunately the horse broke a leg as a 3yr-old,’’ said John Devery, son of Allan.
Atomwise, his last winner in 1997 at Addington, won five from eight for Devery. Zabadak and Stampede each won 11 races for his stable. Stampede won at the top level under ffa conditions at Addington in 1983 and the consolation race at the 1983 Interdominion in Auckland. Devery was the leading Southland trainer that season with 24 wins. He headed the list twice with Skinner and a best tally of 25.
Devery won 97 races on his own account and 76 in five seasons (from 1987-88)) with Skinner. Other winners for the partnership included Rarest (1991 Kindergarten Stakes), Glenburn Star (eight wins) and Fair Chip (1988 Three-Year-Old Final at
Forbury Park).
Devery raced the great free legged pacer Robalan, winner of the 1974 New Zealand Cup and three NZ FFAs.
Devery and friend Bob Pollock originally leased Robalan (Lumber Dream – Elsinore) as a yearling with a right of purchase for $1500 from Ernie Broad. Robalan had his first win as a 3yr-old at Roxburgh when trained by Alex Townley.
An approach from trainer Denis Nyhan to buy Robalan was entertained.
Devery went into partnership with Nyhan and Peter Hope to race Robalan with Pollock dropping out to buy a taxi.
Allan Devery was raised on a farm at Orawia (Southland), one of a family of 15, eight boys and seven girls. He drove a horse and gig to the Merrivale primary school.
He was later a stock agent in Southland and Canterbury. He shifted to Templeton in 2003 and retired from training in 1998.
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