This year’s National Trot to be run at Alexandra Park Raceway on New Year’s Eve (31 December 2018), will be the 50th occasion a race with the title “National Trot” incorporated in it that has been contested at Auckland TC’s Northern headquarters. The premier trot of Auckland’s annual Christmas carnival, is currently contested on the same day as the running of the Auckland Cup for pacers.
Apart from the Rowe and Anzac Cups which are part of the Australasian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters series, the National Trot is the third of three Group One open class (OC) trotters events raced at the Park (one of six Group One’s nationally for OC trotters – Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA and NZ Trotting Championship at Addington are others). The race was first run in May 1968 as the “National Trot Mobile Final” (two heats and final) when it was won by French Pass. The race was not run in 1971 possibly considered being too soon after the Christchurch Interdominions.
The National Trot was first accorded Group One status in 2000, from 1979 having been raced at Group Two level.
Inaugural National Trot
One week prior to the running of the first National Trot (Saturday 18 May 1968), two standing start heats over 1m 5f were run. The first heat was a keen dual between Highland Flight who led from the quarter pole and Mountain Pride who over the last furlong prevailed narrowly.
The second heat was a boil over with Bata having made one of his rare good beginnings setting the pace, albeit some eight seconds slower than the opening heat. Bata defeated French Pass by 1½l with Towser in third place ½l further back. The first National Trot Mobile Final was contested over a distance of one mile.
Official Result :
NATIONAL TROT MOBILE FINAL, OC trotters, $2,600 ($1,690, $520, $260, $65, 65); 1mM.
Winner : 1/1 FRENCH PASS (1961), 6yo black gelding Stormyway by Officious – Gallant Knight, owner Roy McKenzie, tr/dr Charlie Hunter
Second : 9/9/ Towser, dr Doug Mangos
Third : 8/8 Scotleigh, dr Cecil (CR) Griffin
Fourth dead heat – Single Cash, Eastern Star
then in finishing order : Bata, Break Through, Highland Flight, Johnny Gee, Mighty Chief, Mountain Pride
T2:06 2/5; 2½l, ½ hd; $3.65, 1.65; $4.40; $4.05
On a slow track dampened by a good amount of rain during the day, French Pass’s T2:06 2/5 time for the mile journey was creditable. His comfortable win ear marked his claim for leading trotter status. This was his penultimate NZ start, a week later he competed against the pacers in the Northland Cup at the Kensington Park, Whangarei track finishing second beaten 1¾l over two miles in 4:34.6. Taken to North America with several of Charlie Hunter’s horses, in the care of Alan Holmes (Hunter joined later), Roy McKenzie’s trotter was to record a T2:03.0US time as a nine year old in North America. The son of Stormyway and Officious (Gallant Knight mare) won fourteen races over three seasons (four – six years old) as a trotter in NZ including Rhodes Memorial Mile, Dominion Hcp, National Trot and Taranaki Cup against pacers – T2:03.0US, $69,291, trotting stake earner of year 1967/8, $15,360.
The consolation was won by six lengths by rising 14yo Mighty Hanover who had been unable to overcome a 36yd handicap in his heat, thus missing qualifying for the final.
The National Trot was run as two heats and final event for the following two years. In 1969, Mighty Hanover won the mobile event final over 1m 3 furlongs (heat winners over 1m 5 furlongs : Uteena, Highland Flight; consolation winner : Langburn) while in 1970 Global Hall took out the 1m 3 furlongs mobile final (heat winners over 1m 5 furlongs : Paulette, Stylish Major; consolation winner : Chief Assault) – both races were run in mid-March. Not run in 1971, the National Trot moved from a late summer/autumn date to its current position on the annual calendar, the Auckland TC’s Christmas carnival in 1972 with its fourth running on 30 December.
National Trot – Facts and Figures :
Apart from not being run in 1971 and then undergoing a date change from March/May to December, the National Trot has been a feature of Auckland’s Christmas carnival since 1972. The race has had a number of distance changes over the years. First run at 1 mile mobile in 1968, 1m 3 furlongs mobile In 1969 and 1970, it reverted to standing starts in 1972 (2m), 3200m SS in 1973 – 1975 before moving to its permanent distance of 2700mM in 1976.
In its earliest years, the National Trot underwent a number of slight variations to its race name – 1968 – 1970 National Trot Mobile Final; 1972 NZ National Trot Hcp; 1973 NZ National Trotting Hcp; 1974 – 1975 NZ National Hcp Trot; 1976 NZ National Trot FFA; 1977 NZ National Trotters Championship; 1978 – 1980 NZ National Mobile Trot; 1981 to date National Trot.
Sponsorship of the race commenced in 1984 when Radio Pacific started a three year sponsorship (1984 – 1986) and apart from a couple of future occasions most sponsors have supported the race for a single year edition. Exceptions include Honda Cars Broadway (1989 – 1991), FAI Insurance (1997 – 1998), Lindauer NZ (2004 – 2008), Seelite Windows and Doors (2009 – 2011) and Jen Campin Bloodstock (2014 – 2016). There was no sponsorship in 2012 or 2013.
