This is the seventh 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).
1998 HAROLD PARK – BUSTER HANOVER
Of the twenty eight contestants, ten were local NSW trotters, albeit seven were expat New Zealanders. Pride Of Petite was again backmarker off 35m with Knight Pistol and Buster Hanover being handicapped off 30m.
Friday 8 May, 2965m : first round of heats, 2965m
Heat One – BUSTER HANOVER, tr Mark Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy MNZM, T4:01.4/T2:11.0, 30m; Knight Pistol (dr Kerryn Manning) 2nd; Dawn Invasion (dr Ray Globe) 3rd
In front a mile out, backmarkers Knight Pistol on the rails and Buster Hanover parked distanced their rivals. Knight Pistol trotted roughly 70m from the finish, allowing Buster Hanover to outsprint him and pass the post half a head to the good with 20 metres back to Dawn Invasion (owner David Shammall of Adelaide). This heat was run in a time eight seconds slower than the night’s second heat.
Heat Two – NOOPY KIOSK, tr Barry Alford, dr Chris Alford, T3:53.1/T2:06.5, Track Record, 15m; National Interest (dr Chris Lang) 2nd; Bonspiel Tui (dr Lauren Pearson) 3rd
Run in a slick time, Noppy Kiosk beat National Interest by a nose in the quicker heat of the evening, after National Interest led early. Noppy Kiosk was in front at the 2400m (3 laps to run) with National Interest trailing. National Interest challenged at the entrance to the home straight coming off Noppy Kiosk’s back and failing by a nose to getpast him. Southland mare Bonspiel Tui trotted into third after a rails run behind National Interest with Pride Of Petite setting out to retain her ID Trotters crown from the previous two seasons ending up sixth.
Friday 15 May, 2565m : second round of heats, 2565m
Only twenty three horses remained in contention for the ID Trotters championship with a number of defections after the first round of heats.
Heat Three – KNIGHT PISTOL, tr Peter Manning, dr Kerryn Manning, T3:23.4/T2:07.6, 30m; Fickle Friend (dr Grant Innes) 2nd; Pride Of Petite (dr Tony Herlihy) 3rd
Knight Pistol sped to an early lead with a lap and half to run, a lead which he never relinquished winning by seven metres in a T2:07.6MR. Noppy Kiosk broke twice in the running which may have had something to do with the damp (slushy) dead rated track, eventually finishing ninth, 28 metres from the impressive winner. Pride Of Petite’s third was meritorious working up three wide to sit parked from the bell and after dragging a flat tyre for the final 400m after Bonspiel Tui clipped it .
Heat Four – BUSTER HANOVER, tr Mark Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy, T3:21.3/T2:06.3, 30m; National Interest (dr Chris Lang) 2nd; Sparkling Eyes (dr Gavin Lang) 3rd
Drawing pole position National Interest made the pace. Buster Hanover’s sulky contacted that of Sundons Way puncturing his tyre down the back straight the final time. Coming to the final bend, Buster Hanover had to go wide to avoid the galloping Homer Hawk. Turning in Buster Hanover was 30 metres behind National Interest but still managed to power home to such effect that he won by a head.
Final Points: Buster Hanover 36, Knight Pistol 33, National Interest 30, Noopy Kiosk, Sparkling Eyes 24, Pride Of Petite 22, Bonspiel Tui/Fickle Friend 20, Victory Lord/Rosanna Hest/Our Rich Choice 19, Springfield Johnny 18, Dawn Invasion/Homer Hawk/Crikey Dick 17, Sundons Way/Allawart Ray 15, Idle Speedster 13, Fitchity 12, Weston Gee 11, Arnie Hest/The Patriot 9.
A field of fourteen lined up for the Grand Final after the scratchings of Sundons Way and Crickey Dick. It is interesting to note that eventual second place getter Homer Hawk was equal last point’s scorer with Dawn Invasion and Crikey Dick in making the field. Buster Hanover started as 7/4 favourite going onto take out a clean sweep of the series – two heats and final.
