This is the tenth 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 New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) held the ID Trotters Championships on six occasions at Addington plus conducted the 2011 Interdominions in Auckland (Alexandra Park) following the February 22nd, 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
1990 ADDINGTON – (OUR) REAL FORCE
This year’s Trotters Grand Final winner was partly the year of the four year olds with Inky Lord capturing the New Zealand Cup and fellow four year old Neroship the Auckland Cup. Real Force or Our Real Force as known in Australia was part of the young brigade to win major races in the 1989/90 season in New Zealand. The Australasian representatives among the thirty eight nominations (ten balloted out rather than running a third heat was controversial) at the Trotters only ID at Addington were Victorians Glenfield Girl, Highly Likely and Table Card. The Trotters Grand Final formed part of 1990 Easter Cup Day meeting at Addington (heats were run at night) with a then record breaking prize purse of $160,000.
Wednesday 4 April, 2600mM : first round of heats
Heat One – GLENFIELD GIRL, tr/dr Dick Lee, T3:19.0/T2:03.1 (national mares record); Real Force (dr Peter Davis) 2nd; Drott Moss (dr Peter Wolfenden) 3rd
An impressive winner of the opening heat on the first night was Victorian mare Glenfield Girl. Drawn one from the outside of the second line (13), she moved to the lead at the 1200m with a lap to run before winning easily by two lengths in a new national mares record time of T3:19.0/T2:03.1. Sundon was second after being three wide early, taking the lead at the 2000m before trailing Glenfield Girl for the last lap. Lucky Tesp although galloping over the line finished third. Disqualifications/relegations however changed the final result with both Sundon subsequently disqualified after ID’s (positive drugs test due to veterinary error) and Lucky Tesp relegated to fifth. Real Force (5¼l in arrears of Glenfield Girl), Drott Moss and Lucky Nian all gained additional points.
Heat Two – WHITE HORSE PRIDE, tr Jack Carmichael, dr Anthony Butt, T3:21.4/T2:04.6; Family Pride (dr Patrick O’Reilly jnr) 2nd; Idle Scott (dr Dave Gibbons) 3rd
Jack Carmichael’s apparent second stringer (trained defending champion Yankee Loch, eighth in first heat), came home fast wide out to take a nose victory from Family Pride with Idle Scott third a half-length back, Zolas Pride was fourth with Highly Likely fifth. Idle Scott who drew eleven endeavoured to lead from 1900m out while Family Pride back early before working around wide in the last lap to lead from 150m was run down right on the post by White Horse Pride.
Saturday 7 April, 2000mM : second round of heats
Heat Three –REAL FORCE, tr/dr Peter Davis, T2:30.5/T2:01.0; Tyrone Scottie (dr Patrick O’Reilly jnr) 2nd; Highly Likely (dr Ted Demmler) 3rd
Sundon backed up his first night performance by recording a new national record time of T2:30.0/T2:00.7 mile rate for 2000mM after trainer/driver Fred Fletcher let Real Force go to the lead after 200m rather than engage in a speed duel in front. Sundon was back in front at the 1400m before winning by 2¾l bettering Game Paul’s previous record time of T2:31.8. As with the first night Sundon would ultimately be disqualified from his heat win, promoting Real Force to winner by a neck from Tyron Scottie who stormed home with Highly Likely next home 1¼l in front of Amy Hest. It was another solid performance from Real Force.
Heat Four – GLENFIELD GIRL, tr/dr Dick Lee, T2:30.2/T2:00.8; Game Paul (dr Robin Swain) 2nd; Idle Scott (dr Dave Gibbons) 3rd
Yet another impressive performance by Glenfield Girl which effectively guaranteed her Grand Final favouritism with Sundon. She led from barrier three rating a solid T2:00.8 mile rate beating home speedy Game Paul by 1½l with Idle Scott third from barrier thirteen three quarters of length away followed in by Yankee Loch whose fourth got him in the Grand Final field in an attempt to defend his title won at Moonee Valley in 1989.
Saturday 14 April, 1990 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2600mM, $160,000
Sundon was attempting to give Sir Roy McKenzie his third win in the ID Trotters Grand Final (1971 Geffin at Addington, 1975 Castletons Pride at Alexandra Park) plus his Roydon Lodge Stud had bred 1989 defending champion Yankee Loch who was sold to Roy’s daughter Robyn and son in law Keith Gibson. Glenfield Girl was attempting to give trainer/driver Dick Lee Grand Final success after having been involved with five previous finalists including Hampdens Pride, third 1980; Downsouth Clare, seventh 1984, tenth 1985, consolation winner 1983; Game Ebony, eighth 1987, ninth 1989, consolation winner 1988.