The stake for the National Trot has increased from an initial $2,600 to today at $100,000 although this has not been without its ups and downs over the years. By 1972 stake money had reached $5,000; 1977 $25,000 but reduced to $15,000 (1978 – 1980). An increase back to $25,000 occurred in 1984, increasing further to $37,500 (1985), a level of $40,000 from 1986 – 1991 before dropping down to $38,500 in 1992. The stake level then returned to $40,000 in 1994 – 1997 period, down again to $25,000 (1998 – 1999) before doubling to $50,000 in 2000 – 2005. An increase to $75,000 was recorded in 2006, first reaching the $100,000 mark in 2009 before reducing to $80,000 (2010 – 2016) before again increasing to $100,000 last season (2017).
Mares have an impressive record in the National Trot having led the field home on fifteen of forty nine occasions to date including three time winner Pride Of Petite, two time winners Tussle and One Over Kenny.
Leading winning drivers : with six winning drives Tony Herlihy MNZM (Piece De Resistance 1990, Delft 2005, One Over Kenny 2007, 2008, Irish Whisper 2013, Temporale 2017) leads the field. Anthony Butt (four), Mark Purdon (all with Pride Of Petite 1992, 1994, 1997), Ricky May and Patrick O’Reilly jnr with three are next best.
Trainers : Tim Butt with four successes (both Lyell Creek and Take A Moment twice) heads the trainers list at present, followed by Tony Herlihy and Mark Purdon with three and a large group of trainers with two winners – Dave Gibbons, Roy and Barry Purdon, Dr Cliff Irvine, Patrick O’Reilly jnr, Paul Nairn, Michelle Wallis, Phil Williamson, Greg and Nina Hope.
Owners : there are a number of dual winners, these being Dr Cliff Irvine, Long Drive Syndicate, Lex and Heather Williams, Frank Weaver, Graham Bruton and Alan Neumann/William [Bill] Pain/Ian Neumann/the late Mrs Kathleen Neumann.
Winning owner/trainer/drivers : just three feature in the half century history of the National Trot, they being part owners Ray Norton (Mighty Hanover 1969), Gordon Newberry (1982 Cal Brydon) and Dave Gibbons (Idle Scott 1989, 1991).
Times run in the National Trot can be spilt into imperial and metric distances. Imperial : 1 mile mobile T2:06 2/5 French Pass (1968); 1m 3 furlongsSS T2:53 4/5 Mighty Hanover (1969); 2 milesSS T4:25 2/5 Fri (1972). Metric since 1973, 3200mSS T4:16.0 Easton Light (1973); 2700mM T3:19.9/1:59.1 Quite A Moment (2016, only other sub two minute mile rate recorded by Stig T1:59.9 in 2012). Slowest times have been Darky Forbes 3200mSS in T4:26.6/T2:14.0 (1974) and Sure Mart 2700mM in T3:36.3/T2:08.8 (1980).
A number of NZ record times have been recorded over the 2700mM in the National Trot – Mares Tussle (T3:28.0 1985), Pride Of Petite (T3:24.9 1997), Merinai (T3:24.8, 1998), One Over Kenny (T3:24.6 2007, T3:23.3 2008), Quite A Moment (T3:19.9 2016, current overall NZ record); Entires/geldings Sir Castleton (T3:28.4, 1983), Piece De Resistance (T3:27.8 1990), Delft (T3:23.4 2005), Stig (T3:21.3 2012, defeating I Can Doosit’s previous record of T3:22.6, not set in National Trot).
Winning margins : the maximum winning margins include Sir Castleton’s (1983) record six length demolition job, Delft five lengths (2005), Isla Voss 4½l (1977) and Take A Moment’s second victory in 2003 achieved by four lengths. The narrowest margin of a nose has a solitary record holder, Tyron Scottie in 1987, the first of his two successes.
Youngest winners : four year olds – Pride Of Petite’s first of three wins in 1992 at four was not matched until Monbet equalled her feat in 2015. Oldest winner was the remarkable Mighty Hanover, fourteen years of age winning in 1969 after having won the consolation in the first year of the race being run (1968). A number of ten year olds are the next successful old timers to win the National Trot – Sure Mart (1980), Tussle (second win 1986), David Moss (1993), Stig (2012).
Multiple winners : Pride Of Petite is the only three time winner (1992, 1994, 1997) with a number of dual winners : Idle Scott, Lyell Creek, One Over Kenny, Take A Moment, Tussle, Tyron Scottie. There has never been an Australian trained, owned or driven winner of the National Trot although several winners come from Australian families – Mighty Hanover, Basil Dean, Piece De Resistance (A1 Verity), Sovereignty (A2 Lady Ajax), Merinai (A18 Rarebell Direct) and Major Decision (A94 Restless).