Friday 22 May, 1998 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3370m, $125,000
BUSTER HANOVER (1990 Sergio Hanover/Broomfield Ann, family of Georgina N35), owners Bill Pemberton, Dr Catherine Pemberton, Mrs Judy Pemberton, Matthew Pemberton, trainer Mark Purdon, driver Tony Herlihy, 30m, T4:26.6/T2:07.3, 2m, 2.5m, 6m, 7/4 favourite [T1:59.3, $557,147]
Homer Hawk, tr/dr John Anderson, 10m, 2nd
Knight Pistol, tr Peter Manning, dr Kerryn Manning, 30m, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Pride Of Petite, National Interest, Noopy Kiosk, Fickle Friend, Sparkling Eyes, Bonspiel Tui, Victory Lord, Rosanna Hest, Springfield Johnny, Our Rich Choice, Dawn Invasion
National Interest led early with three laps to run, Buster Hanover was back and three wide over the opening mile (2 laps). Homer Hawk took over in front, with 2½ laps to run from National Interest, with Buster Hanover working up to the death seat before giving that position away to Knight Pistol and thereafter having 1/1 cover. Turning for home Homer Hawk led with Knight Pistol on his outer and National Interest a length away in the trail. Buster Hanover pulled out at the top of the straight powering home past his rivals in the last 60m to win by two metres from Homer Hawk with a head back to Knight Pistol. Pride Of Petite who challenged quickly at the 400m down the back straight, battled on into fourth six metres from the winner, a gallant attempt to annex her third ID Trotters Grand Final in successive years. Buster Hanover’s time of T4:26.6 was a mile rate of T2:07.3, with final four quarters in 31.9, 32.7, 32.7 and 29.6.
Buster Hanover win was Mark Purdon’s third ID Trotters Grand Final in his third year as a trainer (1996, 1997 Pride Of Petite) and brother in law driver Tony Herlihy tasted success in his second Sydney Trotters Grand Final win (1994 Diamond Field).
Stablemate Sundons Way won the Network Ten Trotters Mobile over2160mM worth $9,000 effectively billed as ID Trotters Consolation (not acknowledged as such) for the Purdon/Herlihy combination.
A seven year old Sergio Hanover (sire of little over 100 winners mainly trotters in NZ including Rowe Cup winner Mairo Sultan) gelding from Spike Darling winning trotting mare Broomfield Ann, Buster Hanover was bred by Aucklander Bill Halloran. Dam Broomfield Ann won a NZ Standardbred Breeders Excellence Award for her matronly deeds. She was the dam of ten foals, seven of whom raced all of which were winners. Buster Hanover was her first foal and others of note included Pretty Special (5 wins, dam of three winners), Cipolini (7 wins, GN Breeders Trotting Stakes; dam of Lemond T2:00.0, Merckx Jewels Ruby – 2T, Anquetil Hambletonian – 3T) and Wee Annie (10 wins, GN Breeders Trotting Stakes; dam of Dead Cat Bounce T1:54.1, NSW Tabcorp Trotters Cup). Cipolini and Wee Annie were both four year old Trotting Mares of the Year. This is the family of Lincoln Yet mare Georgina with notable descendants being mainly pacers such as Miracle Mile winner Gundary Flyer (AUS/VIC Derbies), Auckland Cup winner Loyal Friend, Swift Princess (NZ Oaks), Talk About Swift (NZSS – 3) and Chloe Hanover apart from trotters mentioned above.
Bill Pemberton originally leased Buster Hanover with a $5,000 right of purchase that was soon exercised once he started showing signs of his considerable ability for his hobby trainer and part owner. Pemberton had obtained him from Morrinsville enthusiasts Wayne and Carol Aylward. Ownership was established amongst Bill Pemberton, veterinary daughter Dr Catherine Pemberton, wife Judy and son Matthew.
In all, Buster Hanover raced from three to ten years of age with only his four starts at three (second placing) not bringing a win in each season he raced. His NZ race record stood at 73 starts for eighteen victories, ten seconds and eleven thirds for stakes of $257,522, T1:59.3. His wins came at Alexandra Park (10), Addington (4), Cambridge (2) and Oamaru (1). They included wins and seconds in Greenlane Cup, Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile, NZ Trotting FFA and wins in Challenge Stakes, Christchurch Casino Cup Day Trot and Kaikoura’s South Bay Cup. Feature/group race placings included a second in the Dominion Hcp to Merinai and thirds in Ashburton Trotters Mile twice, Rowe and Ordeal Cups.