REAL FORCE (1985 Florida Pro/Super Brenda gelding, family of Medio U1), owner Racing and Succeeding, trainer/driver Peter Davis, T3:17.3/T2:02.0, ½l, ½l, 1¼l, 11/11 [T2:01.0, $165,592]
Tyrone Scottie, tr/dr Patrick O’Reilly jnr, 2nd
Highly Likely, tr Ted Demmler, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Yankee Loch, Game Pride, Family Pride, Drott Moss, Zolas Pride, Troppo, Idle Scott, Fraggle Rock, White Horse Pride, Glenfield Girl, Sundon
Consolation : 2600mM, $20,000
AMY HEST, tr Doody & Kevin Townley, dr Kevin Townley, T3:19.1/T2:03.7; Cracker (dr Robert Cameron); Table Card (dr John Stadelman) 3rd
Although performing splendidly in the heats for a second and a third, Real Force was neglected in the betting being eleventh favourite and paying odds of 42/1 for his victory. Positioned well three back on the outer by Peter Davis prior to challenging at the 200m, he finished best of all fourteen starters. Real Force had drawn the outside of the second line in barrier position fourteen for the 2600m mobile event which he won by a half-length. Second placed Tyron Scottie who had trailed Zolas Pride from the 1800m finished solidly ahead of third placed Victorian Highly Likely who after leading early settled three back on the rails from where she finished resolutely a further half-length back.
Defending champion Yankee Loch after being handy throughout trotted into fourth a length and a quarter away ahead of a fast finishing Game Paul who came from well back. The most favoured runners Sundon broke in the score up and Glenfield Girl broke at the start ruining their chances. Glenfield Girl had circled the field at the 1800m to attack the leaders but fall away from the 600m to finish second last, one place ahead of Sundon. Real Force became only the second ever four year old winner of the Trotters Grand Final, the other also being at Addington in 1971 when Geffin was the winner.
The consolation was taken out by Otago owned Amy Hest (Colin Campbell, Palmerston and John Hornbrook, Dunedin former CEO Otago Rugby). Cracker ran on for second 1½l behind Amy Hest with Table Card who had led early before trailing a further two lengths away third. Amy Hest is closely related to former brother and sister pairing of 1968 ID Trotters Grand Final winner Stylish Major and consolation winner Le Chant. Amy Hest’s third dam Moccasin was dam of Stylish Major and Le Chant.
Bred in the USA by Allevamento Labambolaccia, Real Force was a Florida Pro gelding from Super Brenda. Florida Pro, an Arnie Almahurst son of Speedy Scot was a T1:55.0 three year old at the Du Quoin State Fair, winner of USA Colonial and Stanley Dancer three year old trots and sire of Sugarcane Hanover (millionaire winner in USA, Norway, Sweden) and broodmare sire of Elitloppet winner Brioni and Hurricane Flyer GN Trotters Derby. Real Force’s dam Super Brenda was a useful winner in Italy (T2:03.4 at four, $80,000), being by Super Bowl, a Stars Pride horse. His fourth dam Brenda Hanover left fourteen winners from fifteen foals. Super Brenda in addition to Real Force (first foal) left another five foals, three of whom were winners – Chiolas Luck (dam of Sundons Luck, NZ/GN Trotters Derbies, NZ Sires Stakes – 3T, Holmfield); Our Super Force (NZ Trotting Stakes/Yearling Sales series at two, Hambletonian – 3T); Spiritual Powers (grand dam of Jaccka Justy, T2:02.7, $235,467, Dominion Hcp; Jaccka Jack, T2:00.8, fourteen wins; third dam of Nicky Ellen).
Real Force was purchased as a yearling for $4,000 at the inaugural National Bloodstock Corporation (NBC) International Yearling Sale in 1987 by his then Ardmore based (now Halswell, originally Southland located) trainer/driver Peter Davis who was employed by NBC as their private trainer at the time. Being unable to afford to race him Davis enlisted John Hogan an accountant with NBC to pay the bills. In relation to Real Force’s racing career it will be noted he had a number of owners.