In the breeding barn, leading sire with six National Trot credits is Sundon (Delft, Allegro Agitato, One Over Kenny twice, Houdini Star, Irish Whisper), with victories covering a nine year span, five of them consecutively 2005 – 2009. With four credits are Armbro Invasion and Tuft while those with three credits are Monarchy and Royal Prestige. These five stallions alone account for twenty of the forty nine National Trot winners to date. Leading broodmare sire of National Trot winners with four is U Scott (Fri, Topeka, Isla Voss, Cal Brydon) followed by Armbro Del, Chiola Hanover and Great Evander all with three.
On the maternal side Pride Of Lincoln (N1 : Tussle/Take A Moment twice, Stig, Quite A Moment) leads with six winners from Brighton Girl (N51) with four while Mayflower (N23) and Verity (A1) with three are next in line.
Winners of Auckland premier trotting events in the same calendar year (Rowe Cup/National Trot and since 2012 ANZAC Cup) have been Global Hall (1970), Sir Castleton (1983), Tussle (1985), David Moss (1993), Merinai (1998), Lyell Creek (2000), Take A Moment (2003), One Over Kenny (2007), I Can Doosit (2011), Temporale (2017). I Can Doosit won all three races in same season (2011/2012). The only trotter to have won National Trot and Rowe Cup in an Auckland (on behalf of NZMTC, Addington) Trotters Interdominion year since 1968 was I Can Doosit in 2011.
National Trot winners to be named Trotter Of Year (commenced 1973/4 season) include Easton Light (1973/4, 1974/5, 1975/6), No Response (1978/9), Stormy Morn (1982/3), Basil Dean (1983/4, 1984/5), Tussle (1986/7), Idle Scott ( 1989/90), David Moss (1992/3, 1993/4),
Call Me Now (1994/5, 1995/6), Pride Of Petite (1996/7), Merinai (1997/8), Lyell Creek (1999/2000, 2000/1), Take A Moment (2002/3, 2003/4), Delft (2005/6), One Over Kenny (2004/5, 2006/7), I Can Doosit (2010/11), Stig (2008/9, 2012/13) and Monbet (2015/6, 2016/7). Of those just five trotters also collected the Harness Horse of Year Award in the same season – Merinai (1997/8), Lyell Creek (1999/2000), Take A Moment (2002/3), I Can Doosit (2011/12) and Monbet (2015/16). Sir Castleton although not named Trotter of the Year (1983/4) shared the 1983/4 Harness Horse of Year Award with Australian pacer Steel Jaw, winner of 1983 NZ Cup.
Points of interest concerning National Trots :
- 1970 winner Global Hall was six months in foal to Local Light when winning in March 1970, lost twins in April and yet managed to win Rowe Cup in December 1970, again in foal to Local Light which she also lost, only managing two live foals (three time winner World Tour) before dying in July 1978
- 1974 winner Darky Forbes raced by Dannevirke breeder Joe Gimblett was second highest stake earner for the season to Easton Light running second to him in Dominion Hcp and finishing third in Castletons Pride’s 1975 Auckland ID Trotters Grand Final success
- 1977 winner Isla Voss won on all three nights of Auckland Christmas Carnival (Bridgens Memorial, Robin Dundee Hcp, National Trot), four wins in nine days with Canterbury Park Trotting Cup and fifth straight win in Timaru’s DB Trotting FFA
- 1978 No Response also won on all three nights at Christmas meeting (only difference Easton Light Hcp as opposed to Robin Dundee), part of a ten straight winning sequence that included two heats/final and NZ Trotting Championship at 1979 Addington ID’s
- 1981 Stormy Morn won all five major trotting events in 1981/2 season (Inter-Island Challenge Stakes, Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA, National Trot and Rowe Cup)
- 1982 winner Cal Brydon’s National Trot success was sixth for season, part of five wins from seven race sequence
- Tussle’s second National Trot success in 1986 was part of an eight race winning sequence that ran from Dominion Hcp through to Trotters ID Grand Final at Addington in March 1987
- 1990 winner Piece De Resistance caused a huge upset when originally second emergency (also bettered Sir Castleton’s NZ record)
- Idle Scott’s second National Trot was the “iron horses” thirty first win of forty six of which one was in Australia from a total of 219 starts
- Only three time winner of National Trot Pride Of Petite was an outsider (10/11 in fourteen horse field) in first of her wins in 1992 as class five trotter; third win in 1997 set NZ mares record for 2700mM
- Stig, 2012 winner was retired at seven (2009), spent time at Lindsay Kerslake’s dual sulky operation Horsepower, tried again by part owner and champion trainer Tim Butt, written off again before succeeding under Paul Nairn’s tutorage (aged ten). Also set NZ record for one mile of T1:55.2 at Cambridge (Trotters Flying Mile) in start before National Trot
The National Trot has contributed greatly to New Zealand’s trotting heritage over the past half century and the Auckland club continues to positively promote this particular Group One opportunity for our leading square gaiters.
Peter Craig
27 December 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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