In Australia, his seven wins in fifteen starts came with victories at Moonee Valley in two heats and two finals of the Australasian Trotting Championship and at Harold Park in two ID Trotters heats and Grand Final. In addition, a second and two thirds were recorded in the Dullard Cup, a third in the Millennium Mile and fourth in the Bill Collins Mile for stakes of $299, 625 and a best mile rate of T2:04.9. He was named Australian Trotter of Year in 1998.
Overall Buster Hanover’s career record showed 88 starts for twenty five wins, eleven seconds and fourteen thirds for stakes of $557,147, a best mile rate T1:59.3 in the Cambridge Trotters Mile and a NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee.
2002 HAROLD PARK – GAME BID
The sixth and final Trotters Championships to be held at Harold Park were run in 2002, eight years before its permanent closure and sale for residential property development in 2010. Harold Park was the venue for the first Trotters Championship (fifth overall) to be held in Australia in 1966. Subsequent Interdominion championships at Harold Park to feature Trotters were those of 1973, 1980, 1994 and 1998. New Zealand trained trotters in contention included previous ID champions Special Force (1999) and Take A Moment (2001). The backmarkers for the championship were La Coocaracha and Take A Moment off 25m.
Friday 1 March, 2965m : first round of heats
Heat One – SPECIAL FORCE, tr Claire McGowan, dr Ken Barron, T3:55.3/T2:06.9, 20m; Twebby Trotter (dr David Aitken) 2nd; Game Bid (dr Anthony Butt) 3rd
Special Force opened proceedings looking terrific in winning what was the weaker of the two heats. His two metre victory over Twebby Trotter with a metre back to Game Bid was his twenty sixth and penultimate of his injury plagued career. One out and three back with three laps to run, he was three out without cover a lap later before working up to be outside leader Waikare Gold at the bell. Ken Barron pushed him over a last half in 60 seconds and final quarter in 28.9. Game Bid had run on well for his third placing from three back on the fence.
Heat Two – LA COOCARACHA, tr Andy Gath, dr Kerryn Manning, T3:51.3/T2:04.5, 25m; Stirling Kiwi (dr Robert Hamilton) 2nd; Aquinas (dr Michael Marais) 3rd
La Coocaracha was one out and two back with three laps to run before being posted three wide without cover at the bell where Stirling Kiwi had been leading from 1600m. She dug deep to win from what must have initially seemed an impossible position taking into account she was three wide for a good distance. Her overall time was four seconds to the good of Special Force’s opening heat with a last half of 60.1, quarter in 30.2 with victory being by the barest of margins, head by a head. Take A Moment was a little disappointing a further three metres back after being five back on the markers three laps out and three wide and one back with two to run before taking one one cover at the bell.
Friday 8 March, 2565m : second round of heats
Heat Three – GAME BID, tr Brent Lilley, dr Anthony Butt, T3:18.8/T2:04.7, Lt; Djerriwarrh (dr Kerryn Manning) 2nd; Twebby Trotter (dr David Aitken) 3rd
Game Bid led over the last couple of laps to win easily by 7.5m from Djerriwarrh who had sat parked outside him with a further three metres back to Twebby Trotter. The last half was covered in 59.7 and final quarter in 29.8. Special Force who was three wide and without cover most of the way finished fifth. Gavin Lang was engaged to handle Game Bid in the Grand Final with Anthony Butt driving Take A Moment for brother Tim.
Heat Four – LA COOCARACHA, tr Andy Gath, dr Kerryn Manning, T3:18.7/T2:03.5, 25m; Take A Moment (dr Anthony Butt) 2nd; Waikare Gold (dr John McDermott ) 3rd
Beginning brilliantly and into the one by one position at 1600m where she stayed until working past Waikare Gold who had again led and Stirling Kiwi, La Coocaracha won going away by 10.5m from Take A Moment with four metres to Waikare Gold. Her almost identical time with Game Bid only differed in that the last half was a slower 61.6 as was the final quarter in 30.0.