Real Force’s only start at two was in the 1988 NBC International Classic Series Trot where he blew the start and finished eighth of the nine starters. After being gelded and spelled, Real Force’s eight NZ three year old starts saw his first and only win came at his fourth start on the grass against maidens at Rotorua’s Arawa Park. Ownership then passed to the Kentucky Syndicate which included Sydneysiders Harry and Karolyn Beitzel and National Bloodstock. In his final two NZ three year old starts he finished second to Sundon in the John F Jones Trotting Stakes and third to the same horse in the Rosso Antico Trotting Stakes (now GN Trotters Derby) at Alexandra Park.
Shifted to the Victorian stable of Graeme Johannesen (True Roman fame) for a nine month period (June 1989 – February 1990), racing as Our Real Force, his fifteen starts saw him record seven wins, two seconds and a third, T2:04.5, $32,372. Victories included SA Trotters Derby at Globe Derby with other wins coming at Stawell, Ararat, Bendigo, Moonee Valley (twice) and Kilmore before his return to New Zealand in March 1990 now in the ownership of Racing and Succeeding group, headed by Karolyn Beitzel. Back with Peter Davis to prepare for the Christchurch Interdominions, he won his second start back for him at Alexandra Park in mid-March prior to the Interdominions commencing. Real Force’s Interdominion exploits are outlined above. These were his final career starts as soreness and filling in the suspensory area of a hind leg prevented him from ever racing again. Real Force was named four year trotter of year.
Real Force’s career summary showed fourteen NZ starts for four wins, four seconds, three thirds, T2:01.0, $133,220 while his fifteen Australian starts yielded seven wins, T2:04.5, $32,372; being eleven wins, $165,592 in total.
1995 ADDINGTON – CALL ME NOW
The “Battle of the Stars” series where NZMTC obtained multiple sponsor’s with different ones for each race of the carnival. Australia was represented by five trotters – Lenin, Knight Pistol, Telern Reb, Walts Task and ex Kiwi’s Buntys Pride for trainer Alan Dunsmuir.
Friday 3 March, 2600mM : first round of heats
Heat One – DIAMOND FIELD, tr Roy & Barry Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy, T3:18.8/T2:03.0; Chiola Cola (dr Peter Jones) 2nd; Idle Scott (dr Dave Gibbons) 3rd
Diamond Field held out a fast finishing Chiola Cola who rattled home by a head with Idle Scott a nose back in a tight finish, Call Me Now ending up in fourth spot. Diamond Field had rushed forward a lap out with cover before powering to victory. Hot favourite Call Me now ran fourth after moving off the rails when under pressure in the home straight.
Heat Two – DAVID MOSS, tr Robert Cameron, dr Maurice McKendry, T3:18.1/T2:02.5; Cedar Fella (dr Bryce Buchanan) 2nd; Pride Of Petite (dr Mark Purdon) 3rd
David Moss who led from the 2000m was an easy winner over Cedar Fella who had sat parked outside David Moss and Pride Of Petite who ran on from three back on the inner. David Moss’s part owner was Captain Oddver Andersen from Olso in Norway.
Tuesday 7 March, 2000mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – DAVID MOSS, tr Robert Cameron, dr Maurice McKendry, T2:31.9/T2:02.2; Diamond Field (dr Tony Herlihy) 2nd; Alias Beau (dr Anthony Butt) 3rd
David Moss who drew barrier one trailed Idle Scott, easing out to lead before putting the issue beyond doubt a long way from home. Australian Kiwi trotter Buntys Pride wound up in fourth place.
Heat Four – CHIOLA COLA, tr Shane Hayes, dr Peter Jones, T2:30.8/T2:01.3; Call Me Now (dr David Butt) 2nd; Pride Of Petite (dr Mark Purdon) 3rd
Chiola Cola driven by Peter Jones outsprinted Call Me Now, an improver from fourth on opening night when running on late wide out and having Pride Of Petite well covered in the final heat.