Final points: La Coocaracha 36, Game Bid NZ 31, Special Force/Twebby Trotter 28, Take A Moment/Djerriwarrh 26, Aquinas/Stirling Kiwi 24, Waikare Gold 23, Georgian Flight 19, Jacobs Whiz/Truscott Steel 18, Queens Rhapsody 16, King Whiz 15.
Friday 15 March, 2002 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 33700m, $200,000
GAME BID (1995 Gee Whiz/Budding Pride, family of Violet M N26), owners Brent Lilley, Ming Wah Cheung, Ho Sing Ho, Lu Sing, trainer Brent Lilley, driver Gavin Lang, Lt, T4:22.2/T2:05.2, 5m, 13m, 13m, 2nd favourite [T2:01.2, $197,530]
La Coocaracha, tr Andy Gath, dr Kerryn Manning, 25m, 2nd
Waikare Gold, tr/dr John McDermott, Lt, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Stirling Kiwi, Twebby Trotter, Jacobs Whiz, Queens Rhapsody, Truscott Steel, Georgian Flight, Aquinas, Special Force, Djerriwarrh, Take A Moment, King Whiz
Making a habit of leading at these Interdominions, Waikare Gold was in charge from the 2400m. Game Bid sat behind her before moving to sit outside her starting the final two laps (1600m). La Coocaracha (favourite) was one out and two back at 2400m but three wide without cover over the final two laps due to Gavin Lang’s move on Game Bid. Game Bid (second favourite) was in charge turning for home finishing strongly to win well by five metres over La Coocaracha with a further eight metres back to Waikare Gold. Given a peach of a run by Gavin Lang, Game Bid had trotted his last half in 60.5 and quarter in 29.8. Former champions Special Force broke finishing eleventh 45½m from Game Bid while Take A Moment fared even worse tailing off 88½m behind in thirteenth place.
The Game Bid ownership team was made up of Barrie Lilley (trainer Brent’s father and breeder of Game Bid) and Kaiapoi businessmen Ming Wah Cheung, Ho Sing Ho and Lu Sing. The six year old gelded son of Gee Whiz (prominent leading trotting sire in NZ from mid-1990’s and broodmare sire early 2000’s) and unraced Game Pride mare Budding Pride, Game Bid was a second foal, one of three to race and win for his dam Budding Pride. A member of the Violet M (N26) family with notable trotting descendants tracing back to Bill Doyle’s ranks such as When, About Now, Call Me Now (1995 ID Trotting Champion), Above The Stars, Shine, Now Another Look, Some Direction, With Intent, Speculate, Rebel Statesman, Kenwood Song, Scarrymcleary (dual gaited) and Bordeaux as well as others such as Asia Minor and Brunelleschi.
Game Bid commenced racing as a four year old (1999/2000) with two victories at a two day Manawatu (Palmerston North) meeting in early February 2000 for trainer Barrie Lilley and junior driver son Brent. At five (2000/2001), his five wins were recorded at Addington, Alexandra Park (3) and Cambridge with Tony Herlihy reining him on three occasions, Mark Purdon and David Butt the other winning drivers.
Cromwell Lake Dunstan Trot win off 20m by four lengths
His three six year old (2001/2002) NZ victories included the opening race on NZ Cup Day 2001, Cromwell Lake Dunstan Trot over 3200m with Tony Herlihy MNZM in the bike (followed by eleventh in Take A Moment’s 2001 Dominion Hcp), another at Addington in early January 2002 and on Invercargill Cup Day in early February 2002, his last NZ engagement before the Sydney Interdominions which featured his heat and Grand Final wins as described above. On his return to NZ he had a further three starts resulting in a fourth in NZ Trotting Championship, fifth in City of Sails FFA and ninth in La Coocaracha’s Rowe Cup. This was the conclusion of his Australasian career with stats as follows : 46 NZ starts for ten wins, seven seconds and eight thirds, T2:02.5, $69,705; three Australian starts for two wins and a third, T2:04.7, $129,900. Game Bid then went to North America where he set his career record T2:01.2US and overall stake money of $249,976 (including converted Australasian earnings) from 140 starts, twenty one wins, nineteen second and twenty two thirds.
Peter Craig
23 May 2018
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