Friday 10 March 1995 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2600mM, $150,000
CALL ME NOW (1987 Roydon Boy/Now entire, family of Violet M N26, owners Graham Nairn, Paul Nairn, Helen Pope, Gwynn Thomson, trainer Paul Nairn, driver David Butt, T3:22.6/T2:05.3, 1½L, ½ hd, 4l, 2/3 favourite [T1:56.7TT, $423,685]
Pride Of Petite, tr Roy & Barry Purdon, dr Mark Purdon, 2nd
Diamond Field, tr Roy & Barry Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : David Moss, Chiola Cola, Yankee Diamond, Cedar Fella, Alias Beau, Idle Scott, Fear Not, Buntys Pride, Walts Task, Falstaff
Consolation : 2600mM, $20,000
BRETON ABBE, tr Roy & Barry Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy MNZM, T3:25,4/T2:07.1; Knight Pistol (dr Bruce Blenheim) 2nd; So Long Eden (dr Peter Jones) 3rd
Considered a master trainer of trotters, Paul Nairn experienced his biggest win to date when Roydon Boy trotter Call Me Now took out the 1995 Trotters Grand Final. Utilising his grandfather Jack Litten’s colours (black with red and white chequered sash), Nairn has a lengthy record of achievements in major Australasian trotting events (Rowe Cups, Dominion Hcps, Trotting Derbies, Trotting FFA’s, National Trot, Jewels Rubies, Sires Stakes, several Australian victories. Call Me Now was driven by Nairn’s cousin David Butt.
Two Australian trotters in Walts Task and Buntys Pride made the final field for a race held on a track made slightly slushy by heavy rain. The 1995 Turf Digest $150,000 Gp1 ID Trotters Grand Final over 2600mM was Call Me Now’s career defining moment. Call Me Now progressed to the lead with a lap to run going three lengths clear after applying pressure at the 600m. He trotted boldly to finish clear of future ID champion Pride Of Petite (1996, 1997) who ran on well for second with 1994 ID champion Diamond Field third ahead of David Moss with a last 800m in 60s and 400m in 29.8s on the slushy track. My personal recollection of the race was that Call Me Now was simply “too big, too strong, too good” on the night for his opponents. On Pacers Grand Final night, the fourth night of the 1995 ID carnival, Call Me Now ran third in the Gp3 NZ Trotting Championship to Diamond Field.
Call Me Now the seven year old Roydon Boy entire from Tuft mare Now out of top trotting mare of early 1960’s in Bill Doyle’s When, was bred by Doyle three daughter’s – Helen Pope, Lynn Smith (trains with her son Justin) and Denise Nyhan, wife of Dennis Nyhan. Roydon Boy was a brother of world champion Arndon who sired outstanding NZ trotter and ultra-successful sire Sundon. Roydon Boy sired 67 Australasian winners including Arnie Hest, Quilty Boy, Vander Plas; dam sire of Conon Bridge, Solar Fire. From the Violet M family rich in depth of trotters it contains – Game Bid, Asia Minor, About Now, Rebel Statesman, Kenwood Song, Barabbas, Look, Call Me Chiola, Above The Stars, Now Another Look, Shine, Natural Glow, Some Direction, Joe Boy, Iwi Alex, With Intent, Speculate, Scarrymcleary, Bordeaux – many racing in the interests of those associated with Call Me Now as breeders and owners.
Owners of Call Me Now with Paul Nairn were his father Graeme, Helen Pope (former President of Ashburton Trotting Club and first female executive member on Harness Racing New Zealand board) and Dr Gwynn Thomson (Chemist/Pharmacist) of Leeston.
Call Me Now’s career record stood at 51 starts (2 in Australia for one third, $5,000) for 24 NZ wins, 11 seconds and three thirds, stakes of $418,685, TT1:56.7 (race timed T1:59.8), total earnings of $423,685. When one takes into account his injury issues over several seasons, his 50% strike rate of wins to starts ratio in NZ (49 starts : 24 – 11 – 3) is nothing short of phenomenal (AUS 2 : 0 – 0 – 2). What is even more staggering is that half (12) of these wins came in group, listed or feature races. In fact of his overall 51 starts, almost 60% came in group, listed or feature races.
Commencing racing as a late 3yo in July 1991, he won at his second start at Addington. Not seen for a further 6 months, he won at Motukarara in January 1992 and rounded out his two start, two win 4yo career at Addington in July 1992 with his first victory when driven by Brian Kerr. At the end of his 1991/2 4yo season, his record showed : 4 : 3 – 0 – 0, $8,680.
The first season of any length came at five in 1992/3 with nine starts consisting of four wins (Addington (2), Ashburton off 50m over 3200m and Motukarara) and two placings (Kurow at Oamaru and Addington). Off the scene from February 1993 until December 1993, he commenced his six year old career with a second at Motukarara. Another shortened season due to injury, his one success came at Addington and two of his four placings in five starts came in Group races run in April 1994 – thirds in 1994 Gp3 NZ Trotting Championship to David Moss and 1994 Gp3 Dunedin Trotting Cup to Strietross, finishing his 6yo season in open class.
Call Me Now’s stellar season was as a seven year old in 1994/5. David Butt returned to handle the giant entire from the season’s commencement. Seventeen starts produced nine wins, four seconds and a third for seasonal earnings of $219,685 with his being crowned 5yo & older E&G Trotter of Year and overall Trotter of the Year with 18 votes. Stable mate Above The Stars registered 12 votes to finish in second place for Trotter of Year due to his impressive 3yo season’s performances – a quinella for the Nairn team. Call Me Now set a NZ 4yo & older E&G 2000m stand record time of 2:31.7 when winning at Addington the week before 1994 NZ Cup week (off 25m). Seven year old seasonal highlights included wins in the 1994 BPTC Trotters Cup off 20m, Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile, Gp2 Trotting FFA on Show Day recording T3:16.6/2:01.6 for 2600mM, 1994 CPTC Trotters Cup and his NZ record 2000m win and runner up to David Moss in the 1994 Gp1 Dominion Hcp.
Leading into the 1995 Interdominion Trotting Champs at Addington, Call Me Now had finished second to David Moss a week before the ID’s commenced. Following the Interdominions, a further two wins were recorded at Addington, followed by a fourth in the 1995 Dunedin Trotting Cup before venturing to Alexandra Park to run second to So Long Eden in the 1995 Gp1 Rowe Cup. His season finale being a win from the back mark of 45m at the Franklin club’s meeting.
As an eight year old in his final season in 1995/96, Call Me Now raced on fourteen occasions in NZ for seven wins, two seconds and a third for stake earnings of $155,265, having two starts in Australia for a third and earnings of $5,000. He was again crowned 5yo & older E&G Trotter of Year and overall Trotter of the Year with 23 votes while his arch rival Pride of Petite received 16 votes. Setting NZ records for a 4yo & older E&G trotter when time trialling over one mile in T1:56.7TT at Addington on 8 December 1995 as well as for 3200m standing start of T4:05.7, taking 9/10 second off the 1994 record of David Moss. Seasonal highlights included wins in the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile, 1995 Gp2 Trotting FFA, 1995 Gp1 Dominion Hcp off 10m winning by a neck outstaying the front running Eastburn Grant, 1995 Gp2 National Trot and 1996 Gp2 Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile, his final career win. Two other wins in the 1995/6 season were recorded at Addington and Alexandra Park while running third to Pride of Petite in the 1996 Gp2 Challenge (now Lyell Creek) Stakes.
Embarking on his only trip to Australia to defend his prestigious ID title won at Addington in 1995, Call Me Now headed to Moonee Valley. Running third in the ANL Centenary Inter Colonial Trotters Mile to Pride of Petite and eighth in the 1996 Dullard Cup, he was unable to defend his ID title due to injury with the Nairn stable being represented by the 4yo Above the Stars. On his return from Australia, he had his final four starts with a second at Addington being the best of these in the 1996 Gp2 Trotting Championship. Three unplaced efforts at Alexandra Park including the City of Sails FFA and 1996 Rowe Cup followed before his retirement.
Call Me Now’s career progress was often impacted by niggling injuries such as ligament strains and a troublesome splint problem in his near front leg which restricted his race career. Nairn spent many hours nursing the big horse back to full fitness. David Butt drove Call Me Now in his first three starts including two wins, before Brian Kerr took over for fourteen starts (seven wins) and Nairn for one start (second placing). Later Butt returned to be Call Me Now’s regular pilot.
As a sire Call Me Now had modest success with eleven winners of forty races and $386,000 in stakes, one in 2:0. Call Me Now stood at stud for fourteen seasons; Kevin Williams, Tall Tree Stud (96/7); Paul Nairn (97/8 – 2000/1, 2009/10); Cliff Dynes (2001/2); Patric O’Brien, Premier Equine Semen Centre (2002/3 – 03/4); Ian Craw, Sure Court Lodge (2004/5 – 08/9). His top performer were Call You Later (9 wins, $73,174), Day of Reckoning (7 wins, $107,228), Sure Mark (6 NZ wins, T1:59.0US).
Call Me Now died in October 2010.
Peter Craig
13 June 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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